Wednesday, 5 April 2023

Capture the farmhouse wargame

Trying out Perry's Fortitude and Valour rules in a solo game.

 

I finally got some time to have a game and try out the Fortitude and Valour rules which are freely available from the Perry Miniatures website (highly recommended) https://www.perry-miniatures.com/?v=6cc98ba2045f

Given I only have a 6x4' game mat and playing with 28mm figures I viewed the game as a part of a larger campaign where the Austrians were attacking and had to capture the two river crossings (bridge and ford) as well as the farmhouse.

Initial positions

The Austrians concentrated their cavalry with infantry support on the ford while their main infantry column attempted to seize the bridge and then the (Sarissa) farmhouse. I found the fate cared system in the rules ideal for solo gaming as it throws in the element of 'unknown'.  The Austrians commenced with their artillery firing on the Swiss regiment moving to defend the bridge. If I have one minor 'gripe' with the rules is that artillery fire is not covered in any detail. As you can see, the French have two howitzers but I had to make up the rules for howitzer shells. The French artillery responded as soon as the Austrians came into range.


The Austrians advance

The Austrian advance went very well aided by good dice throws and fate card draws

The Austrians capture the bridge under heavy fire     






The French and Swiss rake the Austrians with skirmisher fire.


Meanwhile, Austrian grenadiers attempt to seize the river ford opposed by French infantry and lancers

The battle rages with reinforcements coming .


The battle at the bridge intensifies with a powerful Austrian infantry column

Austrian cavalry support the grenadiers, will the French hold?


The Austrians break through at the bridge




The fighting is intense BUT the dice were not on the French side this day. Under artillery fire from the Austrians, the French broke at the ford enabling the Austrian heavy cavalry to outflank the farmhouse and the day belonged to them.


Bavarian artillery train

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