AWI - The Battle of Roark Farm

We fought a wonderful game of Muskets and Tomahawks the other day, and I actually got a few good photos of the action to show.

The Americans consisted of -

Regular Officer.
14 Regulars.
14 Regulars.
16 Provincial Militia.
6 Riflemen.

They had the mission Raid, with the side plot Rancour (The Officer was to send one of the units to their death). We decided it would be better if I, as the British player, did not know which unit The Americans had selected to be destroyed.

The British Consisted of -

Regular Officer with the Authoritarian Trait.
12 Regulars.
Ranger Officer with rifle.
6 Rangers with rifles.
10 Light Infantry.
8 Light infantry.

They had the Defence mission and A Hateful heart side plot.

We decided that the game would be the Americans trying to burn down a farm (most likely the actual home of the British Regular Officer too) that the British were about to occupy as it sat on high ground and would provide an excellent vantage point over the surrounding area.

The British had two units on the board, accompanied by their officers, The Regulars and the Rangers. I elected to deploy the Regulars as if they had just marched up the road into the main farm building area they were about to occupy, the rangers had pushed through towards the big farmhouse, obviously scouting slightly further ahead.

Suddenly the area ahead was full of American troops...The first card drawn in the activation sequence was the American forward boys card. So with a shout the game started with the American Officer ordering his men forward...Very apt.

The Americans head to the buildings

The Rangers march up to the farm house

The British regulars stroll up the road to the farm.

Ready for the off.

Rangers hunker behind a wall and engage

the enemy formations

The Regulars face off.

The start of the second round.

The face off continues

The rangers are looking to be outnumbered

The British try a different approach, but are shot

 down due to a bad leadership decision.

Fortunately the Lights appear to reinforce the flank,

gunning down the riflemen. 

The first building starts to catch light though.

The other Light section arrived and reinforced the crumbled left flank. 

The Ranger Captain plinks the odd shot off annoying the regulars in the center still.

See his smoke by the Farmhouse.

The barn burns.  The regulars turn their attentions to the Lights.

Who flee into the cover of the woods

The Lights in the centre keep the Militia pinned down in the middle of the board.

It was at this point an event happened. It caused the turn to end. At this point the British rolled a double 1 and the game officially finished. 

It was a Minor Victory for the British, but at a great cost in manpower.

They had kept the majority of the farm safe ready for their main forces to use it as a camp and observation point of the surrounding area.

Interestingly, the American Officer had decided that the Provincial Militia were fated to die in this game. Clearly not a fan of their particular state. Sadly the British had failed to help the American out here, killing about two of the fellows only.

We played an extra round after this, just to see if the event had changed anything in particular, It had not. the result was the same, albeit with a few more casualtys on the British forces. The Militia just failing to totally get the farm house on fire, though it was very scorched. (they needed one more action to set it ablaze....)

400 point AWI Musket and Tomahawk Game

We have been getting a few games in lately of Muskets and Tomahawks. (well three)

We managed to do a practice and then demo game to a friend the other week, and got a great bash in today. We ran all three games at 400 points, and played the same scenario for each. The one where you must eliminate 2/3 of the opponents forces to achieve a victory, both players having the same objective.

This is a report of todays battle, from mainly my perspective as the English player.

I fielded, at exactly 400pts -

Officer (Regular)
10 Regulars
10 Light Infantry (Elites)
8 Light infantry (Elites)
Ranger Officer
6 Rangers

My officer had to kill the French Chasseur with the Moustache in melee (their Sergeant) as a side plot

The Americans had -

Officer (Regular)
14 Regulars
8 Minute men
8 Minute men
6 Rifle men
6 Indians
6 Chasseur (French allies)

The Americans did not want to kill the English Regular Officer, as he was a friend as a side plot.

We played on a 6x4 Table.

The battle of Fry's farm.

We join the action at the end of turn one for the pictures, but you can get the layout of the table from them. 

You can also see my regulars which are fleeing on my right flank, and the American regulars which fled in the center. Not a day to be a Regular today, morale was certainly low for both units. 

Here we see the Rangers poised on the left flank to take on some Indians, and the big English light unit which had blown a big hole in the American regulars. This is where it started to go hideously wrong for the English.

The rangers charged at the Indians, throwing ineffectual axes on the way in. They then proceeded to get butchered down to 1 man for no kills on the Indians. The Indians then got two activations. They Shot the running ranger and moved close to the Ranger Captain. He then got to charge them, and died although he did finally mange to kill one of the Indians. 

Atmospheric shot from the British Captains view. He was trying to hit a Rifleman to make them break. 

"I see that scum Frenchy, but why are they not shooting at me?"

This duel in the center between the Lights and the Minutemen was only going to end one way. The Minute men fled later on . Those pesky Indians on the left flank though pushed the lights back countless times an out of position from this point onwards.

Back on the Right flank, the English regulars kept getting slowly whittled down, while mostly missing themselves. The French help their Riflemen mates to take more English regulars down, before turning their attention to the center 8 man Light infantry section.

The English tried a neat ploy here, but the cards let them down. They advanced the 5 Lights in the center to charge range of the American Regulars rather than reloading. Sadly the Regulars went one card before the Lights. And shot 3 down, pushing the last 3 back.

The Lights did eventually manage to get the Charge on the Regulars. If you look at the next picture you can see the result. Yes, I lost two men to the one American regular, and fled.

Just before the end of the turn, I managed to make the Riflemen flee, as seen in the next picture. Sadly not before my Regulars had been reduced to just 2 men. This reached my loss point of the game. so at turn end, I was six men short of killing enough Americans.

Final result was a Major Victory to the Americans, who achieved their mission and their side plot.

Another great and close game.

Our other two previous games both ended in draws, with both teams reaching break point in the same turn and none achieving any side plots. 

Cheers, John.

M&T 300pts Battle

A brief report of todays 300pt battle, British versus Americans AWI.

British had - (28 Figures) - Slaughter Objective

Regular Officer with the Regular Talent, 10 Regular Infantry
Ranger Officer with xxx and xxx talents, Two units of 6 Rangers
6 Indians

Americans had - (42 figures) (+ civilian officer and 2 units of 6 civilians) - Recon Objective

Officer with 14 Regulars
8 Minutemen
8 Minutemen
6 Riflemen
5 Indians

Side plots - British Regular officer needed to end the game in the house with no enemy units, American officer had to leave the table from the British deployment zone.

Here is the table after deployment all ready to start...

Much movement took place in turn one, with a few ineffectual shots fired. Clearly my excitement levels rose here as the photos all went blurry for a spell....We rejoin the action photo wise at the end of turn two. What had happened - Well the British had had a very poor turn. The regulars had assaulted the building only to be repulsed by the civilians within. The Rangers had shot ineffectually on their right flank at the civilians (the 6 Indians in white coats) and where then repulsed by a devastating round from the advancing American regulars. The other six rangers had also fled from the one casualty caused on them by a civilian in the house with his musket. They did at least manage to make the American Indians flee first though

The next turn brought fortune to the British side though. The Lone officer manged to charge the building, killing all the civilians and then their officer in melee. The building was his. All he needed to do was stay there.

The Rangers on the British right and then their officer were swiftly dispatched by the American regulars though. A gun dual ensued on the left flank between the minutenmen and the regrouped rangers, But more minutemen and some riflemen were pushing up the center of the board.

The indians get the jump on the Minutemen in the center. Firstly they make them flee, then they break cover to try and finish them off. Just in time, as they threatening to swamp the lone officer in the building.

The Rangers (I used the cois de bois figures) drove off the other minutemen by taking them on in melee combat, all shooting seemingly ineffectual on that flank. They would eventually manage to get deep in the woods and finish them all off leaving just 4 Indians on this flank for the Americans.

In the center of the board, the two remaining British Regulars managed to outshoot the riflemen and cause them to flee to the field in panic.

Things suddenly were really looking good for the British, where upon their morale card was drawn. Realizing how outnubered they still were, The officer decided to order a full retreat, and the remnants of the force withdrew from the table (I rolled a hell of a lot of 1's, only the Indians did not actually rout from the table lol, but still getting a flee result).

We called this an Impressive major victory to the Americans. They still had enough troops to achieve their objective and their Officer could achieve his side plot with ease. They also still had a full unit of 6 civilians on the table. I am sure they had bullet proof vests on. I hit them a lot, but the shot just bounced off every time.

Here are the figures left at the end of the game. (there are also 4 Indians in the woods to the left)

What a great day. I can see the value of the big cheap units to keep that morale card at bay for sure. But I did push him close to his break point too, so The British were certainly plucky.

Cheers, John.

Second Game

We had our second game last night. Again another really enjoyable time. A few more rules were added (or remembered) and it played out pretty smoothly.

The forces this time were 210pts (why the odd extra ten? well my figure collections nicely point up at that score for both factions, Oh and my French are here I have just had one of those weeks since my last post where between life and the snow I just have had no time to do anything fun).

British had - 210pts

Mission - Slaughter, Side plot - I will never forget his face (The French Indian squad leader)

Regular Officer
10 x Regular Infantry
7 x Rangers
6 x Indians

French had - 209pts

Mission - Scouting mission, Side plot - Friendship (don't kill the British officer)

Officer de la Marine (French officer with the light troop officer upgrade)
10 x Compagnies Franches de la Marine
6 x Chasseurs
6 x Indians
Plus the French received an extra 21pts of civilians -
Civilian Officer
8 x Civilians

Here is the table all set up and ready, with the figures ready to deploy  -

The Civilans deployed their officer in the WIP Perry farmhouse, and the bunch of 8 sat by the barn behind some light fencing.

The British put their regulars and officer coming up the road, the Indians took the left flank through the woods and the Rangers advanced across the central field.

Most of the first turn consisted of movements, with an couple of incidents of note.

The regulars pushed the civilians back with some long ranged fire, killing two and making them flee (no actions for them this turn as their cards both ended at the bottom of the deck)

The rangers managed to creep right up upon the officer looking out the doorway, and shoot him down from their vantage point in the centre wood.

The Indians advanced into the big woods on the left.

The French had a bit of a mixed bag of a turn. The Indians came on the (my) right flank behind the barn and into the woods there. They did pick off a Regular, who stood firm (I noticed barring bad dice these guys are very hard to shift)

The Chasseurs advanced up the left flank taking cover in the field behind the stone wall.

The Marines and their officer went Irregular for the game, and moved across the centre next to the barn.

Their firing was petty good and another Regular British fell, where upon they recoiled (ah said bad dice roll).

Overall it was a bit of an odd turn. 3 civilians dead versus 2 British regulars. Of course it wouldn't be one of our games with out extreme oddness to come.

Here are the positions after turn 1 -

Here are the fleeing Civilians

Look at those sneaky Indians. "where? I can't see them). The view from the recoiled regulars.

Meanwhile the sneaky British allies do their Indian thing, hoping to hold off the Chasseurs.

Game turn two began after I went and made the tea while Stuart shuffled the deck. Now the oddness began.

Somedays randomness is just weird to the max.

Basically The first load of card that turned where all French. Then the next Load of cards were all French, and the next. Somehow Stu had managed to shuffle the deck (you can see him doing it in the end of turn 1 photo) and get all bar 1 Indian card onto the top of the deck.

The result of this, was basically he did a lot of movement and shooting and reloading while I drunk my tea lol. 

The civilians moved into cover behind the barn, the Chasseurs took up position behind the wall shooting one Indian, The Indians blasted my regulars down to two men (who still refused to budge) and the Marines shot my Rangers taking them down to 3 men.

Finally the Britsh cards arrived. Now I knew I had the majority of the activations coming up, so played to my missions -

The Rangers advanced trying to get to the civilian unit and also to push the Marines back, only their aim was clearly shaken and they failed in this task.

The Regulars and the Officer went head long straight at the Indians, The troops ready to sacrifice themselves for the Officers life if need be. they got to 2" from the Indians and the officer prayed next turn cards would arrive so he could charge his side plot nemesis.

The Indians on the left moved into point blank, shot at the Chasseurs, killed just one, then Threw their tomahawks, felling another before harging into melee, 5 Indians vs 4 Chasseurs.

A bloody combat ensued, With the Indians killing all the Chasseurs  for one loss. 

Sadly the Turn was at an end. The British Morale card was plugged into the deck as losses where high enough from this turn.

Here is the table at the end of turn two-

The regulars and their officer are ready for a rumble with the Indians.

The Indians are looking at some civilians thinking "we can see you"

The depleted Rangers tough it out in the open, oh dear!

The next turn Began. It looked good for a minute. The British Indians went first and unleashed a couple of shots at the distant Civilians. Sadly no hits were forthcoming and with that my slim hopes were dashed -

On the other flank, The Indians got a reprieve and their card came out before the Officer could charge home. They unleashed some Tomahawks, killing the two Regulars, and fled back through the woods. They really did not want to have to fight my officer in hand to hand it seems. (this was the funny result of stu's side plot)

The Officer got the next action and moved slowly through the woods desperate to catch them and avenge his (side plot) honour.

Next up came the British Morale. Oh Oh!

It was better part of Valour time it seems. The Officer routed off the board (It sounds better to say he clearly got lost in the woods ). The Indians decided they had had enough slaying today and also routed off the board.

The Brave Rangers only fled. Hah so no activations for them.

We called it a game here. A Major Victory for the French was declared.

What a great game it was. It ebbed and flowed from one side to the other. More shall be coming soon.

I will also add some pics of the French too when I get a chance, More great Front rank figures.

Again Comments and suggestions are more than welcome, finally, here is the shot of the end table, see those rangers run.... 

Cheers, John. 

First Game

Played my first game last night. 200pts British vs Canadian(French) set in the FIW genre.

Stu and I both greatly enjoyed it. Much fun was had by both players. It was that good I realised afterwards I had only had one smoke break during the game, and had neglected my photography efforts a little. I did capture a few images though which I will include.

British Force -

Regular Officer

10 x Regular Infantry

6 x Rangers with sharp shooter

5 x Indians

Objective - Scouting Mission

Side plot - Let us thwart their plans!

Canadian(French) Force -

Canadian Officer

7 x Canadian Militia

7 x Canadian Militia

8 x Provincial Infantry

Objective - Engagement

Side plot - Emotive

Here is the table with the scenery all ready (armys are not deployed yet, just there at setting up) -

And here are the cards all shuffled and ready. Sleeves were supplied free by a friend. Oh dear...

The Canadian force deployed spread across the table, militia and officer by the buildings, provincials in the centre  and militia heading into the wooded area, whilst the British had to move on from their edge.

Now I do not think this is not going to be a very in depth and stunning report I am afraid, I was too busy having fun and checking the odd rule to take notes (or lots of pictures) so apologies.

Basically the British advanced their Regulars and Officer up the centre of the board, the Indians advanced diagonally through the field on the left, and the Rangers took to the woods.

After a bit of jostling for positions, The regulars spotted a chance and opened fire on the Provincial unit.

3 Provincials died, and they fled back towards their lines. You can see them running in the following picture, although the poor Regular troops had gotten a bit decimated by fire from the Canadian militia and officer behind the wall. The regulars remained steadfast in their position though. A few reloading's had taken place before the picture was taken. 

Fortunately the Regulars kept the Canadians busy for a while with their stubborn refusal to break, so the Indians had chance to slip across the left side of the board  and nab a scouting objective for the top corner.

Here are the Indians slipping there way up the left flank -

Meanwhile on the right flank, an epic fight between the 6 Rangers and a unit of 7 Canadians was brewing. Sight was finally gained between the units and shots rang out in the woods. A couple of early hits pushed the rangers back, but they came forward again(next turn) and managed to shoot a couple of the Canadians and then get the drop on the Canadians with a charge. Melee was very brutal. The 4 British Rangers butchered the rest of the Canadian force without taking a hit back. I don't know what Stu did here, but his dice just died completely. Mine, unfortunately for him were suddenly on fire.

The rangers pushed on and secured the other top objective point. At this point we went onto the next turn(3)

I needed to get off the board from my edge, with my forces now.yet still kill more Canadians to make him take reaction to get my side plot. Stu need to kill 6 more of of my men to end it this turn.

The Indians and Canadians took all their activations speeding down the flanks back to my board edges.

In the center battle raged, with the Canadian forces taking the edge. They killed all my remaining Regulars and the Provincials then gunned down my officer at point blank range. Fortunately for me though before this occurred I had taken out enough of the Canadians and his officer to make him require his morale card to be added to the deck next turn. So was mine though. He needed to kill one more figure to win outright there, but had run out of actions to do so.

The next turn started and The British got lucky and headed back to their lines with Indians and Rangers. the Indians left the table, Then the fates intervened - The Canadian morale card came up. His units held, and the dice were kind, but it was too late, next card saw the rangers leave the table.

Final score was - Decisive Victory to the British.

It may of said decisive on the tin, but man it was so close to not being one.

We did not use all the optional rules and left a few other bits out too as it was our first try at these rules (Stu had not even read them) but as I say, we both greatly enjoyed it. I think it can only get better from here.

Thanks for reading this. Any comments or thoughts are more than welcome, 

Cheers, John.