Sharp Practice : The Bridge at Dorflingen, 1809

This week it was great to get a game of Sharp Practice, it’s a game I really enjoy. To date most of my experience of is in the French & Indian conflict in North America as part the Seven Years War.

Geoff, the game’s host used Chat GPT to suggest a scenario for three players. After a bit of tweaking of the terrain and the force rosters we ended up in 1809 at the Bridge at Dorfingen. This was an engagement between the Austrians and French during the Napoleonic Wars. This was my first experience of fighting a Napoleonic game of Sharp Practice. I was allocated the French. In my extremely limited knowledge of the Napoleonic period, I understand the French were famed for attacking in columns. So in my haste I thought well let’s give that a go then. Because I was playing against two opponents Geoff and Dave, I was very aware I had to mitigate against an early flank march so while my Voltigeurs covered the right from the wood I simply charged down the road in column hoping to crash into the Austrian line before they could unleash their opening volleys.

It didn’t end well for my column. The Austrian commander card came out first the next round, followed by some flags for a bout of Sharp Practice, visiting more than pIan on the French column. The withering volleys brought them to a standstill, and they were obliged to withdraw.

Following the game I asked the wargaming futurity on Bluesky their experience of commanding French Columns in the Lardy tradition of “playing the period and not the rules”. Fellow wargamers sharing their thoughts, experiences and suggestions on using the Napoleonic French Attack column. Getting all these responses was great, and hearing all the different perspectives on commanding a French attack column. It was an inspiring and invigorating to get so many thoughtful responses. What a great community we have.

Nevertheless, despite the catastrophic attack column pushing forward while its artillery support got mired in the mud. The picture on the right flank was a bit brighter. I had successes as my Voltigeurs skirmished back and forth with Jägers until I could bring my Chasseurs à Cheval to bear and drive the Austrians off before my Force Morale collapsed.

I will claim some consolation points for elan and sending the Jägers and the Austrian Grenadiers packing on the right flank.

Good old Sharp Practice always supplies an entertaining game. Next time I will try to be a bit more measured and methodical in my approach rather than changing in like a lunatic.

 

Chain of Command: Many Rivers to Cross Campaign Game One

After a couple of dry runs playing Chain of Command. At the weekend we started “Many Rivers to Cross” campaign from the 2018 Lardy Special. The first game, fought on Map Two: The Village, of the Ladder campaign saw a German First Wave platoon in the vanguard of the assault. 

The German’s made good progress attacking in the wake of a Stuka bombardment not really being effected by French counter battery fire. As a result the made it to the village before any real French intervention. 

Has the Germans closed on one of their objectives near the Great War Memorial the end of turn and the end bombardment, allowing the French to deploy and defend the objectives.

By focusing on one of the German section and although the Germans were very close to capturing an objective, the French successfully eroded their Force Morale to zero theeby winning the game.

Carnevale: Guild Civil War

The set up for the latest game of Carnevale: The game was a Guild civil war. The King Thieves has charged 'King for the Day' and his Pulcinella to pay the House of Virtue a visit and collect the outstanding taxes. He didn't want to go himself, so to distance himself from the events and not to slurry relations with the Madame.

The House of Virtue fought hard to defend their hard earned monies from "King or the Day" & his Pulcininellas tax collectors. Racing over roof tops to cut them off before they located the treasure. The King for the Day did a fantastic job smash and grab raid to secure the prize.

It was followed by a frantic battle to get the "King of Thieves" taxes back to him which ultimately cost him his life when the Madame caught up with him. Nevertheless, the ostrich rider was standing by to ride off with their prize. A great game with loads of laughs an a brilliant result for the Pulcininellas.

Early War French Dragons Portee / Motorcycle Reconnissance Troops

The ongoing Early War French project continues with this set of 3D printed Dragons Portee/ Motorcycle Reconnaissance troops. While my preference is for metal miniatures I have been really impressed by the high quality of recent 3D sculpts. To be honest these guys look better than their 3D renders.

Some of the main things I look in a figure range are an animation and character and these lads have both in spades. I am very grateful to Jason at Danger Close Studio for rescaling them to 20mm so they fit in with my existing mix from the Early War and CheckPoint Miniatures ranges. 

It is great to have a mix of uniforms and  poses to represent an ad-hoc unit or even  a Group Franc force to provide great level of versatility to my Early War French. These figures can fit in to a British Expeditionary Force force as an (un)reliable ally also. 

Because they have been scaled down form 28mm my only concern is the strength of the resin on the extremities such as rifle barrels and waving hands &c. Although they survived the painting table okay. This has not always been the case even with metals. 

I look forward to getting them on the table next month in the first game of the 'Many Rivers to Cross' Campaign. 

Sharp Practice : French & Indian War Escort

One of the appealing things about playing Sharp Practice in the Sharp Practice in the French &Indian War is the diversity the units available to use. We fielded the following troop types. regulars, skirmishers, irregular skirmishes, light infantry and tribes. 

With such a mixture of troop types you get the prospect of an interesting asymmetrical  encounter where you’re constantly attempting to make the most of your troops attributes while not falling foul of your opponent’s strategy.

In this engagement were a War party of Native Americans  accompanied by their French Allies attempted to intercept a force of Provincials escorting the Colonel’s mistress to this latest posting. 

The first few rounds were so dominated by British chits that I checked the bag to ensure I’d actually added the French ones. Once they did eventually come out the Couriers de Bois made an immediate impact with some great shooting to pin the Provincial settlers in to  their hard cover. 

Despite this no other French or Native American unit cared to appear. During this time the Chastity and her entourage made excellent progress along the road. 

At long last the blue chits began to appear but the French deployed  in a poor position mainly due to trying to avoid getting caught out in front of the  Provincial Regulars and thus were unable to to intercept Chastity and her party. 

Nevertheless, despite this unfavourable deployment the option it was still possible to grab a pyrrhic victory by eroding the morale of the two militia units acting as rearguard. This was working well but alas Chastity even with her sprained ankle crossed the table swiftly. She was clearly keen to get to her beau. 

Sharp Practice : French & Indian War Encounter

As we sweltered down in CLWC on a hot Monday evening in June we got the bits for Sharp Practice on the table once again. This time British and French Troops met in an engagement on the edge of the wilderness.

A powerful British unit consisting of three units of infantry and one of Grenadiers screened by Provincial Rangers clashed with two units of French Marines accompanied by two groups of Malice Canadien and a war party consisting of two groups of Native Americans allies.  

The deployment rolls favour the British as we both deployed opposite one and other over the open ground. It would have suited the French to deploy in the woods. 

As the British line formed and advanced, the Malice Canadien took advantage of cover and looses a couple of volleys into the line. Killing a leader for a perfect start. Soon there after the line responded with volleys of withering fire obliging the Malice Canadien to withdraw and subsequently breaking them. 

Meanwhile on the right flank, the second group of Malice Canadien made good progress through the woods flanking the British line. They caught a group of Provincial Rangers out in the open a where lucky enough to draw first blood.  However, in the following turns the Rangers struck  back audaciously charging into the woods and while loosing they, did enough damage to mean the Malice Canadien could not push home their early advantage. 

Now the French needed their No.1 ‘Big Man’ card to come out to allow them to move the Jump of Point up the Flank to employ an ambuscade on the  British Line as it advanced. Frustratingly, no number one card would come out for around four turns. It was a case of remaining patient. At long last the Big Man’s card came out and the French Marine Infantry could  return fire and the moveable deployment point moved up through the woods. 

At last it was time to strike, the second group from the Native American war party deployed, firing in to the provincial skirmishers. On the Following turn it was their chance to charge through a cloud of smoke , and, yes they ended up short by a couple of inches! 

On to the next turn they had to come out First, yes, and charged against a group of Provincials carrying Shock. They managed to one success with all their dice. Thereby loosing the fisticuffs and being driven back into the woods. 

The British line continued to advance  there was one chance left the  final group of Braves deployed to charge the Flank of the advancing British Line the Grenadiers peeled  off to face the threat. Whose card would come out First? On three 'Flags' the War party activated and slammed into the depleted init of Grenadiers sending them running. Despite this late success, the Marine Infantry were obliged to withdraw due to the conditioned weight of fire reduced the Force Morale to zero forcing the French and their Native American allies to quit the field.