Category: wargaming

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Mythical Realms Vienna Treaty Wars wargaming

Fauxterre: 1816 Part 2 – The Twins War

18th March 1816 somewhere in western Zarland.

General Stute of the VinAlban Army was in command of a weak advance guard pushed out to ensure no surprises as the VinAlbans marched south into Zarland.

General Stute cuts a fine if lonely figure on the Arensburg – not to be confused with Kloster Arens located eastwards across the valley of the river Hase.
A rather accurate map (for once) supplied by the Vin Alban Company of Military Surveyors

General Stute’s force descends along the road into the valley of the river Hase. Patrols on either side are already alert to possible enemy activity.

The early morning mist makes it difficult to see the forces involved

They cross the river bridge below Kloster Arens, a rather imposing set of buildings set on the edge of the valley.

General Sumpf of the Royal Zarland Army had been rashly sent (in his opinion) to secure the Arensburg which controls a key road junction west of the river Hase.

in foreground golden cards are Zarlanders, green in the valley are VinAlbans.

General Sumpf had let his force stretch out on the road as his officers had pushed on hard. The men had risen well before daybreak and only now were the mists lifting on what would surely be a clear sunny yet cold day.

The River Hase is crossed by a stout bridge – good for artillery, the river is fordable while a wooden bridge (local name old sawmill bridge) permits foot soldiers and cavalry a dry crossing further south.

The Kloster Arens masked the river valley General Sumpf needed to cross to reach the Arensburg.

Suddenly his troops leave the road in a hurried but directed manner. The General is soon informed – the enemy are in the valley. His leading troops have secured the ridge and Kloster Arens.

As they turn the road corner at Kloster Arens, the 13th Nurtberg Infantry collide with the VinAlban column ascending the valley side. The VinAlban 1st Artillery battery was in the lead and promptly deployed.

The VinAlbans are surprised by the appearance of the enemy troops on the ridge and around Kloster Arens yet continue to march up the valley side. They react by dispersing, trying to form a battle line in and around Kloster Arens.

General Stutes VinAlban force is in a vulnerable position – he already regrets not securing the ridge before crossing the valley: No cavalry and no skirmishers in an advance guard, what was General Geflugel thinking?

He reflects on the exchange a few days earlier with that pompous staff officer Major Heinz Grimble: “What do you mean they are all second battalions – more like depot battalions – get out of my sight Grimble!”

Right now he could do with the 1st Battalions he thought he was getting.

A sharp action commences and it is the VinAlban 1st artillery who claim the first success deploying swiftly at the head of the VinAlban column as it climbed out of the valley. The Zarlanders are too close, fail to react and suffer a great volley of canister – yet they are close enough to rush the gun and capture it driving off the VinAlban artillerymen.

The 13th Nurtberg Zarland Infantry take serious damage from the 1st VinAlban artillery

Overreaching themselves the victorious 13th Nurtberg Zarland Infantry are confusingly attacked by the 13th VinAlban Fusiliers and sent in chaos back over the ridge and beyond the Kloster Arens into South Wood. The VinAlbans almost have the ridge.

In turn the 13th VinAlban Fusiliers attack the Zarlanders with instant success

Then the 13th VinAlban Fusiliers in their turn met a withering fire from the Zarland 6th Dirkheim Artillery.

Now the 13th VinAlban Fusiliers are on the receiving end. The 6th Dirkheim Artillery shatter the advancing VinAlban column.

It was now 10.00 am and the Vin Albans (12th VinAlban Fusiliers) were also on the ridge to the north of Kloster Arens. Here they were soon thrown back by the Zarland 5th Gellenstein Cavalry and 12th Maulhadt Infantry Regiment.

The VinAlbans seek to control Kloster Arens with the 12th Fusiliers advancing round the marshland while the 11th Fusiliers take Kloster Arens itself. The 12th Maulhadt Zarland IR and the 5th Gellenstein Zarland Cavalry repel the 12th Fusiliers.

By 11.00 am the tenuous VinAlban hold on the ridge around Kloster Arens was proving stronger than General Sumpf liked. His 5th Gellenstein Cavalry had initially driven off the 12th VinAlban Fusiliers but these inspired troops decided to return to the fray.

Leaving the 12th VinAlban fusiliers to the care of the 12th Maulhadt Zarland IR the 5th Gellenstein Cavalry head off to secure the right flank of the Zarland ridge line

Today it is the 12th VinAlban Fusiliers who are up for the fight. They drive off the 12th Maulhadt IR who seem to have been preoccupied by the departure of the 5th Gellenstein Cavalry.

The Maulhadt 12th IR were promptly driven off by the VinAlban 12th Fusiliers

The 5th Gellenstein Cavalry now had no option but to return to the marshlands and again attempt to clear the enemy from that part of the ridge.

No reinforcements appear along the road from Vin Alba. Across the distant ridge the Zarlanders fought to keep their line. The Zarland 5th Gellenstein Cavalry are engaging the redoubtable 12th VinAlban Fusiliers

By now it was early afternoon and the Zarlander forces recovering from being strung out on the road were beginning to press home their local advantage and dislodge the VinAlbans from Kloster Arens. The 6th Dirkheim Artillery blast away at the Kloster Arens walled gardens much to the dismay of its owners hiding within.

The VinAlbans still just held on and the 12th VinAlban Fusiliers now saw off the 5th Gellenstein Lancers – much to General Sumpf’s disgust.

Woe for the 5th Gellenstein Cavalry as the 12th VinAlban Fusiliers send them packing.

General Stute had already dispatched couriers to his main body. And around 1600 the 11th Vin Alban Fusiliers quit the Kloster Arens as the 4th Zarland Infantry Regiment, the Benkendorf, broke in to the surrounding walled gardens.

The 11th VinAlban Fusiliers and the 2nd VinAlban Artillery are driven from the Kloster Arens

As General Stute withdrew his artillery and infantry, General Sumpf was content to secure Kloster Arens. The Arensburg could wait until tomorrow.

The heroic 12th VinAlban Fusiliers cover the retreat of the VinAlban advanced guard north along the ridge

Firing died away as the Zarlanders posted their pickets and found the best bivouacs before their main body arrived!

All quiet as the Zarlanders post their pickets and patrols

The narrative is drawn from the game – played solo/zero. In the next part I will detail the rules used.

Categories
Mythical Realms wargaming

Fauxterre 1816 Part 1

It is 1816 and Zarland is mourning the death of its King. The Kingdom should have crowned Otto king. Prince Otto had caused much angst for his father King Gustav. Always rebellious, Otto had discovered a worrying interest in the liberal ideas spreading across the continent. So much so that Otto had turned up in a failed insurrection concerning the small duchy of Nevaria.

Otto was banished from court for a time which only made things worse. The Kings chief advisors manoeuvred the King to declare Otto’s twin sister Maria as his successor and despite his fears, Gustav pursued this decision.

So on Gustav’s death Prince Otto did attempt to gain the crown but he had little support and fled the kingdom. Queen Maria in fact was named Crown Princess Maria with King Gustav’s brother Duke Constantius acting as Regent until matters settled down: As if appointing a Regent was likely to settle matters?

Prince Otto arrived at the court of King Karel of Vin Alba. Now King Karel had allowed a greater degree of liberal activity in his kingdom much to the advantage of the economy as it turned out. Avoiding disruption the kingdom had embraced industry and grown wealthier in recent times.

King Karel thought his guest might be useful as he considered Zarland and its now fragile position. Indeed the Crown Princess Maria was the focus of two other states – Nuringia and Genachia. Both believed that Maria had been promised in marriage to their respective Crown Princes.

The Zarland Regent Duke Constantius was well aware of dangers that Gustav had created by choosing Maria to succeed him. It just seemed that Otto could not be trusted at all.

Zarland’s own history also played against it. Having aggressively built the kingdom from a smaller Duchy, its neighbours all considered various parts were in fact “on loan” and their return was now inevitable.

It was this heady mixture that saw Duke Constantius focus his attention first on Nuringia and Genachia. He and his advisors were therefore surprised when King Karel declared he would support Prince Otto in another attempt to take the throne. King Karel had carefully persuaded the King of Davaria to join him in this venture.

While the King of Davaria promised troops to King Karel he also decided to set about recovering some of the borderlands lost to Zarland in previous years.

So in quick succession the Regent Constantius had to deal with an apparent invasion by Davaria and now its seems the VinAlbans supporting Otto. A scratch force was despatched to the Davarian border under the command of General Guarnieri. At the same time an embassy was sent to the King of Davaria apparently seeking a political solution to his dispute.

The Zarlanders attempt to hold the river line against the Davarians. I posted about grid wargaming in June ….

https://wordpress.com/post/thewargamingerratic.home.blog/2673

The more serious attack required a strong response – there could be no discussion with King Karel until he had tasted defeat. The Zarlanders had an excellent martial history and well maintained forces despite their cost. It was well known that VinAlba had neglected its forces over time.

18th March 1816 somewhere in western Zarland.

General Stute of the VinAlban Army was in command of a weak advance guard. As he arrived at a key road junction just below what the local’s called “the Arensburg” scouts returned reporting enemy troops across the valley……..

The view of Kloster Arens and the river Hase as the VinAlbans passed the Arensburg
Categories
Mythical Realms Vienna Treaty Wars wargaming

Fauxterre 1816 Part 4 – The Battle of Kloster Arens

19th March 1816 somewhere in western Zarland.

After the clash of advance guards it was now the turn of the Zarland and VinAlban main bodies to seek to control the River Hase.

The River Hase passes the Kloster Arens on its eastern bank ridge while on the west bank is the Arensburg and its no less imposing Rittergut.

The Royal Zarland Army was commanded by General Kratzen an above average General whose chief of staff General Klettern was in fact an outstanding Officer.

As dawn breaks the Zarland pickets see movement on the west bank of the River Hase
General Sumpf has elected to hold what he has – Kloster Arens and keeps his few forces east of the River Hase

The VinAlban army was commanded by General Geflugel (an average general) who had been delayed along the route of the march. General Modistin commanded the Davarian force sent to support Prince Otto’s latest attempt on his fathers crown. Modistin was a poor general and very much concerned with his own importance. General Geflugel had sent his Chief of Staff General Nelke (an above average commander) to meet Modistin and try to contain the unreliable General until he could arrive.

Both Zarland and VinAlban forces descend into the river valley
The Davarians are on the right flank, south of Kloster Arens and in force

The VinAlban and Zarland commanders had broken up their main bodies so as to push on to support their advance guards.

General Klettern had arrived with

  • 7th Cavalry
  • 5th Artillery

He sent these north west beyond Kloster Arens as it appeared the enemy were massing to cross the river Hase. General Sumpf had also mentioned the defeated VinAlbans had retreated north the previous evening – no doubt back onto their main body?

General Nelke had likewise brought some troops to reinforce the advance guard of General Stute. He had

  • 10th Infantry battalion
  • 2nd and 3rd Artillery
  • 4th Cavalry
  • 11th Skirmishers

General Nelke dispatched General Stute north with part of this force as reports had been received of enemy movements from that direction.

He then pushed a force across the river Hase in readiness for the arrival of General Geflugel and the main body. Its orders were to secure the flat ground north of Kloster Arens.

The force comprised

  • 4th Cavalry
  • 12th Infantry
  • 10th Infantry
  • 3rd Artillery

He then rode to meet General Modistin who had already arrived from the south west with a substantial force of Davarian troops.

both sides are bold with their artillery!

Earlier at 0400 am General Sumpf again sent patrols north to check on the VinAlbans whose advance guard had withdrawn in that direction the previous day. The 19th of March had dawned very cloudy but still dry. General Kratzen would soon arrive with the main Royal Zarland army.

The forces gather their courage
It is the Davarians who are across the river first as the VinAlban 4th cavalry also begin their crossing

General Klettern had in fact arrived earlier to take over from General Sumpf who took some rest in the Kloster Arens. General Klettern had been surprised to see not just VinAlbans across the Hase river valley but Davarians. He had immediately sent a courier to General Kratzen to hasten forward.

Vin Albans cross north of Kloster Arens as the first attack is made directly by the Davarians on Kloster Arens itself. Ouch!
Today the artillery are seemingly ineffective
General Nelke watches as the assault on Kloster Arens develops
Vin Alban skirmishers and infantry take artillery hits as the Davarians attack across the old sawmill bridge to the south

On the west side of the valley General Modistin had arrived at the Rittergut, meeting General Nelke and immediately demanded to know where General Geflugel was.

General Modistin was noted as a poor General yet he had sent his forces straight into attack showing an unexpected degree of boldness. General Nelke viewed the developing frontal attack with dismay.

The combined VinAlban and Davarian forces had descended the valley and made for the Kloster Arens and its ridge.

Finally both sides begin to see the attrition build from firing exchanges
The Davarians are seemingly undeterred by the steepness of the Hase river valley sides

General Klettern spreads his weaker forces across the ridge to contain the advancing VinAlbans and Davarians, feeding in the main body troops as they arrive on the Kloster Arens road. General Kratzen is now at the Kloster Arens and discovers a General Sumpf slightly the worse for sampling some excellent Kloster wine. Even so General Kratzen is pleased with Sumpf’s work the previous day.

As the afternoon beckons the grey day turns darker under heavy rain clouds. The Zarland forces have crossed the river Hase north of the Kloster bridge while the 3rd artillery deployed at the bridge and luckily for them. Opposite the 2nd Zarland Artillery, an elite unit, are under orders not to fire on the bridge which must be taken intact!

Today the elite artillery are off colour anyway as they fail to get the range on the advancing VinAlban 10th Infantry.

The fordable river is no barrier to the advancing troops. But it is the persistent light rain that is now affecting events.

The 14th Davarian Infantry are driven back across the old sawmill bridge

As the 14th Davarian Infantry seek the ridge line to the south of Kloster Arens they meet the 14th Zarland Cavalry and are driven back across the river Hase – with few casualties but suitably shaken.

Meanwhile north of Kloster Arens the VinAlbans turn the Zarland flank. Is this the moment the position becomes untenable?

Attrition is working through all the units in the battle. In the far distance the VinAlbans outnumber the Zarland right wing

At 1800 hrs the heavens open and a mighty deluge of rain slows movement and impacts firing. Although the Vinalbans are now making progress General Geflugel decides to withdraw across the river Hase as the weather shows every sign of getting even worse.

Photo by JACK REDGATE on Pexels.com

And so the battle ends with the Zarland Royal Army still holding Kloster Arens.

That evening General Geflugel held a review with his senior commanders including a frustrated General Modistin, the Davarian General. Everyone was informed that there would be no resumption of the attack as new orders from VinAlba required a withdrawl from Zarland.

An incredulous General Modistin stormed out of the tent into the torrential rain. He mounted his soaking wet horse and rode away cursing VinAlba and her useless Generals. At least he could say he had shed Davarian blood for Prince Otto in the so called battle of Kloster Arens.

……………as darkness gathers at the Rittergut, under leaden skies, the thoroughly soaked General Modistin grabs the last spotlight by staring hard to the east at Kloster Arens………………..

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miniatures painting Vienna Treaty Wars wargaming

The Painting Pedestal: Radetsky Austrians?

My latest unit of kittel coated Austrian Infantry have arrived on the Pedestal.

In 1849 the “rock” with tails was replaced with the “waffenrock” – a belted full wasted tunic. The kittel – the soldiers everyday service jacket was similarly styled.

Of more note is that in 1850 the shako (tapering down to the base) was replaced with a smaller shako (tapering up to the crown).

So these soldiers are no good for Radestky’s marches of 1848/1849. However they will just about do for the 1859 war with Piedmont and France often known as the Second War of Italian Unification.

I could even go for a Napoleonic style shako with the new waffenrock for all of a few months. Decisions, decisions……

Having said that, this epoch is so confusing on uniforms I will just enjoy painting and gaming with whichever figures I like. And more to the point my gaming figures will often have their dress uniforms on. So no change there then!

The figures are from Waterloo 1815 – one of the few companies to offer 1/72 figures for these wars.

For my chosen rules I now have 3 x 4 base units including the mounted general. For some units I hope to add a non gaming flag bearer element.

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wargaming

ENG 1 (2) v ITA 1 (3): A wargamers hatrick

Jones: Are you sure they will close?

Smith: Are you sure they will stand?

Smith moved up his Douro Grenadiers

The Douro Grenadiers march bravely forward

Jones readied his Pultava Guards

later……….

So the rules are not clear on this and it can’t be a draw said Jones. Smith: Well the rules say both players agree a method to resolve equal results when the rules give no more guidance.

Jones: How about a dice off then – say best of five?

Now Smith was unhappy – even his mate had a blog called “don’t throw a one Smithy”*, and Smith had been throwing poorly all night.

Jones: ok ready?

Smith: yes

Jones threw a 6, Smith a 1 – Jones goes 1 up

Smith throws a 5, Jones a 4 – its 1-1

Jones threw a 2, Smith a 6 (wow!) – Smith now goes 2-1 up!

Smith throws 1, Jones a 3 – its now 2-2

Jones threw a 2 – just dont throw a 1 Smith!

Smith throws a……………..

1……

Jones lets a faint smile trace across his face – his dice throwing had been appalling recently.

Jones wins 3-2.

Bad luck old chap says Jones. Throwing three ones – now thats really just bad luck.

Jones: Your Douro Grenadiers need to retreat 6 inches – better luck next time.

Smith: Muttering about the problem of probabilities Smith measured out the 6 inch retreat for his defeated Douro Grenadiers.

With apologies to Lawford and Young.

*There is a blog “don’t throw a one” https://onelover-ray.blogspot.com/ and it is really good – so go pay a visit – the latest blog post is on a LIVE wargame and with, no doubt, some poor dice throwing – maybe even three 1’s!

If you throw three ones in a row, when wargaming, its best to hum Eric Idles – “always look on the bright side of life” as the opposition will then admire your tenacity.

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miniatures painting Vienna Treaty Wars wargaming

The Painting Pedestal: 1860 Neapolitan Chasseurs

These figures are my take on Cacciatori, in this case the 5th Chasseur Battalion who squared up to Garibaldi in Sicily.

Two Neil Thomas skirmisher units set up for euro19th century rules.

You can see an illustration in the excellent Osprey 512 Armies of the Italian Unification 1848-1870

In Neil Thomas Euro 19th century rules the firing line remains static for line infantry – only columns can move on the table. But these two skirmisher units can fire and move in this format and also break into their standard two base arrangement.

The figures are unmodified World War 1 Belgians from Hat Miniatures.

It is interesting that uniforms were largely unchanged from the 1850’s until the first months of 1914 and the Great War. What did change were the weapons, belts and ammunition packs

Some more on the Painting Pedestal shortly……

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miniatures painting wargaming

Still at the Painting Table

Well those pesky paintbrushes are still away – too much sunshine methinks – although its been a hit and miss affair so far this summer.

The good news is that some of the brushes had a stacation so some progress has been made with basing already painted figures.

There should be a painting pedestal along soon.

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wargaming

The painting table

The painting table rarely gets a look in on this blog. But when your paintbrushes have scarpered you can always rely on the paint table to be harbouring some unfinished treats

Here are some recent arrivals – no completion date though.

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wargaming

Painting pedestal blues

My pesky paintbrushes are still on their jollies, and they sent me a message saying they will be in isolation when they get back – the cheeky chappies!

Still I do have the – painting table – ta da!!

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Mythical Realms wargaming

Fauxterre: Campaigning without Maps

Surely Campaigning without maps is an oxymoron? and when it comes to wargaming, maps are central to what defines wargame campaigns as opposed to say, endless rounds of competition encounter battles.

Well thats true. I have spent most of my wargaming life pursuing the mantra that the greater the detailed map the more satisfying the campaign.

Or so I thought.

I guess there have been numerous nudges away from that point of view when I think about it.

The thing is that I have applied the same abstraction that works for the field of battle to campaign maps. Out go measured marches and in comes the dreaded “outcome”. I suppose the test for some might be “does the end justify the means?” or why waste time getting a result that does not improve your hobby enjoyment.

Except “process” is what a lot of wargaming is and that means the process is the enjoyment in itself.

Moving pieces across a map at steady rates, checking the weather, accounting for ground conditions and working out where the enemy is are themselves a process to get to that almighty battle outcome – ok 6 units a side armed with One Hour Wargames – because you must go shopping or rearrange the cushions on the settee this afternoon for an evening watching the football/that latest box set/a comedy (delete /insert as appropriate).

It is not all about “outcomes ” because you could complete the abstraction and just toss a coin to find out who won that 5 year campaign you cannot seem to finish.

abstraction or the level of abstraction is often best considered in art – East Coast port image to be found in Hull Ferens Art Gallery.

It is about putting your effort into those parts of the process you most want to enjoy and sacrificing others through abstration to get you to those parts that matter.

And it is not that I don’t have any maps. I just use them in certain areas. I just don’t measure movement of forces “to scale” across them.

To my mind wargame rules came to the fore in the decades when scale paper maps became something to be purchased and valued – and used. People were taught eastings and northings and also how to fold a map. Remember some Generals fought their battles on the creases of the map in the pouring rain……..

Today you just flick the “app” tap a few virtual buttons and a high resolution image appears – is that my neighbours 3rd or 4th car – don’t remember it being that red – just how old is that image anyway…….sat navs beware……

For my Twins War in Fauxterre I have a narrative map.

High Res image of a low res campaign map!

Fauxterre is explained here:

https://wordpress.com/post/thewargamingerratic.home.blog/2061 .

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/df/QSH_Tin_Wind_Up_Astro-Scout_Doppelg%C3%A4nger_%28Journey_to_the_Far_Side_of_the_Sun%29_Movie_Homage_2.jpg
D J Shin, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

And I do have a means of moving forces in Fauxterre – it is an abstraction.

So here is the abstraction for my Twins War in Fauxterre.

looks familiar…………..

I guess at a certain point – by the late 1990’s? the DBA wargame rules offered the most popular version of this diagram.

well used and enjoyed
the last page

By version 3.0 campaigns had been quietly dropped from the title along with the diagram.

Except NO! – the diagram had been replaced by a set of words in the giant hardback tome that is now DBA post 2014: Maybe a case of more becoming less?

ok so you get colour and royal purple(maybe mauve?) but the simple diagram has been discarded in favour of words

I suspect this diagram had in the meantime launched tens of thousands of wargames campaigns – ok maybe thats a bit excessive!

Well that’s it for now, I will explore the mechanisms that allow me to abstract the mapping activity in a way that balances my available time, the process, the outcome and most of all the enjoyment of solo wargame campaigns.

I will finish with some words from Donald Featherstone which are surprising given they are to be found in his book War Game Campaigns.

quite a statement in a book devoted to campaigning wargames! the one about the real meat of the hobby NOT austrian armies rolling over……………

That is the challenge – making table top battles part of a narrative or simply having continuity requires effort. Effort which is not available for gaming the battles or painting the troops. Take your pick or choose your abstraction.