An Unholy Alliance

For 250 years the Ottoman vassal state of Vaneria has existed on the borders of other (Imagi-) Nations.  Disputed lands between Odessinau and Latveria being a constant source of friction.

Now Nazir Wafeer has dispatched troops and hirelings to test the mettle of rival powers.  Rising to meet the threat is a conglomerate army.  Rules as always for our Imagi-Nation games are "Batailles de l'Ancien Regimes" by Bill Protz.  Click to enlarge pictures.

The allies right is held by forces of Procland, a traditional foe.

Each "army" was composed of approximately 300 infantry and 60 cavalry figures with a smattering of artillery.  Besides the Vanerians, Latveria provided mercenaries.  The allies comprised a Prussian and Proclandian contingent.

Prussians deploy in depth next to the empty fortress.  Cavalry is
all in the center.

As part of the occupation, one Russian vassal unit
was present.

Light cavalry, medium guns, regulars, Janissarys and lights.

The Duke of Alten and the newly raised Pzormyal Wespe regiments.

BAR is card driven.  Cards are flipped and the appropriate commander picks a command to move.  After all movement it is repeated for firing purposes.  If you are awarded a joker, you may "trump" another unfriendly turn of card.

The Varnerian army steps off aggressively, the allies less so.

The Latverians try to contain the Prussians before they can clear
the fortress.

The Prussians, with four new cavalry squadrons and their Polish friends were charged by the Latverian cavalry and Vanerian Spahis.  In all the melees the allies were successful, with the Polish Winged Hussars breaking and dispersing the Spahi unit.

Having ridden the Spahi to extinction, the Poles are deep in
the enemy ranks.

Having pushed back the Latverian heavies, both sides prepare to
feed in fresh cavalry.

A third Prussian cuirassier squadron and Latverian dragoons impact.

von Kleist Jagers and Croats protect the flanks.

The Latverian infantry begins to tear up the Prussians.

Janissary and line against von Kleist lights and Prochland infantry.

A fresh Prussian unit advances and is routed before firing a single shot.

Von Kleist horse grenadiers hit the Janissary flank.

Figuring out the best way to finish off the stubborn Prussians.

The battle begins to go the allied way on the right.

Failing to break the Janissary unit, the horse grenadiers retire.

The Russian vassals have run off from flanking fire.

All the Prussian infantry have routed and rallied.  Much weakened.

Prochland forces getting the clear upper hand over the Vanerians.

Prussian heavies have re-ordered and are ready to pursue.

The Vanerians had lost two of their (smaller) units and the rest were in a bad way.  The light cavalry had expended itself in running off the Prochlandian artillery for a time, but were now gone.  The battered remnants of the Latverian cavalry had rallied and re-ordered but were just going to cover the retreat since one of the line regiments had finally routed away.  All three Prussian units were technically on table, but any losses would trigger increasingly difficult moral tests so they were pretty much a spent force.

A good, tight game that had lots of ebb and flo as units went forward and back and forward again.  I sense an arms race starting since although numbers were even the smaller Vanerian units didn't fare well against the larger Proclandian units.  And more importantly to me, my four new Prussian cavalry units all performed well.