Johnny Reb III refresher

Hoping to see an end, or at least easing of the pandemic, our group has begun to plan a large-scale recreation of the Battle of Shiloh.  To that end we need to review and replay the rules so on game day (next month) we can play fast and efficiently.  Our rules of choice for the American Civil War is Johnny Reb, now in it's third edition.  15mm figures, 30:1 figure ratio, our units today ranged from 12-16 figures each.  We only play 2-3 games of Johnny Reb a year at best, so we needed this refresher.

Seven players gathered to play a smallish game.  Each side had 24 infantry regiments in six brigades and six batteries.  Deployment was allowed up to 12" in on the 9x5' table.  The hill tops were treated like orchards and the dark green patches were true woods.  The stream was disorganizing for infantry and could only be crossed at one of several fords by artillery.

The quiet time before the troops arrive.

View from the Union left.

View from the Union center.

And the windy end.  Rocks were needed to hold fabric
and foam in place.

The Union army deployed evenly across the table.  The Rebels deployed 2/3rds of their force on their right, against the Union left.  The remaining two brigades had to face four Union brigades across most of the table.

In the center I seized the high ground and lumbered
through the woods.

Progress in the center but the Rebs are piling up on
the Union left.

A series of charges by both sides on the left ended 
in the Confederate favor.

The Union right is making steady progress.

As are the Confederates on their right.

Numbers begin to tell though the Rebels can't bring
their entire force to action.

On the Union right the Rebels are advancing steadily
to the rear.

The center takes a methodical approach, not wanting
to get over-extended with their left in trouble.

One of my favorite aspects of the Johnny Reb system is the simul movement using order chits.  Because of this you not only have to figure out your plan but also get into the mind of your opponent to anticipate what he will, or may do.  It adds a sense of dramatic tension often missing from an IGO-UGO game.

The battle on the Union left has swept on past the 
center force, which presses onward.

The Union left has no choice but to retreat and pull
off table. 

At this point, with honors mostly even and a solid game experience gained, we called it a day.  Each side's left flank declared the battle lost, while the rest of the army was ready to continue.  We will have at least one more practice game before the scheduled date, though with the coronavirus seemingly on the rise everywhere we will have to wait and see whether putting 14 people together for two days is a prudent idea.  In the meantime, we had fun.

Empire Refresher

The COVID-19 crisis has put a major damper on gaming but things were improving enough to try a game in my open garage.  A little warmer outside than we prefer but acceptable to get to roll dice and push lead.  As I had a number of newly painted Napoleonic miniatures needing exposure to battle, I selected our favorite Empire as the game.

Quite frankly I told people to bring what they wanted to play with and we wouldn't be too concerned about balance or historic sides.  As it turned out we had a Polish corp under Poniatowski and French corps under Oudinot, commanded by Marechal St. Cyr going against an Anglo/Hanoverian/Sicilian/Portuguese army under Wellington.  "Daddy" Hill was also present for the Anglo allies.  Rules are Empire (V), 15mm figures, seven players, of which three were fairly new to the rules and all of us were out of practice.

Each side got a 12" deployment from the table edge and had the option to hold troops off table.  Roughly 50 battalions and 10 cavalry regiments per side.  The French/Allied force had a significant advantage in cannons.

The Anglo-Allied left.  British/Hanoverian with 
Portuguese on their right.

Pro-rating grand tactical movement.  Poles advance
on redcoats.

The Anglo-Allies "attacked" forward a bit to get a
better defensive position as the French swarmed.

Polish uhlans are sent packing by the KGL hussars.

The center has the elite British facing a mostly elite
French division with much more artillery.

The Loyal Lusitanian Legion sallies forth against
the flank of the "Terrible 57th."

Center looking right.  The French are engaged all
along the line, but not closely.

The Loyal Lusitanian Legion and Cacadores have
been thrown back and a major fight is pending on
the British held hill.

The center is looking good for the Anglo-Allies with
most French attacks thrown back.

We needed to knock off but the battle was clearly going into the record books as another Wellington win.  The Poles had valiantly attacked but mostly veteran troops against crack+ British in two ranks is a serious challenge.  The first hourly round the French with two corps commanders and a good commander got the initiative.  In the next Wellington won the roll and the Portuguese were able to take a lot of pressure off the allied center by routing two battalions of the 57th (grenadier rating) who were charged in the flank.  A real donnybrook was developing on the Anglo-Allied left but with the Poles in retreat it was just going to add to the body count.

Great to play Empire again and better to get together for a sociable game.  With folding tables available and a double car garage there will hopefully be many more in the future.