THE BATTLE OF HARMS WOODS

 

This battle was a sort of meeting engagement, with the UPC starting partially entrenched, the Empire arriving with their artillery ready, and a very soggy field preventing artillery bounce through. Both sides needed to drive the other from the field. 

 

The Opening Bombardment Caused Only a Few Casualties to the UPC. 

With No Artillery of Their Own the UPC Decides Attack is The Only Option. They Launch a Massed Assault Against the Empires Right Flank. The Green Markers Show Where Artillery Fire has Dug the Guns into the Mud Making them Unable to Move or Pivot.  

The Empire's Close-Range Fire Fails to Produce the Kind of Casualties Against the UPC Forces They had Hoped for. 

On the UPC Right They Hold Back, Suffering Only Minor Damage from Artillery Fire. 

The Close Up Fighting Begins in Ernest. The Initial UPC Assaults are Halted and Pushed Back, but not Without Serious Damage to the Empire Forces Holding the Line. More UPC Formations are There to Continue the Work. 

The UPC's Numbers Achieve a Breakthrough, as the Empire Finally Responds to This Attack by Bringing up Reinforcements. 

The Empire's Left Continues to be Quiet, While the Center is Starting to Receive Action. On the Right the UPC has Eliminated One of the Artillery Batteries and is Pressing Home Their Local Numeric Advantage.

The UPC Begins to Turn the Empire's Right Flank, as the Center Now Comes Under Assault. 

The Empire's Right is Now Completely Turned and the Whole Line has Become Vulnerable. In the Center the UPC's Losses are Becoming Serious, but as Usual There are Reinforcements at Hand. 

As the Sun Sets and the Days Fighting Nears its End the Empire Begins its Withdrawal from Another Battlefield with Their Tails Between Their Legs.   

The UPC needed to overcome a number of problems, such as the lack of artillery, heavy congestion of their forces and a false sense of security from their earthworks. The Empire was slow to respond to the buildup on their right with sufficient reinforcements. They seemed very focused on winning by their artillery, even when they became bogged in the mud and that contribution became less and less. Still a close battle that either side had the opportunities to win right up to the end. 

REBLES AND PATRIOTS - THE LONG-AWAITED RETURN

 

WOW!!! Where did a quarter of the year go? 

It's hard to believe a bit of illness, family gatherings, and a few conventions have taken up so much time. Enough of the explanation. On to the game. 

The Battle of Slising Hill was a simple encounter battle. Both sides entering from opposite ends with the objective of taking and controlling the central hill. 

The Empty Battlefield. Slising Hill is at the central intersection of the paths just above and to the left of the woods on the far right. 

The Approach. Both the Continentals and the Crown Forces Advance Their Line Units Up the Center. 

Continental Skirmishers Have Driven Back the Crown's Light Infantry on the Flank. In the Center the Hill Blocks Line of Site as Each Side Continues Their Approach. 

In the Center a Charge by Crown Forces is Pushed Back by the Continentals on the Hill. On the Flank Massed Firepower has Driven the Crowns Supporting Troops from the Field. 

A Number of Well-Placed Volleys by the Continentals on the Hill has Seen Off More of the Crown Forces. At the Hills Base Stand the British Grenadiers, the Last Hope to Save the Crown's Day. 

In a Few Quick Volleys the Grenadiers Clear the Hill of the Continental Line, but Minutemen and Militia Press Forward to Take Their Place as the Sun Fades from the Western Sky.  

By Days End the Crown Forces Concede the Field to the Continentals.  

The Crown had a serious opportunity to win the game, by launching a charge with the Grenadiers, but instead choose to shoot the enemy down. While ultimately successful they failed to get on to the hill to gain the victory points they needed. While a very one-sided victory by points, this was a very close-run game. 

In other news I have been slowly building up my Epic Legion Imperialis forces and terrain. I have played a few times, but we are still learning the rules. Everything is slowly creeping forward as new forces appear in every game. 

The Horus Heresy in Epic. The Emperor's Children Space Marines Vs Solar Auxilia loyal to the Death Guard Legion. 

Wreckage and Ruin in the World of Epic. Lots more painting needing to be done.  

A NEW YEAR AND SOME CHANGES TO THE OLD RULES

 It has been a long Holiday season and I have spent plenty of time working on games, but none of it talking about them. 

So, what happened in the Fall '23 Campaign? As the UPC began its advances after the Battle of Janesville, the weather took a major turn for the worse. Heavy snow, driving winds, freezing ice storms from the Great Lake all forced the respective forces into early winter quarters. All thoughts of continuing the campaign were abandoned. Old Man Winter had won this round. 

On the tabletop front what this meant was I felt games were taking too long to arrive at a conclusion. I had a new set of modification ready to go and it seemed to me a better use of time to get them working than to continue an indecisive campaign. So begins the play test sessions. Sadly, I forgot to take any pictures of the first game back in December. 

The goal of the new rules was to get speedier results so that games would be fought to a conclusion in their allotted time of four hours. I felt it would also address an issue of players leaving early if the games looked like they would be concluding soon. The changes are to speed up formation changes, increase the decisiveness of melee, and have routs be more influential on units nearby. Both games have shown these changes are speeding up action with no perceptible changes to players abilities to play the game. 

Now on to the game. 

Massed Cavalry on the Southern Flank. A key test of the Support rules. 

The Battle Opens with the UPC Advancing Across the Entire Line. Empire Skirmishers Move Forward to Delay Them. In the North Empire Infantry Prepare a Flanking Position, while in the South the Cavalry Await Developments. 

The Cavalry Clash in all its Glory. The UPC's use of the Beginning Bombardment Against the Empires Cuirassiers has Given Them an Advantage. Both Side Have Lost Units, but the UPC is Slightly Ahead. 

The Cavalry Melee Continues. The UPC's Infantry Advance is Slowed by the Spread of the Fight Up the Valley. 

On the Northern Flank the Empire is Doing a Fine Job of Holding One of the Key Roads. The Butchers Bill is High and Not One Sided. 

The UPC's Cavalry have Claimed the Southern Flank. Only a Few of Their Dragoons Remain Battle Fit, but it is Enough to Pressure the Flank. The Rest of the Cavalry Arm is in a Perfect Position to Withdraw and Recover for a Further Assault on the Empires Flank. 

In the Central Part of the Field the Empire and UPC Forces Begin to Clash. The Empire Hold a Dominate Position, but the Massed Cavalry on Their Flank Leaves Them Vulnerable. 

Game End as Can be Seen by the Missing Road Sections. A Better View from Behind the Empire's Northern Flank. The Hill Top is Open, but the Grenadiers Behind will be able to be In Place by the Time the UPC Forces Arrive. The unit in the Right Corner are Casualties.  The Damage Disks Have Already Been Removed, but the UPC's Line is All in Need of Reorganization. 

While there was no decisive conclusion, but things were on the brink. We had lost time due to the need to explain fully the rules and changes, especially as we had a new player. All the changes seem to be moving the games in the right direction. More play testing will be needed, but I will now move this to a lower player base. 

THE ANNEXSTION OF THE NORTH 2 - THE BATTLE OF JANESVILLE

 

The Starting Locations. The UPC on the Left and Empire on the Right.

The second battle of the western front of the Fall Campaign has a repulsed but still highly motivated United Packs Commonwealth (UPC) army attacking the well positioned Empire of Wolfenstein army at the town and heights of Janesville in the Dane County area. With their flanks secured by the Fox River on their left and a massive forest on their right the Empire felt secure along their line of defense. The UPC needed a major success if they were to be able to attack the capital of Dane County by campaigns end. 

The UPC's Well Supported Cavalry Arm Facing Off Against the Empires Grand Battle Cavalry. Questions Remained if These Two Forces Would Clash Today. 

Empire Forces Have Concentrated Their Elite Infantry on and Around the Hill. The UPC have Massed Their Infantry for a Direct Assault on the Town and Valley Beside. 

After the Initial Bombardment the UPC Begin Their Advance. The UPC has Concentrated Their Artillery Attack on the Empires Cavalry, While the Empire has used Theirs to Damage Units Across the Whole UPC Line. 

The Cavalry Arms of Both Sides Leave no Doubt as to Their Intentions as They Open the Battle with Charges Across the Line. 

In the Center the UPC Infantry Advance as the Empire Stand Ready to Meet Them. 

The UPC Spring Their Trap as a Mass of Light Troops Begin to Emerge from the Woods. Both Side Cavalry has seen Success, but the Empire is Finding Itself Suddenly Caught by Concentrated Fire. 

In the Center the UPC Infantry Continues the Advance into the Teeth of the Empire Defenses. So Far Neither Side has made Much Impression on the Other. 

The UPC First Line Falling Back to Recover Yet Still Advancing Along the Entire Length. On the Right the Empire is Bringing in Their Elite Forces to Meet the Attack, but in the Process is Diminishing the Hills Defense. 

The Route of the Empire Cavalry. Unable to Stand Against the Combination of Firepower and Unrelenting Charges the Empire Flank Forces are Swept from the Field. 

After a strong defense the Empire's collapse was both sudden and unexpected. With the hill's troops stripped to concentrate against the UPC's center attack the UPC's right flank commander who had been tasked with holding the Empire in place seized the initiative and went over to the attack. This proved to be the turning point as while the Empire still held, they were being both worn down and pushed back. A sudden failing from a particularly devastating volley of UPC musket fire caused a catastrophic cascade morale failure to the Empires center. Along with the left flanks cavalry collapse it left the whole of the Empires position untenable. What moments before had looked like another Empire success suddenly became a disaster with the Empire needing to quickly retreat to save what was left of the army. 

While a major setback for the Empire the campaign continues with the battles to the east still to determine the fate of these Counties. 

THE ANNEXSTION OF THE NORTH - THE BATTLE OF GOOD WATER

 I have returned from my trip to the UK, and it was amazing, but more on that in a future post. 

The first battle of the Fall campaign has the United Packs Commonwealth (UPC) launching surprise attacks to take the Northern Counties of Dane and Clever Fox. While advancing in the west along the Rock River the UPC forces encounter a blocking force from the Empire outside of the town of Good Water. Initially outnumbering the Empire, the UPC launch an immediate assault. The Empire have sent out a call for reinforcements and need to hold on until help arrives. 

The Lead UPC Advance to Begin Their Assault on the Limited Blocking Force. 

UPC Artillery Moving into Position. 

Much Sooner Than Expected Empire Reinforcements Begin to Arrive. 

The Battle on the Hill Begins. The UPC has Already Forced Their Way onto the Top. The Empire's Forces are Pouring in on all Sides. 

With There Numbers Increasing the Empire Storms Down the Hill to Engage the UPC in the Valley. 

Both Sides Cavalry Begins to Arrive. The UPC Currently has the Numbers, but the Quality Lies with the Empires Cuirassier. Alongside the UPC Cavalry Their Addition Infantry can be Seen Coming Forward. 

Battle on the Hill Continues and While Battered the Empire Forces now Locally Outnumber the UPC. 

The Tenacity and Fury of the UPC's Assault Continues to Gain Them Ground. Will the Empire's Advantages in Numbers and Quality of Troops be Enough to Halt Them? 

With The UPC Force Concentrated in the Center Their Right Flank is Beginning to Giveaway to the Empire's Mass Pitted Against Them. Light Infantry from Both Sides are Dominating this Part of the Field. 

The Masses of Both Sides Cavalry are Content to Watch Their Opposite Number. A Chance for a Decisive Victory Could Have Been Won here by Either Side, but Neither Felt They Would be the Champion. 

At Battles End Neither Side Could Claim Victory, but the Empire had Not Lost the Hill so the UPC Would Need to Relinquish the Field to Them this Day. 

With the UPC held in check here at Good Water they were forced to give up the field. With their superiority in light troops, they were easily able to withdraw and not only that but break contact with the Empire's forces. The race was now on to see where these staunch enemies would next clash. 

A QUICK POST

 I have been meaning to write this post for close to a month now. At the end of July, we played a further game in the random Dog Wars battles. This saw the United Packs Commonwealth attacking a well defended Wolfenstein Empire position. This is a long, slow, battle and I had no illusions of it being played to completion. 

Empire Forces Marching Out of Town to Take Up Their Positions on the Front. 

UPC Cavalry Advance to Try Catching the Empire Infantry Before They Reach the Safety of the Redoubt.  

Empire Cavalry Thwart the UPC from Capturing the Redoubt Undefended. 

The Battlelines Clash. UPC Cavalry Forces the Empire Cavalry Back. UPC Light Infantry Begin to take the Woods. In the Background the can be seen the Assault on the Village.

Cavalry and Infantry Fighting Tooth and Claw for Their Respective Sides. 

By games end the Empire was in a strong position to continue the battle. Neither side had made enough of an impact on their opponents to qualify for a victory. A well fought but inconclusive battle. 

Upon my return from my trip the Fall Campaign will begin. This time the UPC will attempt to gain control of the North.