Infamy Infamy !

Last Thursday I was delighted to get Richard Clarke of Too Fat Lardies over to my place to demonstrate the TFL ruleset under development for ancient battles, to be entitled Infamy, Infamy.

A few of our Essex Warriors crowded around the 6' x 4' table in my modest study to see what its all about.

Richard sets out the table with is warriors and terrain

At this stage, Sharp Practice morale charts and cards are being used

The Romans have to rescue this Patrician being held hostage within a pagan stonehendge

The Ancient Germans have positioned several potential ambush points

First to arrive are Gaul allies of the Romans under their leader

We are quickly into action, German warriors deploy from the wooded hills

and fanatic warriors dash forward to confront the Gauls now supported by Roman slingers - the red dice denotes the level of "fervour" the warriors have acquired - they are feeling pretty blood thirsty !

These German warriors are in a hogshead formation

Both sides skirmishers exchange sling shots

Now Roman auxiliaries have advanced to take the fight to the Germans 

and Roman legionaries march onto the battlefield

German warriors attack the Auxiliaries in hogshead formation with four points of fervour egging them on

Crunch !

At this point, German morale is high - 10 !

but Mike starts throwing unbelievable dice for the Romans and the German warriors lose this combat

The Hag prepares to consult the entrails to decide when they will kill the Patrician

so our first German war band has been thrown back with casualties and shock (black dice denote shock)

Now the Romans have got all their troops up into the battle line

The battered German warriors retreat

so we have to commit the other waband in hogshead formation

The German Warlord has lost his Champion in combat - these are all casualties slinking off the board

Yet again, the German warriors take a pasting

even the slingers are backing off !

but the Romans didn't have it quite their own way - they too had to take casualties

Fight again screams the German warlord

but the front group gets wiped out 

Better tell the hag to hurry up and kill that Roman prisoner !

Great looking figures by Richard, by the way

The slaughter continues

and the German war band ceases to exist

A clear cut victory for the Romans - the Hag decided to run and leave the Roman prisoner in the henge.

We thoroughly enjoyed this first run through of the play test and the two different systems used to motivate the Romans and the Barbarians - this has all the hallmarks of becoming another winner for Too Fat Lardies.

We adjourned to the Rose & Crown for a lunch to further discuss Richard's thinking behind Infamy, Infamy, so all in all a cracking day.

They should be out by Easter (which will bring a wry smile to the face of any TFL fan). 

I've defected !

... or, was I thrown out of having a command in the French army ?!!

Yesterday's club game organised by Steve and Graham, had Graham as French C-in-C, this time assisted by Ian and Mike.

Steve C took pity on me and gave me the Austrian cavalry and advance guard on the Allied side - despite my recent track record with dice throwing !

Here's the table set up. The Franco-Bavarians will arrive on the right, the Austro-Prussians on the left.

The view from the other end.

First to arrive, part of my command, a brigade of Austrian heavy cavalry and a unit of Jagers 

Over at the far end, Graham has marched on a Bavarian brigade and they have occupied the farm already - light infantry at the hedge row

They have managed to get two guns up on the high ground supported by Chevaux Legeres

Steve C brings on Austrian infantry in line opposite the Bavarian guns

Graham has handed over command of the left wing to Ian, who is encouraged to send on a French light cavalry brigade which trots past the Bavarian infantry

The Bavarian artillery opens fire on the Austrian infantry

I've managed to get more troops on table - the rest of my advance guard brigade - the Jagers that came on earlier have occupied the woods

Steve's infantry advance under fire

The French cavalry declare a charge

forcing Steve's end battalion into square

at this point, Steve brings on his big Prussian brigade in line on our right flank

They are lead by the Prussian Guard

The Bavarian gunners have now come under musket range of the Austrian infantry and its effective !

My Austrian columns advance between the woods out on our left flank - seeking an enemy to fight !

They did not have long to wait - a big French infantry brigade enters right of centre, accompanied by two artillery batteries

The Prussians and Bavarians engage in a fire fight

The Bavarian columns wait for orders to charge

The French cavalry charge - and catch the Prussian Guard in line !

The French infantry columns come on and the guns deployed

and behind them - a French heavy cavalry brigade arrives

They are ordered to charge the Austrian cuirassiers - but fail their command

They sit tight behind their infantry

Steve's Prussians have now advanced to attack the farm 

As Austrian infantry face up to the approaching French infantry

A French column with supports charges the front Austrian line

As Bavarians, Austrians and Prussians fight it out before the farm 

Again, the French cuirassiers are ordered to charge

and again, they fail to move. The Austrian cuirassiers have charged the French infantry forcing them into square, then retiring back to their lines

Graham decides to charge the Bavarian cavalry - they get disordered but so are the Austrians !

The Austrian lines in the centre are really up against it with all these French columns attacking them

Indeed, the Austrians are forced to retire 

By this time, I have managed to get my Austrian advance guard around onto the French right flank

For the third time, the French cuirassiers are ordered to charge (!)

Third time lucky - they hit the Austrian cuirassiers who have elected to receive the charge at the halt in order to get the assistance of the Austrian artillery and support units

Mike has charged a unit of French Middle Guard against my infantry 

as the French light cavalry charge again - the Prussian unit they face is shaken and disordered

Can they hold ?

They do ! The French cavalry have taken casualties and Austrian grenadiers have broken through onto the hill

just as the Prussians smash the Bavarian infantry and capture the farmyard 

Austrian fire has caused casualties on the French columns

and the Austrian cuirassiers have defeated their French counterparts

as my Austrian infantry overcome the French Middle Guard

At this point, the French admit defeat with both wings crumbling and their cavalry put to flight.

Oh, and my dice throwing was amazing for once - perhaps I will be given another command on the Allied side again.  Only time will tell !!!