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Monday 15 October 2018

I Know I Said.....

No more posts this year, but yes but no but. Today Dave came over to OHQ for our inaugural game using Black Powder 2nd Edition, we both agreed that we could not let it go unrecorded.
I used a scenario form Neil Thomas's "One Hour Wargames" book, Take The High Ground, which itself is derived from Charles S Grant's "Scenarios For Wargames".
We used my First Carlist War collection for the action, the forces were...…
Carlists Forces
1st Brigade - 3 battalions line infantry - Standard - First Fire, Skirmish
                      1 group of skirmishers - Small - First Fire, Skirmish
2nd Brigade -1 battalion infantry - Standard - First Fire, Skirmish
                      2 battalions infantry - Standard - First Fire, Freshly Raised, Skirmish
To reflect the inherent ammunition shortages all the Carlist battalions would fire with two dice, but to reflect their perchance for close combat they would get the Tough Fighter rule.
One battalion and the skirmishers would start the game occupying the hill.
Isabelino Forces   
1st Brigade - 2 battalions line infantry - Standard - First Fire
                      1 battalion light infantry - Standard - First Fire, Skirmish
                      4 squadrons of line cavalry - Standard
2nd Brigade  2 battalions British Auxiliary Legion - Standard - First Fire, Skirmish
                      1 battalion  British Auxiliary Legion Rifles - Standard - First Fire, Skirmish
                      2 Squadrons BAL Lancers - Small - Lancers
                      1 Royal Marine Rocket Battery
The Isabelino forces must be in unopposed possession of the hill by turn twelve or have forced the Carlist forces to quit the field.
The Carlist Left Advances

The Carlists And BAL Clash

Action On The Right Flank

Stasis On The Left Flank

The Carlists Are About To Charge

While The Infantry Engage In A Firefight The BAL Lancers Enter The Fray
It turned out to be a very to and thro game, one side looking to have the upper hand, then the other making a swift rally, the thing we most like about Black Powder is you can never say you are done till the fat lady sings.
All though the Carlists had some success the superior firepower of the Isabelinos finally led to both brigades becoming broken in turn eleven, so close yet so far from victory.

There are various reviews on second edition now so no need to repeat the glaring mistake and other lesser errors here. We liked the re-roll for commanders, I have always thought it odd that the C in C could command so many other units and do his job at the same time, as it says in the book the first edition approach is more suited to smaller and colonial actions. We did not have any evades to sample this new rule, but the rockets, which we never found very effective in first edition anyway is certainly more unpredictable and dangerous, as it should be.

Are the changes worth forking out for? maybe not, but then I have both Albion supplements, Rebellion and Glory Hallelujah, both of which "I don't need" just because.

TTFN 

26 comments:

  1. Hurrah!
    I new you wouldn’t be able to stay away.... ;-)
    A lovely looking game sir.
    I shall probably pick up a copy of Black Powder 2 as well .... I don’t want to feel left out and have all the cool kids post at me and laugh.

    All the best. Aly

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    1. Thank you Aly, perhaps I can have as many come backs as Frank Sinatra ;~)

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  2. A joy to play with your wonderful armies on such outstanding terrain! BP2 probably not worth the money, but we have it now and it does clarify some things. Best of all it was marvellously unpredictable!

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  3. PS Glad you saw the error of your ways and started blogging again!

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  4. Sounds great, armies and terrain, love the ruined house...

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  5. My bad luck continues to dog me, I do not have my copy yet, time to appease the Gods with some kind of slaughter, now where is that first customer...............

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  6. Nearly forgot, excellent looking game.

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  7. Well glad you changed your mind and posted because that's a beautiful looking game!

    Christopher

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  8. Huzzah! You're back! It's almost like you've never been away ;o) Lovely looking game and figures sir!
    Cheers
    Matt

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    1. Thank you Matt. I think I have been away longer when it wasn't planned :~)

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  9. Stunning looking game! Actually a period I do fancy myself, but am still a little reluctant to tackle due to only Perry figures available so far.

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    1. Thank you Nick. I can't envisage any one else making figures for it though. There was a Kickstarter mooted last year for a Third Carlist War range but that appears to be dead in the water.

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  10. Lovely looking game! Your Carlist wars troops are fabulous and nice to see you back!
    Best Iain

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  11. Great looking game - well worth breaking your word and posting again before 2019!

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  12. Thank you for dropping by and commenting. Never say never, as they say.

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