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Wargaming the Seven Years War with 40mm miniatures, done by: Johann-Peter Scheck and Anselm Scheck

Monday, July 15, 2013

Summer Battle: Rossbach reloaded



First of all, sorry for not posting anything so much time -  as every year in june, the academical semester goes into its hot phase, accompagnied by other projects with strict terms. So the SYW-armies had to wait till Anselm, my nephew, came from US to open the annual summer battle wich has already a 4-year-tradition. Thanks to him that he took time for reading the whole rule book of "Black Powder" the night before, which we used our first time for wargaming this year.
Shortly, "Black Powder" is a rule book full of fantasy, written by experienced wargamers and made us some problems but also gaves us some enriching ideas.

We placed the tabletop into the garden, because we had 30° C sunny weather and, to reload the battle of Rossbach, the summer heat was perfect. We simplified the village a little bit and, instead of the Janus Huegel, we placed a high forest piece on the tabletop.

Enough space for having 3 different locations: the village (left), the field (center) and the clearance (right) for testing the rules and scenarios and, last but not least, enough space for our 700 miniatures, taking place in the commanded ranks.
the guy with the Frank-Zappa-haircut is Anselm (Prussians) - me in sporty shorts (French).
























We started the game with a long-during deployment:


the left wing of the first French brigade had to face the village of Roßbach, where they remark a nest of Prussians...
a peaceful moment just before the storm

"Fertigmachen, Jungs!" the Prussian battery is moved to its position, the hussars are rallying.

Monsieur le Général gives the last orders, just behind them a good old Meisterzinn-Regiment (Couronne).

the last bird´s view before the melee begun. Prussians (left and forground), French the line on the right side.
Prussians opened the combat operations by a barefaced attack of the Green hussars "von Kleist" straight to the French artillery. The "Black Powder"-rules allowed them to do so, doing devastations in the French lines without any excuse!

I have to mention the good Prince-August-Pikeneers (Piemont) - they will sweep into the cavalry´s flank next...

same scene, from the artillerists´ point of view - oh mon Dieu, restez calmes!























The French artillery was victorious, the Kleist hussars retired. The moment was good for a broad advance operation as counterattack in the center. Regiment Flandres with 2 battalion guns, followed by Commissaire Général cavalry (both Sash&Sabre).

























At the same tme, the French advanced on their right wing with 4 cavalry regiments with the order to overwhelm the week Prussian units behind the forest:
view to the right flank. Prussians are waiting an attack; not visible. The Prussian Jaegers, hidden in the forest and operating as snipers (Scharfschützen). They benefit a lot of the rules...
























French cavalry in its best form: Mestre de Camps Général (Sash&Sabre), Mousquetaires du Roi (Prince August)

En avant, garcons! The Prussians has some really hard moments...

The regiment No35 (Front Rank), a battalion gun and some Manske-Jaegers awaiting the French thunder..

Haltet hoch die Fahnen! 


Prussian Jaeger (Manske) loading

The attack was victorious, but the French paid a high price: they lost one heavy cavalry regiment (du Roi). Enclosing the Prussian regiment No 49, some brown hussars (Fleischhacker) break in their flank..



























The Brown hussars (Manske miniatures)

























The French Brigade commander is nervous...




















The French cavalry could break the Prussian resistance on this wing, but were not able to move further: Seydlitz commanded a second defensive line.

Meanwhile, the Prussian center launched a second attack, this time by Cuirassiers "Garde du Corps", pushed aside the Commissaire Général and were just intercepted and enclosed by the French infantery "Auvergne" and "Couronne".

same scene, view from above. The French infantery suffered under heavy casualties.


























The Cuirassiers are pushed back - here a view from behind the Prussian lines, as Seydlitz could see that (he is in the center of the image).

Pikeneers and Swiss "Lochmann" supporting the cavalry.

last attack of the French before they defeat the 2 Prussian Cuirassiers regiments.

The victory seems to be so close...

























But the Prussians never give up. They mobilized all the reserves, coming out from the village of Rossbach and advancing against the French center.




















The were successful in 2 turns: in combination with 4 guns and 3 regiments they were able to erase all the French infantery - left alone the commanders and 1 cavalry regiment behind the forest.
Victory for Prussia, nonetheless it was not Seydlitz this time. Mes compliments, Monsieur le Roi de Prusse.
























You can see it at the moving shadows on the tabletop: we wargamed 4 hours. 50% of the time we lost by throwing dices and counting, but it was a fine and terrible, respectable and merciless battle.
Thanks, Anselm!

26 comments:

  1. Glorious looking game!
    best wishes
    Alan

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    1. Thank you Alan! So good to have you as reader; unfortunately, I dont have many possibilities to do games, my nephew comes once a year.
      Peter

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  2. What a magnificent looking game!!! Playing outside as well can't be bad!

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    1. Indeed, playing outside gives a totally other effect to the gameboard as inside in the basement.
      You feel much more realistic, and the shadow of the trees moves during the game. That was funny! Thank you, Ray, for your comment!
      Peter

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  3. Yes! A wonderful set-up and game.

    Best Regards,

    Stokes

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    1. Thanks, Stokes - after the game, I already was thinking about extending the gameboard - the 3 meters width seemed to be a little bit narrow...
      Peter

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  4. Beautiful "eye candy", sir. Both figures and terrain are splendid indeed.


    -- Jeff

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    1. Thanks, Jeff - I so highly estimate your opinion and comments as a long-experienced wargamer and specialist. I confess, that our battles are also arranged by esthetical and not only by tactical reasons...
      Peter

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  5. J'en reste sans voix! Bravo! Le terrain est comme d'habitude extraordinaire, qui plus est en extérieur, avec une lumière idéale pour les photos, les figurines sont magnifiques et l'impression d'élan pour les charges est très impressionnant...
    FA BU LEUX!!!
    Phil.

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    1. Merci, Phil - tu es trop gentil, tu exagères :-) J´aimerais bien d´écrire encore des petites anecdotes comme toi avec des beaux details comme drapeaux, livres, qui perfectionnent la passion! Grand plaisir de te connaitre, merci pour tout!
      Peter

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  6. I like the 'birds eye' photos of the battlefield ! excellent game

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    1. The birds eye shots are usually not my style doing pictures, but when the gameboard is full of soldiers, I have to. And, in effect, it was a new experience to take them from a little bit higher point. The 40mm scale is still a extremly beautiful scale, dont you think so?
      Peter

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  7. Johann,
    That is a gorgeous game! Both figures and battlefield are superb. It looks like a lot of fun.
    So how did you like the Black Powder rules?

    Regards,
    John

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    1. Dear John, thank you very much for this words! Black Powder is an high-educated wargame rule and complicated to use the first with all the penalties and bonus they have. What disturbs me most is the fact, that you have to dice, if you want to give a command to a unit - a uncertainty factor which did some bother to me...
      Peter

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  8. Can't add anything constructive to the above comments but just want to add my apreciation for bringing us a highly stimulating account and set of photos, thank you.
    Chris
    http://notjustoldschool.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. Thank you Chris, I appreciate your comments always!
      Peter

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  9. Splendid battle, Peter ! Love your upgraded terrain and of course the photography is up to the usual standard. I agree with Phil, the natural outdoor lighting really adds to the appeal. Nice to see that PA and Meisterzinn have not completely succumbed to the modern 3D figures and the variant styles integrate surprisingly well.

    Even a Zappa reference, well done, sir.

    Best regards,
    Steve

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    1. Thank you, Steve, for this kind words! The PA and Meisterzinn figures still are alive and complete the ranks, although they will be replaced step-by-step... I thought in the beginning, the different manufacturers will not match well side-by-side in a battle, but I was surprised. I will try now some Trident miniatures. They are marvellously done.
      Peter

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  10. Marvelous, grossartig, magnifique!
    An inspiration to us all. Well done!
    Gruss

    Adrian

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    1. Thank you, Adrian - we will let follow some battles in autumn!
      Peter

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  11. Very Impressive! You really make the period come alive, best wishes for your future encounters.

    Regards

    Deltacoy

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    1. Dear Deltacoy, thank you for the warm words - very much appreciated!
      Peter

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  12. What a marvelous game - super figures and terrain. Lovely atmospheric battle report.

    -- Allan

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  13. Thanks, Allan! We could combine our collections so easily - they would match splendidly. I learned a lot at your battle reports!
    Peter

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  14. Your terrain looks superb, can you please tell me how you did the field effects, especially the trampled corn. I will need something similar for our 2015 Waterloo project.
    Chris Gregg

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  15. This is the most outstanding terrain in company with outstanding miniatures as well as a most thrilling photography I have ever seen. Congratulations. Very well done.

    Cheers,
    Christian

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