Charge of the Light Brigade After Action Report

 

How to make a fun game of the Charge of the Light Brigade? I decided to focus on the limited variables, so I made activation card driven, based on the mechanic used in Fistful of Lead where one card is dealt per unit and the player chooses which unit to active first based on Bridge suit order. I borrowed random movement from The Sword and the Flame. The Light Brigade began with 3 dice worth of movement, adding one dice per move up to a total of 6 dice. For combat, I used the battle dice from About Napoleon. The goal was to make casualties manageable, given the small size of the Light Brigade regiments, each consisting of 7 miniatures.

I set up the Light Brigade at one end of the 7.5-foot table and a Russian battery of three guns, supported by 3 Cossack units, were at the other end, a little over 6 feet away. On each side of the valley, I placed an additional Russian artillery piece and 2 units of 12 Russian infantry. Historically, Russian small arms fire had a negligible effect on the charge, due to the Russian smooth bore muskets and poor Russian marksmanship. I gave the muskets a range of only 12 inches.

 

First move, the Light Brigade dice rolls averaged 12 inches, well above average. The Russian cannon on the north side of the valley scored 2 casualties on the 17th Lancers. The Russian cannon on the south side did not have the cavalry in its angle of fire and the battery at the end of the valley was just out of range.

 

Second move, the Light Brigade moved another 12 inches, keeping in good order. The Russian artillery on the north side pivoted to meet the advancing Chasseurs d’Afrique. Long range artillery from the end of the valley scored another 2 hits on the 17th Lancers. At this rate, the Lancers would be destroyed well before they reach their target. We agree to institute saving throws, saving on a 4-6 for long range (48 inches) and 5,6 for short range (24 inches). Saving throw saved 1 Lancer. Artillery on the south side scored 2 hits on the 13th Light Dragoons but lucky saving throws negated the hits.

 

Third move, the Chasseurs charged the Russian artillery on the north side and killed the crew, but then need to retire to regroup. Rolling 5 movement dice for each regiment of the Light Brigade, the units began to spread out. The 17th Lancers move furthest ahead and take 1 more kill. The 13th Light Dragoons lost 3 casualties from the battery at the end of the valley.

 

Fourth move, the Lancers, now down to 3 troopers, charged the middle Russian gun, killing 2 gunners and the gun limbers up and retreats off the table. The 13th Light Dragoons charged the gun to their front, killing the gunners and retired 10 inches to regroup. The gun on the south side of the valley killed 2 troopers of the 11th Hussars.

 

Fifth move, the Cossacks charged the 13th Light Dragoons. The Cossacks lost more figures but rolled 2 flags which pushed the 13th back. The Lancers now charged the remaining Russian gun and killed its crew. The 11th Hussars counter charged the Cossacks who fought the 13th. The results are a draw and the Hussars retired back 10 inches.

 

Sixth and seventh moves, we decided that the Lancers, 13thLD and 11th Hussars have done their duty, taking out the guns, and they begin the ride back to their starting point. The reserve, consisting of the 4th Light Dragoons and the 8th Hussars, charge the remaining Cossacks, and retire with light casualties. In this game, the Light Brigade began with 35 figures. They lost 15 and would probably lose another couple of figures in their retreat. So they did a little better than their historic counterparts who lost 360 killed and badly wounded out of 673.

 

First photos are a series taken one per turn to show the progress of the game.

 

 I dressed for the game

Starting positions

End of first move

 

End of second move

End of third move

End of fourth move

End of fifth move

 

More action photos follow

 

 

 

Western Shootout game in 54mm

Based on a rule from a fellow wargamer, I changed the setup so each player has a team of 4 figures, and a goal to reach. There are 4 possible bandit teams and 4 possible lawmen teams.  Each bandit team has a mawmen team with opposite goal. This means when one team is drawn, the next player receives the linked opposite team.

The main figure of a team is eliminated on the forth wound, the secondary figures on the second one.

As this is not the first time we play the game, I added some surprises. Each player received 3 extra figures, of which only one is also added to his team but the other players do not know which one. These figures out on the first wound, but can be posted anywhere in the town. 

Special events out of a list of 12 can occur based on dice rolls. 

Kristof had drawn Marshall Earp: 

 Marshall Earps misson: A group of bounty hunters have delivered “Bald” Sergio Leone and the judge has decided to hang him.

Objective: Escort “Bald” Sergio Leone to the gallows (6p) and don’t let him escape (4p). Eliminate as many bandits as possible (1p per character).

As a result, Steven had to take the Morrecone gang: 

His misson : The Good, the Bad, the Ugly & the Handsome (The Morrecone Gang)

The Morrecone Gang has specialized in delivering “Bald” Sergio Leone to the law because there is a large amount of money on his head. After collecting the money, they free Leone and go to the next city.

Objective: Free the convict before he is hanged (10p) and eliminate as many law enforcement officers as possible (1p per character)

Patirck an Siegfried forming a team had drawn "the Daltons"

Their misson : The Daltons have, yes, escaped again and are on their way to their mother’s Saloon to pick up the booty from the latest robbery, and to take their mother with them. Only Ma Dalton knows where the loot is and the game leader will pass this on as soon as Ma Dalton is taken out of the saloon).

Goal: Get the booty (6p) and get Ma Dalton away (4p), and take out as many law enforcement officers as possible (1p per figure)

Which resulted in Ronny havin Lucky Luke and the amry.

Misson of Lucky Luke and the army: The Daltons have, yes, escaped again and are on their way to their mother's saloon to get the loot from the latest robbery, and to take their mother with them..

Goal: Take out all Daltons (including Ma Dalton) (2p per Dalton) and take out as many bandits as possible (1p per figure)

The Earps started from the prisson, right behind the Sheriff house.

Lucky Lucke and the army

Ma Dalton in the Saloon

The "Bad" and the "Handsome" move up to the prisson

One of the Daltons taking position

One of the special events : a mexican comes out of the saloon and takes a shot at one of the lawmen.

A hit on one of the soldiers, scoring a wound.

The Daltons quickly brought in safety Ma Dalton of table.

Avarelll Dalton shot down a cowboy from his horse, and took it to go quickly to the cemetery where the booty was burried.

While Waytt Earp is escoring the prisoner to the gallow, this brothers and Doc Holiday, with the help of Lt Garland and Lucky Luke, keep at bay the Morrecone gang. However, Lucky and received some wounds and Lt Garland was eliminated in the process, which endangered Ronny's mission. Also Doc Holiday and "The Bad" went down.

Aftr having neutralized one of the Daltons, Lucky Luke was gunned down by Joe Dalton

Another special event, cows breaking loose and stampeding 2 turns through the town. Each player can coltrol one cow or ox. Ronny lost his last figure in the end. Also Joe Dalton was wounded by the cows.

In the end “Bald” Sergio Leone was hanged by the Earps, so Kristof did win the game. The Daltons weren't able to dig up the loot, as Avarell was shot from his horse by Waytt Earp.  So Siegfried and Patrick with the Daltons ended second, Steven third, and Ronny, having lost all of his figures with not that much af bad guys shot down, was last.

 

Charge of the Light Brigade Oct. 25, 1854

 To mark the 170th anniversary of the Battle of Balaclava, I pulled out all the Charge of the Light Brigade toy soldiers I have been collecting over the past ten years. I think I have all I need, although I really should repaint some of the Hussars and give them red trousers to represent the 11th Hussars. I have yet to play a game with these. I hope to play a game over the weekend, using simple rules, but I wanted to post this in time for the anniversary tomorrow.