THE BATTLE OF LOBOWITZ

 This last weekend I ran a game of Post of Honor for two new players, and a pair of veterans. The game was the battle of Lobowitz, the first battle of the Seven Years War. The UPC was standing in for Fredrick's Prussians, while the Empire had the honor of being Browne's Austrians. We also had a guest from the store stop in to watch for over an hour. Perhaps we will be adding a new player to our ranks. 

The Battle Commenced with the Opening Bombardment Directed in Typical Fasion Against the Cavalry. The Cuirassier and Dragoons of Both Sides Lost Considerable Numbers. 

With No Hesitation Both Forces of Cavalry Charged into Their Opposite Number. Rather than Use Their Numbers to Support the Central Cavalry Battle, the UPC Chose to Cover the Flank Against a Possible Empire Advance from Across the Stream. 

On Their Left Flank the UPC Advanced to Clear the Empire Light Infantry Defending from a Forward Position in the Vineyards atop the Hill. 

With Orders to Hold the Empire's Left Flank Remained Steady in Their Position Behind the Stream, Before Finally Receiving Orders to Advance. The Cavalry Squadron Immediately Crossing the Stream and Swampy Ground to Bring Their Weight Against the UPC.  

On the UPC Left the Infantry Cleared the First Line of the Vinyard but not Without Loses. Like a Tidalwave They Moved Incessantly Forward. 

With Both Flanks Secured the Main Body of the UPC Advanced to the Assault on the Town of Lobowitz. The Second Wave can be Seen Here Advancing Up in Columns. Up to This Point Units Had Been Driven Back, but no Forces had Been Lost. 

Having Finally Driven Off the Empire's Central Cavalry the UPC's Vast Dragoon Squadron Returned to Attempt to Do the Same to the Empire's Infantry Outside the Town. On the Right the Empire's Lights Looked to Stall the Enemy Long Enough for the Left Flanks Forces to Come to the Rescue. 

The Empire's Left Flank Cavalry and Infantry Slowing Began to Advance Trying to Threaten the UPC's Main Assault. The Final Remainder of the Empire's Central Cavalry, the Undersized Hussars, Guard the Bridge Waiting an Opportunity to Attack. 

The Empire Launching Their Attack to Try Turning the UPC's Right Flank. Under Incessant Bombardment all Day the Grenadiers in Sullowitz are Still Standing Strong, with Addition Reinforcements at the Ready Should They Falter. 

Massed UPC Infantry Ready to Assault the Stoic Empire Defenders of Lobowitz. To the Upper Left Can be Seen the Dachshund's Dragoons Who Singlehandedly Drove Off the Empire's Grenadiers, Light Infantry and Artillery Defending Outside the Streamside of Lobowitz. 

On the Empire's Left Flank, the UPC's Cavalry Keeps up the Pressure. The Empire Troops Were Unable to Come to the Aid of Their Comrades in Lobowitz.  

The Final Moments Before the Inevitable End. UPC Artillery, Infantry, and Cavalry Combine to Smash the Empire's Defenders of Lobowitz. 

For a first game for half the players things went very smoothly. The Empire's Commander, some say an UPC puppet, seemed defeated from the start. The final losses go a long way in explaining just how one-sided the battle was. The UPC lost one Regiment of Cuirassier. The Empire lost two Cuirassier and one Dragoon Regiment, a Battery of Artillery, a Grenadier Battalion, a Light Infantry Battalion and at one point had both their top cavalry General and their C-in-C dead. The UPC Generals had a good plan and executed it well. The Empire seemed to be on their backfoot the whole battle. 

Will the UPC prove as decisive a second time? Stay tuned to find out. 

TRYING THEM ON FOR SIZE

 

After over a years' time of playing I felt there were a number of things missing from the rules used for the Dog Wars Campaigns. The primary goal was to get more turns in and to have a more dynamic, cascading effect on army collapse to provide a more definitive resolution. Things I felt were slowing things down was close combat not being as decisive as I wanted it, maneuvers taking too long and morale lacking a serious effect. Rules have been altered, played a number of times and things seem to be improving on overall game play. 

This was the first play test battle after the changes.

The Armies Approach. Both Sides had Little Terrain to Interfere with Their Movement to Come to Grips With Each other.  

First Clash of Cavalry. 

The Opposite Flanks Cavalry Eyeing Each Other Up.

With the Empire's Cavalry having Driven off Their Opposite Number They Prepare to Assault the UPCs Flank. 

In the Center it was the Clash of the Titans. Both Sides Guards and Grenadiers Went at it. While Heavily Battered the Empire's Guard Held Like a Rock. 

On the Southern Flank Both Sides Cavalry are Fully Engaged, Both Battered and Reforming for a Further Clash. In the Central Background the UPS Infantry Begins to Open a Hole and Start Turning the Exposed Empire Flank.

In the end the game was very close with the UPC having a slight edge with fewer units lost. The additional Victory Points being tested for captured artillery. captured flags and loss of Generals made the swing a bit more pronounced. Further battles will continue to test the value of the changes.