my britcon experiences...

chubooga · Post by **chubooga** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 9:15 am

I used parliamentatarians, pretty vanilla but that made it quite big. No determined horse, just pike/shot, dragoons, horse with carbine and commanded shot.

game 1 royalists

absolute grinder! both armies met across the table, with some mild action on the flanks the main infantry lines met in the centre, my boys folded in short order as my opponent made good use of his all musket units to outshoot me and drop my morale.........but my pressure on the flanks told and as the game drew on I was able, just, to break the royalist army before my own went.

game 2 swiss

I accepted that frontally I cannot stop the swiss at all, so concentrated on both flanks with cav and supporting infantry to stip the support from the swiss army and then concentrated fire onto a single kiel after loosing several of my own units to charging swiss kiels. Got lucky in places as cav units didnt break to kiels and were able to break off from combat to recover morale.....

game 3 French
(sorry cant recall which one, but it had salvo firing with regi guns in it!)
my opponet set up a great attack onto my right flanks, sup HA cuirrassiers x 2 superier salvo foot all with generals hurtled towards a rather weak looking superios p+S unti and some average horse..... through outrageous fortune (I hit with all impact dice, and all melee dice...and this was after taking two bases off the infantry through firing and disrupting on eof the cuirassiers) the attack was first halted then repsules as the salvo foot reached auto break point.... as my attack on the left flank was going well and enemy units were begininning to loose position and morale.... the end was inevitable...... I slunk away almost embarresed by my good fortune!

game 4 cant remember its name.... but lots of cavalry, a kiel and 4 hvy guns)
terrain was key in this one.... I set up a strong left flank, but my opponent loaded up oppssite it with s cuirass and heavy guns....after taking losses early on I withdrew fron the flank ehind some plantations... my opponents cuirassiers followed hot on my heals but I just managed to reset my defensive line with two units of foot and some horse... after taking some losses from early shooting the cuirrssaiers folded under weight of numbers and the flank was secured.... on the fight flanks attack from gendarmes cav and LF were locked against the table edge and eroded... but not befoe I had lost units to morale drops from the shooting..... my opponents attacks had both been thwarted however my own 'attack' in the centre was failing badly, foot units dropping to artillery and LH shooting as I crept forwards were gradually pushing my army towards break point..... I had a horse unit ready to march to the enemy baggage under its generals guidance but I got caught out by having another horse unit within 40mm stopping me amrching.... arrrrgghhh!.... I corrected the mistake too late and just before taking the bagagge out my army collapsed through attrition... monster of game, both commanders went for it and both armies had kmaw a good fight that game.....

game 5 louis french.. good use of terrin from my opponent secsure hit left flank, his main attack was to launch his impact foot throught the centre..... my left flank attack was slowly progressing and opening up for a wrap around....but my centre collaped to the inpact foot ho shot just about as good as me.... routing units were rallied on the table edge by my opponent... but I lost this game through poor use of mtwo horse units.... I sent them on a ranging attack against a single foot unit anchoring my opponents left flank... my mlack onf rules knowledge meant I thought they coutned as threatended flank and only hit the cav on 6's... too late I found out this not to be thecase... and a couple of shots form the foot dropped the cav and lost me the flank..... while I should have backed away at this point I preinforced failure playing on tilt from previous game and alloowed too many support units get drawn into front line roles..... heriocs from a disrupted frnech guard units holding up a full superios p+s unit meant my attakc broke through too late to save the day......... felt I really let my army down in this game... poor use of resources...poor deployment.... fumbled plan..... and an opponent who was relentless!

game 6 Tilly!

last game of britcon and we both knew it needed something big for either of us to do well.... and a great opponent to play against.... ealry exchanges in the battle saw tilly veterans rolls over two units of foot with minial losses.... two all musket units owned the mid table by occupying some difficult ground, my laft flank attack was achieving little as my opponent held them off without loss through skirmshing.... my right flank... I felt beaten, but decied to go down fighting and threw some horse into the central rough against the musket... my right flank attack finally got into gear after clearing some steep hills, and a well worn down superior p+s unit made it into the enemy guns while two foot units and my own guns wore down a late tercio holding the enemay flank.... abig cavalry clash marked the decisive pointin the game in a winner takes all moment.... enemy superior HA cuirassiers crashed into my flimsy looking line of armoured averahe horse and commanded shot... but it held... ...... this gave time for that same sup p+s unit that had captured the guns to turn and charge into the flank of the the cavalry combat... breaking one of the cuirrasiers which then broke through the othe runit disrupting it and securing the flank for parliament. The horse int he centre broke through the musket unit int he rough going and this was enough to take the army to break point............. phew!

overall an excellent weekends gaming, against great opponents who were all very gentle with my lack of experience with the rules.... I will be back for more!

unfortunatley when I checked into reality with a call home my CnC gave me a direct order to get home asap as there was a bit of problem needing my attention so I had to go and missed the presentations but be assured I was applauding in spirit as I headed back.

rbodleyscott · Post by **rbodleyscott** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 9:50 am

Nice report Jon.

Incidentally, having another BG within 40mm prevents divisional moves, but does not prevent a single BG with a general from making 2nd or 3rd moves.

chubooga · Post by **chubooga** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 10:03 am

rbodleyscott wrote:Nice report Jon.

Incidentally, having another BG within 40mm prevents divisional moves, but does not prevent a single BG with a general from making 2nd or 3rd moves.

awww maaaaaan!

alasdair2204 · Post by **alasdair2204** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 10:28 am

My apologies John

that was totally my fault I thought you were moving both horse units, I owe you a point or two for my my camp

again apologies, brilliant game though

cheers

Alasdair

alasdair2204 · Post by **alasdair2204** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 10:30 am

Hi John

forgot to mention in case no-one told you, you came third I imagine Nick has your award

congratulations

Alasdair

chubooga · Post by **chubooga** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 11:02 am

lol wasnt your fault at all.... my fault....my troops... .wouldnt have changed the outcome just the way we went about the outcome...

was a blistering game though, and played in an excellent spirit, really pleased that a game on top table can be played in such a friendly exciting and easy going way.... a breath of fresh air after my experiences in some other peroids!

the way we got carried away in each area of the game and played turns in amongst other turns through pure excitement, love it!

Im sure I wont be so lucky with the results in the next game, but Im sure it'll be played the same way!

chubooga · Post by **chubooga** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 11:06 am

hang on, just realised.... did you say I came third! treeeeemendous!

cant believe I finished that high after 6 great games.... oooooooo, want to see the results now to see who came where....

............ and must get hold of Nick and find a way to get the trophy.... Ive a large empty trophy wall it can take pride on place in the wargames room!

...............ooooo, and pete dalby too, wasnt there a pack of figures for 1ts 2nd and 3rd? hmmmm, a new army beckons and what better than testudo to do it with!

daveallen · Post by **daveallen** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 11:38 am

Hi Jon,

glad you enjoyed the experience. As you were the only player to beat my Swiss I feel that feat alone deserves a place

.

I put my defeat down to a combination of poor co-ordination of my lights (the only skill needed for a Swiss general!) and unexpectedly effective shooting from your Horse. Who brings 4 BGs of Average Horse with Carbines to an open comp?

CnC gave me a direct order to get home asap as there was a bit of problem

32 hours too late to save my bacon. I was going to make some comment about cat-astrophies, but realised it could be misinterpreted by those who weren't there...

you came third I imagine Nick has your award.

Sadly, at Britcon if you aren't there to collect the trophy/prize it usually isn't given. Check though, JD might have been feeling generous on his last day.

Either way, I'm sure others will follow.

Dave

viking123 · Post by **viking123** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 11:43 am

Jon,

Do not forget the Oxford Doubles at Abingdon on 3/4 September where you could get a rematch against Alasdair.

Bob

youngr · Post by **youngr** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 4:48 pm

An excellent weekend with 6 great games. By Sunday lunch I'd eased my way to a stunning 5 game defeat. However, I didn't have that severe headache feeling after 5 lost games of DBM or the frustrated gnashing of the furniture after 5 defeats in FOG A&M. I enjoyed every game and I put this down partly to the fact that I was killing loads of my opponents troops. It was just that my opponents were killing more of my mine. In my final game against the dreaded Japanese played by Nathan of Belgium, I eventually scored a victory. It wasn't due to any great skill by me but Nathan's awful dice rolling plus my flank march arriving just in the nick of time.

Here is a piccy of the top table on Saturday - feel free to add your own amusing caption!

Richard

youngr · Post by **youngr** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 4:55 pm

viking123 wrote:Jon,

Do not forget the Oxford Doubles at Abingdon on 3/4 September where you could get a rematch against Alasdair.

Bob

Just sent our entry in the post this morning!! Hope it's not too late to enter.....

Cheers

Richard

rbodleyscott · Post by **rbodleyscott** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 5:01 pm

youngr wrote:Here is a piccy of the top table on Saturday - feel free to add your own amusing caption!

Richard

The link should be:

[_img]http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee3 ... 2ndday.jpg[/img_]

(without the underscores)

youngr · Post by **youngr** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 5:02 pm

rbodleyscott wrote:
youngr wrote:Here is a piccy of the top table on Saturday - feel free to add your own amusing caption!

Richard

The link should be:

Thanks Richard!!

nikgaukroger · Post by **nikgaukroger** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 5:44 pm

chubooga wrote: ............ and must get hold of Nick and find a way to get the trophy.... Ive a large empty trophy wall it can take pride on place in the wargames room!

Ask Hammy as I don't have it.

shadowdragon · Post by **shadowdragon** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 5:54 pm

youngr wrote:An excellent weekend with 6 great games. By Sunday lunch I'd eased my way to a stunning 5 game defeat. However, I didn't have that severe headache feeling after 5 lost games of DBM or the frustrated gnashing of the furniture after 5 defeats in FOG A&M. I enjoyed every game and I put this down partly to the fact that I was killing loads of my opponents troops. It was just that my opponents were killing more of my mine. In my final game against the dreaded Japanese played by Nathan of Belgium, I eventually scored a victory. It wasn't due to any great skill by me but Nathan's awful dice rolling plus my flank march arriving just in the nick of time.

Here is a piccy of the top table on Saturday - feel free to add your own amusing caption!

Richard

There's a certain "je ne sais quoi" about FoGR that makes it a lot of fun. Oh wait, maybe I do know what - gunpowder. There's something about BG suddenly vanishing with a couple of bad death rolls. It sort of puts all BG on equal footing with the glass cannon FoGAM, the elephant.

Anyway, every FoGR game I've played has been fun. Well done, authors.

P.S. I'm still enjoying FoGAM. No furniture gnashing here.

bahdahbum · Post by **bahdahbum** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 6:38 pm

HY

Yhank's to all for the games ( the first 6 games ) . Nathan and I enjoyed it . I hope to see some of yopu at www.iwchallenge.be

I hope to be back next year we we need to know when it will be quite soon .

Regards

Jacques and Nathan

madaxeman · Post by **madaxeman** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 6:58 pm

All the above comments are seconded - 2 wins, 4 defeats, all decisive, all great fun - but the biggest difference to me from FoGAM was that this weekend in every single game I could manage to find an alternative, credible scenario in which I could (or should!) have won... even when I was down to the wire and about to lose, whereas with FoGAM comps I was starting to find myself playing 2-3 unwinnable games out of every 4, simply through asymmetrical army matchups.

The fact of no "unwinnable" games - and every army being viable in some way or another - made a massive difference to how enjoyable the weekend was for me. I can also see ways to improve my own army -and also how lots of others might be viable too

My only dilemma now is whether I have time amongst painting Renaissance figures to package up some of my ancients stuff for eBay !

Blathergut · Post by **Blathergut** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 8:39 pm

All FoGR games here have been very enjoyable. (And average carbine-armed horse RULES!)

timmy1 · Post by **timmy1** » Tue Aug 16, 2011 7:30 pm

I would like to back what everyone has posted. Despite still not having won a game of FoGR I enjoyed every single game at Britcon - they were all played in a great spirit. My deployments were sometimes poor and I would like to apologise to Simon for handing him such an easy 25-0 on the final afternoon! Steve's Swiss monster was really scary to face and I know I need a better plan for that (been thinking a lot about it) but my favourite memory will remain the Madaxeman failing every single death roll when he took 1 hit (all 11 of them in the game). If I did 3, 4, or 5 hits he was fine, if I did one or 2 he failed every time. Despite that and his flank march never arriving he beat me - mainly because one BG of mounted took 8 or 10 AP off me after being down a base, losing a general and being Fragged! A great weekend and I would do it all again this weekend given the chance.

I had 3 BGs of Carbine Horse and they were my best troops... (which says a lot for how the rest of my army did). Armoured average Carbine Melee pistol can hold their own quite well even against Unarmoured Superior DH.

kevinj · Post by **kevinj** » Tue Aug 16, 2011 9:48 pm

Reading all of this just intensifies my disappointment at having to leave early. It certainly had the feel of a great competition but played in a fantastic spirit.

Kevin