History of "WAG" Battles --
Before
I started this blog, we had some early playtests of my "Tricorne Wars"
rules. The photo at left is from one of these with me overlooking some
of my GNW Swedes.Nevertheless, the main reason for my writing these rules is for our local gaming in what we are calling the "Wars for Arcadian Glory" (or WAG for short).
WAG is named for the local gaming club here on our area of Vancouver Island (off of the coast of western Canada).
In the ensuing months, our blogs have recorded some nine battles as we've been building up our forces for an ongoing campaign. So far these have been "one-off" battles . . . most of them using some of Charles Grant's "Table Top Teasers" so thoughtfully provided by Steve-the-Wargamer.
Listed here (starting with the most recent) are the various playtests which Murdock and I have recorded in our blogs:
Battle of Grozhof
Fought
on December 12, 2007 (at my Game Room) between the forces of Mieczyslaw
and Burtzenia, it was another Table Top Teaser #3 fight. Murdock
played Mieczyslaw (of course) and Deryck handled the Burtzenians. The
primary account of this battle can be seen here.Grozhof ended in a victory for Mieczyslaw.
Battle of Fraudorf
Fought
on December 11, 2007 between the forces of the Duchy of the North and
Principality of Saxe-Bearstein, again it was Table Top Teaser #3 (which
we were playing for the second time -- Pete having his choice of sides).
This too was fought at my Game Room.Pete commanded his Norden troops and I played my Saxe-Bearsteiners. An accounts of the battle can be seen here.
This battle ended in a cease-fire and draw when Brigadier Prniz Gunther von Ursa, second in line to the throne, received a mortal wound leading his troops in battle.
Battle of Ubergang
Fought
on November 27, 2007 this battle marked the opening of my Game Room.
Combatants were the Duchy of the North and that of Mieczyslaw. As
usual, Pete handled his Norden troops while Murdock directed his
Mieczyslaw boys.This was our first attempt at Table Top Teaser #3 (the Advance Guard Action). Pete's forces came from the North (appropriate, what?) near the town; while Murdock's troops entered near the bridge.
Ubergang was marked by a significant amount of "fog of war" with one of Pete's brigadiers consistently re-interpreting his orders to the consternation of Pete's C-in-C.
Eventually the battle ended up as a draw . . . but it was a close thing at times. For accounts of this game, go to here and here.
Battle of Offenbach
Fought at Murdock's on October 21, 2007 this one was a bit different. It was a "proxy battle" involving the troops of Frankzonia, the Soweiter League and my own Stagonia. Murdock (and friends) ran the battle for players in other areas.Again one of the main features of the day was problems with "command and control". Stagonian forces had three "Political" commanders . . . and their left flank pretty much never moved as my "Tricorne Wars" rules "fog of war" aspects kept resulting in misinterpretations of orders stalling troops in their tracks.
Nevertheless, the vile Stagonians carried the day (and sneeringly gloated about it).
It also featured some interesting "battlefield diplomacy" that resulted in a significant re-alignment during the battle. Murdock's account of the battle is here, with his pre-battle commentary here.
Battle of Barva
Fought
at Murdock's on September 4, 2007 between the Duchy of the North and
the Duchy of Mieczyslaw. This was our third playing of Charles Grant's Table Top Teaser #2 (The Wagon Train) -- obviously we liked this one.As usual, Pete ran his Norden troops and Murdock had his Mieczyslaw men.
For an account of this battle, go to here.
Battle of Stinz
Fought on September 2, 2007 at Murdock's Shed. My Principality of Saxe-Bearstein boys faced Pete' Duchy of the North forces.For the second time we were playing the Charles Grant "Wagon Train" scenario from his Table Top Teasers (as provided by Steve-the-Wargamer).
This was the battle in which Brigadier Prinz Gunther von Ursa earned his father's ire for leading so many cavalry charges. (Note: this same Prinz Gunther was to fall mortally wounded in an infantry firefight during the Battle of Fraudorf.)
Accounts of the battle may be read here and here.
Battle of Polkfurt
Fought
on August 26, 2007 at Murdock's, this was the first time my Saxe-Bearstein
troops were to make it to the table top. I was to face Pete's Duchy of
the North . . . and come away with a victory!Murdock did his usual thing and had a wonderful setup prepared for us. We were playing "The Wagon Train" Table Top Teaser . . . and he had a great setup ready. He also umpired for us and ran the battle quite smoothly.
His account of the fight can be found here. In addition, he has a "preview" of the action here.
My account of the battle can be seen here.
Battle of Debnica
Fought on July 15, 2007 between the Duchy of the North and the Duchy of Mieczyslaw.Pete (Norden) and Murdock (Mieczyslaw) ran their usual troops.
The two biggest lessons learned in this game were by me (to seriously reduce the light forces available) and Pete's discovery regarding the difficulties in planning deployment . . . linear warfare is seriously different from the Napoleonics he was used to.
Murdock's account can be read here; and my post-battle thoughts here.
Battle of St. Argard
Fought on July 1, 2007 this was the first time we had "Wars for Arcadian Glory" troops on the table top.Pete ran his Duchy of the North troops for the first time (although he had to borrow a number of my Great Northern War boys to do so).
Murdock gave his Duchy of Mieczyslaw troops their baptism of fire as well.
This was a simple scenario. A meeting engagement with relatively similar terrain from both sides of the table. It was primarily a chance to see how my re-worked "Tricorne Wars" rules would work.
Murdock managed to end on top, but we all had a good time. His account of the battle can be found here; while my reactions can be read here.
(I hope that you've enjoyed this "look back" at our battles of 5 or 6 years ago. Please DO follow the links to the battle reports for photos, After Action Reports, and thoughts on how the rules worked.
Indeed one of my reasons for re-posting this is because I am once again re-working my "Tricorne Wars" rules . . . and a look back is helpful to me.)
-- Jeff
