The first of a flurry of games to be played over the next few days. Erik came for his first visit to the dungeon with a desire to test out the Valour and Fortitude rules with Napoleonics. Well that’s not a problem 😀
Rather than a historical battle the British and French forces, fairly balanced in size, would meet to contest an important village spread along a valley. There are three designated strong points along the road which would act as objectives to force both sides to get stuck in.
The french are able to activate slightly quicker with their light infantry capturing the Cross roads quite quickly.
As the battle unfolded it became clear the British were focussing on the other two objectives so the french gradually moved their artillery to the cross roads and then beyond to outflank the redcoats.
British light infantry capture the second objective, but are then assaulted by two Battalions of Swiss infantry, beyond them are two attack columns of French infantry driving the rest of the British light brigade backwards, but they are about to be flank by the British light cavalry !
After a few turns both sides receive reinforcements
The British reserves make it to the church, whilst beyond them French dragoons chase off the British Hussars.
The french cavalry takes a pummelling from the British horse artillery.
With time catching up the dragoons charge the artillery and are able to drive it away, but the french centre is beginning to struggle as the third British brigade including the Foot Guards and highlanders advance on the central objective. The Swiss put up a fight but are ultimate knocked out of the battle.
We had great fun and it was a close battle, hard to call a victory, the British had two of the three objectives but had lost a lot more in the process. That said the french cavalry was pretty much blown and their first brigade was done for. We called it a draw in the end.
Always fun of course to get the Naps on the table. If you look closely you will see the recently painted shaken markers getting plenty of use !
Thanks as always for popping by 👍
A fine looking game as is expected from The Dungeon! But a draw? Shurely Shum Mishtake?
ReplyDeleteThanks David, it was hard to give a clear victory, if we must we might give it to the french !
DeleteGreat looking game as always Matt!
ReplyDeleteThanks Michal 👍
DeleteFantastic looking game Matt
ReplyDeleteThanks Neil 👍
DeleteBeautiful looking table of course Matt and sounded like a well-balanced game. The few games of V&F I have played, I have thoroughly enjoyed - the layout of the rules is a bit "all over the place" but once you find everything, they work pretty well I think
ReplyDeleteThanks Keith indeed a balanced battle. Agree V&F are a bit jumbled but at least they are only 5 or 6 pages
Deletegreat looking game. You have an eye and a lot of gear to make it look so good.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks , luckily the Mediterranean hasn’t changed much so my terrain can be used across several different theatres
DeleteFantastic looking table and minis... keep 'em coming.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for checking in. More to come although yesterday the Spain turned into Norway 1940 🙂
DeleteLovely, Erik would have been well chuffed. V&F are featuring on quite a few blogs at the moment as gamers become more familiar with them.
ReplyDeleteThanks Norm I think a good set of rules giving an open game with out too much fiddling about. Possibly not for ‘purists’ but they work for me
DeleteI particularly liked the look of those dragoons! I enjoyed the report, the table looks big with enough space that the troops aren't all crowded together. Do the units vary in size or are the battalions 18 figures and the cavalry 12? [The Swiss were the easiest to count]
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your game
Stephen
Many thanks (I love the dragoons too) the table is my usual 8x4.5 feet. We played with three infantry brigades and a cavalry brigade each side which is about the max for this size table. As to unit size well spotted. The majority of infantry units are 24, but you are right there is slight variation, the Swiss slightly smaller and a few French units are slightly larger, sometimes I larger battles I’ll mix and match and reduce the average of each unit down to 20 or even 16. Again for the cavalry the majority are painted to 12 man units , but where I have had a some spares there may be some slight variation for example I have an odd sized chasseur unit , although they didn’t fight in this battle.
DeleteThanks, Matt, for the full reply. A great game nicely portrayed. I'm glad the dragoons get some love as they really are a workhorse unit.
DeleteStephen
Always happy to discuss wargaming 👍
DeleteGreat game as always there Matt:).
ReplyDeleteThanks Steve 👍
DeleteAs ever a most splendid looking table and toys and the text carries it all along in fine style.
ReplyDeleteThanks Phil the Swiss did well 😉
DeleteThat was reading like a draw all the way through with each side gaining some advantages and suffering setbacks, and so it proved in the end. A great looking game.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lawrence, the sides were pretty balanced so an inconclusive outcome was likely, both sides withdrawing as darkness fell 👍
DeleteAnother fine outing for your Napoleonics and an outstanding intro for Erik. Like, Lawrence, a draw seems a reasonable result. Fab looking table as always.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jon a good intro to V&F 👍
DeleteA cracking looking game Matt…
ReplyDeleteAll the best. Aly
👍
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