Taiping Era - First Game

Great title, no? 

While I have two of Graham's wargame rules and currently playtesting a third, Taiping Era is a new one to me.  Therefore, it was with great interest that Graham offered this up for the weekly game.  The battle was a dry run for Graham's presentation at this weekend's VCOW.  With briefings and QRS in-hand, five players set to work. The game, played on a grid, is very suitable to remote play. 

The battle comprised a meeting engagement between Gordon's Ever Victorious Army joined by a Hunan army against the Taiping Rebels.  I was placed in the role of Gordon and would be attacking on the left.  A brief, one-sided report of the battle follows but for a more detailed account with better photos, please visit Graham's battle report at Taiping Trial and Error.  My report is one-sided in that I primarily focused on the action seen on my side of the table.  My Hunan comrade, Ian, seemed to be holding his on my right but having trouble passing his Moral Vigor rolls.

The advance to contact begins.

Gordon moves swiftly and deploys into line
 as the Hunan army keeps pace on his right.

EVA fire takes its toll on the Taiping right
while a clash on Gordon's far left develops.
The EVA gives a volley and countercharges!

The first clash on Gordon's left ends in a standoff
while Taiping skirmishers  at the crossroads turn
tail and break for the rear.

The Taiping right collapses as Gordon's EVA remains
Ever Victorious!

Graham provides a post-battle briefing
as the destruction of the Taiping right is evaluated.

Even though I had not read the rules, play from the QRS was possible after a couple of turns.  Most of the information needed for play was at hand on the QRS and easily found and understood.  The game provided an enjoyable three hours as Gordon marched to victory.

The rules employ some interesting mechanisms that I may dive into further in another post.  Perhaps after having played another game?

On the gaming front, I will see four battles in four days.  Three remote and one F2F.  Yes, F2F!  The F2F game will feature a very cautious, properly socially distanced, two-player playtest of a Commands & Colors Lace Wars variant for Culloden.  WoFun 18mm figures will be present.  Oh, and the Battle of Rivoli continues to rage across my gaming table.