Christmas Napoleonic Campaign Game

  • We wrapped up the mini skirmish campaign that we've been running over the past few weeks and then concluded with a final larger game. The two smaller games were based on the Blackstock Plantation and Gloucester Point.

    In the former the new French commander Marshall Will took command of five line units that had bivouacked by the Tyger River. A small Prussian advanced force had caught up with them and was attempting to pin them against the river until their larger forces could arrive. The Prussians were commanded by yet another of the Luchs family, Baron Rotten- Luchs a 14-year-old cousin of the now wiped out main Luchs family. The Luchs family motto is Death or Glory as they consistently choose the former this is surely one of the most unfortunate families in Prussia, so many having died during the campaign. I think for them the average life expectancy is three games. as we'll see young Rotten- Luchs lived up to the family motto. Enough said for now

    Things started with internal French bickering. The veteran unit was unhappy with the slow movement of a green unit to their left so derided to urge them forward by shooting them. This drastic action did see the green unit move forward on the flank in an effort to get away from their salty veteran pals. Unfortunately, they met their ultimate destruction at the hands of the Prussians but their gallant surge forward drew several turns of fire.

    The other French units trudged directly ahead through the muddy fields (half speed) whilst the Prussian forces kept up a steady fire. Luchs the younger was champing at the bit to order a lancer charge. and as the French were weakened by musketry, he ordered the charge. With somewhat predictable outcome they fell just short of their target and were blasted into rout by repeated French musketry.

    Once the French emerged from the muddy fields and having lost yet another militia unit they decided to give the skulking Prussians some musket fire. Unfortunately, this took the young Rotten-Luchs by surprise and just as he stood atop a stone wall brandishing his sabre and urging his men on the musketry ensured there'd be yet another Luchs memorial in these lands.

    With their jaunty commander slain the remaining Prussians fled (two turns before their main forces were due to arrive) so sealing a win for Marshall Will.

    On the other table the brave Brunswickers were rustling supplies from the French lands and the French had sent a force to catch them up and prevent this.

    Just short of the Brunswick redoubts the French cavalry caught up and charged the Brunswick rear guard cavalry. Things started well for the French as they saw off a unit of the Brunswickers but they themselves failed morale (a constant French theme for the Comte Del Montes forces) and the chance to press home their advantage was lost. The French cavalry had got ahead of their infantry but even though disordered having now seen off the Brunswick cavalry went for broke by charging the Brunswick infantry. It was another Death or Glory type move and proved as ill-fated as Rotten-Luchs shenanigans. the Brunswick carts managed to get past their infantry who now held off the stuttering French infantry to seal a comprehensive Brunswick victory. There was talk amongst the French command that the Comte Del Montes reliance on so many Austrian deserters was having a deleterious effect on his force's morale.

    So on to the main game where the French who had won the skirmish campaign 20 pts to 16 were the attackers of the Germanics camp. The Prussio/Brunswick forces had two commands with 42 pts total and the French two commands with 70pts total. The skirmish game results were fed into card drawn advantages from the campaign system with the French drawing five cards and the Germanics four for use in the final game.


    campaign rewards


    The final, larger, game involved the French attacking and attempting to loot the Germanics camp. The Prussio/Brunswick force just had to hold out until nightfall (8 turns then roll a D6) at which point they could evacuate safely.

    The Germanics for their part were defending some wooded hills with a pass in the middle where their camp was located. They adopted the somewhat unorthodox 'refused centre' defence. This almost proved their undoing as the French target (camp) was located in the centre.

    On the French right the Comte Del Monte was in command with his Austrian deserter units. Throughout the battle as the infantry took casualties the 'french' fled the field. The gunners were clearly not trained as they often struggled to fire and when they did fire, they'd gauged the range or powder charges inadequately and caused few casualties. That left their cavalry who sneaked up on the flank and charged the Brunswickers routing their skirmishers officers club before being themselves routed. With the remaining Brunswick units out of arc or being pressed hard by Marshall Wills forces this left the way open for the Mamelukes to charge through and loot the camp. Five failed activations later they were still where they stood. Dammed non-French units muttered Marshall Will.

    For his part Marshall Will faced off against the Prussians. With the latest Luchs demise one of the Luchs family retainers was in command. He proved more competent than the fragile Rotten-Luchs

    As the French pressed forward concentrating their forces in the small farmstead facing the Prussians the new Prussian commander launched his aggressive line unit into a charge against the French left flank which would have routed units from the field if Marshall Will hadn't stiffened their resolve by shooting the most cowardly looking individuals (clearly shooting his own men was somewhat of an on-going theme for Marshall Will.

    Though this attack had ultimately failed it had bought the Germanics time but now their famed 'refused centre' tactics put their whole effort in jeopardy as Marshall Will sent a unit of lancers right up the road beyond the Germanic artillery arc of fire and into the camp. The lancers set about looting.

    A volley from the Brunswickers caused a few casualties but the looting continued, and all looked lost for the German cause.

    Then the newly promoted Prussian commander remembered his days in the Jaegers and ordered his line unit to fall back and fire at the now in-sight lancers. The lancers looked around and finding no infantry had followed them into the camp fled with whatever baubles they'd been able to acquire so far. The camp which was however now half-looted.

    With that night fell and the Germanics were able to retreat with what remained of their half-looted camp as they claimed a minor victory.

    A close-run fun set of games with the final outcome on the line till right at the end.

    Thanks everyone who joined in.


  • Thanks Pete for a great day of gaming.


    And a victory for the Germanic alliance, despite the arrival of some real French troops. There were even rumors that a French Eagle had made an appearance but only the now deceased Rotten-Luchs could confirm this.

  • The Prussians did spot a golden glimpse in the shape of an imperial eagle, and an advanced company of aggressive infantry was sent forward to capture it. However it turned out like all things French to be a poor imitation, made of chocolate wrapped in gold foil, very apt for the Xmas day game.


    A good day and the campaign overall was great fun, thanks Pete.