Wednesday, 4 March 2026

Battle Chronicles - Bridge of Ice and Smoke - Scenario 4


Me an Lee got together in Posties shed last week, to give Scenario 4, another run through,


The Map

"Before you lie, three possible crossing points, (in blue). Each promises a way forward, yet none can be trusted. Ice that appears solid may shatter under the weight of men and horses; snow-covered sections may hide thin, treacherous patches; broken banks and frozen shallows may collapse without warning. 

Are the bridges safe to cross?



The photos below  come from the three games we played that evening, the first two ended in surprising easy victories for the French, so we bolstered up the army list for the Russians, which gave a much closer and made for a more realistic game.


The French stragglers are in the centre of the photo, making their way to the bridge on the SW corner of the map.


While Russian Infantry and Jager's chase them down.


Desperately a lone Infantryman fires his pistol at the gaining Russians, while another group, hide behind a building. 


In the third game we upped the chance for Cossacks entering the table.


There seems to be a growing number of Russians??


This was the end for poor Damian.                               The Russians close in for the kill.
But it means his friends have a chance to escape.....


Run!!!


The Cossacks move 14 inches and catch the rear of the French.


Both go down in the snow


The Cossacks charge on , hitting the French group the the back and the side.


Another group of Frenchmen are being cut down.


The French are tough though, they knock a few Cossacks out of their saddles.


But in the end the French are all killed.


So the Russians won the last game, so we best try this scenario again and see if the French can do any better???

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32 comments:

  1. Great to see all the hard work in action again. It really does make for a beautiful table and everything looks suitably cold.

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    1. The four scenarios work well, especially the 4th, its hard but a lot of fun.

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  2. Oh my!!! That's looking fantastic! All that minis and terrains!

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    1. We're all very pleased with the figures and terrain.

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  3. Now you get to enjoy all your hard work on your snow scenes and figures!

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    1. Yes, indeed. Everything seems to be going to plan.....for a change!

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  4. Nice looking game, Ray. Didn't seem like the French stood much chance against the Russians chasing them.

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    1. The Russians had a lot of luck throwing for which troops entered the table, nearly every throw was for Cossacks, which did make it hard for the French. It didn't help that when we tried to cross a bridge it collapsed under our weight and we lost all those who where crossing. Then had to try and make it to another bridge..... we never made it!

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  5. Replies
    1. Thanks Neil, it was a very enjoyable evening's gaming!

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  6. Lovely work Ray atmospheric setting and game 👍

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  7. Looking and sounding good Ray

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    1. Thanks Dave, I'm very pleased with the results!

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  8. Another great looking game and very atmospheric result. A tough one for the French if the Cossacks arrive.

    A treacherous river crossing, but at least no crocodiles 😁

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    1. A lot of Cossacks did arrive, luckily for the Russains!

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  9. Well that's what happens if you keep adding extra Russians, Ray! You won two out of three by the sound of it?

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    1. Yep, the first 2 games we strolled it, adding in more chance of Cossacks arriving definitely worked.

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  10. I enjoyed your photos and lively narrative. Do the French have the option of defending a building or forming a ragged square? Are there time limits or limits on ammunition. It just seems that straggling towardsa bridge as fast as possible is hazardous with cossacks about but perhaps it's like running from a bear - as long as you keep in front of the other guy there's a chance.
    I rewatched the 1812 scene from "The Duellists" which like your game makes me feel chilly and not just from the cold.
    I must dust off and use my troops for skirmishes from this campaign. Your map is great - I must try it.

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    1. They can defend the buildings if they want to but, there objective is to get off the table. Espeacially as each turn the number if Russians entering the table increases. The first turn is 2 lots of 2 figures, turn 2 is another 2 lots of 2 figures, turn 3 is 2 lots of 3 figures, then 2 lots of 4 and so on. In our last game we had 2 lots of 5 Cossacks, which ended up decimating the French. If we were lucky it could havve been 2 lots of 5 Infantry, which probably wouln't have made contact with us in time.

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    2. Thanks for the explanation as I hope to have a go at this scenario.
      Stephen

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  11. Thanks Ray, it would make a good game for the show circuit - I love these sort of games that look like things you could do yourself at home.

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  12. Again, a real treat for the eyes Ray. This would make for a great game to put on at a con. Fun to read about the fine-tuning of the scenario too.

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    1. We maybe putting on a scenario from the rules at Broadside in June. Alibg with a bigger game.

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  13. I really like what you have done with this. It has it all: Acrion, adventure, great terrain and figures.

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  14. Hey Rayola! The snow looks great!

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  15. The tabletop and game looks simply fantastic! I like how you are so thoroughly play testing the scenarios and mechanics!

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    1. We thought we'd finished but we're gonna try and find the time do go through all the scenarios again, with all the rule changes made, hopefully it still works!!!

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