18thC India - Bagging the Baggage

Solo gaming has been noticeable by its absence here these past months and to be honest I can't remember when I last got a game in! But with the end of British Summer Time and SWMBO out for the evening, high time I thought to set up a simple game, mainly to re-acquaint myself with HoW and our on going 18thC India tweaks.

To keep things simple, both sides has the same number of troops, with the only difference being the better French artillery and any variance in the quality of the commanders. In the end the French ended up with a Dashing one, with everyone else being Dependable. The nominal fluff for the game was that some rhubarb was being transported along the road, with the French trying to capture it and the HEIC to rescue it. Simples.

An overview of the table, with the HEIC at the bottom and the French at the top. The board is 2' x 2'.

The end of Turn 1. Both sides advanced, except the French right flank that rolled Poor. The HEIC right flank got a double move, but the paddy fields slowed them down somewhat. Both sides artillery caused a few hits, nothing more.

The end of Turn 2. Both sides once again advanced and fire rippled out across the front, with the French getting the upper hand, forcing back one HEIC infantry unit to reform.

The HEIC Infantry have had to fall back to reform.

The HEIC struggling through the rice paddies and both sides begin to accrue hits.

The end of Turn 3. The HEIC left flank has fallen back to provide a better defensive line as the French push forward towards them. Both sides shooting is effective, with a unit of French Sepoys being Done For and a HEIC one having to fall back to reform, which is easier said than done with Inferior Morale.

The HEIC left flank in some trouble.

The HEIC Afghans have ahd to retreat to reform also.

The HEIC Light Cavalry hope they can move far enough to charge the elephant.

The French left flank in some trouble too.

The end of Turn 4. The French right flank once again rolled Poor to move and elsewhere there was little movement, other than the HEIC right flank pushing forward slightly. The French Artillery easily Routed the HEIC Sepoys who fell back through the HEIC Infantry, causing a hit on them.

The Sepoys rout back.

The HEIC right flank keeps putting the pressure on the French left.

A view of the French left flank.

The start of Turn 5. Once again the French right flank rolled Poor, whilst the HEIC attacked the French left flank in what was a bit of a confused melee.

This is all a bit 'Lionel Messi'.

The results of the melee, with the French elephant and HEIC Infantry Done For.

The end of Turn 5. Only the French right flank is still in good order.

The HEIC left flank try to form a cohesive line.

The HEIC right flank is not in good shape, but the French left flank is only marginally better.

The intact French right flank.

Early on in Turn 6. With limited movement, it was all down to the shooting. The French right flank lost a Line Infantry unit as well as their Brigadier, with the HEIC right flank losing their Sepoys.

The demise of the French Line Infantry and their Brigadier (red 6 die).

The Sepoys rout.

As do the HEIC Light Cavalry.

The end of Turn 6. The HEIC right flank is all but gone, with the French Light Cavalry having an open flank to exploit.

The HEIC Afghans trying to reform.

The only good defensive line left for the HEIC.

The open HEIC right flank as seen from the French left.

A view from the French side.

End of Game

With that the HEIC called it a day as they had no real prospect of holding on, given that their right flank was gone and the left flank was facing impenetrable jungle, leaving rambling Syd Rumpo and his carog of rhubarb in the hands of the French.

Post Game Thoughts

After so long away from the table, it was great to get a simple solo game in! A few quick thoughts on the game:

• The tweaks we have made to the 18thC amendments seem to have worked well, but more on that in another post when I've had time to collate a few things. It certainly felt different to 'normal' SYW games though.
• Having varying levels of quality for the Sepoys etc really does work a treat, with their Inferior morale making them much harder to keep in the fight, which feels right based upon what I have read.
• The HEIC and French troops are to be used carefully, as although they are a lot tougher and more effective than the Sepoys, they can still be Done For quite easily if you are not careful.
• The 2' x 2' was once gain perfect for this small game to test the rules. I probably had a bit too much terrain and could have reduced the number of units slightly, as it did feel a bit cramped at times, but minor issues and easily rectified.
• Having re-read parts of the rulebook prior to the game, it is amazing what you pick up that you have simply missed before! An example being that a unit within 2cm (5cm in the normal rules) of the commanding General can rally off one hit. This helped keep the French Line Infantry on their right flank in the game, as it was enough to keep them from falling back to reform. Time for more -re-reads methinks!

With the evenings now getting dark much earlier, I hope to be able to resume my painting for these forces, as I have plenty sitting in front of me ready to go under the brush. I had hoped to get back to it ealrier but the unusually warm and sunny weather has continued here, with it not feeling like November is just around the corner!

Hopefully another game soon, most likely more 18thC India but maybe some BKCII, which rather shockingly I haven't played at all this year!

Oh and I must really get around to putting in a brighter light bulb in the dining room so these games don't look so dim.....

TTFN.