The Week That Was...

While not as vigorous as six games in seven days as seen a few weeks ago, I did manage four games over the past seven days.

Three of the games saw a return to the 203 BCE Battle of Po River using CCA and my 6mm armies.  Like the other two sessions (we fought the battle a total of nine times), Carthage came out the victor in two of the three battles.  Great fun although time to find another, equally entertaining scenario. Po River may be my favorite battle played.  Even though the Carthaginians wound up winning six games to three, the Romans seemed in the fight until the last banner fell.  Very well balanced and a fun challenge for both armies.

The fourth game of the week was a remote game with Matt (wargames in the dungeon) where we fought the opening moves of the AWI Battle of Brandywine Creek.  This session saw the British and Hessian attacks at Chadd and Brinton's Fords.  I only have screenshots but Matt will likely have a detailed expose of the battle soon.

I leave the battle account for Matt to spin!  This week, only one game on the docket for Wednesday.  Of course, that may change.

On the painting front, the brushes have been moderately busy with February seeing 70 figures cross the painting desk.  Weather has improved enough to prime figures too.  Painted units are stacking up at the light box so I need to get a move on.

First up are two British regiments for the SYW/WAS project.  These are the first of hopefully many British units to march out from the painting desk in 2025.

The two regiments muster out as the 1st and 2nd Foot Guards.  Each regiment has 22 Blue Moon foot figures led by a Eureka mounted colonel.  Only two regiments but it is a start.

Finally, weather improved enough to get out for a pleasant afternoon bike ride.  Oh, it is good to be back outside.  Very nice change of pace from a winter spent indoors on the trainer.  I am feeling the difference between trainer and actually cycling outside in the body today.  Still much grit and too many potholes to contend with on the road but things are looking up.

6 Games in 7 Days

Cooch's Bridge
photo courtesy Matt from wargamesinthedungeon

Last week saw heightened activity at the gaming table.  Action was fast and furious with six games played over the last seven days.  That is a lot of gaming in one week!

Despite the heavy gaming schedule, I managed to get some painting sessions in too.  There will be some new units mustering out from the workbench soon.

Anyway, a quick rundown of the games played this past week.

Monday saw Postie's Rejects hosted in two remote, Old West gunfights in 25mm.  The first game is chronicled at Rejects at Adobe Wells.  The second game awaits its rip-roaring write-up.

Thursday saw three CCA refights of the Battle of Po River in 6mm.  Kevin joined in for an afternoon F2F session featuring a trio of games preceded by a lunch stop.  For this session of three games, we swapped sides from our previous outing.  As in the first triplet of Po River games back in January, Carthage managed to squeeze out two victories to Rome's one. Scores were 7-4, 1-7, 7-4.  With Kevin and I knotted at three victories apiece, a third, tie-breaking session may be needed!

Finally, Sunday witnessed a return to Matt's long running AWI campaign.  The campaign is up to 1777 and the Battle of Cooch's Bridge.  With most of the Americans either dead on the field, captured, or running away, few Rebels remain to tell the tale from the American perspective.  Even the American commander managed to lose his head!  I leave it to the victors to write this history!  After a very long hiatus, good to get back to the table with Matt in a remote game.    

Cooch's Bridge
photo courtesy Matt from wargamesinthedungeon

Cooch's Bridge
photo courtesy Matt from wargamesinthedungeon

It was a busy week on the gaming front.  This week looks a bit more subdued.

Celtic Gaesatae in 6mm

Off the painting desk today are seven stands of 6mm Celtic Gaesatae, each of fifteen figures.  Total figure count in this batch is 105.  These naked Gauls are from Baccus 6mm. 

Earlier in the fall when I realized Telamon in 28mm would not see the gaming table until restrictions are lifted (well, more like on again, off again, on again...currently on again), I placed an order to Baccus to fill out the Celtic ranks.  If I could not conduct Telamon in 28mm, perhaps, I could field the forces to fight the battle in 6mm using Commands & Colors Ancients?  The order included Celtic Gaesatae, chariots, and warriors.  The chariots were completed earlier and a number of warrior stands were already present for duty.  With these Gaesatae, I may have sufficient Gauls for the battle.  I need to make a double check.  A handful of clothed, warrior stands may still need to be pressed into the painting queue.  

On the gaming front, activity continues to buzz with remote gaming.  Tuesday saw a return to the Spanish Civil War in 15mm for my second playtest of Send Not To Know by Graham Evans.  The battle photo below shows my Republicans tearing into the head of a Fascist column on the road to victory.

Photo courtesy Wargames for  Grown-ups

The game featured an interesting and fluid action wherein my Republicans were tasked with an impromptu defense of the approaches to Madrid while the Fascists raced toward the city.  In the end, my Republicans held out, for now.  To see the battle account, please visit, Cut Price Guadalajara on Grahams' blog.

On the gaming calendar for Sunday is the second of three planned actions in an AWI mini-campaign hosted by Matt at wargamesinthedungeon.  The British will attempt to take back the siege gun, 'Old Molly' before the rebels can make good their escape.  Should be fun!

Pharsalus: Caesar v Pompey

My second solo battle of Pharsalus in which pitted Caesar against Pompey is in the books. The earlier battle (see Pummelling Pompey) saw Caesar come out with a convincing victory.  In a rematch, can Pompey even the score?

As in the earlier battle report, the battle is fought out on the Commands & Colors: Ancients (CCA) board using 6mm figures.  Play-by-play is embedded within each photo.  To view as a slideshow, click on one of the photos to activate. 

Well, Pompey came close to victory and certainly provided a much better opponent for Caesar than in the first game.  The battle featured much back and forth with punch and counter-punch a common feature.  Still, poor Pompey came up short but victory was within his grasp on more than one occasion.  CCA, again, produced a very fun solo challenge.  For now, the 6mm Ancients armies are packed away until next time. 

Pharsalus: CCA in 6mm

 

This weekend past saw a return of Commands & Colors Ancients (CCA) in 6mm with a LIVE opponent!  That's right.  I managed a F2F game of CCA after many months of no in-person gaming.  A major milestone, I think.  I set the game up outside on the patio table in the evening shade of the house.

The battle fought was Pharsalus, a contest between Caesar and Pompey in 48 BCE during the Roman Civil Wars.  Since the historical battle was fought on 09 August, the game this weekend represented an "anniversary edition" of the famous contest.

The battle deployment using the CCA scenario is illustrated below with Caesar's army at the bottom and Pompey's army at the top.  Each side requires seven banners to win.  Pompey holds four Command Cards while Caesar holds six.  Pompey moves first.  The Julian Legions Rule is in effect for both armies.  This rule allows Medium and Heavy infantry to conduct ranged combat.  Also, the Julius Caesar Rule is in effect allowing a unit attached to Caesar extra capabilities.  

CCA version of Pharsalus

My version of the battle deployments converted to 6mm figures rather than blocks is shown below:

Kevin chose to command the Caesarians and we launched into battle.

My Pompeian battle plan was grounded on the notion that the Pompeians hold a numerical and qualitative superiority in cavalry on the Pompeian left.  I would try to overwhelm the Roman cavalry on the Roman right, expose that flank, and then roll up the Roman line.  I would need to accomplish this task before Caesar's superior Heavy infantry defeated the Pompeian Medium infantry.

One note on the troops differentiation between the Caesarians and Pompeians.  Caesar's legions were superior to the Pompeian legions.  To account for this qualitative difference, the game assigns most of the Caesarian infantry as Heavy and the Pompeians are mostly rated as Medium.  In game terms, Caesar's infantry battle with five dice while the Pompeians will battle with four dice.  This is an effective and simple way to distinguish troop quality.  Neat.  

Back to the game.  This seemed a reasonable plan until I drew my four Command Cards.  None of the cards drawn were applicable for the Pompeian cavalry wing. OK.  Toss that plan out and begin an advance on the Pompeian right since I had at least two cards for that sector.  Perhaps I could launch a cavalry attack later?  Well, that was not to be.  At no time during the battle did the Pompeians draw a card that would activate their cavalry wing.  Rats.

What Pompey did was to attack on the right with great force.  Caesar lost a unit or two and then fell back having suffered heavy casualties in that sector.  Pompey pressed on.  While Caesar fell back on his left, he advanced in the center leading from the front when required.  Units were exchanged during this phase of the battle but Pompey managed to break the Roman left.  The banner count at mid-game was 6-4 to Pompey.  Leading from the front, Caesar with a heavy infantry legion struck into the Pompeian center.  Two Pompeian legions fell in quick succession.  The Pompeian center was in shambles.  With banner count tied 6-6, Pompey attacked a weakened legion near the Roman base line destroying it for the win, 7-6.  A very close contest that went down to the final banner.  

At the end of the battle, the field looked like this:

End of Game

This was a very fun contest and a real pleasure to game again against a live opponent.  A very bloody affair; over in about 45 minutes.  Caesar will expect a rematch.