FPW - Somewhere south of Reims...

[nikharwood]

Having not managed to take any decent pics of my FPW armies at MADFest, we thought it would make sense to get these on-table as soon as possible. So, we constructed a simple scenario: les Francais are defending a bridge against the advancing Prussians. They have the benefit of a village in which to assume defended positions and are holding cavalry in reserve.

We used FPWarmaster rules - and were considering some tweaks / developments of these...

I was umpiring, with Mark as the French and Paul as the Prussians - didn't take any notes, so more of a pictorial account:

French defended positions:










Prussian advance:






The French decide to leg it over the bridge:




Prussians push up:




The battle gets heated and the French cavalry arrives:










The Prussians take the bridge:






A great game - with good ebb & flow and a decisive cavalry action on the French left (which I stoopidly didn't get any pics of  )

Good stuff though - and the rules played out well; only tweaks, I think, are to give a differentiation in range of infantry firing.

[Techno]

Great stuff Nik !
Cheers - Phil.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

;)Nice report Nik, really looks the part! Lots of period flavours and good terrain to scrap over!
Not a typical French bridge action then, usually they would either leave it unguarded or fail to blow it it up in 1870! 

[Hertsblue]

Nice looking game, Nik. Crossing that bridge in the teeth of Chassepot fire couldn't have been fun for the Prussians. 

[Kiwidave]

Why did the French scarper back over the bridge? They seemed to have pretty much given it to the Prussians....

[Shedman]

It looks good - where did you get the cloth from?

It's inspired me to get my 1859 stuff out to play with

Did you use the artillery and small-arms ranges listed in FPWarmaster? IE small-arms 30, French artillery 40 and Prussian artillery 60

I know the Prussian artillery were good but with 3 attacks and reduced cover that makes them pretty devastating

[ronan]

and a decisive cavalry action on the French left (which I stoopidly didn't get any pics of  )
(...)

It's usually when the game is too interesting ! You're watching it, and forget to take yout camera. I usually do the same ''error''. "War Photographer" is a tough job ! 

Lovely game ! Thanks !

[nikharwood]

Why did the French scarper back over the bridge? They seemed to have pretty much given it to the Prussians....

I think Mark's plan was to withdraw to the other side of the river & use fire to slow down the Prussian line advance - and then, with his cavalry arriving on his left flank, sweep round the village & hit the stalled Prussians in the flank and roll them up...


Unfortunately for his plan, his own light troops got bogged down crossing the bridge, with their own flank exposed - including the gun...which didn't last long once the Prussian guns got in range!

It looks good - where did you get the cloth from?

The cloth is a fleece throw that Paul got from Amazon (I've got the link somewhere...here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mink-Faux-Throw-Green-200x240cm/dp/B003YUGM8W) - it's lovely, with longer fleece on one side (this is the short side here) - £16 delivered I think...

Did you use the artillery and small-arms ranges listed in FPWarmaster? IE small-arms 30, French artillery 40 and Prussian artillery 60

I know the Prussian artillery were good but with 3 attacks and reduced cover that makes them pretty devastating

Yes - and one of the (likely) future tweaks will be to increase the infantry firing range of the French to 40cm...

It's usually when the game is too interesting ! You're watching it, and forget to take yout camera. I usually do the same ''error''. "War Photographer" is a tough job !  

You're absolutely right ronan - exactly what happened!

[Dave Fielder]

"When a great plan meets the enemy"

All of my plans are pure genius at inception and preparation. However, my opponents never play properly and they unravel my greatest efforts. Haven't these guys ever been to staff college? Just not right.  ... Mature response.

[Hertsblue]

"When a great plan meets the enemy"

All of my plans are pure genius at inception and preparation. However, my opponents never play properly and they unravel my greatest efforts. Haven't these guys ever been to staff college? Just not right.  ... Mature response.

"No plan survives first contact with the enemy" - I thought that was axiomatic. 

[General Bt Sherman]

Very nice