Two -Games Friday

 I headed over to Julians place midafternoon Friday after leaving work a bit earlier than usual. Chris and John were already there, having answered Julians call for an early start to get in two games - however, although they had been there for approximately two hours AND the ACW (yes Stew, I was thinking of you when I saw it!) game was all set up and ready to go before they arrived, they were only halfway through the first turn of the game, using The Devil To Pay rules!

I arrived to general complaints from the Rebs that they were about to be dealt to big time by the Union and the game would not last much longer etc. The scenario was based on the first day of Gettysburg, with Union dismounted cavalry holding a ridge, awaiting infantry reinforcements as a larger force of Confederates advanced on the position. By the time I arrived, the Union infantry was almost in place and the Rebs were still plowtering around on their approach march - it seemed like they had missed the boat.....

However, a few action tiles later, and the game was over - with the Confederate attack victorious all along the line and the Union forces driven back in disarray. Such was the calamitous state of the boys in blue that their commander (Julian) called the game at the end of turn one - and we cleared the table to set up the second game, an RCW bash using Red Actions, for which I had brought along a contribution of Bolshevik troops!

To be honest, the RCW game was really just a lot of long-range firing with HMG's and indirect fire weapons - not a lot of maneuvering occurred but we had a bit of fun and I got to put a few of my figures on the table, so it was all good! A couple of beers, take away pizza and a nice glass of red wine and off home just after 2200, it was another good day in my book!

Here are some pics with annotations - not really blow by blow AAR's because the first game was over pretty quickly after I arrived and the RCW game, as mentioned, didn't have a lot to talk about (or take photos of!)

Rebs to the left, Union in the centre and to the right.

View from behind the left flank of the Union position 

The Rebs approach march

The game tiles already used can be seen to the right above. One of the things I quite like about these rules are the Carpe Diem tiles, which come out at random. When these appear, all players roll 1 D6 and highest score gets to choose an action type (charge, rally, fire, move). 

Two of the last four tiles out of the bag were Carpe Diems and the Rebs won them both, so were able to move to get their columns and lines into position and then charge on the second tile.

The dismounted cavalry counted as loose order for combat and John had his Rebs in attack columns, so despite Julian throwing some infantry into the rear as supports, the Rebs were rolling something like 8 D6 to 4 D6 in almost every combat - and the outcome was pretty predictable!

The attacking rebel columns (top left) were all disordered and a bit shaky after their exertions, but the Union had no good order troops left to exploit their discomfiture, so that was that - game over in one turn (albeit a very long one turn!)

Game two set up - it wasn't quite as bare as this makes it look - several pieces of high ground meant a lot of the troops could not see each other.

Bolshevik HMG and sailors

More Red sailors

Bolshevik Red Guards

Julians version of "Budyonny's Cavalry Army" or  Konarmia (Кона́рмия, "Horsearmy")

In truth, the cavalrymen sat " in a threatening posture" according to Tovarich Julian, for most of the game ie they did nothing! This must be about three quarters of the way through the game, as they have finally started to advance - the high ground between them and Chris's White infantry meant neither could see the other to fire.

The Red infantry (much like their White opponents opposite) declined to advance and simply waited as the HMG crews of both sides dueled for supremacy. At the three quarters stage, I had won that fight and had 4 HMG to one left on Johns side.

The cavalry had some incredibly good firing results, considering several negatives they had for moving and firing from the saddle. They took out at least one HMG and caused the Whites to pull back.

Scene of the battle as it came to an end - the Reds had the advantage but due to the rather annoying White mortars taking out two of my four HMG's. we were not in quite as dominant a position as we had been a few moves earlier!

Was nice to have the opportunity to get a few of my RCW troops out on the table - they are mostly either Copplestone or Brigade Games "Back of Beyond" ranges but also seen here are Hinterland female sailors (now sadly OOP) and an STP (Russian manufacturer) HMG crew. The Red cavalry and all the Whites are Julians and all Copplestone I think.

Finally, after my post a few days ago including the short bio on the WWII Russian female pilot, it was a bit of a coincidence that I came across this book by Helion & CO.....

Thanks for dropping by and I look forward to seeing all your comments - lots of output from the assembly and painting desk this last week or two, so next couple of posts will likely feature some Blitzkrieg era Germans in 28mm.