Fast Play Grande Armee: Basement Generals on Tour

We braved the bitter cold to inaugurate the new game of room of fellow Basement General Scott. He provided the game table and the game!

Once more the 6mm might of the French forces were brought to bear on the poor ol' Austrians.
I believe it's a poor general that blames his dice for defeat, but I blame my dice for the defeat. The Austrians just got hammered. First turn my boys marched solidly forward while their brethren on the right flank stood firm. Second turn i rolled a "Withdrawal" while the right advanced.
This set the tone for the game.

It was still fun. And a nice break not to have to host.

Fast Plat Grande Armee: French vs Austrians

Not much to say here that I haven't already said about FPGA. Always provides a great game, and Scott's 6mm armies are fantastic. I might need to paint up some Russians...

 The French got some lousy Command Dice, and first through eighth blodd went to the Austrians. It was beginning to look like a lop-sided Austrian victory until the French left flank started tearing up the competition.

However, it turned out to be too little, too late. The French failed a Army Break test and fled the field. I have yet to be on the winning side of this game, but it hasn't reduced my liking it.

Fast Play Grande Armee

I've posted my love for this great fast play version of Sam Mustafa's Grande Armee., so I won't go into game mechanics. This was a semi-historical re-fight of the action happening at the center at Aspern-Essling. Teh teraain was rolling hills and sporatic light woods.
The French won the first initiative but the center could not get a move on and take the central hills. Meanwhile the flanks got a pounding.

 The road between the two towns.

 Austrians take the hill.

For once, in all the games we've played, the Austrians put up a good fight.
Four turns in, (turns can last 1-4 pulses, which things exciting) both sides were beat all to hell. The Austrians had it slightly worse, and failed their army morale. But, then so did the French. Both sides skulked away.
A truly great battle.
Editor's note: I neglected to mention the valiant effort of the now named "Lucky 13th" or "Lost Brigade". They became separated from the rest of the line. This is terrible in these rules. Attackers get to reroll hits, etc. They managed to hold the a large chunk of the Austrian right wing before being finally crushed in a cavalry charge.

6mm Fast Play Grande Armee

We hadn't dug out this old favorite for awhile. Some of the group actually had never played Fast Play Grande Armee, so this was their chanve. Of, course, those particular few didn't show.
I've been battlin' the Two Week Crud so sat this one out, instead helping remember rules we alwasy forget.

The scenario was an Austrian defense in depth. The French were going to have to capture or at least push the Austrians out, of the towns and secure the bridges beyond. The French had a 1.5-to-1 advantage.

The Austrians decided to push as far as they were allowed to deploy forward, taking the hills. As you might have guessed, it was a hard slog to push them off. It wasn't helped by the French left, made of the entire cavalry force. They wouldn't budge. When they finally got moving, they swept everything aside and made a huge wheel around the Austrian right, but not before time ran out.

The Austrians managed to do the same on their left. A defensive strategy quickly went offensive as they began to push back their French opponents.

As usual, a great game with plausible outcomes and a feel for the period. I like that there is built into the rules, a great follow up, post game pursuit mechanism. It pays not to commit all your cav. You can turn a minor victory into a crushing one as your victorious horse ride down the defeated foe. Great for campaign. Wish Sam would publish these by themselves instead as a an add on for Grande Armee.
The great 6mm Baccuss minis painted by Mr. Scott.

Fast Play Grande Armee

Here come the French Horse

Another Thursday, another night I didn't have to run a game. This time it was an old favorite, Essjam's 6mm Fast Play Grande Armee (FPGA).
The French had just crossed the Danube, but poor scouting found them smacking into a large Austrian force. They were bottled up, and needed to break out. We only had 3 players, which is unusual for us, so there would be a lot of lead for each of us to push around.

The field with the French crammed in the far corner.

Austrian Horse

The French attempt a breakout

The Austrians march boldly to their doom

With the sun going down, the French had managed to batter the Austrians pretty soundly, but it didn't look like they would get their troops off the table. It was a tough nut for the French to crack but they had a go anyway. As always, FPGA made for a great game. Thanks to Scott for the toys, and Greg for staying out of the trees and putting up a good fight.

6mm Grande Armee

After all the skirmishes lately, I thought we needed some big battle action. Time to bring out the 6mm Nappies,

The Austrians have gotten pretty hammered (not in a good way) the last dozen times they've played, so with some more troops fielded, we thought they'd have a fighting chance. That said, as the Austrian commander, I watched my left crumble almost from the get-go. But luckily, the right held and the wargame dosey-do began.

The town in the center changed hands a couple of times, finally held by the Austrians. As night fell we still had it, giving us a somewhat Phyrric victory. 

Oh well, the figs looked nice.
Update: I was asked how to do the town. Print this 4 times, mount to foamcore and glue together. If you're really good, notch out the corners of two so you don't see the foam.