We are having a few linked games based on those in David O'Brien's Skirmish Battles of the American war of Independence as part of the campaign that never dies aka The Adriatic Campaign. Its a bit more of a challenge for the players as though we do leave some wiggle room in the lists for unit variation (small, large, timid, green, veteran etc) they do have to stick to unit types within their lists. for example, in the cav clash it was one 5 pt aggressive light cav unit versus another, each with a free agitator character added to the unit. In the second it was 3x line and 1x skirmisher each at 12 points but with the winner of the initial cav clash gaining an added bonus (or not as it transpired).
First up was the Bad Day at UnterFock (based on Blue Savannah 4th Sept 1780). A two part battle where the outcome of the first part impacted on the second larger action.
it was Spanish from the Franco-Spanish alliance versus the Prussians from the Germanic Confederation that clashed at Unterfock.
First up was a light cav clash as a unit of finely uniformed Spanish led by a character with a fine uniform and large cockade in his hat on a donkey versus the trusted Prussian lancers. when I say trusted that translates as trusted to easily fall into disorder and become routed i.e. underperform. It was no different on this occasion. Both sides started at the edge of charge range and disordered due to being surprised at encountering the enemy. The only difference between the two was that the officer on the donkey with a flourish of his finely plumed hat cleared the disorder and the Prussians did not. Over three rounds of fierce fighting (well not really that fierce- the Spanish made hard work of beating the disordered enemy) the Spanish prevailed - just, and Juan Le Grande (he of the donkey fame) was able to notch up another victory.
So onto the main game where the Prussiasn main column was emerging from the village and came up against the Spanish line. The Spanish advantage from their earlier victory was that Juan joined a unit (free agitator) and they had a concealed unit of skirmishers in woods on the Prussian left flank.
A favourable outcome awaited the Spanish but it wasn't to be. Both sides struggled to activate all their units and the regular Spanish mainstays (pea sent skirmishers) forayed out front to draw all the Prussian first shooting. They have a history of fighting to the last man and being rather elite peasants and this unit was no exception. Eventually repeated Prussian shooting saw them off but it had taken the heat off the hesitant Spanish line.
Not to fear though because just as they'd gone the bonus unit turned up on the {Prussian left flank ready to deliver victory single handily. But then it all went wrong. Maybe they'd had enough of being bullet magnates for the Spanish line, maybe they'd had a beef with Juan and his donkey, Whatever the cause they ran off immediately (double 1). The Spanish general cursed the dice gods (it doesn't take much to cause this) and the proceeded over the next two rounds to roll some of the worst dice ever (including another double 1 - on the bounce) which resulted the Prussians driving most of the Spanish line from the field and earning their commander (one of the by now infamous Luchs family) a victory which appeared unlikely after the first game,
Franco/Spanish 2 Honour Prussians (Germanics) 4 Honour.