Saturday 31 December 2016

Painting Expeditionary Force 54mm figures Ancient Greeks - Thracians Persians

Busy paiting figures of Expeditionary Force.
Excellent figures, but expensive.
8 figures + commander makes them perfect to build a unit for "About Caesar" wargame rule.
Also cavalry: 4 figuers + commander could be designed with About Caesar in mind.

Purchased them a year ago and finally continued painting .

Psiloi & Peltasts



the hoplites

hoplites commander


Persian Provincial infantry


Thracians


The book that inspired to buy the figures

Extra figure received from X-Force

X-Force website:

Monday 19 December 2016

54mm Napoleonic game Peninsular battle of Mesa Dalfombra 11 December 1813 - PART 2



I had been so busy with was happing on my side of the table, I didn’t realize until then Ronny was still prudently advancing with his veteran light infantry  in skirmish formation.  



Not only that, he also advance with one battalion of each regiment officer attached, meaning, 3 battalions left behind at the baseline,  uncommanded doing nothing.  Ronny is now a veteran in our club, but still often does take strange decisions, frequently turning in the opposite what he should have done (aggressive when he should be prudent and vice versa).  
Tired of waiting, Siegfried took the offensive with his 4 English battalions in the left centre. It was stalled by Ronny’s 4 line battalions on our right centre. Even better , Ronny suddenly was able to charge one of the British battalions in the flak with the remainder of his dragoons, and breaking it!



It was enough for Siegfried to return to the safety of the hills. One of the Scottish battalions also charged the French light infantry in skirmish on our right flank but with not no effect. With the other Scots and the heavy British battery going in to the cover of the hill, fights were dying out on this flank.


On our left the elite jäger were out of the woods at the Spanish base line. The Spanish division was in trouble. In a desperate attempt to stop the advance of my veteran regiment of three battalions, of which one had suffered from the battery and an infantry charge ,  Adrien send his last remaining cavalry unit towards the veteran infantry.  The charge failed and the cavalry unit was broken. 


On top of that, the Spanish were now reduced to 4 units out of 9. The Spanish division had to retreat from the field. But Adrien , well aware of the threat had send 2 of his Portuguese units to the flank. One of them pushed back . The other one underwent a charge of my dragoons and had to retreat but far from broken.  My Swiss troops started to advance towards the Portuguese Caçadores.


With darkness falling, troops to much dispersed , it was too late to organise  a coordinated decisive attack.
The battle was over. The Anglo –allied force had suffered greatly on their right flank, but in the centre and left their position was still very solid. That’s why we couldn’t really claim victory, and agreed this was a draw. 








Retreating now the battle has ended.



If this battle would have happened in reality, assembling such a force by the French would have been a “tour de force” and a gamble that only would have worked with a crushing victory. Any other result was a defeat.

Sunday 18 December 2016

Spelnamiddagen : zondag 22 januari (De Pinte) wordt verplaatst naar 5 februari

5 FEBRUARI ipv 22 januari (de Pinte) nog te bepalen:

Misschien Zulu met About Bonaparte variant?

Laat iets weten of je al dan niet komt.

5 februari beperkt aantal plaatsen, dus wacht niet te lang.

Mogelijks plan ik nog iets begin januari in Denderleeuw


Saturday 17 December 2016

54mm Napoleonic game Peninsular battle of Mesa Dalfombra 11 December 1813 - PART 1

Fictional battle replay on 11th December 2016

An English – Spanish – Portuguese force awaits the attack of a French –allied force.






On the French side, Ronny commanded the right wing. On the far right 6 battalions of veteran Light infantry with skirmish capability. Then a medium battery, 2 dragoon medium cavalry units, and 4 units of regular infantry.  Than me (Dirk) with 2 line infantry units, 2 heavy batteries, which I deployed in grand battery, 2 large units of Swiss regular line infantry,  another 3 units of veteran infantry, 2 units of dragoons with a (light) horse battery, and finally to the extreme left 2 Württenberg units, a veteran light infantry battalion and an elite jäger battalion, both with skirmish capabilities.

Adrien is in command of the Portuguese-Spanish force on the British allied  right consisting of 4 Portuguese battalions of Caçadores and 2 more Portuguese Regular line units. The Spanish part consisted of 4  line units with Green status and one light infantry unit regulars with skirmish ability. Moreover, there was a medium artillery battery, 1 unit of cuirassiers and two (medium) line cavalry units.Siegried commanded the British division, with  4 veteran line infantry units, 3 Scottish veteran infantry units , a heavy battery and 2 light dragoon cavalry regiments.





The French were the attackers, the British allied force as usual in a strong defensive  position , on and behind a ridge. 



I asked Ronny to make good use of his big skirmish force of 6 light infantry units  on the far right, and put pressure on the scots and battery in front of him. The brooks could protect him against possible charges of the infantry. In try in the centre should advance a bit to protect the batteries against
On my side, the plan was to  batter the enemy lines with the artillery and make use of the Württenbergers to  outflank the Spanish lines by passing through the woods and marsh.





So apart from infantry advancing in gunfire from the batteries with little effect, our first turn was nothing.  The British turn was something completely different.  Siegfried targeted the Ronny’s artillery with his heavy battery inflicting two casualties, rendering the battery almost useless. Moreover he charged with his Light dragoons one of my infantry units. A charge with light cavalry on  a fresh unit with support. I felt confident this would be not a problem.  


But it was  horror . Throwing 3 flags against me and me only one “C” . MY unit was broken. With the doubling of flags, it also mend my supporting unit broke too, and Siegfried had a breakthrough. Luckily for me the closed unit on our side was infantry of Ronny, and not my grand battery. Ronny’s infantry stood firm and the light dragoons retreated.  Victory chances lowered from the first turn. Not a good start.

In the centre, Siegfried continued sending his dragoons in charges, but no longer with great success and their effectives melting away.   But Ronny’s dragoons were on their turn also hit by the heavy battery, losing 2 figures.  His other dragoon unit tacking casualties against the light dragoons. It didn’t go well in the centre, not making any progress.



On the left, I tried to follow the plan, but Adrien, stimulated by Siegfrieds success, launched two of his (green) infantry units on a charge against my (Elite) Württenberger Jäger unit.  This time, it was me throwing the flags and with the green status, the flags doubled for the Spanish troops.  The result was two of Adriens units were broken. The score was more or less levelled.







My Württenberger skirmish units entered the woods. Adrien deployed his light infantry to counter.

Hoping to stall my advance he also threw in his cavalry, several chargers, retreats and renewed chargers ensuing. My cavalry, aided by the grand battery took the upper hand. 

D

Tuesday 13 December 2016

What you did not think could happen ...

Well, my friends,
I, probably like Dirk, I never thought to have the honor to present in Italy the rules of the About serie  but it happened and although I am not entirely satisfied, the Italian adventure of wargame born in Belgium continues and this is definitely a great achievement.


The site chosen for the debut is my Lucca, for fifty years the venue of Lucca Comics & Games, the international exhibition of comics, illustration, intelligent game and everything documenting entertainment through the media, the world of wargames among others.
For five days the city becomes the capital of the comic and the game and even this year visitors have exceeded 280,000. A great success!!
Thanks to a friend who has a big store in town, I was able to take advantage of two retail spaces, his shop and the stand at the exhibition, nothing better to show and sell the first official copies in Italy.
Naturally I must present the rules with all visibility possible and then with playbills, posters and business cards spread out in the places that I attend.

                           My first poster in A3.

News business cards for the rules. Italian title is Avanti per Bonaparte!

A bookmark with a photo of Waterloo battle for the 200 years.

A few advertisement booklets for the city.
Oops...a plane. Sorry, it's not for launch flyers. I haven't so many money.

The new pocket edition of the book.

A fantastic edition of the rules of Avanti per Cesare!

                            A view on work done. 

In short, I think I've done everything possible for this first Italian time, and I hope there will be many other occasions .

To conclude this adventure, the game has made himself known and has sold the first copies among fans, not a triumph that left us rich, but a great experience that I hope will continue in 2017.
Satisfied with the project my friend, which will maintain its support to the Italian edition and I hope also Master Dirk, now present between the best wargames with his works.
Better luck next time!