Culloden with WoFun

In my first face-to-face game since July, Kevin hosted the Battle of Culloden in 18mm using WoFun plexiglass flats.  Of course we exercised proper social distancing protocols throughout the three-hour contest and it was very pleasant to get a return to the table with an in-person opponent. 

The battle was fought on a grid using a loose variant of Commands & Colors.  Loose in the sense that there are no cards and no battlefield sections.  The game uses an IGO-UGO mechanism with each side taking turns activating a set number of units per turn.  

En Masse and when viewed from front or back, the two armies look terrific.  From a distance, one quickly forgets that these armies are flats.

Well, until viewed from the side when discerning what is what is difficult.

Kevin took the Jacobites and I commanded the Government forces.  After a couple of turns, the Government forces were advancing against the Jacobites across a broad front and took possession of the enclosures on the left early on.

Government artillery got in a few good licks early on and destroyed one battery from long range.

The Government Army spent the early part of the game coming to terms with the Highlanders whom left swathes of destruction in their path with every charge.

Having nine dice to roll with every attack, the Highlanders were devastating when most government infantry broke after sustaining four hits. Painful to watch my army being systematically sliced apart.

A pattern quickly emerged in that the Highlanders would charge two squares to contact one of my units, destroy it, then advance one square and destroy a second infantry unit.  If I could not come up with a counter to these devastating Highlander charges, I would likely lose this lopsided war of attrition.  My only counter to this carnage was to bring firepower to bear from my second line and drop them in their tracks.  This went on with most of the eight or nine Highland regiments fielded.  

While government forces tried to keep some semblance of two lines, the Jacobites were destined to press ahead and strike with their Highlanders in rapid succession.  My artillery, situated in the middle of the battle line, continued harassing the enemy as the lines closed. 

By mid-battle, the Government line had not been broken as it slowly advanced upon the Jacobites. 

Even though the battle line remained intact, the casualties mounted quickly.  In the photo below, all of the figures in the enclosures represent the Dead Pile.   

The Jacobites tried attacking my artillery with cavalry to no avail.

And then switched to attacking my cavalry on the right.

All of these attacks were repulsed.  By the end game, the Jacobites were fleeing from the field as government forces pressed in upon the rebels.

The rebels finally found themselves boxed into a small corner of the board for a Government victory.

Getting together for an afternoon F2F game was great fun after such a long absence.  Hopefully, the next F2F game will not be so long in waiting.  A refight of Culloden would be an enjoyable test.

Kevin estimated that about 1,800 figures were present for the day’s battle.  What do you think of the WoFun 18mm flats arrayed on the battlefield?