OHW #10: "Late Arrivals" - Playtesting AWI rules p.4

This is another interesting scenario, and I've mostly played it with the dark ages rules, or my own feudal OHW rules. The attacker is arriving from board Northwest and must capture a town at board Southeast. The road passes thru a valley between a large wood and a rough hill that is impassible to all Units. The defense is heavily outnumbered but the attackers are cramped for deployment space, and as they advance towards the town more defending reinforcements enter.

So, a nice variant on a gap crossing and race against time.

Below, the British have moved onto the board a couple turns. Hessians back left, British line in front, one gun in center, and the Lights against the woods.  In there are a Virginia Rifle unit [Morgan's] and on the road is a unit of South Carolina continental line. The Rebellious Subjects of King George III are hoping the woods will help them hold until the reinforcements arrive. The British are quite strong in the center and could outflank the Carolinians. 

Below, the Lights fell back from the unrelenting fire of the VA Rifles, who then shot a gunner, also. They are being outflanked by the British line who must continue forward and not bother with them.

Below, a closeup of the British line leading the way, from the point of view of the Carolinian Continental Line. The British appear to have lost an officer and one figure to the rebel musketry.  In the woods, the Lights are not sweeping away the rifles as planned and have become a bit disordered.

Below, the lights lost a figure killed and had to check morale - they decided to fall back and have a spot of tea. This leaves the gun vulnerable and it takes a hit.

 Pressing onwards, the British line and Hessians caused the Carolinians to fall back as well. However, they are being helped by their first reinforcing unit, a Virginia Continental Line. The question is can the Hessians and Line take on the Continentals blocking their route to the town?

We played a few more turns, and the issue was still in doubt. While the British troops are superior, they spread out a bit and the victory condition of taking the town is quite demanding due to distance and the two reinforcing defenders - you can't just stand back and plink away in this scenario. Perhaps with the Gun, the British Foot and the Hessian, they'd be able to do it, but with two units hung up away from the objective, I doubt it at this point.

Despite being unable to finish, this was another enjoyable playtest. The rules were smooth and as always I got a few good tips from the host who offered some helpful points and criticism.

Another series of playtests was performed at a different gaming buddy's house, using his lovely realistic Perry figs, nicely painted, as well, and lovely terrain board.

This is a Battle of Edgehill scenario, so the two 2-level hills at the center represent the area of heaviest fighting, and the the house and bridge the Fitzwater house and bridge on the modern Susquehanna Rd. The Americans start with a couple units on the hill and have a few more coming to help.  The British want to seize the hill and the bridge in preparation for an attack against Washington's main body which is on the next ridge...about where all that sci-fi stuff is piled up!  Just visible on the other side of the bridge is a reinforcing unit of American infantry and a gun.

British has the usual bodies of solid to crack troops, including Hessians and Fusiliers. Plus there's more of them - the Americans only have the advantage of position.

Below, the Marylanders pepper away, and Morgan's riflemen hold the rough ground at the base of the hill. The Brits advance a gun, fusiliers and some line, I think.

After a few turns , the American gun enters and takes a position squarely upon teh road in the saddle of the Edgehill. Unfortunately, it advances a bit too far and when the Marylanders fall back [well, run away, really] it is overrun by some vengeful fusiliers!

Below, Edgehill is mainly in British hands.  Can the Americans hold the bridge and prevent it being used as a staging point for the next phase of Howe's attack?  Entering at top left are two more American line units, while those that held Edgehill are now formed up at Fitzwater's house, mill, bar and grill.

The gun pounds away at the position. The fusiliers take over the American gun!

The defenders flee the pounding from the guns, but the captured one has run out of ammo, while the American reinforcements are threatening the British left.

To their right, the British Foot have advanced and broken Morgan's riflemen. Aside from the flank threats, it seems there will be no problem for the British to secure the Fitzwater house and bridge.

This was the last cold playtest of the rules before things got too crazy last winter for me to even record the games. Again, I received a lot of great feedback and suggestions which definitely helped shape the rules.  There's nothing like gamers who are both experienced AND read the rules [and in one case publish rules] to help develop game mechanics and smoother flow of play.