FPW Kepi & Picklehaub Playtest

"So, how are the rules are coming along, my Fine Frenchie Friend?"

Frenchie looks glum, but it's the disagreeable Prussian cuisine, not K&P!

So, back in March, I got a request from Steve the "Angry Dackel" [CLICK] to try out my adaptation of the "Wargaming 19th C. Europe" rules by Neil Thomas.  He was perusing the book and wanted to give the system a go.  With that in mind, I chose to do the main scenario out of the book, "Pitched Battle", which has some interesting random event twists. Having played it before, on my diminutive table, I knew that the scenario would produce a good fight - and I didn't want to Anger the Dackel:

Who wants to see that distinguished, somber face burst into fury???

The board has three objectives, the two towns and the large hill in close center.  The winner secures 2 of the 3 objectives.  I doubled the forces involved, which gives a much more realistic density of units on the table, around 20 per side.  The majority are infantry, altho I didn't use the random chart for it.  Instead, I used the two divisions I had finished basing.  This was about 12 infantry, 4-6 guns, 2 lights and 2-4 cavalry per side.

In the pre-battle sequence, the French rolled a Flank March, so set aside a cavalry and two Infantry to do so - but they don't have to reveal the flank!  The Prussians roll resulted in two of their units becoming Bogged Down, and Steve had to set aside an Artillery and - I believe - it was a cavalry.

Opposing Plans

The French plan was to drive on the near town [along the river] and use the flank march to secure the hill objective beyond. Their left was to delay the Prussians and reduce their opportunities to bring their full combat power to bear.

The Prussian plan was to hold the near hill, and secure the near town by the wood. The wood would provide a base of Fire against advancing Frogs, and the Hill was only about 12" away - a strong, central position.

What happened?

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Below, view from the French side who are approaching from scenario South. The French successfully got the initiative, and pushed their cavalry far forward to constrict the Prussian advance. This stroke of fortune allowed them to compete for a town that is actually a bit closer to the Prussian side, scenario East. Altho the Prussians have occupied the town, their infantry are slow to support them.

Closer up, the Prussians are just emerging from the woods to rescue their jagers in the town. The French cavalry are threatening and preventing them from performing any Operational Moves, which are at double rate but can't go within 9" of the enemy.

Just to the right, the French are making a strong push in the center, supported by cavalry, Legere, and artillery / mitrailleuse.

Farther right [table West] the French quickly secured the near town, and crossed the river unopposed. The Prussian delaying force - 2 Infantry, 1 Lt Dragoon - did what they could and aggressively pushed back against the French advance, with the support of three batteries on the large objective hill [background]. The Lt Dragoons gallantly charged a French column, but were unable to decisively win. Instead, they ended up worse off than the French. Still, this allowed the Prussian Infantry to form up beside them, along the road.

French are reduced by a stand, the cavalry by two.  The depth of the French maneuvering battalion gives it plenty of reserves, and still enough firepower to - usually - hold off any cavalry. There are no squares in the period.

In my version, stands are not removed as the "losses" represent mostly a loss of combat effectiveness, which can be rallied back, albeit slowly. This encourages preservation of force, keeping fresh reserves nearby, and combining aggression with discretion. From my reading, this is very realistic to the brigade commander's mentality. It does make the game a bit longer, but encourages players to attempt to push hard and reduce units to all bases lost, upon which they are removed as "combat ineffective".

Below view is from the Prussian side of the cavalry fight. There is plenty of space for the Lt Dragoons to fall back and rally behind the Infantry.

As the fighting intensifies, the Prussian center is reinforced with more infantry - desperately needed as they had a weak center and strong right wing. Altho the French advance was modest, their infantry heavily outnumbered the Prussian and their Artillery batteries were only a bit less [altho they are about half as good].

Below, Prussian view of the close town and woods, Scenario East. One French Dragoon regiment is slowing down - but not stopping - the Prussian Infantry Brigade advancing out of the woods. French attempts against the town have given them a bloody nose, and the town is about to be easily secured by the six Infantry battalions, jager companies, and two batteries.

Meanwhile, back on the French Right / Prussian Left, Scenario West, the Cavalry v. Infantry clash is about to be resolved.

Altho the cavalry ultimately lost more figs in the fight, the French lost the Close Combat and had to roll Morale - the rolled a '1', which caused them to Retreat, somewhat ignominiously. Still, they are closely supported and it would be suicide for the Prussian Lt. Dragoons to pursue. Fortunately [?] they roll a '1' for their options, and are only able to stand.

The improvement in light conditions reminds me that it took us two sessions to play this out. Morning light is much better for fig pics on this board!

Meanwhile, back on Board East, the French managed to push the Jagers out of the town! They were unable to advance, having received a bit of a bloody nose. This was quite disappointing, as it was the only chance for them to occupy the town and further delay the Prussian advance to secure *their town*. 

Due to the twists of fate and game design, the French are in turn charged in the flank by a supporting column [because they didn't advance into the town] and are driven from the field. This enables the jagers to re-occupy the town.

The Prussians pursue, but there are French supports to right and left.

The French Hussars charge and despite losing heavily in the closing fire they win the Close Combat...

This sends the victorious Prussian infantry packing, but the entire flank is strongly held by Prussian Battalions, with the Jagers in the town again.

On the left, the French will have to be satisfied with making the Prussians pay for their victory. With two cavalry and one battered infantry battalion, they can't take the town against such overwhelming numbers of Huns!

Their right flank secure, the Prussians begin to strengthen their center. They are able to spare a reserve infantry and a battery to plug the gap, which should secure the Hill Objective's front.

The French are still developing their attack, but four infantry battalions and two batteries are unlikely to make headway - and two of the infantry are battered!

On the right, the Prussians are playing the same delaying game against the French advance against the hill. It seems much more secure [farther back] and the concession of the crossroads is only a temporary setback. The Lt Dragoons are slowly - slowly! - rallying their scattered survivors. The three infantry and three batteries seem like sufficient force, but one more fresh infantry battalion is on the way. Surely, a Prussian victory is in the cards!

Yet... there is a dust cloud forming off-table to the Prussian left...!!

And for their part, the four French Battalions supported by two batteries don't seem like enough to advance upon the hill. Which is likely correct...

Still, chance plays a factor. The batteries and battalion send a French battalion to the rear with almost overwhelming losses. Then the isolated Prussian battalion is devastated by French fire! 9 of 10 dice are hits - sacre bleu! This doesn't gain an advantage in the tit for tat exchange, unfortunately, as neither side has reserves to put into the fight.

But wait! The French flank march arrives. The Prussians were forewarned [dust clouds a turn in advance] but the French are able to hammer-and-anvil one Prussian Battalion, while the cuirassiers are able to position themselves to threaten the recovering Lt. Dragoons flank!

the situation is even worse from this angle...

Meanwhile, back on the left, the French infantry are trying to organize a resistance to the Prussian right, which is heavily weighted, and supported from the center. Overall, it isn't a very strong situation for them...and the Legere hastily depart the field under overwhelming Prussian firepower. Damn those needleguns!

Back on the right, General von Wirstsnacher falls trying to keep the pressured Prussian battalion in the field [it has 4 figs left out of 20].

Altho the French are a bit battered themselves, they are encouraged to see another bratwurst chewer taken to the rear!

On the left, the Prussians advance methodically against the French remnants - two cavalry [one half gone], two batteries and an infantry that has lost over a base. The French general shows himself, sipping cognac and munching tinned sardines with great aplomb, and disregard of the Prussian fire. The Prussians could try and roll up the French line except that there's a Dragoon regiment lurking out of reach, and the farther they push forwards, the closer they get to the French "Napoleon" smoothbore batteries...

Back on the French right, the Flank march and continuous pressure has squeezed the Prussians terribly. The cuirassiers swept away the Lt Dragoons [who still had a base lost, it should be noted]. Both the Prussian Infantry are taking casualties and being pushed back by twice their number of fresh French [but I repeat myself, sir]. Can the one battery and one fresh Prussian infantry hold the Gallic Horde off!??

Unlikely, it seems. The positioning is all in favor of the French.

The Prussians detach another precious infantry unit from the center to the Hill objective. Only one battery can be spared to support the flank!

On the left, the cursed Gauls continue to fight, giving ground grudgingly...

The center holds but the Prussian left is dissolving under French firepower - three battalions are at 50% or more reduced combat power...

Meanwhile, two French battalions pour fire onto one Prussian battalion, and the cuirassiers prepare to charge Prussian reinforcements.

In an amazing series of volleys, the French inflict devastating losses against the Prussians, with 8 hits and one save. The seven hits cause the unit to evaporate, and it is now one battery and a battalion against two French Battalions and the cuirassiers.

With the Prussians most important left flank units - the infantry - being devastated by Fire, it would be little problem for them to advance on one lone battery supported by one battalion. The menacing cuirassiers may - may - have chewed it up, but even if they didn't, they would keep it busy while the French infantry arrayed themselves to shoot up the survivors as well as the battery.

Was it a victory worthy of Napoleon I?  Perhaps!

Most importantly, the game was enjoyable and full of interesting decisions. 

Altho the dice played a part for both sides, luck wasn't the factor that won the game. The French plan for a flank attack succeeded, while the Prussian right was stymied by careful French placement of threats and the natural delay caused by the woods. Altho it prevented them from taking any casualties from the French artillery, the woods also slowed down the Prussian battalions, and nearly cost them the town [which they likely would have taken back]. 

The combination of French delay against the Prussian main effort, with the added effectiveness of the flank attack on the opposite Prussian flank, enabled them to just squeak out a victory. A few different choices and chances along the way, and it would likely have been a bloody draw.

Except for a few minor tweaks, the rules worked well, provided an engaging and historical fight for both sides, and lots of challenging decisions. Only plentiful play experience would enable someone to really weight the odds carefully enough to consistently win with these rules, which is as it should be.

With some more details - carefully - filling in the generous abstractions of the original rules, all of which use mechanics to push for player decisions, the game has evolved to being quick to pick up and play, but hard to master which decision is "best" given the overall battle. Again, "as it should be".  I'm very pleased with them, but will be working on another draft that tweaks them a bit in each direction, smoothing out the rough, but cutting the details finer. I definitely need to base two more divisions, however, for the next round of playtesting.

More to come, as Steve is already talking about using these rules - modified - for his ACW armies...!