Magnetic Miniatures Bases

I have been asked to do up a video about the use of neodymium magnets and sheet steel bases that I use for all of my tabletop games now.

I kept it short and to the point about the magnets and the bases, just infantry right now.  I may do more vids about the tabletop etc in the future.

Comments are welcome.

Cheers

1812. Нашествие. 4 серия

The last part of the look back on the 1812 Campaign in Russia.

Now I move on to 1813, the Leipzig phase and the Campaign of Nations games.

1812. Нашествие. 3 серия

An amazingly well done video series about the 1812 campaign in Russia.

1812. Нашествие. 2 серия

Continuing the final look back at the 1812 Campaign

1812. Нашествие. 1 серия

Though all in Russian this video captures very well the 1812 Campaign.

As a last look back it serves very well.

Momentous Decision

No longer confident Napoleon

Whether this disturbing though trivial affair [Cossack charge nearly reaching Napoleon's person] influenced the Emperor's decision, we do not know *, but after holding a discordant council of war with his senior officers, he ordered the planned march toard Kaluga to be discontinued forthwith.  Instead the Grand Armee was to retrace its steps to Oshigovo and then march for Mojaisk -- thus returning to the route used to reach Moscow a month before.

* From this day on, Napoleon habitually carried a bag containing a lethal poison on a string around his neck.  The prospect of captivity continually haunted him.

~ D. Chandler, The Campaigns of Napoleon, p.822

Tip of the Spear

Cossacks Charge!

Early the next day (the 25th), the Emperor carried out a personal reconnaissance of the south bank [of the Lusha River in Maloyaroslavets].  This proved quite and exciting occasion.  Sergeant Bourgogne of the Imperial Guard was an eyewitness of an incident which almost resulted in Napoleon being taken prisoner.  As he rode forward with his staff, escorted by the usual two squadrons of Chasseurs of the Guard, a formation of Cossacks suddenly appeared from a nearby wood and charged straight for him.  General Rapp and the escort only just succeeded in driving the enemy off, and one Cossack fought his way to within twenty yards of the Emperor.  Bourgogne was a member of a Guard formation rushed up to the rescue.  "As we came onto the plain, we saw the Emperor almost in the midst of the Cossacks, surrounded by generals and staff officers.  One of the latter was wounded through a singular mischance.  At the instant when the cavalry entered the plain, several officers were forced to draw their sabres to protect themselves and the Emperor, who was in their midst and might have been taken.  One of the staff officers, however, after killing a Cossack and wounding several more, lost his hat, and then dropped his sabre.  Finding himself weaponless, he rushed at a Cossack and snatched away his lance and began to defend himself with it.  At that very moment he was spotted by a Horse Grenadier of the Guard, who, mistaking him for a Cossack, because of his green cloak and lance, rode him down and passed his sabre through his body."  We learn later from Marbot, however, that the unfortunate staff officer survived his wound and in due course regained France in safety -- which is more than can be said for a great many more who participated in this skirmish.

~ D. Chandler, The Campaigns of Napoleon, p. 822

Retreat Progress

a rainy start to the retreat

The retreat began on the 120th day of the campaign.  At first everything went reasonably well, although the rate of movement was seriously  hampered by the impedimenta, and the army took five days to cover the first sixty miles.  After two days of heavy rain, the weather turned fine, but the nights were already cold.  There was, at first, few signs of Russian activity.  Kutusov was aware of Napoleon's move the day it started, his vastly superior cavalry bringing him plenty of intelligence; but the Russian general appeared to be in the grip of complete lethargy.  As we have seen no effort was made of follow up after Vinkovo; now, on the 19th, no immediate attempt was made to block Napoleon's road.  Olnly on the 22nd did Doctorov's corps leave Tarutino, marching to shadow Napoleon's main column and then slipping ahead in an attempt to seize the important road junction of Maloyaroslavets before Eugene's IVth Corps (at the head of Napoleon's main column) could occupy it.

~ D. Chandler, The Campaigns of Napoleon, p.820

Maloyaroslavets - Dak-Kon Convention Game

For the Dak-Kon convention this year, I had decided to run a Fast Play Grand Armee game of Maloyaroslavets.

iPad photo from Eric - my opponent in this game where I commanded the Italian/French forces

I had the task of also being a presenter and co-host of the event, which had role-playing, card game and other board game activities going on at the same time.

The game was ready to start on time, there was only me as the player though.  I thank my middle son, Victor, for getting things going in coming forward to handle the miniatures for the Russians.

He wasted no time in driving hard at the important center village of Maloyaroslavets - pushing out 1/2 of the Italians in there.

Here we see Maloyaroslavets village, 1/2 taken by Russians, the top of the hill still held by Gilleminot and his Italians

By turn 3, the Russians had formed a solid line facing off the town and had driven off one light battery formation.

overview of the situation in Turn 3

closer view of the Russian lines

Russian assault gets into Maloyaroslavets

Russian far left, the Cossacks had driven off the French light batteries, now the Cossacks were to have to hold back ... something that Platov is not well known for!

 Italian cavalry had become halted on the south side of the one bridge over the Lusha river causing some 'back up' of the traffic flow ... a thing that could undo the whole French/Italian position!

The light cavalry arrived, getting in each others way in the process

Turn 4 was a short 2 pulse turn, that I did not get any pictures from, it was a critical time for the Russians, as they did not roll very many command dice, so they ended up having one division stuck in a hold on the critical access road.  I really like this scenario for the requirement of BOTH SIDES to have to use up their command functions to keep troops moving with the potential for bad things to happen from a lack of movement!  This is a part of what I call important to good generalship, seeing where the important action is in the moment and dealing with it as best you can.  Sadly it was beyond Victor to keep on top of, and ultimately he did not have the CD's to spare!

Through turn 4 and early turn 5 the French were sending out the light cavalry into their left wing, to go along the far side of the Russian right.  It was during turn 4 that a new adult player, Eric, came onto the scene and took on the command functions for the Russians to 'help' Victor.  It was his choice to redeploy Platov and his Cossacks to cover the left wing.  He could also see that at least one division of French were moving on the far side of the hill to flank him on the other side.  The end of turn 4 was also the arrival of Kutuzov and the three massive heavy reserve position artillery batteries.

Unable to contain himself, Platov charged into the Chasseurs of Ornano, only this time the Chasseurs were set for the charge!

the wild Platov strikes at the Chasseurs

The Cossacks of Platov were not prepared for the engagement

Turn 5 was to be a three pulse turn, neither of the commanders had enough CD's to keep on top of their troops.  This turn was also to be the one where my elbow would catch on the top of my church steeple and send the model tumbling over breaking off the steeple (look closely at the church in later images and you will see either no steeple or the broken sections of it).

Overview of the field from the Russian side (backed up troops that have not yet arrived can be seen in the foreground)

Overview from Russian left

One of the problems the Russians had, beyond the interrupt in troop arrivals, was a retreat by the leading brigades that blocked off the forward artillery then the division got a 'hold' order without enough command dice (CD's) to make it change.  This would prove to be fatal to the Russian cause in this game as they could not act while French artillery were able to get into position.

Kutuzov assembles a grand battery on the far south of the battlefield, while (seen in the top left corner) brigades are blocking the forward artillery

French Divisions were seen moving from the Russian left flank

The blocked Russian batteries were unable to fire on the opposing French/Italians

Platov's Cossacks were to be thrown into the fight again on the Russian right, to only the result of slowing down - just barely the Chasseurs, there were Cheveauxleger coming up also ... so the Russian right was going to have to be re-positioned.

Cossacks were used to slow down the French on the Russian right

Turn 6 was to be another 3 pulse turn.  Now the Russians were having to re-position, they had been unable to break into the other half of Maloyaroslavets, now with light cavalry on their right and French divisions coming on the left, the whole line of the battlefield was totally in action.  Certainly the first time since a game of Austerlitz I have ever seen this much action all across the whole line of battle.

Russian right flank formed up to receive the onrushing French

Now the Russian guns were able to fire, they were faced by equal French batteries, coming off the worse in the exchange

Russian left, now a division of infantry had formed up to block the French light cavalry

It was during the decisions of turn 6 that caused the Russian commander to commit his final infantry Division, Kovonitzen of III Corps to the left flank and halting the light cavalry that proved to be the game ending decision.  As the French commander I still held Lecchi and the guard division (with infantry and dragoon brigades) in reserve.  I am constantly reminded of Bonaparte's plans to constantly keep one division back from the fight as much as possible (I was having to put CD's on Lecchi all the time to keep him from going over to the attack on his own).

By pulse 2 of turn 7 the situation on the Russian left had collapsed, most certainly the French were going to get though that flank.

Field overview from the Russian left

Field overview from the French left

In the center, the Russian guns had been 1/2 destroyed, now the weight of French artillery would overcome all troops on the first 'slope' or 'level' of the hill south of Maloyaroslavets.  The French had Lecchi and the Italian guard to move into the open ground, while the Russians had no reserved divisions to use to halt this at all.

Russians were being driven away to the south of Maloyaroslavets

The 'back' side of the central hill showing the Italian guard, Lecchi's Division ready to move into the open ground

Platov's Cossacks had shot their bolt, only a remnant barely enough to keep the division as counting as 'effective' and permitted to stay on the table (in a game sort of way) and thus keep the 'score' close - ultimately there was no more Russian cavalry to face down the marauding French horse on the left and nothing at all to challenge the Italian Dragoons of Lecchi.

Russian left facing destruction at the hands of French light cavalry

View from far French right looking towards the open center

The end of turn 7 after 3 pulses had a score of French 3: Russian 1; this was the first moment when there was any score at all, as other brigades had all been successfully pulled back from conflict before they were utterly destroyed.

Turn 8, my opponent could see that he could not stop the French, though he was willing to stay on - only to see if they could be prevented from dominating the south river line.

Ultimately the Russians were unable to even really slow down the French, they were able to keep 1/2 of the town of Maloyaroslavets, yet even Eric was able to see that there would be no way to stop the French here and Kutuzov would have to withdraw the grand battery and move off the army 12-20 miles to the south - thus OPENING the way for the French to move on the Kaluga road to Smolensk ... what a change of history that would have been!

Victory!  Eugene's view of the Russian center, with French infantry on the open ground to the south of Maloyaroslavets

Final score French/Italian 6 : Russian 4 with the French holding 2/3rds of Maloyaroslavets and all of the hills up to the south stream, there were NO RUSSIANS on the north side of the Lusha tributary.

The ragged Russian left, only wounded battalions left to cover the retreat

Ornano's hard road, littered with the Chasseurs in order to open the French right and win the way to Kaluga

Just past midnight, south of Maloyaroslavets, Lecchi and the Italian guard hold the high ground with three massive heavy batteries, Guard Dragoons and Guard Infantry, all ready for action.

RESULT:  French Tactical victory, not an outstanding victory though certainly enough to have convinced the Russian commander Kutuzov to have withdrawn and open the way for Bonaparte to use the Kaluga road to Smolensk

Eric and I pose for a photo after the end of the game

Thank you to Victor for starting me off in the game (playing solo is dull at a convention) - he was patient with so much table-talk happening.  Over and over again new folks would stop by and talk about the game, history, tactics. leadership, strategy etc.  Because I also cast and paint most of the troops there are also painting technical talk that happens.

Eric was a good sport in taking over for Victor and good on him for sticking with the battle to the end.

You can see more of Eric's pictures, taken with his iPad, here.

Maloyaroslavets - Post Action Fast Update

Maloyaroslavets tabletop for the Dak-Kon game

Here, seen from directly above is the tabletop map for the Maloyaroslavets game that I ran at the Dak-Kon games event in Courtenay over the past weekend.

I had the space to spread out more, though I decided to stay compact with the one tower of minis for storage before use in the game.

Dak-Kon 17 Maloyaroslavets game setup ready to deploy troops

I have plans for a full AAR in the next couple of days.

Maloyaroslavets OOB for FPGA

I shall simply put out here the Orders of Battle for the French and Russian sides in the Maloyaroslavets battle planned for Dak-Kon 17 in Courtenay tomorrow.

French OOB - Maloyaroslavets - FPGA

Russian OOB - Maloyaroslavets - FPGA

Full AAR with loads of pictures (planned) to follow the convention event, perhaps by Wednesday?

Cheers

Maloyaroslavets 'Down Under'

The Avon Napoleonic Fellowship recently posted up a game of Maloyaroslavets.

Most enjoyable account, though the forces did not come to direct contact.

Maloyaroslavets Playtesting #2

I was able to leave the table 'as is' overnight and got to finish up to turn 6 before having to pull it all apart and serve dinner.

Turn 4 was the first real PUSH by the Russians to get into one of the two major sections of Maloyaroslavets.

By turn 4 the center was becoming loaded with action

Two brigades were crowded forward then  moved to strike together at the one Italian brigade that was holding the building.  This brigade had actually moved OUT because of a withdraw result in an earlier turn.  A part of the FPGA rules that I am still in a mixed feeling about are the sometimes unpredictable results that can come once control dice have run out - which happens when turns run to the full 4 'pulses'!

The defensive bonuses were just too much and both Russian brigades fell back with 40% losses, while the Italians took 20%.

Still the Italians were arriving, with only one major bridge they were having problems keeping up the fighting at the front

Meanwhile the Italians and French Allied forces were still arriving ... Preysing's Cheveauleger managed to get in the way of the bridge by having a 'hold' order show up at just the wrong time.

By Turn 5 the meat grinder in the valley of death was in full operation, with Cossack, Chasseur and Cheveauxleger charges and counter-charges running over the ground soon to be filled with cannons!

Seen from the Cossacks flank the 'valley of death' was clearly the warmest place on the field

Turn 5 also saw the arrival of Napoleon and Kutuzov.

The new personality model for Kutuzov arrives on the field, leading part of III Corp and the army reserve artillery

Napoleon arrives and sends off his stepson Eugene to keep the Italians moving on the flank

 The French took full advantage of this and launched Eugene off in his Wing commander role to keep a column of jittery Italians moving on the Russian right flank.

Rushing across the bridge and to the left flank Eugene will now also take on active battlefield command

The whole field as seen from the French left flank

Within the turn another attempt would be made at the outer section of Maloyaroslavets, again being repulsed.  While in the valley of death, the artillery duel at canister range raged on tearing great swaths in the ranks of both sides.

Another Russian attack into Maloyaroslavets is repulsed by the Italians

Still undaunted a fresh Russian Division from III Corps now makes its weight in numbers felt, as Kutuzov also lends his command weight to the assault into outer Maloyaroslavets - this time the Italian brigade is utterly destroyed and the Russians swarm into the town.

climbing man over man the third assault into Maloyaroslavets is successful

It was here that my time ran short so I decided to wrap up the playtest ... most certainly this battle is very close and there are potentials for all sorts of mayhem and changes to the battle from history.

The Italians main headache is keeping the flow going across that single bridge, it must be kept open as possible so that the flow of traffic does not bog down and prevent fresh troops from reaching the FEBA.

The vital bridge traffic under the watchful eye of Eugene

Maloyaroslavets Playtesting #1

Eugene gets out on the field for the first time

I was able to clear off enough time to get in a playtest of the Maloyaroslavets game today.

I did this to ensure that I had all the materials for the terrain, I knew I had the troops, it was all the hills and rivers and five roads that are all over this battlefield that I was unsure of.

After spending more than an hour in laying out nearly ever section of 1/2" foam hexagons and slopes that I have and some of the 1" thick stuff also I was able to more or less layout the topography for the battlefield.

I needed to use all by 2 of the new river sections that I have for the tributary stream and 2/3rds of the cloth river that I have, all three woods 'under' sections were put into use.  Like I said this is a BUSY battlefield.

Italian forces arrive and press south on the one road across the river

Then came some time to lay out the starting positions for the troops and snap some pictures.

Maloyaroslavets manned by Italian troops "inside" my tabletop buildings

After feeding children (something I do a lot of on the weekends) I was able to get the first moves done and sort out the timings for arrival of the other troops ... though some more playtest and thinking may be needed here as FPGA does not have a 'set' time on each turn or pulse, this will make for somewhat unpredictable arrivals for the troops.  In this playtest there were only 2 pulses on turn three, which meant that a lot of troops were going to all arrive at the start of turn 4.  Causing some crowding to say the least.

Game 'on hold' I will be able to leave it up overnight though and finish on Monday

The battle centers around the town of Maloyaroslavets (shown on my map as the two buildings near the top of the hill) and the Church (seen with the tall steeple and blue roof).  My smaller buildings are all large enough to have the 3" square bases for the troops be set 'inside' them for 'occupying' the town sections, I do not have one like this for my church yet, though I am seeing a design for it in the future in my minds eye now.

A callout for firewood came and I had to put all further playtest and planning thoughts down, make dinner and go out to haul wood for three hours.

The rest of the playtest and further notes will come this week.