Saturday, June 13, 2015

Muskets & Grenadiers - Assault on Freshwater Cove - A British Failure

Thanks to my buddy Kimo coming over this afternoon after my youngest son's high school graduation, a nice Muskets & Tomahawks game was played. Although it ended up being different from history with a French victory, it was still quite an enjoyable game nonetheless. Both Kimo and I really like the rules for not only their elegant simplicity, but also the unpredictability of game play due to the card draw activation of units. Kimo chose to run the French, which I suspect was due to his former life as a Canadian, and I ran the Redcoats. Without further ado, here are some pictures and captions - hopefully recalled correctly.
Top of Turn 2 has the 22th, 40th and 45th Grenadiers along with General Wolfe successfully landed on the beach at Freshwater Cove. A few casualties already taken and loaded onto the boats. Their movement impeded by the debris strewn along the shoreline by the French.
The small detachment of French Marines did a very good job in stymieing the Grenadiers slow advance.
The Frasier Highlanders were the largest unit and did the best out of all the British. Here they are after moving down off the bluff to the east of the main landing. The detachment of Rangers having already reached the wood line to their left.
Turn 4 with Wolfe and the Grenadiers still not making much of a headway with their difficult movement inland.
Remnants of the Rangers fleeing from taking numerous casualties.
Frasiers taking point blank fire from French Fusiliers as well as fire from French Militia. However, due to lucky saves only taking minimal casualties.
French Grenadiers staying within the safety of the woods. A unit of French Fusiliers being whittled down by British fire.
Meanwhile the Grenadiers are still being hampered moving inland with the 22nd Grenadiers destroyed - only their Sergeant and General Wolfe remaining. Note the dead piled up in the boats.
Turn 5 has the Frasiers sending hot lead into the backs of the fleeing Canadian Militia - about the only bright spot for the British assault.
We called the game at Turn 6 with the British Grenadiers, with Wolfe attached, making hardly any significant movement inland. The British right had the Rangers fleeing back whence they came - towards the sea. Only the Frasier Highlanders held their own, but would eventually become isolated and surrounded by the French. All in all it was great to play these fine skirmish rules - Kimo's first time and only my second. I can easily see how much fun these rules can be by adding things like the side plots and other variables. Just playing the basic rules was very nice. Kimo suggested adding French cannon to the scenario - which is historical as the French had a lot of these including a 20 pounder. This would likely necessitate the addition of more British assault troops - or at least being able to recycle figures for fresh units. Anyway, I'm already distracted with a couple of other projects - one being the Battle of Worringen, and another with WW2 Japanese battling pterosaurs! ;)

36 comments:

  1. A good report - thank for that. I am still debating rules for this period (my lovely wife is interested in it) so more info the better.

    Worringen sounds very intriguing, as do the pterosaurs!

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    1. Thanks, Greg. I highly recommend this set of rules for this period. The only caveat is it is a bit pricey. I borrowed a copy of the rules, and made my own cards specific to the troop types for this scenario. There is slso a free QRS on their website. Warm regards, Dean

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  2. Good looking game and just the ticket for celebrating a graduation.
    Congratulations!

    As for project distractions, there is one behind every rock!

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    1. Thanks you, Jonathan. Yes, it was indeed a good day - great weather for the graduation (held in the Puyallup Fair Grounds), followed by a nice skirmish game. I do find the distractions for project far more enjoyable than slumps for sure too! Warm regards, Dean

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  3. Great report Dean! Lovely looking game too!

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    1. Thank you very much, Rodger. It's about time I got another M&T game under my belt. It's definitely a set of rules I'd like to revisit in the future. Best, Dean

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  4. Once again, fantastic report! Love minis and battlefield! Great post Dean!

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    1. Thank you for your kindness, Mike. I'm happy to hear the game meets your approval. Warm regards, Dean

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  5. Lovely pictures of this beach landing, a beautiful terrain and great report Dean!

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    1. Thank you much, Phil. I have to say beach landing/assaults are as tough as expected; particularly if the beach head has been prepared with blocking terrain. I will have to try out a similar scenario in the future - possibly an Ancients one. Best, Dean

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  6. Another good report, although obviously disappointed to see the British in disarray! It is a period that I'm not overly familiar with, but I just love the look of those Highlanders.

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    1. Thank you, Michael! The way the French were set up at the actual battle, makes me wonder if this game's results should have been the reality. Best, Dean

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  7. A great, really great presentation.
    It is like a book would read
    Sonorous, fine and tender colors.
    Maybe 7 photo is the most my favorite

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    1. Thank you kindly, MM. Appreciate your visit and comments. Regards, Dean

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  8. Excellent report and photos Dean, sounds like the scenario worked well!

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    1. Thanks, Mike. I initially wanted to add a few cannon for the French as they were part of the actual battle; however, it turned out the British had a hard enough time - mostly due to the rough terrain moving off the beach. Best, Dean

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  9. Great looking game and report.

    Congrats also for your son's graduation - what's he doing after High School!

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    1. Thanks, Miles! Jason, my youngest son, will be going to a local community college for his undergrad work - then possibly to UW or something like that, or maybe the military. No real concrete plans right now. In fact, he'll be going to Hawaii in a couple of weeks to visit his grandma and uncle. Best, Dean

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  10. A perfect scenario for these marvellous figures :D I particularly admire the white uniforms, so difficult to paint. Cheers!

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    1. Thank you kindly! Yes, I hemmed and hawed over the French "gris blanc" - finally settling on a lighter/whiter color instead of a more grey finish. Warm regards, Dean

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  11. The rules are great fun, especially once you start playing with the secret objectives. Nice-looking game!

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    1. Thank you very much, FMB. I see a lot of possibilities with these rules - including Napoleonic scenarios. Warm regards, Dean

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  12. M&T is very enjoyable, I like the easy activation and few table checks needed, offering a pleasant flow in the game. Nice table too, good to see your newly constructed boats in action!

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    1. Thanks, Soren. About the only reference checks I made were for the Reaction table results - although I only had two troop types - Regulars and Irregulars. Best, Dean

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  13. Nice looking game. Beautiful figures and terrain. Sounds like you had a lot of fun. I've played only one game of Muskets & Tomahawks. I liked it, but I have no plans on building FIW armies.

    Are you going to use Lion Rampant for gaming Worringen?

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    1. Thanks, David. This was only my second M&T game too - with about a year or so in-between the two. It's a great excuse to get the few F&IW figs I have on the table. No big units or cav. I was planning to use a modified version of Hail Caesar for the Worringen game, but it could just as well use LR - I have my infantry based 3-per 40mm square so could work in multiples for LR's 6 & 12 figure units. In fact, I've been using 6-figures as the standard size infantry units for my modified HC games. Seem to look fine and allows for more units per players, as well as more table space for maneuvering. Dean

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  14. Great report Dean. Those boats look excellent as well does rest of the table and miniatures.

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    1. Thanks, Simon. The rules worked out very nicely. Best, Dean

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  15. Great looking game and nice report Dean! I've yet to try these rules, but really want to!

    Christopher

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    1. Thanks, Christopher. I think they are a really nice skirmish set for the black power period. Very simple, yet with enough dynamics to keep it interesting - the side plots being one of these. Hopefully you might be able to play in a game someone is hosting - that's how I got my first taste. Best, Dean

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  16. Thanks for this nice report. Sounds and looks like a good game!

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    1. Thanks, Monty! Glad you approve. Regards, Dean

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    1. Thank you, Ray. A great set of rules which we had a nice time with. Best, Dean

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    1. Thank you kindly - a rule set I should be returning to often. Warm regards, Dean

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