Play-testing continues on refinements to The Final Argument of Kings by Dean West. Sunday the 19th three players gathered at 1:00 (albeit with NFL distractions) to test them out. In our game 15 battalions of Russians with six regiments of cavalry and four batteries took on 18 Hanoverian/Brunswick/Highland battalions, with five cavalry regiments and six batteries. The mostly trained Russians stood on the defensive as the allies attacked.
A view of the left and center of the Russian line. The brand new Observation Corps battalions occupy the center with a heavy battery in support. A brigade of infantry on either flank plus one in reserve complete the infantry deployment. All the Russian cavalry were in the good ground off camera to the left facing their opposite numbers.
Horse Grenadiers in two big regiments on the left with two smaller Cuirassiers regiments getting their combat debut on the right. Two regiments of virtually useless Hussars are behind this all. The allies fielded some excellent heavy regiments, dragoons, and von Luckner's Hussars.
Here the Russians await the Hanoverians in double lines, expecting a relatively easy time against the spread out enemy. But it was not to be. Despite having an advantage in every contest, the Russians lost every impact. Usually just thrown back with minor losses, but potentially opening up the flank.
The Allies were eager to close and the Russians equally eager to meet them. A series of savage firefights went on, often at point-blank range as determination tests were passed. The tactics seemed to be to fire then charge. I thought it was the Russians who thought the bayonet was their friend and the bullet their enemy?
Looking down the field you can see the general engagement throughout. The Allies have a Hanoverian brigade in reserve, though most of the Russians are either committed or very close to the fighting. What of the cavalry you ask? The Russian losing trend continued, but they managed to buy time, utilizing the extra regiment to keep throwing a speed bump in from of the Allies. Slowly they began to re-order and organize but the situation still looked grim on the Russian left.
But success! Against the odds, and with the record to that point eight losses and one tie, the last Russian unit managed to fend off two Hanoverian regiments. Meanwhile the infantry fight was going well for the Russians. Their guns, although mostly out of ammunition, had whittled the approaching Allies down to the point where their inferior musketry could finish the fight. With much of the Allied army running or eliminated and the left stable, the Hanoverians conceded the field to the Russians. Though their loss was also severe. Two generals paid the price for their leadership and became heroes to the Tsar.
After a football delayed start we finished eight turns and picked up in less than four hours. A satisfactory result for a hard-fought game that included some cross-referencing to make sure we got all the play-test variables included. Till next time...
A view of the left and center of the Russian line. The brand new Observation Corps battalions occupy the center with a heavy battery in support. A brigade of infantry on either flank plus one in reserve complete the infantry deployment. All the Russian cavalry were in the good ground off camera to the left facing their opposite numbers.
Horse Grenadiers in two big regiments on the left with two smaller Cuirassiers regiments getting their combat debut on the right. Two regiments of virtually useless Hussars are behind this all. The allies fielded some excellent heavy regiments, dragoons, and von Luckner's Hussars.
Here the Russians await the Hanoverians in double lines, expecting a relatively easy time against the spread out enemy. But it was not to be. Despite having an advantage in every contest, the Russians lost every impact. Usually just thrown back with minor losses, but potentially opening up the flank.
The Allies were eager to close and the Russians equally eager to meet them. A series of savage firefights went on, often at point-blank range as determination tests were passed. The tactics seemed to be to fire then charge. I thought it was the Russians who thought the bayonet was their friend and the bullet their enemy?
Looking down the field you can see the general engagement throughout. The Allies have a Hanoverian brigade in reserve, though most of the Russians are either committed or very close to the fighting. What of the cavalry you ask? The Russian losing trend continued, but they managed to buy time, utilizing the extra regiment to keep throwing a speed bump in from of the Allies. Slowly they began to re-order and organize but the situation still looked grim on the Russian left.
But success! Against the odds, and with the record to that point eight losses and one tie, the last Russian unit managed to fend off two Hanoverian regiments. Meanwhile the infantry fight was going well for the Russians. Their guns, although mostly out of ammunition, had whittled the approaching Allies down to the point where their inferior musketry could finish the fight. With much of the Allied army running or eliminated and the left stable, the Hanoverians conceded the field to the Russians. Though their loss was also severe. Two generals paid the price for their leadership and became heroes to the Tsar.
After a football delayed start we finished eight turns and picked up in less than four hours. A satisfactory result for a hard-fought game that included some cross-referencing to make sure we got all the play-test variables included. Till next time...
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