MAURICE at Canberra Games Society.

Hi All

Well, its been a long time since I've posted on this blog, (and more on the reason why later) but here is a long overdue addition to my reports.

I've been staying in Canberra for the last few weeks, so I took the opportunity to catch up with an old gaming mate David and get in a game of MAURICE.

David provided all the miniatures and terrain and gaming aids.

My army was a Hessian force with some Pfalz allies. David's army was Russian. 

Hessian ORBAT:

2 ELITE Cuirassiers

2 TRAINED Dragoons

1 ELITE Foot Grenadiers

5 TRAINED Musketeers 

1 IRREGULAR Foot Jagers

1 IRREGULAR Hussars

2 ARTILLERY

National Characteristics were Steady Lads and Rally To The Colours

Russian ORBAT:

2 ELITE Cuirassiers

1 TRAINED Dragoons

2 ELITE Foot Grenadiers

5 TRAINED Musketeers

1 IRREGULAR Cossacks

4 ARTILLERY

National Characteristics were Artillery Academy and Clerics

I chose to defend.

BELOW: My forces deployed facing David's Russian hoard.

I deployed with three battalions of Musketeers on the right of the enemies objective, the town of Hayleystadt with two forward and one in reserve on the high ground.  My irregulars were deployed in and around the wooded area on our far right flank. I garrisoned the town with a battalion of musketeers and deployed my two guns in front of and slightly to the left of the town. My left flank consisted of the Elite Grenadiers and a a Pfalz Musketeer Battalion.
Finally I massed all my Cavalry in reserve in March Column behind the left flank battalions. My notables consisted of the Rev.Whitehorse and Hans Von Gudarian (I might have changed their names)  ;)
Gudarian was my choice to command my mounted reserve, adding a +1 to all rally rolls for the Regiment he was attached to.
The Rev Whitehorse was commanding the right flank infantry.
David decided to stack his right flank. I looked like he intended to try and clobber my left flank infantry and then roll up my Cavalry reserve in a combined arms attack. He massed his artillery in the center, I assumed to provide support to either flank, in either defence or attack.

 ABOVE: David's first move. He advanced his massed artillery and in a coordinated move worthy of a Prussian Drill manual swings his cavalry regiments out towards his right flank.

 Before I could exclaim "Mien Gott"! david was able to sweep all his horse around to threaten my left.
Fortunately I was able to wheel my Pfalz Musketeers back and refuse my left flank and change the facing of my own Cuirassiers to face the threat.
I was able to hold off the Russian attempt to roll up my left flank. Quickly David now advanced his Elite Grenadiers and Musketeer to support his cavalry.

 ABOVE: The threat to my left flank.
BELOW: I advance my right in an attempt to distract David, to no avail.

 As David threw his men at my left I attempted to distract him by repaying him the favour by advancing the three battalions on my right. All my attacked achieved doing was destroying one of his Artillery with a combination of brisk musketry and artillery fire. (see above and below)

 ABOVE: My Hessian ELITE cavalry, Cuirassiers, and BELOW: the Russian equivalents.

 The action now centered on my left flank, with fire-fights and the occasional charges into hand to hand combat between our flank forces infantry and cavalry. My Pfalz Musketeers performed feats of valour, consistently rallying of disruption and delivering devastating volley fire resulting in the dispatching of one battalion of Russian Grenadiers, and then a supporting battalion of Musketeers after some torrid hand to hand combat. (see below) 

Not to be outdone, two of my cuirassiers then routed one of their opposite numbers after an initial setback. Adding insult to injury the Russian artillery was whipped out gun by gun by the less numerous Hessian gunners.
BELOW: The fog of war; Pfalz Musketeers blaze away at Russian Dragoons and Hessian Cuirassiers destroy one of the Russian Cuirassier Regiments leaving only one left to continue the uneven fight

 With the Regiment of Russian Dragoons being routed by musket fire (see above) the Russian army fell apart and routed from the field.

 David played an excellent game, but just couldn't turn hits into disruption. Furthermore my lads consistently rallied of what disruption they did take showing incredible discipline.
David's gunners were a huge disappointment, with my gunners performing beyond expectations.
A great game, lots of fun and done in two hours including set up.
David's comments:

"I simply did't expect you to refuse your flank by falling the Pflaz battalion back. But I was disappointed (embarrassed actually!) with my artillery.Still a very enjoyable game played at a good pace".

David's miniatures are the beautiful EUREKA Miniatures 18mm infantry and Artillery and the Cavalry are Old Glory or Essex miniatures I think.

As usual, comments are welcomed.

Cheers

An Introduction to Maurice

Hi Everyone

I played an introductory game of Maurice last Sunday at the monthly League of Ancients meeting.
My opponents were Darren and his son Declan (I hope I've spelt that correctly).
As this was an introduction to Maurice for them I simply slapped down some terrain and provided both armies.
Darren decided to defend and the objective was the town of Declansplatz.
Darren used my yet to be rebased Seven Years War Russians.
They had the National Advantages 'Steady Lads' and Maison du Roi.

Army ORBAT
1x Elite cavalry (Horse Guards)
2 x Trained Cavalry
1 x Elite Reg Infantry (Foot Guards)
5 x Trained Reg Infantry
4 x Artillery

My army was Prussians (1806 variety).
Army ORBAT
3 x Trained Cavalry
2 x Elite Infantry (combined Grenadiers)
5 x Trained Infantry
2 x Artillery
1 x irregular Infantry (Jagers)

National Advantages for my guys were 'Great Captain' and 'Artillery Academy'. The last was to prove totally useless to an army having the princely sum of 2 (count 'em), 2 guns.
BELOW: My Infantry lines advancing. The 1806 Prussians are a handsome army.

The terrain was pretty horrible from the perspective of the attacker. The objective sat neatly between a large hill on the enemies right flank and disordering terrain on the left. Darren garrisoned the objective with one battalion of infantry, an deployed his elite infantry on the right of the town with another battalion in front of them. He deployed his other 3 battalions to the left of the town supported by two artillery pieces. His other two guns were deployed on the hill to the right of the town together with his massed 3 regiments of cavalry.

With the enemy so well entrenched my usual plan of simply ignoring the objective and destroying the enemy army wasn't really on the cards.

I decided instead to try and seize the town. I pinned my hopes on somehow defeating his cavalry and his right flank forces and the capturing the town. On reflection a stupid pan, as he outmatched me in the quality of his horse, and his best infantry was also on the flank where
I intended to make my main effort.

As expected it ended in disaster. I suffered a bloody nose trying to take the town, and my cavalry were roughly handled by the enemy's superior cavalry.

Ultimately however it was all about introducing some fresh blood to 'Maurice' and so it was a successful two and a half hours of gaming.

All in all it was a fun game. I think Darren had fun, and young Declan commanded the Russian cavalry well, getting the better of the majority of combats

ABOVE: My brave infantry approach the objective.
BELOW: The Cavalry battle on my left flank.

PERRY HESSIANS

ABOVE: Musketeers from Regt von Rall.
Hi Guys
I've finished another 4 units for my 'MAURICE' AWI Project.
They are four Battalions of Hessians  Two are from Regiment (Regt) Von Rall and two are from Regt von Knyphausen.
The miniatures are the incomparable PERRY MINIATURES 28mm from their AWI Range.
Flags are from FLAGS OF WAR
I've based them on 40mm wide by 50mm deep bases with 4 bases to a unit.
BELOW: Grenadiers and Fusiliers from Regt von Knyphausen.

 BELOW: The 'Hatmen' or Musketeers from Regt von Knyphausen

 BELOW: All four Battalions ready for action.

 I will also use these guys for games using the excellent 'BRITISH GRENADIER' rules.
I've still got several battalions of PERRY METAL British to paint and recently ordered 3 boxes of the PLASTIC British Infantry and several packs of Americans, both Militia and Continentals.
I will certainly have my work cut out for me to get them all painted and based.
Feel free to leave any comments.
Here are some more photos for your viewing pleasure below.

Billiardsburg: A MAURICE AAR

ABOVE: The Objective. The Saxon band played so badly that the 'Old Fritz' ordered that every member of the band be shot and their instruments destroyed!

Hi All

It's been a while since I posted an After Action Report (AAR), so I traveled 70 mins south today to Melbourne and joined the excellent LEAGUE OF ANCIENTS wargame club.

I made arrangements to have a game of MAURICE with Victorian wargaming stalwart Michael B. I decided to trot out my 28mm Prussians for their first every battle. Michael always has beautiful armies, and he didn't disappoint and brought out his magnificent EUREKA MINIATURES Saxons. My Army is predominately FRONT RANK, but there is a smattering of EUREKA MINIATURES cavalry and PERRY infantry.

My army Order Of Battle (ORBAT) was as follows:

3 x ELITE INFANTRY

3 x TRAINED INFANTRY

3 x TRAINED CAVALRY

2 x ARTILLERY GUNS

1 x IRREGULAR INFANTRY

As I was the attacker, I selected an additional unit of TRAINED INFANTRY.

National Advantages:

LETHAL VOLLEYS

STEADY LADS

CLERICS

BELOW: My Massed Prussian Cavalry. Hussars and Dragoons.

Michael's Saxon Army's ORBAT was:

1 x ELITE INFANTRY

7 x TRAINED INFANTRY

4 x TRAINED CAVALRY

4 x ARTILLERY GUNS

4 x TRAINED CAVALRY.

National Advantages:

La Bayonet

Cavaliers.

BELOW: Saxon Cannon and Musketeers on the hill.

Now on to the AAR:

King Fredrick sat bolt upright in his bed.

“Mien Gott!!! Vat is zat infernal racket? Vill ve get no peace”?

“Majesty, it appears ze Saxons have deployed a new vepon. Zey intend to drive us all mad vit zee constant vailing of zee band on zee hill. Ve vill get no rest tonight”.

The Old Fritz looked towards the west at the high ground outside the town of Billiardsburg where his army was garrisoned for the night.

“Tomorrow I vill be shoving drums and horns vere der sun vont shine”! 

Opposing Plans:

Michael plan seemed to to me to be one that consisted on simply sitting on the objective, (a Large hill where the offending Band merrily played something resembling the screams of a cat and dog both being castrated simultaneously by a near blind butcher with a blunt butter knife).

Just to deter me he massed his guns (all four of them) and a Regiment of Infantry on the hill. He split his cavalry across the left and right flanks. Three regiments were positing on his left flank, and one was placed on his right. The bulk of his infantry, including his sole ‘Elite’ Grenadiers were deployed in two lines to his right of the objective. On his left of the hill was another regiment of musketeers and the three Regiments of Horse.

I deployed as follows from my left to right:

The sole Irregular infantry, the Hessian Jagers were positioned with the large wood directly to their front. Next I massed five regiments of foot in two lines of three regiments up front and two in support. In the lead I had my three ‘Elite’ Regiments, (Grenadiers and Fusiliers) with two trained regiments (Musketeers) in support. Next in line and to the right of the town were another two regiments of Musketeers and then all my Horse Regiments, consisting of two Hussar Regiments and one Dragoon Regiment. Finally I deployed my two guns.

My plan was to advance with my five infantry regiments supported by the Jagers and attempt to blow a hole in the Saxon line by superior firepower. I was relying on a combination of superior ‘Espirit de Corps’ (my elites V his trained) and ‘Lethal Volleys’ to win the day for me. 

BELOW: The deployment. As you can see I've kept my Cavalry and Infantry on my right flank back out of Artillery range.

 The Action!

The battle opened with an advance by my Irregulars, the Jagers moving off towards the woods and the main infantry force stepping of towards the waiting Saxons.

Michael for his part commenced a massed bombardments and an advance of his massed horse Regiments on his left. Clearly he planed to distract me from the real business at hand which for me meant getting my main infantry force to volley range as soon as possible.

His plan worked.

I countered by advancing the two infantry regiments of musketeers to my right to confront the leading two regiments of Saxon Horse.

Michael's gunners now had these two unfortunate regiments in range, and soon roundshot was smashing into one of the regiments, killing one of the much beloved colonels Prinz Augusta Von Manstien, (read: Michael played the ‘Death Of A Hero’ card). My army moral dropped by two points.

BELOW: I move my two right flank Infantry Regiments (Musketeers) forward to respond to the threat of Saxon Horse. In the distance my Main Force wait's outside musket range. The Saxon horse would soon need buckets to catch all the lead.

 BELOW: My Main Force Infantry pause whilst issues are decided on their right flank.

Fortunately for me however I was able to rally off most of the disruption the infantry had sustained due to the enemy artillery fire. At that point someone within the Saxon Cavalry had a rush of blood (read: I played the ‘Heat Of Battle’ card) and one of his regiments of Horse charged into my steady infantry. Within two or three rounds of battle the threat to my right had be nullified, with two of Michael's cavalry regiments teetering on being destroyed. I considered now that the situation on my right was in hand, and decided to turn my attention back to the main effort.
Michael had distracted me for long enough.

I now set about launching my main force infantry onto the offensive again and advanced to volley range. After about three or four rounds of musketry I threw forward my infantry with the bayonet.

Soon two out of the three regiments in Micheal’s first line were routed, with only his ‘Elite’ Grenadiers still holding their ground.

 ABOVE: The fire fight erupts between the two main Infantry forces whilst the cavalry attack on my right peters out,...
BELOW: Saxon Cuirassiers consider their fate.

It was at this point Michael ordered his army to retire.

With my Grenadiers and Fusiliers battered but still full of fight I halted as the Saxon army withdrew.

Later that night the Prussians stacked what Saxon drums, horns and euphoniums they could find and burnt them. Tonight they would sleep soundly.

BELOW: Where there were six Saxon infantry Regiments there are now only four.

 BELOW: The situation as Michael orders a withdrawal. 

SUMMARY.
Another fun game of MAURICE.

Game length was a very manageable 2 hours.

Michael and I discussed the value of ‘Lethal Volleys’ (LV) and we agreed that at 12 points it was a bit to inexpensive. We thought 18 points might have been closer to its true value.

That said, after reading the discussion on the HONOUR FORUM (see topic: Lethal Volleys too lethal?) and pondering the result of the game I’m now not so sure. Without LV, I doubt I’d have stood much chance of a win at all. I either have to take the objective, or rout the enemy. Given I’d have to clobber my way up a hill through 4 artillery and then a Regiment of infantry I suspect I’d go down in a heap. Trying to win in a straight up firefight without LV against Michael’s Saxon line while relying purely on my better moral would have been quite risky I think. LV at 12 points basically sees me giving up 2 regiments or either Horse or Infantry, which to my way of thinking is about right. Also, LV is only useful if you actually HIT the enemy. There were a couple of rounds there where my volleys (shooting) were pathetic. Fortunately for me Michael’s was just as bad.

So I guess the great LV debate will continue. Maybe a compromise worth considering is LV can only be used with ‘ELITE’ infantry. It’s something to think about.

For what it’s worth, my ‘Clerics’ card (costing 9 point) was a waste, as I only used it twice. Given I use 99 of my 100 points, if I had ditched ‘Clerics’ I could have grabbed another Regiment of ‘Trained’ infantry and one Regiment of ‘Conscripts’.

ABOVE:The Prussian Musketeers that performed so well in the face of the Saxon Horse. BELOW: Prussian Fusiliers cast a weary eye over the Saxon Grenadiers. 

 BELOW:The very well dress Saxon 'Ranchow' Regiment in the Saxon 2nd Line.

 As usual, comments are welcomed.
Oh, and a plug here for MAVERICK MODELS FLAGS. My Prussians are carrying the material flags available from MAVERICK MODELS. As usual, excellent service from Stuart.
I really like these flags. I particularly like the way they can be easily folded and twisted to look like they are flapping about in the breeze.
Highly recommended.
Cheers

Farewellensburg: A MAURICE AAR

ABOVE: The Battlefield as seen from my Right Flank. I attached one notable to my Guard Du Korp Cavalry Regiment. Just prior to the the start of the battle an additional Regiment of Foot joined the Grenadiers on the right. The 'Green' Regiment of Foot Musketiers

 

Hi Team

I thought I'd take the opportunity to share another After Action Report (AAR).

This time it’s another MAURICE Game report. Stan and I decided to use two late 18th century Imagi-Nations. For this game I'll be using my 1806 Prussians as the Imagi-Nation '1780ish Germanic' State you may recall as 'The Electorate of Clements Unt Edwarts'.

My 100 point Army will look like this:

3 REGULAR ELITE Infantry (1^st 2^nd and 3^rd Grenadiers)
3 REGULAR TRAINED Infantry (The Red, Yellow and Blue Brigades)
3 REGULAR TRAINED Cavalry (Guard Du Korps, the White Dragoons and the Blue Dragoons)
3 Artillery Battery’s

My National Advantages are (and with suitably 'Germanic' renames):

LETHAL VOLLEYS (or "Tod Feuer")

STEADY LADS (or “Hold Fast Mien Kinder”)

La BAIONETTE (or “VORWARTS”!)

Notables:

Two each. :)

Some notes on Army composition. This Army is a re-think of my previous version where I had more Artillery (4 Guns) and an ‘Irregular Infantry’ unit. Again I have made INFANTRY my dominate arm as I believe they are more powerful and versatile in this period than cavalry. Six infantry Units (Regiments or Battalions) will give me ample firepower when combined with 3 Artillery units (Batteries). Add 'LETHAL VOLLEYS' to the mix (the ability to 'Re-Roll' and failed disruption) and I think defensively the Army's firepower is quite deadly. All this firepower does come at a cost, and it means only 3 trained cavalry could be purchased. I upgraded 3 of my Infantry to ELITE and exchanged ‘CLERICS’ and ‘ARTILLERY ACADEMY’ with ‘STEADY LADS and La BAIONETTE. Total cost 99 Points. What you end up with an army suited to both the DEFENCE as well as ATTACK in my humble opinion. If I did end up as an attacker, then as such I would be entitled to the support of a Mercenary unit of either Infantry of cavalry so could increase my stock of horsemen that way. As it turned out for this battle I took an extra Regiment of Infantry.

Stan created the Free State of Northern Virginia, (FSoNV) looking very much like a mix of American Revolutionary War British and Continental Regiments? Apparently they have no issues with taxation without representation, meh.
His Army consisted of:

1 REGULAR ELITE Infantry 
5 REGULAR TRAINED Infantry 
1 REGULAR CONSCRIPT Infantry
1 REGULAR ELITE Cavalry
2 REGULAR TRAINED Cavalry  
3 Artillery Battery’s
1 Irregular Infantry Unit of Rangers (the town Garrison)

The FSoNV National Advantages were:
OBLIQUE MOVEMENT
MASION du ROI
and
LETHAL VOLLEYS

ABOVE: The battlefield as seen from my left flank.

Stan won the toss and decided to defend, so I picked another Infantry battalion to add to my force, (the Green Brigade).

The objective for me was to seize the town of Farewellenburg. My plan was rather straight forward. Break Stan’s Army or take the objective.

Stan massed his horse on his left. This was also the most likely approach to the Town for me, as attacking up hill in the face of three Artillery batterys wasn’t terribly appealing for me. Cavalry don’t shoot and in a headlong charge at my Infantry I was confident my chaps would have the better of the confrontation. I massed my Grenadiers together with the Green Brigade to lead the attack on the right (Stan’s left). My Artillery would sit behind the rough ploughed fields and support the attack on the right or aid in the defence of my left, which I decided to refuse.

My Cavalry would support the assaulting Grenadiers.

Success depended on how well my ‘Shock’ troops would do. If I could crack the FSoNV Cavalry and the infantry before Farewellenburg then I stood a reasonable chance of driving the enemy from the town. If Stan was forced to bring troops from his right to sure up his left then I might rout enough of them to break his army and make capturing the actual town irrelevant.

The battle opened with an advance by my force of Grenadiers on my right. Stan immediately charged them with is Regiments of Horse. After about three or four rounds of combat I had lost one Regiment of Grenadiers, but all of the FSoNV Cavalry was destroyed, and both of the enemy’s notables were either dead or fleeing the field. Stan started with an Army Moral of 13, but it was already down to about 6 or 5!
My Army Moral was still in rather good shape, with a fall from 13 to 11.

As the FSoNV Cavalry was battering away at my Grenadiers, Stan marched almost his entire infantry force from his right flank across to his left to confront my victorious Grenadiers.

BELOW: Stan's cavalry charge my Grenadiers,......

BELOW: And the results are: Scratch three regiments of Horse and one Regiment of Grenadiers. Stan's Infantry move 'Retrograde'. soon they will be engaged by my Grenadiers also.

Not content with destroying just Cavalry, my Grenadiers charged forward with the Bayonet. The use of a couple of “For The King” cards and a very appropriate “Grenadiers Forward” card saw the FSoNV infantry on Stan’s left flank swept away, for the loss of another regiment of Grenadiers. This was almost enough to push Stan’s army over the edge, with his Army Moral at 1. It was at this point a much beloved noble in the FSoNV Army was carried off with a shot to the head from Feldwebel Stammer of the 1^st Grenadiers, (I played the 'DEATH OF A HERO' Card). This proved too much for his army and they routed just as his infantry from his right flank redeployed in preparation to repulse the battered Grenadiers. I ended the battle with my Army moral at 8.

ABOVE and BELOW: My Grenadiers close in on the FSoNV infantry as more of their Infantry redeploy from their right flank to the threatened left.

BELOW and BOTTOM: The situation at the end of the battle.

FYI, my army is all AB MINIATURES 1806 Prussians. Stan's army is a mix of Minifigs and Old Glory. There might be some ESSEX miniatures in there also.
As usual another fun game of MAURICE. All over inside 3 hours. We were left with enough time to get a game of Dux Britanniarum in. More on that in my next post.

Comments Welcomed.
Cheers

EUREKA! 28mm Chasseur à Cheval!

 Hi Guys
I've added some French Cavalry to my French Revolutionary War army. This time Chasseur à Cheval from EUREKA MINIATURES.

 This is only a 'Small' unit for LASALLE, (8 miniatures). I might also use them for FoG:N or even MAURICE!

 It's been so long since I've got around to base these guys I can't even recall what Regiment they are.

As usual, comments welcomed!
Cheers