"Victory Without Quarter" --

Well, we tried the above rules out today . . . and they were a lot of fun. We did have some questions about the rules however since they are relatively sketchy is certain areas.

As to the report of the actual battle, I will leave that to Murdock. He will surely post a wonderfully illustrated battle report on his Duchy of Mieczyslaw website sometime over the next few days.

However, a bit of background would be appropriate. This was a civil war battle in the 1650s between the Duke's forces (high morale) and the Baron's forces (more numerous).

Because of this scenario, I chose to make some changes to the usual card deck. Clarence Harrison's "Victory Without Quarter" rules use a card deck that features activation cards for each unit, each brigadier, each general, etc.. There is also an "End of Turn" card -- which makes for a deal of uncertainty (and tension) which we liked.

Anyway I made a few changes. Instead of one "Reload" card for everyone, I had two cards (one for each side) -- so one side could get resupplied with powder while the other did not . . . and this provided an interesting dynamic.

Since we each had two potential brigades as re-inforcements, I made up a "Re-inforcements" card for each of the four brigades. On turn three, one random one for each side was plugged into the deck. Likewise on turn six, the other two were added.

Of course, when one of these Reinforcement cards was turned, the arrival was not automatic. Because of the nature of the scenario, the Duke's reinforcements would arrive on a 1d6 roll of 5+; while those of the Baron would arrive on a 4+.

We did have some questions about the rules. I tried emailing the author a few days before the battle . . . but he was probably off at a Convention because I've not heard back yet (and he's reportedly very good at responding to questions).

Our first question had to do with Shooting. It wasn't clear to us as to which "orders" permitted shooting. What we decided (until we hear differently) was that we could shoot on "Hold" or "Move" orders, but not on "Maneuver" or "Charge" orders.

Another "Shooting" question was whether the target got to shoot back or not. We decided that for this game at least, it did.

A further question arose in play when a "Melee" ended with the units still in contact. Does it continue right then? On the next card drawn that could "activate" one of the units involved? Or only when one of the units involved chose to continue it. We chose the latter -- which I'm pretty sure was wrong.

There were a couple of other minor questions which arose during play . . . but I can't recall them now.

These rules were very different from our normal sets . . . but we had a lot of fun playing them. There was a definite "ebb and flow" to the fight, with a number of reverses of fortune . . . and the "Event" cards (which provided a few odd incidents) gave us some good laughs.

All-in-all we will definitely give them some more play.


-- Jeff

Battle of Wojslawice Tomorrow

Battle of Wojslawice Tomorrow

In a little over ten hours from this post, the 1650-era Mieczyslaw Civil War battle of Wojslawice will take place on my game table.

Yes, once again Murdock will be coming over to push some lead (and Pete should be joining us later). We will be trying out Clarence Harrison's "Victory Without Quarter" rules.

These are actually ECW rules . . . and Mieczyslaw is certainly not in England . . . but it is a "pike and shot" era . . . besides, I've based up about 300 Renaissance troops to fight the battle. Each side will have six battalions of "Foote" (i.e., pike and shot) as well as some cavalry and a few guns.

Clarence's rules are very different from those that we have played over the past few years . . . but they read like they'd be fun . . . so we will give them a try.


-- Jeff

A Brief Update --

Well Pete was over for a painting session today. Anyway, somehow the conversation got around to the Old West . . . which is something that I'd like to game one of these days.

Now I've made a few "old west" style buildings (click on photo to left for larger image) and I've got about two dozen painted figures.

I also have two sets of rules . . . "Gutshot" and "Legends of the Old West".

So I'd like to ask my readers if they have any experience with either (or both) rule sets. I'd love to have feedback so that I'll have an idea of which one to give a try.

And no, I haven't abandoned the Eighteenth century. But I'd like an occasional break with a "skirmish" type game . . . such as "Old West" gunfighting.

So help me out and please leave your comments on either or both sets of old west rules. My thanks in advance.


-- Jeff

My Plans are "in flux" --

Sorry I haven't posted sooner . . . I've been down with kidney "gravel" again . . . today is the first day in a while that I've felt like I'm half-human again.

Anyway I'm sad to say that my plans for April 6th have changed. A Net friend from back in eastern Canada had been planning to fly out to Vancouver Island and come up the coast for a game. Unfortunately "real life" intervened and he's had to postpone the trip.

What I HAD planned on doing was a re-fight of the Grant's "Mollwitz" battle from "The War Game". I'd use my "Tricorne Wars" rules of course (and smaller units than the Grant's did). But since Ross won't be here, I've put that on hold too.

What I'm currently thinking about is trying a playtest of Clarence Harrison's "Victory Without Quarter" rules for the English Civil War. They read like they would be a lot of fun.

Of course I don't have any ECW figures . . . but in one of my boxes somewhere I have a bunch of Renaissance figures that won't be too horribly out of period . . . well, okay, England didn't have any landsnects but at least they are pike and shot. The cavalry is a little farther afield, but perhaps a mix of my GNW figures and the Renaissance knights will work out.

I really don't know much about the ECW period. I've never gamed it, but Clarence's photos and rules make it sound quite appealing.

I've started my research with what little I have in my library. That didn't take long . . . hmmm, it looks like I'll have to order some books from "On Military Matters" or Amazon.ca . . . and, of course, I'm also searching the Net

And the best "background" site I've found so far is "British Civil Wars, Commonwealth adn Protectorate, 1638-60". Sure, all of you who grew up in the UK know all of this . . . but I'm a product of the US educational system . . . which means that the rest of the world was sadly more-or-less ignored.

Anyway the ECW sounds like it could be a very interesting project . . . for research, certainly . . . and for the table top . . . well I'll have to see about that.


-- Jeff

My Line Infantry Battalions --

As I mentioned in my previous two posts (which listed the Saxe-Bearstein Dragoons and Heavy Horse), I'm currently using some of my Great Northern War figures (made by Blood Axe Miniatures -- and not currently available) as "stand-in" troops for Saxe-Bearstein.

Pictured below are eleven battalions -- one Guard and ten Line units. As always, click on a photo to see it full size.

"The Bears" -- Saxe-Bearstein's Guard Battalion . . . rated as "Guard", they are larger than the typical battalion; and they are distinguished by their "golden coats":


IR-1 von Becks . . . rated "Veteran":



IR-2 von Grolsch . . . rated "Veteran":


IR-3 von Urquell . . . rated "Veteran":


IR-4 von Schlitz . . . rated "Veteran":


IR-5 von Coors . . . rated "Raw":


IR-6 von Carling . . . rated "Veteran":


IR-7 von Molson . . . rated "Elite":


IR-8 von Dopplebock . . . rated "Raw":


IR-9 von Veltins . . . rated "Raw":


IR-10 von Lowenbrau . . . rated "Raw":

So there you have it -- the Saxe-Bearstein "line infantry". I still have to take photos of my "irregulars" and skirmishers, my artillery and general staff . . . but these photos should hold you for now.

I expect that I will soon be revealing my next table top project -- but for now this will have to keep you satisfied for a bit.


-- Jeff

My Dragoon Regiments --

Due entirely to the success of the first two Saxe-Bearstein Dragoon regiments, Furst Bruno von Ursa has raised two subsequent units. (Note -- click on any of the following photos for larger photos).

The senior Dragoon regiment (seen above) is the Edelbrau Dragoons. In their red coats with blue facings, they have been elevated to "elite" status following their successes in both the Battles of Polkfurt and Stinz.


In their distinctive red and green uniforms, the Wildschwein Dragoons (above) have also been elevated to "elite" status following successes in a number of engagements. They recently earned a battle honor for the Battle of Fraudorf.


The Rottlager Dragoons (above) are newly raised . . . indeed they are not yet up to full strength. With still "raw" and awaiting their initial deployment, their colorful red and yellow uniforms are much loved by their troops.


The newest regiment (seen above) is also not yet up to full strength. Nevertheless, the Nachtbock Dragoons are proud of their gray coats with orange trim. While their "raw" rating rankles, they seem confident that they will earn many honors in their future deployments.

There you have a look at the Principality of Saxe-Bearstein dragoon regiments.


-- Jeff

My "Heavy Horse" Regiments --

As I believe I have mentioned before, I am currently using some "substitute troops" for my Saxe-Bearsteins. These are all GNW-era figures that I've re-worked into something to use on the table top.

Today we will be seeing my "Heavy Horse" regiments . . . i.e., the "true" cavalry (not Dragoons). Saxe-Bearstein's army contains four regiments of heavy horse. Two are Cuirassiers (von Kodiak Kuirassiers and von Comocks Kuirassiers): and two are Ritters, who eschew both the Cuirass and the pistol, choosing instead to charge at a full gallop with cold steel.

The von Kodiak Kuirassiers are an elite unit. The senior cavalry regiment in the army, their red banner is feared by the Furst's foes.

Pictured above, they are renowned for their grim faces and fine pistol work.

For a better view of any of these regiments, "click" on the photo to see a larger photo.

Saxe-Bearstein's other Cuirassier regiment is the von Comocks Kuirassiers. This veteran unit has as its facing color, honey yellow.

Do not however make the mistake of thinking them any less fierce than the von Kodiaks. As they say, they're number two . . . so they try harder.

Both of the Kuirassier regiments feel that they are the cream of the Principality's cavalry. They consider the two "Ritter" or "Galloper" regiments to be their social inferiors.

The proud von Roggenbier Ritters would definitely dispute that.

Charging in at a gallop without slowing down to fire pistols has earned these ritters an Elite status.

They claim that their blue facing color indicates the "blue blood" that courses fiercely through their viens.

They urge you to "click" on their photo in order to see what true cavalry look like.

Indeed, the battlefield success of the von Roggenbier Ritters has caused the Furst to raise a second unit of gallopers.

While they still have a "raw" rating, the von Eigerbrau Ritters are eager to face the foe. Their "practice dummies" are dressed in Stagonian colors.

They say that while their green facing color may make people think that they are a "green" unit, they will soon find that they will be "green" with envy as the von Eigerbrau Ritters demonstrate their true worth on the field of Mars.

My next post will concentrate on Saxe-Bearstein's Dragoon regiments.


-- Jeff