Sharp Practice at Winter Wonder Lard

My afternoon game at Winter Wonder Lard  earlier this month was a spectacular Indian Mutiny encounter entitled 'The Dojjibotti Run' using Sharp Practice. 

The forces consisted of a large Sepoy rabble tasked with storming the the British garrsupported by lots of cavalry which I was responsible for, verses a force of British regulars and a Native Princesses' with supporting Gurkhas and Loyal Sepoys. 

What is really interesting about this game is the range of different troop types available from cavalry, militia to regulars & conscripts all played a part, and were full of characterisation. This resulted in an action pack battle. 

I timed the arrival of my scouting cavalry, charging on from a moveable Jump-off Point on the flank of the British advance as they moved up to engage the massed ranks of the Sepoys who were attempting to besiege the British garrison.

I had to be patient waiting for the cavalry cards to come out, but when they did, I provided the opportunity for the cavalry to charge  the  British Light Horse in the rear, resulting from them scattering. Following what felt like a bit of a hiatus wait for the light cavalry to come out again, they charged again  this time  riding down Unloaded skirmishers in the rear. 

Being British light infantry they took a bit of dealing with, and despite this series of engagements my depleted numbers only held one point of shock. 

At the other end of the table the massed ranks of sepoys deployed in a perimeter   to  resist the advancing Native Princes(ses) Loyal Sepoys and supporting Gurkhas. 

The line held as they skirmished forward hold the Loyal Sepoy attack supported by a cavalry charge which came to nought. In the last turn my light changed one final time into the British Line, while out numbered this last heroic attack destroyed them but it successfully pushed an element of the line back. The game ended in stalemate, with force moral teetering on 2 for the British and 3 for the Rebels bringing the game right down to the wire.

Huge thanks to Steve for putting on what was a magnificent game and my fellow players, Ben , Tom and Colin all of whom made it an throughly enjoyable afternoon. 

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.

 

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. 

Sharp Practice : Rescuing Prudence

 

Dear Prudence and her sisters were kidnapped by a war-party of braves in this French & Indian War, Sharp Practice scenario. It was down to Colonial & Provincial Rangers to rescue them. Great fun evening at the Central London

 Wargames Club. 

I was truly inept as in attempting to get the Native American War Party across the table, being cut off at the pass by volleys of musket fire from Provincial Rangers attempting to rescue their women folk.

Even the intervention of French Marine Skirmishers and a large contingent of Coureures de Bois could save the day as the womenfolk were whisked away back to their farmstead. Good old Sharp Practice never fails to provide an entertaining evening of gaming. 

Sharp Practice : Farmstead Raid

 It was a blast, to have game of Sharp Practice once again. It always provides an entertaining evening of toy soldiers. 

The 28mm figures looks spectacular on the table, but carrying it all home on the train after a club night I was sorry I didn’t opt for 15mm , the actual ground scale of the game!! 

The idillic frontier farmstead, all set out for tonight’s game of SharpPractice down at Central London Wargames Club is about to disrupted by a raiding party from up the Ohio River. 

Before long Malice Canadien and a Native American war-party skirted the woods looking for weaknesses signalling the beginning of the encounter. 

In the nick of time Colonial Regulars supported by Militia showed up forcing the attackers to a more cautious approach down one of the flanks.

The writing was an the wall for the raiders, despite a successful charge, the Provincial Regulars funnelled them down one flank and pinned them back with volley fire. A most entertaining game of SharpPractice with lots of random events to keep it exciting.