Blucher Wargame Battle

Last evening, I played a game of Blucher by Sam Mustafa - my favourite rules set. This was a 200 pts battle between French and Prussians. We fudged things a little by not using the Late War French list. This was mainly to make things easy as a 'newish' player was using the army for the first time. Our club finds 200 pts to be the correct amount for a weekday evening battle. If better prepared we would have used Scharnhorst - but this makes things a bit longer. 

The table was dominated by a built up area with a large marsh beside it extending from the French left flank into the centre of the table. The French were the attacker and could easily reach and garrison the BUA first. This gives a significant advantage as multiple units are needed to dislodge a infantry unit once in such as area. Due to this the Prussians directed their main thrust into the French right. 

MO points (two dice rolled at the beginning of each turn) were fairly evenly distributed in the early stages of the battle. This is a special feature of Blucher for our little club as not knowing how many MO you have each turn creates tension and forces harsh thinking to prioritize movements. In Blucher, you just can't move everything. 

Above can be seen a Prussian attempt to draw away French forces from the French right. This would really fail to draw in significant forces throughout the night.

The Prussian feint drew in the French heavy cavalry. These would wreak havoc amid the lighter Prussian cavalry forcing all to retreat toward the table edge by the end of the battle. On this side of the table the BUA and garrison proved very strong - even though the Prussians did finally manage to dislodge the French. The only problem for the French was trying to move out from behind the BUA and large marsh. Over time this would prove to be an advantage as French troops could cycle fresh troops up to replace their battered frontline units. Many of these just fled toward the back of the table and the Prussians had difficulty catching them. 

The battle was decided on the French right. Here the Prussians outnumbered the French but many of their units were landwehr. These took the brunt of French guns and superior skirmishing fire. 

Over time, their numbers, and cannon of their own, inflicted many hits on the French. Later in the battle almost all French infantry in the right and centre of their battle line were significantly injured with 3, 4 or 5 hits sustained out of 6. 

The French, almost outflanked, counter attacked. Everywhere French melee seemed superior to the Prussians and better than their ability to fire. This was turning into a battle of sabre and bayonet. 

Cavalry clashed but again the French melee ability was superior to the Prussian. Their higher numbers of cavalry did reduce one cuirassier but the other proved indomitable. 

The Prussians attacked. The landwehr were used as a front line absorbing fire and bearing the brunt of charges. They did so manfully inflicting injuries on the French. 

After a fearsome struggle for the village, the victorious Prussians were counter attacked and sent back. Losses of two units of landwehr at the end of the battle would tip the Prussians over their morale and save the French - who were teetering on their final unit (while many of 3-4 of their original twelve infantry ran for the safety of the table edge.) 

Above the Prussian cavalry retreats from the rampaging cuirassiers. They, like the French infantry, were heading for the hills. 

It had been an epic encounter filled with vicious melee in which the French were often superior. The game was decided by a final Prussian attack where two units attacked a single half strength French unit only to be thrown back in disarray. The following turn the French made two charges of their own, removing two landwehr and winning the game. So close for the Prussian army's first game as an independent force. 

Of special note for me, both armies were mine! On calculation around 900 infantry, 80+ mounted and 16 or more guns were deployed. While this was my current full Prussian force, I had more French not taking part. I only have two more Prussian units to paint then just a single battery and a handful of skirmishers. Not much when I've already painted thirty one 32 figure battalions of foot alone. 

Blucher Wargame

This week's game saw a return to a much loved rule set - Blucher by Sam Mustafa.

I cannot recommend this set of rules highly enough. Just play Scharnhorst - it's great.


For our return match we did a 200 point game - which seems the best point value to us for an evening of games (weekday that is.)

My friend, Panther, wanted to put his painted Austrians on the table and so we formed an alliance with my Prussians. I lent my French to Nicko to play the good guys.

The battle swung around the central town. The Austrians hurled themselves courageously at this strong point held by the French. 

My small force of Prussians marched down the left wing. Movement points would be spent elsewhere throughout the evening which held back their advance. 

Allied guns played against the weaker French right flank. These would effectively engage in counter battery fire and wound other units before running out of ammunition. 

The French right flank. A little thin perhaps ... ?

Massed Austrians prepare for an attack .. but without artillery or cavalry support. Could they overcome the French advantage in skirmishing ... NO!

The battle for the town erupts. 

Austrians hurl themselves forward. 

The Allied cavalry reserve springs to life (perhaps too late?) and rushes to help the right flank. This was whittled down with effective skirmish fire and was now threatened with cuirassiers. 

The Austrians surge forward - but steadily take losses. 

Ride to Gondor! Hang on a minute ... wrong game. 

The French bring their heavy cavalry around their left. Very threatening. 

The Prussians try to get forward in time. 

Yellow dice show Austrian casualties. They are mounting up. 

Crap ... a French reserve of cavalry burst through the centre and start riding down the weakened Austrian infantry. The Allies hope for darkness. 

A cavalry stalemate erupted on the Allied right. The Allies had more cavalry but the French had better quality cavalry. 

We decided to call the game a French victory. Just about all Austrian infantry had taken multiple hits and a few were on their last legs. Thus the Allied centre would collapse. But the French had taken losses too - especially in artillery who had been shot away or stormed over. 

It was a really fun game. All liked the Blucher rules - especially for their simplicity as the commander can just get on with choosing what they want to do. Movement is very easy. The masses spectacle of Napoleonic games is an ongoing thrill to all. (But, it wasn't easy to play against my beloved French - my heart is torn between my two armies.) 

My advice ... get Blucher, play Blucher and try Scharnhorst. You won't look back to all those overly complex Napoleonic rule sets. 

Foam Wargames Scenery

Making terrain continues using some inspiration from Mordheim and Black Magic Craft videos. I've been using the remaining hard blue foam that I have. It is around 40mm thick and needs lots of cutting to get into a usable amount. I have a problem keeping  the cuts straight but I'm getting better with practice.

I've been trying to design on paper first then transfer into foam. On paper my plans are very rudimentary but I try to focus on what I think I can achieve. The irregularity of my blocks really lend the terrain to a more Neolithic theme than a medieval context - perhaps early medieval at best. This means the pieces will fit quite nicely into the Britain of My Mind scenery I've already made.

At the moment I am working toward Mordheim games. I, like any old man, look back favourably on the past and atm I'm thinking about a move towards the fantasy games I've loudly derided for 10-15 years.

(One of my better batches of blocks ... gosh you need a lot.) 

(Above - the 'thus far' unused too irregular blocks - maybe if I ever do stone age or have a need for ruined cyclopean masonry???) 

In any case ... the making ... I cut the blocks into reasonably similar sizes (I tried very irregular blocks but found them very difficult to use. Also they wouldn't fit into any terrain theme I'm trying to accomplish.) Over time I've improved my eye in cutting more regular blocks and have a better idea of the size to cut - approx. 1.5 cm x 1.5cm and about 2-3cm in length. The shaking method (jagged rocks in a can) then textures but also compacts to foam blocks a bit. This has led to the blocks being simply too small - this can be seen in the middle section of my ruined tower. I ended up gluing several layers of blocks that were too thin before discarding that batch. With my next batch I'm going to increase the size - probably about an inch square but keep the length to 3-4 cm.

PVA has been my glue of choice - because I only have PVA and am nervous about getting and trying a hot glue gun. I find the blocks need at least 24 hours to set properly. I paint with a mixture of black paint, more PVA, some water and multi-purpose filler to get that final bit of stability, strength, bond and texture. Not too much filler - as I discovered with my first magic well build - it went too far away from those nice rocky 'sarsen' like edges and faces achieved by using blue foam in the first place. That's why I re-did the magic well.

The well was quite easy to build but worrying as the final step involved the pouring of the Watson's glass finish to simulate water. I really wasn't sure that all the gaps had been filled (again with multi purpose filler) and thought the glass finish would just come oozing out. This didn't happen. I also added more hardener to the mix than advised just to make sure it set quickly and well. I opted for an almost clear mix with only a couple of waterdrops of a very pale blue paint. I just painted the mystical portal on the bottom. I had a couple of attempts at that before I was happy with the effect. No sure I am happy.

(The first well ... will be discarded ... but I learnt a lot.) 

(The final well above and below.) 

The tower took quite a while and actually began as just a test project to see how the blocks would bond. I kept building and building and suddenly I'd put too many layers on (and invested too many hours) to walk away. The floor is paddle pop sticks and two kebab skewers to support. All the paint is from the dollar store. Only a bit of Vallejo neutral grey as a second or third coat. Make the grey that much stronger in appearance.

(The little black dwarf gives an idea of scale.) 

Finally, I must say that gluing little blocks is tedious and time consuming. I always like more time efficient faster crafting of scenery. After watching Black Magic Craft, I saw the episode where the gent from Germany (?) visits. His method involves cutting 'into' the hard foam with a pencil. I tried it and found this much faster for me. 

Also ... my first attempt worked very well. I'm happy. It may be rudimentary by the high standards of 'Shifting Lands' (whose work is divine) but it will suit my purposes. I'm after a way of adding some height to my skirmish ruined city board. Some 10cm square or 20cm square pieces of blue foam (stackable) will work just fine for this. I'll use some ladders or walkway pieces (that I've used for years with my adventure games - check back 3-4 years in the blog to see) to link up. I do like the idea of a skaven assassin launching off one of these to stab someone below. 

How's it done? You just cut right into the foam with a sharpened pencil. A couple of stones are painted irregular colours and a black wash was added. The top was just stippled with multi purpose filler then painted brown. I need to give the one pictured another coat of brown, then a little dry brush of something lighter then some flock. I do like the look of these. 

In the next few days (post is a little unreliable in these COVID days) the Sigmarite mausoleum will arrive and then some gothic horror fun will commence. (Evil laugh!) 

Dark Age Assortment and Lion Rampant Campaign

Firstly, due to completely running out of miniatures ... I'm making more terrain. 

Inspired by Black Magic Craft channel and with thoughts of fantasy gaming spinning in my mind - I've started cutting up little foam bricks. 

Here was one project ... a magical well. Or something like that. 

It didn't work - the first tries to make terrain seldom do - but another is on the way after I have learn from my initial errors. 

Look, my daughters first attempt at placing terrain on a wargames table. I was very proud and she loved it. Unfortunately it wasn't used in the game featured below. 

My only picture of two games of my Lion Rampant Arthurian campaign. The game played well but I fear I'm the only one who is interested in it. A real shame. I would love to play a narrative campaign game atm but just can't get the interest in the club. Not sure it will stop me from making some more thematic terrain and probably buying some figures for it ... you never know ... one day it might catch on. And I've learnt to follow inspiration when it strikes. More fun to paint and model when enthusiastic for it. 

First Medieval Game with new army

Unfortunately, all these happy snaps were from the very end of the battle. An extremely narrow victory - in all ways a draw really. BUT, what a fun battle. Medieval heavy hitters just wailing away at each other in the centre of the table. 

Condottieri Army in Action

My quickly painted medieval army produced during COVID is now in action. 

(Knights facing my main foot battleline. My cannon was left right out in this battle. Got to figure out how to use those little buggers.) 

(The clash is about to happen.)

I've had two games of ADLG (which are my preferred ancient and medieval rule set atm) and enjoyed both. Strangely for a freshly painted army, the Italian mercenaries have won both! 

Regardless, I have found the army a great deal of fun to use - and they are very pretty on the battlefield. The two medieval games have been against historical (or near historical) opponents - Teutonic Order and another Condottieri. I run mine as either Venetian or Florentine. 

(On the other side ... could my knights get ride down the medium foot?)

(C'mon ... charge me already! Not really. My crossbow and longbow units were scoring some important hits at this stage on the Venetian knights.) 

My miniatures are Mirliton - which are quite good with only a couple of small complaints. Due to the COVID crisis I have purchased all I can from the one Australian stockist I can find and am now awaiting his restock. To give me some more choices I'd like another 6-8 units and this will allow some real flexibility - especially to elect to dismount knights. 

(Look, a shot from my new drone camera!)

(Back on the ground Venetian knights were beginning to fall.)

(One unit of my knights had pitched into the flank and was rolling up the line. My foot held masterfully against the charge and allowed this to work wonders. Florence for the win!) 

(And yes, ... my left flank of knights - led by the Captain General of Florence did take some shooting hits but thumped their way through the medium foot.)