Monday 15 August 2016

The Battle of Vyazma 1812 - A Napoleonic batrep



This weekend Postie put on a mega Napoleonic game for the Rejects and a new Honoury Reject!!
The game day has been set for a few months after I was contacted by our mystery guest, saying he's on holiday in the UK, any chance of a game?
How could we say no?


The Battle of Vyazma 31st August 1812
Napoleon and his Grand Armee are advancing towards Moscow, chasing the Russian. In a change of history, de Tolly has decided to try and halt the French advance, he set up his army to delay the French by the small town Vyazma and waited for the French.

Russians
John - de Tolly
Ray - Tuchkov
Richard - Strogonov
French
Surj - Davout
Mystery Man - Eugene
Ian - Montbrun
     


This was the largest Napoleonic game we've ever played!



Before the game, myself and John (Richard turned up a little later) worked out what the French plan would be, attack the centre, hold their left and try and hold off our Horse. We got it spot on!


The Russian left flank
9 Horse units


Verses the French 10 units


The Mystery Man in the burgundy t-shirt, played the centre, attacking my and John's defensive lines.


My troops are on the hill in front of Vyazma. while John's are on the hill to my left.


My troops are facing 18 French units, I should be worried??


While John is facing Eugene's Italian's, in the distance.


On our right wing . on the hill were 12 regts of Russian Grenadiers!
That's why I knew they wouldn't attack our right!!


We started to move the back 4 Grenadiers, to the weak looking gap between the hills.


The French advance all along their lines


Apart from their extreme left!!


The Battle would be won and lost here!


The first casualty of the day went on my Heavy artillery piece, losing a figure and knocking their firing effect down for the rest of the game.



Surj's slow advance on our right.


While the mystery man, charges forward................very quickly!


On our left John set up, to take on the French Cavalry, unfortunately, for us, we were caught still deploying. Because the French had Davout as their CnC, he gave them a +2 for the initiative roll, which the French won in all but 1 turn during the game. This meant, not only did the French move first, but they fired first as well. With any casualties coming off before we fired back!!


I did warn the Mystery Man, that if he left leaders within 2 inches of a unit, he could become a casualty. So the first of many French leaders fell after a shot at 1st/8th Leger.


The unhappy at losing his leader Mystery Man is revealed
to be none other than fellow Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenger
He says he paints slow, but who cares when his figures look like they do???


Oh Dear......Chris loses another Brigade leader!! He he!


Chris's Italian's can be seen skulking by the woods, while te French centre attack.


On our left a mass Cavalry battle is about to ensue.
Now John is well renowned at Reject HQ as being a real lucky bugger with the dice when it comes to Cavalry, so we were both quite confident!


Holy fecking crap!
WTF happened there!!!
Out of the 6 Cavalry melee's John only won 1, he drew 2 but more importantly was absolutely mauled with the rest. John's dice were ok, but Ian's were tremendous!!
After only 1 turn of melee our left was in extreme danger of collapsing!


The pic's a bit blurry, but you get the gist, here come the French attacking the centre hill. I've lost my heavy artillery that was on the left of the hill, leaving a lone Light peashooter!
Can I hold the hill?


Simple answer.....No I bloody well can't!!!

In what can be termed as the worse dice rolls on the planet, all four of Russia's finest fail there morale check when charged by the French and flee off the hill, straight through the 4 reserve units, disordering them all!!!
Utter Utter Disaster!!!
I should have stayed home and done some decorating!!
Now we ARE in series trouble!


By now Richard had turned up and taken over our right.
He now has to send me some help, Grenadier style!


I tried to reorganize my lines, which was rather difficult, as everything was in the way
 of each other and disorganized.


Meanwhile, John rather wisely, moved some Russian Jagers into square.....just in case??


The rot carried on for John and the Cavalry.


But he did get another win, knocking back an attack, but losing others.


The mess on the hill...
Groan..............!


Was made even messier, when the French carried on with their charges, pushing me 
back even more.


Poor Ian had to go at this point, he was ordered home by SWMBO!


Chris was getting very excited as he crushed my centre, I thought I better get a pic of that face!


I managed to rally troops on the right of the hill and Richard's Grenadiers also stepped into the fray.


Attach that leader quick, it should (please God) help?


Their first time on the table top, the 1st/1st and 2nd/1st Provincial Croatian regt, step up
 to the edge of the hill.


Richard moved off the hill, to try and tempt Surj forward
But it was all too late.


Richard takes back part of the centre hill with a double attack on a French line.


Our Cossack units, who stayed hidden for nearly the whole of the game came out of hiding, the French didn't fall into the trap!


And that's where the game ended, we through in the towl, that was one hell of a sound
 thrashing for the Russians!!

The Russian army did there job, delaying the French but were outfought, so they headed off back towards Moscow, to a little place called Borodine, you may of heard of it?


At the end of the game, Postie presented Chris, with a memento of the day.


Chris a Honourary Reject US/German Chapter


Still all looking fresh after a 9 hour game!!
Rich, me, Postie, Chris, John & Surj

A great day was had by all, especially the French players, this is one of those games that me and John would rather forget, dice Gods I curse thee!!!!!



65 comments:

  1. Lol great fun, nice to see Chris in the flesh and also to see the massive napoleonic collection!!!

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  2. Lol great fun, nice to see Chris in the flesh and also to see the massive napoleonic collection!!!

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  3. What a great and epic looking game.

    Btw do you pay for guests to come over ? :-)

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    1. Afraid not......but you do get a choice of sandwiches???

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  4. Great pics and batrep Ray :)

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  5. Sorry it didn't go your way. Quite an impressive layout for the game though.

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    1. Did't go my way at all Alex, it was still fun though.

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  6. Sweet post mate. Impressive looking game as always!
    cheers

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  7. Looks like a great game. Plenty if figures on display

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    1. That was only a fraction of Posties figures!!!

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  8. Impressive pictures for an impressive battle Ray!

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  9. WoooW, wehat a great looking report!

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  10. Great looking game Ray! That is alot of minis :)

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    1. Not all of Posties collection by a long shot...

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  11. Another hot sweaty say in the shed of war! The table always looks good and a successful delaying action. I alike the number of photos as well makes the battle report seem more dynamic.

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  12. Looks like a great game! Cool to see Christopher there too.

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    Replies
    1. Yep its great to meet blogger buddies in the flesh!!

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  13. Sweet looking game Ray. Brilliant AAR!

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  14. Excellent pictures and game report! Thanks for sharing!
    And hello to Chris!

    Greetings
    Peter

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    1. Cheers Peter. Chris will be replying later when he's back home.

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  15. What an impressive set up...the game sounds epic in every sense of the word!

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  16. Wow that looked like the mother of all Napoleonic games with all those mini's prancing around, good on Chris for having such a great time in such esteemed company!

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  17. Well, that was one excellent scrap and a massive Napoleonic game! As always, a very entertaining BatRep from your pen, Ray! Good to see Chris at your gaming table. With a win, I bet he is wanting to return!

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    1. All he's gotta do is persude the mrs, I don't think his plan for next month is gonna work though??

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  18. Great AAR looks like it was a day full of fun...

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  19. Replies
    1. We use a set written by Postie. They pinch bits from all sorts of rules including General de Brigade.

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  20. What an epic game Ray and great that Chris could join the fun.

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  21. Epic game in every sense, figures, terrain, mystery company and of course Postie finding yet another way to stitch you up, despite all your dice throwing efforts.

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    1. I think this game I stiched myself up, Joe?!

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  22. Great looking game Ray. Not sure I would have cursed the dice gods though...

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    1. They seem to curse me already Rod, don't think its gonna make a lot of difference.

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  23. A nine hour game,i bet the gunpowder was stinging everyone`s eyes by the finish.
    Is placing the units back in their boxes included within that nine hours?
    Overall look of the table,and figures,`Epic Splendor on a Grand Style!'
    Very well presented Ray with some great looking Photo`s.
    i for one realize only to well how long it takes to sort out pictures,and type down the fun.
    So well done.
    Greetings from the leafy green of Fiddlewood Norwich. BB

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    1. No, it takes Postie another few hours to put everything back again.Cheers BB

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  24. Excellent batrep mate. Sorry I couldn't be there.

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    1. Shame you couldn't be there Lee, I'm pretty sure you could've thrown better dice than me and John.

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  25. Wonderful game and report, cheers!

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  26. Fantastic batrep and it's terrific that you showed Christopher some famed Reject hospitality. Bravo!

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  27. Just got in settled in last night and now have the time to read your post and what a great report! The game was fantastic fun and met all my expectations and them some. Thank you all for an absolutely wonderful time! No question that was one of the biggest games I've had the good fortune to be involved in and for sure the most cavalry as the other two games of comparable size were both ACW infantry clashes. Truly epic game in the best of company!

    I'll write a report soon with my impression of the resounding French victory..err.. game that is.:-)

    Christopher

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    1. So glad you enjoyed the game Chris, you did seem to fit right in there with the Reject philosophy of gaming!

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    2. Thank you very much Ray I did feel very comfortable and right at home so to speak in the atmosphere of your club.

      Christopher

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