Black Powder at Enfilade!

Here's a quick run down of the Black Powder Napoleonic game I hosted at Enfilade! this past Friday night. I had a full game with six players running a combined arms brigade each. Granted this brigade composition isn't historically accurate, but built for more varied game play. The players seemed to like it. IIRC correctly only one of the players had read the rules, and one had played Warmaster - which is what Black Powder is supposedly descended from.  The scenario was based loosely on the Battle of Salamanca - where Marmont's forces were caught with their pantaloons down by Wellington. The French needed to get at least 50 percent of their forces off the western edge of the table to win; the British would win if they prevented this. Without further ado, here is the photographic evidence of this game. (Note: several of the photos were taken by one of the players, Mike Evans of Relic Miniatures).

Initial set up - three French brigades moving in a westerly direction; two of three British brigades already in line facing the French.

British brigade moving through Los Arapiles

British brigade deploying outside of Los Arapiles

French brigades stumbling west

Mancune's French in the center of the battlefield. French Hussars already routed off the field.

GM providing clarification - now let him get back to his drink

Bird's eye view of the center after a couple of turns. Most of the French cavalry having already been destroyed or fled off the battlefield.

View from the east side of the battlefield

West looking east earlier in the battle

GM call - under the influence of several rum and Cokes

Nearing the end of the game, and it appears the players are still smiling

The game was called after about the 5th or 6th turn - who can remember these things in the heat of battle. The British were declared victors - much like history; the French although having being mauled, still had a few remaining units that could have worked their way off the board per the victory conditions, but enough units had been destroyed to prevent their victory condition.

I had a great time hosting this game and really feel Black Powder works well for convention games with gamers who have little or no prior experience with the rules. Black Powder is easy to pick up and yet allows for some friction and unpredictable outcomes. That all said, I am taking a break from the rules, and Napoleonics in general. I am determined to get my Roman Seas game back on track - just ordered a hexed game mat from Hotz. I also plan to paint up some Old Glory Ancients that I picked up at the Bring and Buy for an initial Hail Caesar game (hey, that's close enough to Black Powder ain't it).