We wanted to keep some momentum to our playtesting so went for another Great Northern War BLB game this week.
Slightly larger and with some small mods to movement to try out.
The Swedes would have 2 brigades each of 3 battalions and a light gun supported by 3 2 squadron regiments of horse. All would be drilled with average commanders, pretty down graded for Swedes but for the troops fighting in the Baltic arena whilst the main army was in Poland and Ukraine probably not far off. I would command the Swedes.
The Russians faced this with a light gun, 6 battalions of foot, 2 regiments of dragoons each of 2 squadrons and a 2 sotnia regiment of Cossacks. A mix of green and drilled troops with some defences to give them a boost, all commanded by Steve whilst Chris kept us straight on the rules.
Generals for all sides would be no more than average, again a departure from usual advantages for the Swedes but possibly accurate for parts of the Baltic theatre. The biggest challenge being the effect or rolling orders, if you dont roll well not much can move. As we will see that massively hampered the Swedish attack.
The Russians were slightly under gunned so Chris added a battalion on their extreme left.
Move 1 and I get orders for everyone and advance, we have added a n average dice to all movement to try and keep things moving and get conclusions to games, a lot of 4's rolled giving the Swedes 10 inches of movement. I push my cavalry straight forward at Steves dragoons, not surprisingly they retire out of danger.
Next move I only get enough to move half of units, so my left hand infantry brigade pushes towards the concentration of Russian foot on their right whilst two of my regiments of horse push forward towards the Russian Dragoons. The rest of my small army must stand and watch.
Steve uses his limited numbers of movement to push a unit of Cossacks onto my extreme left flank. Most of his troops are happy to wait in their defensive positions so he doesn't need to worry about the number of orders rolled.
Another Poor roll and I get one battalion pushing ahead whilst the Russian light guns opens up on the right hand unit of my first brigade.
Two out of three of the Cavalry regiments advances again, leaving the one facing the infantry immobile. There are significant gaps in my battle line now as I keep failing to roll for enough orders.
My left hand unit has taken its first casualties but passed its morale for being hit by artillery.
Meanwhile Steves sneaky Cossacks (Naughty Cossacks Chris calls them) are filtering through the farm to find my rear. As a mob of tribal horses they can do this where formed units would have to march around this obstacle.
The Foot Brigade continues to advance leaving the supporting brigade and cavalry far behind and taking artillery casualties along the way.
As the Swedish foot close the Grenadier battalion wheels to volley their flank, raking them as the artillery gets another shot into their front.
The Cossacks are waiting for an open flank or a dissolving unit to pounce on, it cant be long now.
The Cavalry clash, the Russians having run out of room to retreat.
The Swedish foot charge home on the gun, despite being badly mauled they take the gun position.
The outcome of the battle is as expected with both Russian regiments routed, unfortunately as I roll to control my own troopers one regiment chases after the Russians, we are so close to the board edge that they are lost to the gam.
The First Swedish foot briagde advances in echelon on the decent Russians.
The Russians open fire and the Swedes begin to take casualties.
My right hand battalion has over run the Russian gun but is now dis-ordered.
The remaining Swedish horse unit from the first attack consolidates and reforms. I hope to still have a use for it on the flank of the Russian foot.
Meanwhile the Russian Grenadiers and Cossacks swamp my Swedish light gun and its convincingly over run.
On the upside my second brigade of foot is finally moving in support of the first brigade, it does have a long way to go.
The Swedish Horse consolidates on the table edge where it can flank the Russian position.
Due to my inability to roll for enough orders two squadrons remain facing the flanking Russian foot unit having not moved at all so far in the game. What a difference a quality commander can make to attackign forces.
One battalion of foot also still remains where is started due to the unavailability of orders.
The Swedes push on and the centre unit tests for uncontrolled charge as does the right hand unformed unit, both get an uncontrolled charge but the closing fire from the Russians stops the centre unit, leaving the badly mauled and dis-ordered right hand unit charges into the good Russians in their defences. What could go wrong?
Not surprisingly the Russians push back the Swedish foot.
My left hand unit tried its luck but fails to charge in.
The Swedish right hand battalion is now down below two thirds strength and falling back
The sneaky Cossacks take their chance to charge the dis-ordered and retreating Swedish foot.
As the second unit of Swedes is forced back a second unit of sneaky Cossacks jumps on them but is swiftly repulsed.
The first two battalions of the next brigade now have to break through the Grenadiers to re-enforce the attack on the village.
All three battalions of Swedes have attempted to charge the Russian defences and failed. In the background the melee between the Cossacks and the badly mauled Sweish right hand battalion swirls on.
The Cavalry re-align for a charge into the raw Russians holding their left flank who are looking a little bit unhappy about it.
Finally I roll well enough for the last two squadrons of Swedish horse and the battalion of foot to march towards the sound of musketry. How much quicker would this have been with access to all of the troops.
I now have an untouched Brigade with two squadrons of horse closing on the village to replace the first badly damaged brigade. Just a battalion of grenadiers to overcome.
As the Swedes close the Grenadiers unleash a volley but are unable to stop them.
The Cossacks are seen off, even badly damaged Swedes can deal with sneaky Cossacks.
The Swedes charge home into the Russian Grenadiers.
Combat reduces their strength and they are down to a third but pass morale and smash into the Russians.
The Grenadiers are in turn down below two thirds strength and break, routing from the combat.
With a fresh brigade of Swedish foot marching towards the Russian slightly mauled brigade and a fresh regiment of Swedish cavalry in support, whilst a worn, but still eager, regiment of Swedish horse prepares to charge the flanking battalion of green Russian foot, the Russkis are in serious trouble.
We have however run out of time.
I have not managed to finalise a Swedish victory due to my complete inability to roll my order dice well. But it has played well.
Really enjoyed todays game. Interesting making the Swedes a bit less fabulous. Would be further interesting to give both sides more unusual troops, Polish cavalry fought for both sides in large numbers.
The Russians are not particularly fun to game with, they need to sit behind their defences for the most part when facing the Swedes. Perhaps a game with Russians vs Cossacks (Happened a few times at this period) might allow the Russians to be used more interestingly.
The extended movement made all the difference and we actually got a game, I am being won over.
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