Sunday, March 6, 2011

Franco-Prussian Game Report

We had a great, unique FPW game last night.  Chris' friend, Mike LaVigne was in town, and was able to make the game.  I believe it was the first time he's played Field of Battle, or seen Field of Battle played.

The scenario generated by the player's decisions resulted in a Prussian force outnumbered by 20% deployed essentially across the short end of the board, primarily behind a Class II railroad embankment.  The French had deployed across most of the table width, so 2/3 of their army had a long march to get to the engagement. The Prussians were outgunned, with 1/2 of their artillery not making it to the battlefield.  Obviously the Prussian army was in no mood to fight...rolling up only 15 Army Morale Points, to 24 for the French.

The Prussian 2 right command groups were pushed over the railroad and toward the French left flank wood on their baseline.  A stiff fight resulted between the Prussians and defending Turcos.  Most of the Army Morale Points lost by both armies were lost in the fight for the woods.

The French were surprisingly fast in recovering and moving their army to attack the Prussians.  The French right flank, under General "Triple Move" Mumby moved at an unbelievable speed.  I've never seen so many triple move rolls in a single game.  I think General "Triple Move"'s troop moved around 8 to 9 feet to crush the Prussian left flank.

By the time the French closed on the Prussian right flank (now commanded by me, as Chris and Mike had to scoot to make the start of the Colorado Avalanche vs. Edmonton Oilers game), only 3 Army Morale Points remained for the Prussians.  A devastating attack by the French, multiple UI losses for the Prussians...and wouldn't you know it - the turn of the Army Morale Card!   The Prussians failed on the first try, and the game ended with a decisive result in around 2 1/2 hours (19 units for the French, 15 for the Prussians).

 The initial deployments.  The French army is deployed across the table (left side of photo)...the Prussian army is way, way down on the end of the table...

 French commands on their right flank

 French commands in the woods on the French left, soon to be under attack

 Prussians cross the railroad and move to the attack on the woods

 French right flank leaps into action and starts to close on the Prussians

Prussians deployed behind the Class II cover of the railroad embankment

French cross at the ford

Prussian attack begins to falter as the Turcos bloody the Jaegers

A sharp looking unit of French Chasseurs

More French cross the river

The end comes quickly for the Prussian left flank as the French under Genl. "Triple Move" Mumby close in.  There used to be Prussian infantry in the gap at the railroad...they're routing now, out of the photo.

The French reserves ready to crush what remains of the Prussian left flank.

10 comments:

  1. Wow - just the most beautifully painted FPW armies I've ever seen. Really enticing. Regards, Dean

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  2. Hi

    Yes usual gorgeous figures and interesting battle.

    Cheers

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  3. Nice report and great looking figures too!!

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  4. Those are some very nice Franco-Prussians!

    What's the scale and figure manufacturer?

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  5. Figures are 25mm Wargames Foundry. I still think this early range of theirs was one of their best.

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  6. Hi Brent - really great looking game and its good to see someone playing FPW but I've never heard of the Field of Battle rules before. Do they cater for the differences in ranges between Prussian and French firearms?

    Beautifully painted figures - I'm just putting a Prussian army together myself and agree with your comment about the old Foundry range - one of their best.

    Cheers,
    Doc
    http://docsartofwar.blogspot.com/

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  7. Yes - FoB is a set that covers 1700 to 1900, but has period specific rules that adjust the core set to handle the different periods. In fact, one of my regular players commented that "What I like about FoB is that last time we played Napoleonics and this time we played FPW, but the games played entirely differently". There are definitely adjustments for weaponry and ranges.

    Doc - I've enjoyed your blog as well!

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  8. Brent,
    On base sizes.
    Seems all your figures (through the ages so to spea) appear to have the same dimensions.

    Can you give some measurements (maybe in a new blog message?) As your units do look big yet still only have 3 figures pers base) I am very interested in a shamefull copy of your base dimensions.

    Rene

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  9. Will do! I'll try to post tonight if my schedule allows.

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  10. Brent, I really like this table with the lip around and the extra side, you wouldn't happen to have the plans available would you?

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