Portable Wargaming

With the kitchen still out of action, I'm only going to get any wargaming in by virtue of "away fixtures".

We're just back from a North Yorkshire holiday with friends where my 6mm Thirty Years War forces provided a readily portable gaming option. Using The Pikeman's Lament we had a fun four-player battle between Swedish and Imperialist companies.

The companies were as follows, first the Swedes:

Ensign Nils Jonsson’s Company

A company of Swedish Horse (five units of Aggressive Gallopers) accompanied by some musketeers of the Blue Regiment (two units of Commanded Shot).

Nils Jonsson is a weasel of a man with little honour, much to the regret of his rich merchant father who paid for his officer’s commission. Sly: May refuse challenges without incurring the usual morale test.

Ensign Magnus Magnusson’s Company

A company of Swedish Horse (three units of Aggressive Gallopers) reinforced by some cuirassiers from Tott’s regiment (two units of elite trotters).

Magnus Magnusson is the son of a priest and seemingly blessed in some way as he always seems to escape danger. Blessed: Invulnerable to Lucky Blows.

And then the Catholics:

Ensign Jacopo Prizzi’s Company

A company of Imperialist cuirassiers (three units of Elite Trotters) accompanied by some Croat scouts (one unit of Veteran dragoons). Actually I got this wrong and deployed two units of Croats on the table!

Jacopo Prizzi is a hired mercenary officer from a foreign land. The men don’t trust him because of this. Foreigner: Starts with 15 points of Honour. Offers no Morale bonus to units within 12”.

Ensign Ludwig Kretschmar’s Company

A company of Imperialist infantry (two units of Pike and one of Shot) accompanied by a patrol from a dragoon regiment (three units of Dragoons).

Ludwig Kretschmar is a veteran officer and has survived many battles. He suffers from several old wounds that slow him down. Old Wound: Starts with 18 points of Honour. Killed by Lucky Blows on a score of 2 or 3.

At the near end of the table (above) the Swedes of Nils Jonssson's company (advancing cautiously from the left edge) were commanded by Andy. He pushed forward his commanded shot aiming to reach the bad going first but was beaten to it by the Imperialist shot commanded by Ludwig Kretschmar (Gus).

Gus kept his dragoons in reserve behind a wall of pikes while Andy did his best to keep his aggressive Swedish horse at a distance. The Wild Charge special rule could have seen them badly skewered.

At the far end of the table things were far less pedestrian. Mark and John fought a swirly cavalry melée that eventually saw the Catholic force completely wiped out and only the two groups from Tott's cuirassiers surviving on the Swedish side.

In the end the battlefield was a lot emptier than it had been. I'm not sure whether we called it a victory for either side. Both were pretty depleted by the end but everyone seem to enjoy the game.