Thought I would share some of the photos. My attempt at some more rugged southwest US terrain.
Showing posts with label Plains War Campaign. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Plains War Campaign. Show all posts
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Search and Destroy vs Apaches
During my Din of Battle 2 playtesting (2007) we fought several early engagements between US cavalry and Apache Indians.
Thought I would share some of the photos. My attempt at some more rugged southwest US terrain.
Thought I would share some of the photos. My attempt at some more rugged southwest US terrain.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Battle of the Little Big Horn - 4th Battle of Plains War Campaign
Hi,
The only reason this is called the Battle of the Little Big Horn is that is where the battle took place in our fictional campaign. This is not supposed to represent the real LBH.
This was the 4th battle in our Plains War campaign, with the cavalry losing the first 3 battles. This time the whirling ponies of the Indians would have to settle for a draw. The counted coup, but couldn't hold the battlefield and withdrew when massive cavalry reinforcements arrived.
Players
Here is the plains near the Little Big Horn river. I'm happy with the look.
The Battle
Here you can see the cavalry (dismounted) on the far right of the table prefering firepower over manuever. Remember the 7th was surrounded during the last battle and wanted to have good fields of fire. The Indian warparties are in two groups, one of Blackfeet\Hunkpapa and the other Oglala.
Close-up of the cavalry companies ready to shoot anything that moves.
The nice thing about the plains and the ability to manuever quickly with Indians in Piquet. Over the next few frames you will see the two Indian commands move quickly on to the cavalry's flank.
Cavalry companies starting to lose cohesion as the Oglala ride around their flanks.
One company of cavalry already running from the Indian attacks.
Cavalry is having to face all directions as the Indians continue to press their flanks. Now there are two routing cavalry companies.
The Indians charge the rear of a dismounted cavalry unit.
Now four out of five original cavalry companies are fleeing for their lives, but notice that two new cavalry companies have entered the battle. Will their firepower allow the others to flee to safety?
Suddenly 5 companies of the 4th cavalry arrive on the horizon! The Indians are forced to react to the new threat.
The 4th charges onto the field to draw attention away from the wrecked 7th cavalry companies.
The Indians launch two warparties into the 4th's line in an uncontrolled charge.
The two warbands are repulsed and the Indians begin to take stock of the situation. Dismount and skirmish fire or stay mobile on their horses.
CRUSHING VOLLEY! Cavalry turns a Crushing Volley card which allows the next 5 cavalry units to fire at UP1. This is a huge advantage and the cavalry dismount to get off even better shots.
The cavalry firepower drives the Indians off and they retire safely from the field with minimal damage.
Great fun!
Eric
The only reason this is called the Battle of the Little Big Horn is that is where the battle took place in our fictional campaign. This is not supposed to represent the real LBH.
This was the 4th battle in our Plains War campaign, with the cavalry losing the first 3 battles. This time the whirling ponies of the Indians would have to settle for a draw. The counted coup, but couldn't hold the battlefield and withdrew when massive cavalry reinforcements arrived.
Players
- Brian Connolly commanding the 7th Cavalry
- Mike Johnson commanding the 4th Cavalry
- Hal Hood commanding the Blackfeet and Hunkpapa Warriors
- Mike Bolling commanding the Oglala Warriors
- Umpire: Eric Burgess
Reinforcement Rules:
5 Companies of cavalry will start on the board.
10 Warbands of Indians will start on the board.
You will start with about 3 feet between each other on the table (roughly 2 moves with skirmish formation). So you could be on top of each other rather quickly if you so choose.
At the beginning of turn 2 a stratagem card will be put in the Cavalry’s deck. When that card is turned the other 4 companies arrive from across the river. (River will not be on the table unless the two of you want to fight near it). They will deploy on the west side of the board.
At the beginning of turn 4 a new stratagem cards will be put into the decks and when they are drawn then any units “Marching to the guns” will arrive. Of course, those units able to march to the guns will arrive behind the enemy’s forces due to the very strange campaign situation.
The Terrain
Tough one! How do you make an open plain look interesting? Well, I used all sorts of different flocking textures, along with two very small hills (beneath the little scrub patches).
5 Companies of cavalry will start on the board.
10 Warbands of Indians will start on the board.
You will start with about 3 feet between each other on the table (roughly 2 moves with skirmish formation). So you could be on top of each other rather quickly if you so choose.
At the beginning of turn 2 a stratagem card will be put in the Cavalry’s deck. When that card is turned the other 4 companies arrive from across the river. (River will not be on the table unless the two of you want to fight near it). They will deploy on the west side of the board.
At the beginning of turn 4 a new stratagem cards will be put into the decks and when they are drawn then any units “Marching to the guns” will arrive. Of course, those units able to march to the guns will arrive behind the enemy’s forces due to the very strange campaign situation.
The Terrain
Tough one! How do you make an open plain look interesting? Well, I used all sorts of different flocking textures, along with two very small hills (beneath the little scrub patches).
Here is the plains near the Little Big Horn river. I'm happy with the look.
The Battle
Here you can see the cavalry (dismounted) on the far right of the table prefering firepower over manuever. Remember the 7th was surrounded during the last battle and wanted to have good fields of fire. The Indian warparties are in two groups, one of Blackfeet\Hunkpapa and the other Oglala.
Close-up of the cavalry companies ready to shoot anything that moves.
The nice thing about the plains and the ability to manuever quickly with Indians in Piquet. Over the next few frames you will see the two Indian commands move quickly on to the cavalry's flank.
Cavalry companies starting to lose cohesion as the Oglala ride around their flanks.
One company of cavalry already running from the Indian attacks.
Cavalry is having to face all directions as the Indians continue to press their flanks. Now there are two routing cavalry companies.
The Indians charge the rear of a dismounted cavalry unit.
Now four out of five original cavalry companies are fleeing for their lives, but notice that two new cavalry companies have entered the battle. Will their firepower allow the others to flee to safety?
Suddenly 5 companies of the 4th cavalry arrive on the horizon! The Indians are forced to react to the new threat.
The 4th charges onto the field to draw attention away from the wrecked 7th cavalry companies.
The Indians launch two warparties into the 4th's line in an uncontrolled charge.
The two warbands are repulsed and the Indians begin to take stock of the situation. Dismount and skirmish fire or stay mobile on their horses.
CRUSHING VOLLEY! Cavalry turns a Crushing Volley card which allows the next 5 cavalry units to fire at UP1. This is a huge advantage and the cavalry dismount to get off even better shots.
The cavalry firepower drives the Indians off and they retire safely from the field with minimal damage.
Great fun!
Eric
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Battle of Johnson Pass - 15mm Plains War Campaign
Plains War Campaign - Turn 11
A battalion of the 7th Cavalry lead by Colonel Jake “Sticky Boots” Doubleday has followed the Indians through Johnson Pass in order to press them from the east while the other cavalry regiments attack the Sacred Gathering grounds from the north. The 7th had to stop and wait for supply, which gave the Hunkpapa and Sans Arc time to regroup and move into Johnson Pass. The 7th (4 cavalry companies and 1 company of Crow Scouts) are in a defensive position while 11 warbands from the Sans Arc and Hunkpapa tribes try to eliminate them and the threat of their advance on the Sacred Gathering Grounds.
Order of Battle for 7th Cavalry (Click to view)
Order of Battle for Sans Arc
Order of Battle for Hunkpapa
Pre-game photos
Couldn't help but geek on the terrain here. Since this was a battle in a mountain pass, the actual gaming area was smaller (about 3' x 5'). All dismounted figures are Minifigs (love them!) and the mounted figures are from Modeller's Mart I believe. Not 100% sure.
Here the US cavalry column moves through the pass with Crow scouts screening the companies.
Battle Photos
Hostiles encountered and the 7th falls back into defensive positions above the wooded gully.
Crapload of hostiles!
Mike (left) and Ben (right) make plans as the Indian warchiefs!
Dismounted cavalry company. I don't have horse holders painted yet, but it is on the agenda.
Didn't know how useful the Indians in the prone position would be, but I really like how they look on the table.
Sweeping manuever by the Hunkpapa Indians on the right. Sans Arc are advancing cautiously to the front.
Hunkpapa look to overrun the lone cavalry company on the left flank. Crow scouts are dismounted and in the wooded gully.
Indians have started to dismount to get better shots at the Cavalry, which has taken shelter in the wooded gully.
"What have I done", exclaim's the cavalry commander! He now realizes that his deployment was poor and his entire column is surrounded and his forces are stuck on LOWER ground than the Indians.
Gulp!
More sniping into the woods.
"We must break out before it is too late!"
Cavalry mounts up in the woods, then charges for safety! What is left of the force flees the battlefield and was able to at least survive the battle.
This was a GREAT victory for the Indians in our campaign. Many scalps were taken and many new trapdoor carbines for the Indian warriors.
This was the 3rd major battle from my 2008-2009 Plains War Campaign, where we playtested rules for my Din of Battle 2nd Edition Colonial rules for Piquet.
SituationA battalion of the 7th Cavalry lead by Colonel Jake “Sticky Boots” Doubleday has followed the Indians through Johnson Pass in order to press them from the east while the other cavalry regiments attack the Sacred Gathering grounds from the north. The 7th had to stop and wait for supply, which gave the Hunkpapa and Sans Arc time to regroup and move into Johnson Pass. The 7th (4 cavalry companies and 1 company of Crow Scouts) are in a defensive position while 11 warbands from the Sans Arc and Hunkpapa tribes try to eliminate them and the threat of their advance on the Sacred Gathering Grounds.
- Brian Connolly commanding the 7th Cavalry
- Ben Fryer commanding the Hunkpapa Warriors
- Mike Bolling commanding the Sans Arc Warriors
- Using a D12 for impetus due to the small number of units involved.
- Using the rule of 1/3.
- Using TAD decks
- Indians get one Sequence Deck.
- Trail is CLASS I terrain
- Woods are CLASS III
- Hills are CLASS II (all terrain besides the trail) - I really liked how this terrain turned out.
Order of Battle for 7th Cavalry (Click to view)
Order of Battle for Sans Arc
Order of Battle for Hunkpapa
Couldn't help but geek on the terrain here. Since this was a battle in a mountain pass, the actual gaming area was smaller (about 3' x 5'). All dismounted figures are Minifigs (love them!) and the mounted figures are from Modeller's Mart I believe. Not 100% sure.
Here the US cavalry column moves through the pass with Crow scouts screening the companies.
Battle Photos
Hostiles encountered and the 7th falls back into defensive positions above the wooded gully.
Crapload of hostiles!
Dismounted cavalry company. I don't have horse holders painted yet, but it is on the agenda.
Didn't know how useful the Indians in the prone position would be, but I really like how they look on the table.
Sweeping manuever by the Hunkpapa Indians on the right. Sans Arc are advancing cautiously to the front.
Hunkpapa look to overrun the lone cavalry company on the left flank. Crow scouts are dismounted and in the wooded gully.
Indians have started to dismount to get better shots at the Cavalry, which has taken shelter in the wooded gully.
"What have I done", exclaim's the cavalry commander! He now realizes that his deployment was poor and his entire column is surrounded and his forces are stuck on LOWER ground than the Indians.
Gulp!
More sniping into the woods.
"We must break out before it is too late!"
Cavalry mounts up in the woods, then charges for safety! What is left of the force flees the battlefield and was able to at least survive the battle.
This was a GREAT victory for the Indians in our campaign. Many scalps were taken and many new trapdoor carbines for the Indian warriors.
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