Practice Game
Played a small game tonight in prep for Historicon next week; 2 British Brigades attacking a wall full of Continentals and Militia. The British left was thier elite brigade of Ligth Infantry; Grenadiers and a buff-colored line regiment (forgot which # it is). The British right was a brigade of two British line regiments and the newly painted; Hessian Leib Regiment. (and you all know what happens to a newly painted unit!) Defending the "wall" were a brigade (4 regiments) of Continental Infantry facing the British lights and grenadiers and a brigade of local militia (3 regiments) opposing the British and Hessian line regiments. Each army has an assortment of artillery support. Sorry, no photos. I'll take some at Historicon and post them when I get back. As for the game; we were really just walking through the rules to work out any kinks. One thing we learned is that it is not cake-walk to simply march forward against a strong position even for the cream of the British crop. The British elite brigade took a heavy beating, lost their brigade commander, mortally wounded and saw the light regiment dispersed. It was only at the end of the game that the grenadiers made it over the wall. As for the other British brigade; the Militia caused a few DPs to add to the tons of DPs rolled during the brigades manuvers. They never made it to the wall. With reserves poised to counter attack the grenadiers, we called the game an American victory. Great rules, almost no questions ... and just like Howe at Bunker Hill, we learned what happens during a frontal assault against a determined foe. Only one post game question: Can a brigade or army general that is attached to a unit, rally a DP, even if the unit moved that turn? Mike B

Can a brigade or army general that is attached to a unit, rally a DP, even if the unit moved that turn? We interpreted it as yes he can even when the unit is retreating,but not routing. I have a question of my own. When wheeling do you have to go the distance rolled on the d6?We decided no,and used it only to see if disruption was accrued.We decided after the d6 roll a unit could wheel up to the standard 45 degrees or roughly up to 2 1/2 inches.All other movements that carried a unit forward or backwards we moved the required inches from the d6 roll within the restrictions given in the rules.

Mike "One thing we learned is that it is not cake-walk to simply march forward against a strong position even for the cream of the British crop" that's the same lesson Billie Howe learnt at Bunker Hill :twisted: the most useful single technique in terms of preventing a costly disaster is to stop just outside effective musket range in order to rally DPs before you charge in. Clearly you pour in your own volley while doing this... the brigadier or CinC cannot take a DP off a moving unit but you are kind of right in that if he succeeds in rallying a retreating or routing unit they immediately take 1 DP off. AxeB you should really wheel by the distance on the dice - but its no big deal if you prefer to do it your way :) EC

AxeB you should really wheel by the distance on the dice - but its no big deal if you prefer to do it your way Smile EC Ooops,I see.Thank you.This is going to make for some interesting situations.I can see the commander turning red in the face as he is screaming "Halt for God sakes,halt!" :lol: P.S. Looks like Commanders really have to decide if they wish to move their troops now that I know they cannot rally off DP's on moving units. :wink:

Hi, I'm glad to see that clarified. I know some people play it so you can rally DP off a moving unit with an officer but that's not the way I do it. As always there is an exception which was a recent amendment. A non- artillery unit on Assault orders led in person by the CinC can have a DP(or 2 if the CinC is excellent) removed even if the unit moved that turn. regards Paul

Paul, yes indeed you are right there is a special 'CinC's charge rule' that has been put out as a rules modification. It allows the CinC to move a picked unit into the assault while removing DPs. Axedude As regards the wheeling and moving into other units a lot of gamers just presume 'they wouldn't march into another unit' but they did. The Brits did it at Bunker Hill and a couple of Maryland regts did it at Brandywine to name but two. EC

As far as the wheeling too far goes, I would think they wouldn't (at least not very often. As I understand it, an NCO or subaltern ran out as a guide to stop on. I could see the potential of crashing into another unit, but I have difficulty with wheeling too far. As far as distances marched and stop points go, I recall being able to say stop at the fence (or some other obvious geographical feature) and units would even if you rolled farther. What about advance and dress on the unit to your right (or left) would that be sufficient to form up a line? It would seem otherwise impossible (not just difficult) to ever form a coherent line again after jumping off. (unless somehow the varying die/dice rolls each turn ended up having the exact same total over the course of 4-5 turns, which can happen but is unlikely) How did they form it in the first place? You might, in this way, have units fall behind the lead (or regulating) battalion, but not run on past it. Phil

Axedude As regards the wheeling and moving into other units a lot of gamers just presume 'they wouldn't march into another unit' but they did. The Brits did it at Bunker Hill and a couple of Maryland regts did it at Brandywine to name but two. EC Oh,I wasn't questioning that angle as I can see that happening.I was thinking units will also move so far they will present their flanks to the enemy if you roll high enough. I'm ok with the rule,as things do get chaotic on the battlefield. :)