Training Exercises

Although the Virtual Wargaming Club (VWC) has seen regular, weekly meetings since the rise of the pandemic, I finally made my first appearance.  Why wait so long before joining into the weekly gatherings?  Perhaps no good reason other than I maintain a fairly busy gaming schedule already and meetings are at 0830 on Saturday mornings, Pacific.  Not an ideal time to stop what I am doing especially during good, cycling weather.  Anyway, with dark days and bad weather of winter still upon me, I figured I would test the waters.  My first session was an enjoyable chat featuring some show and tell and a battle report.  Interesting stuff!

An unexpected pleasure coming out of attending the meeting was the number of follow-up, email conversations spawned.  One such email chain was with Brian, the emcee of the VWC.  

After exchanging emails with Brian on topics such as Fields of Honor, War of Austrian Succession, and remote gaming, we scheduled a gaming session for Wednesday.  Wednesday's initial session would provide an introduction to both the rules and remote gaming.  Since the Battle of Madonna dell'Olmo (Md'O) is still out on table, I offered this scenario as a training exercise.  With a copy of the original rules published in 2000 in-hand, Brian chose to command the Austro-Piedmontese. I took command of the Franco-Spanish.  Now, we did not expect to fight the battle to conclusion but only run through a few turns to get a feel for the game.  We actually managed to complete five turns in about 2.5 hours. 

How did the session pan out?  With a training exercise as the main purpose of this session, I touch on some of the salient battle points in abbreviated fashion.  Please read on.

The Battlefield

The Armies

Heeding analysis on the Piedmontese opening gambit,
Corbeau hits Md'O with maximum force.

Spanish grenadiers are overwhelmed as Corbeau
 watches the Spanish fall to the bayonet.

As Piedmontese Left and Center cross the road,
de Courrier brings his Gallispan cavalry up. 

Guns erupt on the battlefield.  Stuck in the open,
 the lead Piedmontese regiment takes a pounding.

Swiss advance upon Cascina Pasquale.

Grenz work their way around Md'O
in a possible flanking maneuver.
Piedmontese Royal Cavalry goes into reserve
 in anticipation of opportunity.

After delays crossing the sunken road,
 the Piedmontese Right Wing clears this obstacle. 

The Spanish attack!
Piedmontese militia scatter.

Piedmontese Right readies for action.

While Grenz continue working to outflank Md'O, 
the Royal Cavalry seizes an opportunity and strikes.
Unfortunately, its attack is repulsed
with few casualties to the defenders.

de la Ville's cavalry attack the defenders
 of San Giacomo and Spanish dragoons.
The attack against San Giacomo is repulsed
 but the Spanish break for the rear.  

The Spanish bring up more cavalry to plug the hole.

Looking down the Gallispan Line from the Left.

Md'O position is outflanked but
Spanish support moves up to counter.

French and Spanish attack!

With five turns in the books after about three hours of play, we called a halt to hostilities having provided Brian a solid grounding in the rules.  I reckon most of the Rules of Engagement saw a good workout.  If victory were to be assessed, the result would have been a draw as the Piedmontese held Md'O but suffered more broken brigades than the enemy.  A fitting draw and a great way to conclude the session.

After some post-game discussion, I asked Brian if this was something he would be interested in trying again.  I added that there was no need to answer now but ponder it over.  Without hesitation, he said, "I don't need to think about it, yes"!  

That was a good day out.  Thanks, Brian!  Hope to see you back at the gaming table again.