A twist in the tail

Well that was a turn up for the books. In the third remote game of Hubbardton the Jolly Broom Man (British) faced off against the Two Daves (David in Suffolk and Napoleon Dave) playing the Americans. Max Foy joined as an observer.

JBM elected to start the grenadiers and 24th Foot in column of march on the road, with the Lights in line. The plan was to race towards the road junction seize it and turn the American flank. For the first couple of turns the Americans won the initiative. Most of the American units retired over the fence, but David in Suffolk opted to keep the riflemen on the British side of the fence to take some shots at the Brits whilst they were still in column. 

Fairly safe you might think. But then the British won the initiative a couple of turns running, and the grenadiers, by now at the road junction, formed line and threatened the riflemen with a bayonet charge in the flank. Disaster for the Americans! They took a number of hits and routed, but not fast enough to stop the British keeping in combat range. A second round of combat saw the rifles further, across the fence, with half their bases lost and several DPs.

On the American right, Napoleon Dave opted to stick to the fence line and exchange musket fire with the British Lights in skirmish order. Hits were inflicted on each side but not enough to cause either any real problems. But the Lights were tying down two American units.

The grenadiers continued across the fence to attack the 11th Massachusetts Regiment who had retired back from the fence to form a line conforming to the British attack.  Things were looking good for the British. They had achieved one of their two objectives (seize the junction) and were on the way to the second (seize the hill). Unfortunately, the grenadiers had picked up DPs with each of their combat turns and wheeling. The American commander on the left (DiS) saw the disorder in the British lines and took the chance to chase them off the ridge. Down the hill came the Americans, with a sharp crack of musketry and a whoop. The weary, disorganised grenadiers turned to run down the hill. Here the initiative stayed with the Americans and they charged the retreating grenadiers again. Disaster for the British who ended up back across the fence and down from 8 bases to 1 with a stack of DPs to rally off.

Only the presence of the 24th Foot, to the left of the grenadiers, dissuaded the Americans from following up further. The 11th and 24th traded shots, as did the other New Englanders and the British Lights on the far flank. Back on the road, the Hessians arrived, but too late to do anything.

By the end of turn 9, the British held the road junction and the Americans held the hill. Honours even? Perhaps not. The British had lost 9 bases to the Americans 3. Each lost British base is worth 1.5 points to the Americans in this scenario, and the American losses only 1 point each. So the Americans were better off in strategic terms. The Americans were free to retire from the field (though not by the easiest route), but could the British bear another encounter like this?

This is a very difficult scenario for the British. With such a limited number of turns they have to advance quite a long way and fight. The problem is the urgency to 'get there' has to be balanced against the impact of disorder. Disorder Points impose a heavy burden on troops in combat and this is what did for the grenadiers. A tough choice to make.

Just the one picture from the end (I forgot during the game). The much depleted grenadiers nearest the camera. The rifles on the far right. Lights near the top with the Hessians marching up behind them.

The whole session took 3 hours, but this included a fair amount of time with me trying to stop a a repeating echo. The cause: I hadn't muted the second laptop in the room. Doh! There was also a goodly amount of very enjoyable chat after the game finished. So all that remains is for me is to thank the chaps who participated and observed this evening. I think it's time now to move to a different war.

AWS campaign changes

At New Year I ran a solo campaign based on the Wars of the Austrian Succession in Europe. After I finished I dug out the board game Maria for some inspiration for tweaks to the rules. I was generally happy with the way the game worked but felt there cold be a little more 'flavour'. 

I made a couple of notes but never got to write them up. So before I forget them completely I thought I'd jot them down here. As I said above, the inspiration came from Maria, so credit is due to the creator of that game.

Supply

Troops must able to draw an uninterrupted line back to a friendly city/city controlled by that side. Lose 1 point per base per turn where this isn't the case.

Hussars

Austria can deploy a 'hussar' base to represent its advantage in the Petit Guerre. This can be place on any hex inside the Austrian Empire to interdict enemy supply chains. The enemy must redeploy one base to counteract the hussars or suffer the attrition referred to in the Supply rule.

Russia

Dice for political machinations in Russia. On a certain dice role Prussia must withdraw one base to guard East Prussia.

Colonies

France and Spain have to dice to see if they send a base to the colonies to counteract British predations.

Subsidies

Major powers (except Prussia) may subsidise (allocate resources) to a friendly minor power (reduce the major power's resources proportionately)

Britain may also subsidise Austria by n bases without impacting its own resources, from Spring 1743 onwards.

Our Cup runneth over.

I couldn't let last night's (football) game go by unmentioned. And to be fair, I did warn you that this blog will have "occasional forays into obscure Nordic music and opinionated 'dribble' [sic] on Grimsby Town Football Club."

Last night was FA Cup, 4th round replays night, and whilst the national media's attention was fixed obsessively on "Ryan Reynolds' Wrexham" at Sheffield United, steaming silently under the radar was little old Grimsby Town. 1st round, Plymouth (then top of League 1) were despatched 5-1. Then in the 2nd round League 1 Cambridge were beaten at their home (just 2-1 this time). The third round is when the big clubs enter the competition, but Grimsby got Burton Albion. Not a 'sexy draw' but a winnable game. And they were duly beaten 1-0 too. Round 4 entailed a trip to Luton. In a way, the worst of all ties from our point of view - Luton going great guns in the Championship were heavy favourites, but it wasn't like playing against one of the big clubs. i.e. a good chance of being beaten but not in front of a big crowd. Unkind souls noted it was a contest between two 'shit towns'. Nevertheless a Good Day was had. Friends old a new were met along the way. Other acquaintances were chatted to in the pub. Songs were sung. And the Mariners came away with a well deserved draw. (I made good use of the previously  Freedom Pass and only had to pay for the last leg of the journey from outer-London). 

So on to the replay. Not being motivated enough to make the 400 mile round trip 'home', I settled in to listen on line. Commentary courtesy of the BBC Radio Humberside team. Speculation, chat and 'bantz' passing across t'internet via WhatsApp. This felt like, well, something good. It sounded like the ground* was rocking. * Blundell Park somehow doesn't qualify as a 'stadium'. On the way to collect the Eldest of the Youngest, I listened to the commentary. I must have looked a right loon shaking my fist and yelling when Harry 'one of our own' Clifton scored on 10 minutes. I hadn't been back long when the marvellously coiffeured, and too good looking for division 4 football, Danilo Orsi scored. Luton were obviously shocked and were not on their front foot, but they are a good team and worked their way back in to the game. Pressure, pressure. I messaged 'the lads' that "we need another". And it arrived direct from a free kick right before the half time whistle. 3 shots. 3 goals. Clinical.

Tweets of the goals were in circulation. Including one of the third, filmed by someone amongst the Luton fans behind their goal. As the free kick was lined up, you could hear one of their fans (let's call him LF1) shouting "the far post. Post. The far post." Then another voice (LF2) as the ball was hit. "It's going straight out". Then "THWACK" as the ball hit the far post and rebounded into the net. Should have listened to LF1. That thwack is a most satisfying noise. There's another clip of the same goal from a similar angle showing one of the Luton players stood near the far post after the goal was scored, looking totally confused by the whole thing. Looking up and down, trying to figure out what had just happened. Marvellous!

3-0 up. Half the game to go. Decades of disappointment kept my feet on the ground and stopped me thinking we've got this wrapped up. Any sane person would have thought, with good reason, we have got this wrapped up.  Listening on the radio, there is always that extra moment of doubt before you find out what had actually happened. Especially with that particular BBC Radio Humberside commentator, who, let's put it this way, is renowned for causing heart attacks amongst the listening faithful**. Luton switched it around and dominated possession in the second half. To be honest, they wasted some of it too. And I think 2 or 3 good saves were made. The clock wound down. 30 minutes. They could easily turn the game round. 20 minutes - it's still possible for Luton to get one, then two, then who knows. Clearly they have the better footballers. Much better. Individually. But hardwork, and spirit and teamwork count for a lot. And add in a bit of intelligence to the mix. Substitutes were made by the Grimsby manager. Why am I, 200 miles way, with one-way communications, applauding a player leaving the field that I couldn't even see?! 15, 10, 5 minutes. OK we can dream now. Only 3 minutes time added on. Right breath. Peep! Pandemonium. Lovely stuff.

I'll save my moans about the FA switching all 5th round ties to midweek. In any case I think I would break the profanity checker.

** we still love him though. Here his (John Tondeur) radio commentary is superimposed on brief video highlights

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/64497395

And one for the purists. Extended highlights (7+ mins) with commentary from local legend John Moore. What a voice! 😊

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuHj6SSRo0w

Zooming in on benefits

Things have been a bit hit and miss blogwise of late. The last month has been disrupted by being various degrees 'under the weather'.  January saw me catch the Mother of All Colds, and then a few days after recovering from that I was even further 'under the weather' and required a visit to the GP. No sooner had I got over the last ailment than I was afflicted with 'hay fever' so I'm now popping antihistamines.

Now the particular day when I saw said medic was a bit of a revelation. Firstly, with all of the bad publicity about how the NHS was crumbling with lack of resources I had low expectations of speaking to a medical professional, let alone seeing one, this side of Easter. My last brush with primary care involved a wait so long that what was ailing me had gone. Things were different this time. The practice website had a lengthy questionnaire to complete as part of the 'book a call/visit' process. On completion the 'we will contact you within 48 hours' acknowledgement message did not fill me with hope. I duly went back to bed feeling sorry for myself. An hour later the phone rang, 'Dr Soandso from the Thingame Medical Centre here. ......Are you able to come in at 11:00?' Blimey. Of course. After the brief consultation and examination I was told that my prescription would be waiting for me at my local pharmacy. In the pharmacy I went to pay and was informed I only had to pay for the Fishermans's Friends I picked up on impulse. "But what about the prescription?" says I. "You don't pay for that," says the attendant. "I do." says I (not being on benefits or having one of the designated chronic conditions). "You don't any more because you turned 60 recently". Result, thinks I. I'll have to get ill more often. I genuinely thought this free prescription thing didn't kick in until much later. Nice to get something back for my tax (January being tax return month, that was in my mind). That big round number was probably part of why I got a call back from the GP so quickly. And also why I received a testing kit for bowel cancer as a routine thing for all people over 60. So a big round of applause for the NHS. Long may it continue to be a free at the point of use service. I honestly don't mind paying the tax.

Last month I was also delighted to receive my 'Freedom Pass' Oyster Card from Transport for London. As a resident of a London borough, over 60s are also entitled to free travel (on buses, underground, trains and trams) off peak. A case might be made that this should be means tested, but that would be costly in terms of admin, and be counter-productive in the drive to get people out of cars. And it works. I leave the car behind a lot more now. Excellent. Thank you Ken (Livingstone) who introduced it many years ago. Anyway, it seems I am on benefits after all!

Now as you might know, I've run a few remote games recently too with friends from the Blogosphere. So far 3 AWI games with one more planned. The first was a totally made-up scenario and the rest were the Hubbardton scenario written by Steve of the Disgruntled Fusilier blog. So far it's 1-all on Hubbardton, with the Jolly Broom Man as the Americans beating me, and Steve W, as the British, beating Jonathan Freitag (Palouse Wargames Journal) and David (the Ragged Soldier) as the Americans. The decider will be run next week between JBM and David.

I have to say that all participants have been good sports and good guests (shoes off in the entrance hall, no coffee cup stains on the table). Very civilised. And it's been good to spend a bit more time getting to know fellow wargamers albeit remotely.

Below are a few shots of the last game. Rules used were Loose Files and American Scramble again.

Early on. Brits to the left. The Green Mountain Boys (rifle armed skirmishers) have 'bravely' gone forward to take potshots at the British grenadiers. 

The grenadiers showed them the cold steel. And as we know, 'they do not like it up em. They do not like it.' Here are the GMB running off. Loose Files is particularly harsh on skirmishers in this situation. Lesson learned.

This opened up the American left, and the grenadiers advanced into the gap and started to roll-up the American line.

British lights in open order engaged in a long range fire fight with the New Hampshire infantry. 24th foot bottom left face off against the 11 Massachusetts.

Warners Continentals have been bounced by the grenadiers and there's no way back for the Americans.

If you'd like to take part in a game, drop me a comment. I won't publish any contact details. I'm toying with the idea of ECW and SYW next.