Sumerian Archers and Battles Fought

Despite a continued steady-stream of games (three, this past week) and a number of battle reports and analyses projects in work (not all wargaming related), figures are still mustering out from the workbench.  In fact, total figures painted for 2022 is nearing 1,000.  I should push through that hurdle by year-end.

Today sees two, nine figure units of Sumerian archers emerge.  These two stands of massed archers will be classified as 'T' missile troops in Impetvs.  To the Strongest! likely has an equivalent classification for massed archers.  Figures are from Newline Designs.

More Sumerians to come with one unit of heavy infantry and two skirmisher bow finished and awaiting time at the photo booth.  One more BMU of heavy infantry and one more massed archer unit is currently in work at the painting desk.

Also finished and awaiting a turn for a photo shoot are four regiments of Spanish infantry and two regiments of Reichsarmee infantry for the SYW/WAS 18mm project.

On the gaming table, Cropredy Bridge lingers.  My goal I to get at least one or two more playings from the scenario before packing it all away and moving onto another battle.  I am tempted to have a go at it solo and see if the Royalists can triumph after seeing two tabletop losses.  With the rules fresh in minds, perhaps another ECW battle should be given consideration?  We will see if there is interest for a follow-up battle.

Besides the Cropredy Bridge remote fight on Monday, Tuesday saw me participating in a WWII tactical action on the Western Front.  As German platoon commander, I faced an attacking American company. The German objective was to defend two vital points: a bridge and a crossroads.  Funny that the only American at the table commanded the Germans while all British players commanded American platoons.  Facing 3:1 odds against, how did my Germans fare?  While I did not take many screenshots, I may be able to piece together some semblance of a BatRep.  Good fun!

On the Western Front

On Thursday, Peter (of Grid Based Wargaming) invited me to participate in a remote game using his D3 Horse and Musket rules and his 40mm paper soldiers.  Of course, I jumped at the opportunity.

In another post, I will follow-up with a brief recap of the Jacobite battle to demonstrate how the D3 rules work, first impressions, and how my Highlanders fared.

As a glimpse of possible battle outcome, the screenshot below shows my Highlanders maneuvering onto the government army's left flank.  

Highlanders flank the enemy!

Any guesses on the outcome?

Cycling the Palouse + Games

Weather finally warmed-up and dried-out enough to get back outside on the bike yesterday.  After spending most of April and May indoors on the trainer, unhooking the bike from the indoor torture device was a welcome task.  

Wednesday's route took me 40 miles over hill and dale to the south of Spokane.  Wind was light to moderate and temperatures were cool especially under the ever-present cloud cover.  Elevation gained over the route totaled about 2,500 ft.

With weather expected to see more of the same today, I plan to be out and back before the possibility of afternoon showers returns.

On the gaming front, the Tuesday remote game saw a return to the Russian Civil War and Graham's playtesting.  The focus of Tuesday's game was appearance of an armored train.  Being White commander in this clash, I would be faced with dealing with such a monster.

It was a bloody affair.  The battle was salvaged by a fortuitous White bombing run against the train.  The pilots hit their mark causing the train to withdraw.  Full battle account at Graham's blog,

Armored Train-ing Wheels 

RCW game. 
Whites v Armored Train.

The game generated some good post-game commentary discussing the finer points of armored trains and how to deal with them.  Rules' details will be forthcoming from Graham's keyboard soon.

For Saturday, a second game is on the docket.

Saturday's game sees a return to the Alamo in what is becoming an annual event to celebrate Kevin's birthday. 

Alamo with WoFun

The game is played using WoFun plexiglass 18mm figures on a gridded board.  Rules in use are a variation of Commands & Colors.  Last year, I recall that the attacking Mexicans wiped out the Texican defenders and the birthday boy fell in defeat.  Will the historical result hold up on Saturday?

Alamo with WoFun

The result does not matter much.  We will enjoy good company, BBQ, and birthday cake.  What could be a better way to spend a Saturday?  

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?  

WoFun Alamo’de

The Alamo lined with defenders

Kevin enjoys terrain projects.  The latest project tackled is a reproduction of the Alamo in about 1/100.  The modeled detail of the mission complex is impressive.  This custom fortification was built to accommodate WoFun's 18mm flat, plexiglass figures.  Having built the defenses up over time, the famous structure was put down onto the gaming table for a trial game over the weekend.

Santa Anna's Army arrayed for the assault

Mexican Army arrayed for battle

Although I was not present at the game, Kevin sent along some photos of the initial dispositions of the battle.  The Alamo, itself, is a splendid structure.  With defenders guarding every nook and cranny of the mission and the colorful Mexican Army surrounding the complex, the project comes to life.

The plexiglass figures come pre-painted and look amazing en masse.  At a reasonable cost, armies can be fielded almost instantly.  Played upon a grid, rules used for the battle are a version of Commands & Colors.  With a bit of luck, I may get to give the battle a try in two weeks' time in a one-on-one game during our socially distancing times.

What do you think of Kevin's mission complex and WoFun's pre-painted flats?  Both look terrific to me.  Arrayed for battle, this collection offers a magnificent sight.