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Steve’s AWI rules we play tested are, it turns out, based on a work in progress set of ACW rules and tonight we get the figures on table for the first time for a run out.
Great fun but it has to be said my dice were particularly awful, even for me.
I had the Yanks but 3 of our regiments were off table with Steve, could I hold off the better quality confederates until Steve could arrive to support. 8 regiments of various strengths a mix of drilled with the odd green and veteran unit with a three gun battery supporting. Steve would roll at the end of each turn for arrival of his 3 regiments of drilled reinforcements.
We used card activation with a card for each brigade to see who went first. The rules allow for 4 actions per unit, fire, move, manouvre, reload etc. As each brigade activates you roll to see if you get an extra action, on a 6 you do on a 1 you get one less. Excellent commanders get a plus one so an extra action on a 5 or 6 and no chance to reduce to 3. My commanders were not too good, Chris managed an extra turn a couple of times. First move the larger 5 regiment brigade of Rebs pushes forward.
My turn and I try get my left hand brigade to spread out and cove more ground, actions do require a roll to complete, shuffling to the left to fill a gap is a complex manouvre requiring a roll of a 4, I manage this no times in 4 rolls. hardly a shuffle. The shape of things to come I fear.
Hard evidence of my inability to roll a decent dice. I am not on my own Steve has rolled for the Yankee reinforcements, they wont be arriving this turn.
On my right the Rebs have pushed forward quickly and aggressively. They manage a volley and inflict some casualties, 1 firing dice per base needing a 5 or 6 at effective range. I fire back with a large 7 base veteran unit and may as well have fired in the air. 1 casualty. Sigh!
On the left I have decided to shift a different unit and manage a staggered line to cover the advancing Rebs, again they have fired and inflicted casualties whilst my response suggests we have been issued with defective rifles or bad powder.
The rebels advance into the woods and we are almost able to volley each other (8 inches in woods)
On my right the Rebs charge the large veteran unit who are driven back 12 inches. The Rebs have taken casualties but as hey are crack they are unlikely to fail any morale and have now left my front regiment exposed.
In the centre we have an uneven fire fight, casualties on both sides but my green troops loose a base after 5 casualties and the Rebs Veteran and Crack troops after 6 or 7 so I am taking morale tests more often and less likely to pass them.
Chris's artillery has only 2 guns and one is smoothbore so shouldnt be that good, 2 dice needing 5's and 6's. I probably dont need to dwell on this one.
The rebels close with my lead unit, two volleys sends it realing back in disarray almost to the guns.
My artillery in response? Lets just say Chris isnt too worried at this stage.
Chris advances one regiment of Rebs through his front damaged unit and volleys my drilled Yanks, along with the earlier artillery hit this forces a morale, I troll double one and the y are off table, not that I am getting frustrated at all!
My remaining unit then takes a further two volleys and is forced back with commander taking a hit and losing a level of command.
Last move of the game and Steves reinforcements turn up on the flank of my pretty much destroyed brigade. Pretty much just in time to cover the retreat (Someone less kind might say route!) of my two very badly mauled brigades.
Despite my desperately poor dice its easy to see the rules have potential and I have enjoyed it, all be it laughing at my own expense. I look forward to playing them again soon, hopefully with a couple of weeks off I can replenish a little luck.
May the odds be ever in your favour!
Thanks for stopping by!
