Black Powder III: Sunday 11th of December

[ashmie]

Lady Butler's iconic image of the charge of the Scots and Greys 2nd Dragoons as part of the Union Brigade, at the battle of Waterloo 18th June 1815.

Wellington said at the time "Our officers of cavalry have acquired a trick of galloping at everything. They never consider the situation, never think of maneuvering before and enemy, and never keep back or provide a reserve".

Commanded by Sir William Ponsonby, the Union Brigade consisted of English (The Royals), Scottish, (Scots Greys) and the Irish (Inniskilling) regoments of heavy dragoons.

It was early afternoon on Sunday 18th June 1815 that the Union Brigade was ordered to charge from behind a ridge, in support of hard pressed British and Hanoverian troops who were under the command of Sir Thomas Picton.

[Mike the Pike]

It's such a great, evocative painting, isn't it? I just watched the 'Sharpe' version with 20 guys, in reasonable replica uniforms, on too small, mixed colour horses:-).
Now you just need a puzzle of the counter charge by the French Lancers which stabilized the French reverse (for a while) and the death of Ponsonby.

[job]

"Scotland Forever!"

Napoleon: Those men on grey horses are terrifying.
Marshal Soult: They are the noblest cavalry in Europe; and the worst led.
Napoleon: That may be; that may be, but we will match them with our lancers.

[job]

French Order of Battle

French provisional XV Corps of the Grand Army
General of Division Hercule Lafayette (9)

53rd Division - GdD Jean-Marie Valhubert
1st Brigade - GdB Joseph O'Brien (8)
7th Legere (Skirmishers, Sharpshooters)
15th Ligne
33rd Ligne
48th Ligne
1st Suisse (Reliable, Elite 5+)

2nd Brigade - GdB Roberto Malchance (8)
9th Legere
--1st Battalion
--2nd Battalion (Skirmishers, Sharpshooters)
111th Ligne
--1st Battalion
--2nd Battalion
Joseph Napoleon regiment

3rd (Polish) Brigade - GdB Julian Sierawski (8)
1st (Polish) Regiment (Large)
16th (Polish) Regiment (Large)
Vistule Legion (Large, Tough Fighters, Elite 5+)

Divisional artillery
Foot battery (6lber)
Foot battery (6lber)
Foot battery (6lber)

10th Cavalry Division - GdD Etienne Gerard (8)
Light Calvary Brigade - GdB Gabriel Feraud
4th Hussards (Marauders)
7th Hussards (Marauders)
7th Cheavu-Legere (Reliable, Marauders, Lancers)

Heavy Cavalry Brigade - GdB Armand d'Hubert
1st Cuirassiers (Reliable, Heavy Calvary d3)

Divisional Artillery
Horse battery (6lber) (Marauders)

Corps Attachments
Guards Brigade -Col. Jean-Baptist Coignet (8)
Fusiliers-Grenadiers (Reliable, Elite 4+)
Fusiliers-Chasseurs (Reliable, Elite 4+)
Gendarme d'elite de la Garde Imperiale (Small, Reliable, Heavy D3)

Corps Artillery Reserve - GdB Louis Martel (8)
Foot battery (12lber)
Foot battery (6lber)
Foot battery (Howitzers)

Corps Rollcall
15 infantry battalions (2 Guard, 2 skirmishers, 3 large), 7 batteries (1 horse battery) with 42 cannon, and 5 regiments of horse (1 heavy, 1 Guard-small), an est. complement of 9600 infantry, 1900 horse and 700 artillerists.

Notes: On the table, only leaders marked with a leadership value (X) will be represented. The other names are just for the fun of making a fictitious Order of Battle. Divisional artillery will also be attached out to the brigades on the table, however the Corps artillery will be grouped together.

[job]

Whenever you guys have time, I'd like to ask you to write your own Orders of Battle. A simple order of battle is just fine. Basically it would be best to know how many units will be on the board. Depending on the number of units, I'd like to balance the sides and adjust the scenario.

As for what guidelines. I'd like every player to have one overall commander (a Corps or Divisional commander) who will be Leadership (9). Each brigade can have one commander with leadership (8). There will be no special skills or characteristics. I think simple is better for the game.

Of course, the game is not for another 4 months, so please take your time and if you want you can always add or subtract as we get closer to the date.

Cheers!

[komura]

@Job
Thank you for updating this thread. I'll post my Austrian rooster in this weekend.

[job]

@ Komura: I look forward to reading and looking at your Order of Battle.


Mission
* Parameters of the mission can still be discussed and changed if players desire.

Meeting engagement: Two field armies clash on a wintery mid-afternoon.

Game Length: 10 Turns

Victory Conditions: Either Break all enemy brigades* or Hold all objectives at the beginning of your turn or Hold the majority of objectives at the end of Turn 10 or when time expires.
* I propose Grand Batteries won't be considered as a brigade for VC purposes.

Coalitions/Allies: TBA

Description: Allied forces have engaged along the great plains of central Europe. To break the stalemate, they attempt flanking movements against the opposing forces. The two field armies feeling blindly into open flanks coincidentally march down the same highway. As the opposing light cavalry screens skirmish, the situation quickly escalates as the infantry arrive and deploy.

Scenario Rules:
* The army break rules from BP will be ignored. However, brigades will break at 50% as in the BP rulebook.
* Each player's units may either be grouped under a single overall (divisional/corps) commander or may be grouped under another player's overall commander. All units under one overall commander must be deployed together and not overlap with another commander's forces.
* Units will deploy 12" from the board edge.
* All Guard units and Heavy Calvary (HC+D3 units; not HC+1 units) units must begin the game in reserve (to represent their common use as "reserves"). They may ordered on to the field beginning Turn 1 with a brigade command.
* Before the game begins, all cavalry units with the "Marauder" rule may be given a free order and move. Roll as with other commands. It will be in Turn order. No charge commands or shooting can be conducted. Units can not come closer than 12" to opposing units.
* On Turn 9, twilight will settle. All shooting will get a -1 modifier. All command orders will get a -1 modifier to ratings.
* On Turn 10, dusk will settle. All shooting will get -2 modifier. All command orders will get a -2 modifier to ratings.

Objectives:
Before the game begins, 2-3 pieces of terrain (bridges, forests, a house/village, hill, crossroads) which are clearly defined and fairly centrally located will be chosen as objectives for the armies to capture and control. Holding the objective is determined by having your unit(s) within the defined area and no enemy units within the space or locked in combat with units on the objective.

Winning the scenario can be determined by control of the objectives or by breaking of all enemy brigades.

Rules used:
Main Black Powder rulebook with following amendments:
1. Army break rule is ignored.
2. Skirmishers in skirmish formation and in one charge-move of a charging cavalry unit, can't form a square. (Basically, just to avoid blatant use of skirmish rules in unrealistic situations.)
3. Square rules from AT2 will be used. (Basically, line and skirmish formations have a greater chance of forming a disordered square.)
4. The rules for attack columns will be used from AT1.
5. All factions have access to deep formation cavalry rules from AT2.

[Mike the Pike]

Here is what I can bring along....

Army Commander

Brigade Commander 1
1x Small Unit of Jaegers (skirmishers, sharpshooters)
4x Medium Units of Line Infantry (Steady)
1x Foot Artillery battery

Brigade Commander 2
1x Small Unit of Jaegers (skirmishers, sharpshooters)
2x Grenadier Units (Steady, Elite 6+)
2x Guard Grenadier Units (Steady, Elite 4+)
1x Foot Artillery Battery

Brigade Commander 3
2x Small Units of Cossacks (Lt.Cavalry, Lances, Marauders)
2x Light Cavalry Units (Marauders)
1x battery of Horse Artillery

Brigade Commander 4
2x Cuirassier Units (Reliable, Hvy.CavD3)

Brigade Commander 5
4x Foot Artillery Batteries
1x Howitzer Battery

That's about it I think.

[job]

Looks great! I see you've been assembling characterful additions to your Russians. I'll look forward to seeing some pics of them in your blog.

[komura]

My Austrian will be there as following composition.

Army commander

Brigade commander 1
Medium infantry battalion X 3
Foot artillary X 1

Brigade commander 2
Medium infantry battalion X 3
Foot artillary X 1

Brigade commander 3
Medium infantry battalion X 4
Foot artillary X 1

Brigade commander 4
Medium Grenaider battalion X 3
Foot artillary X 1

Brigade commander 5
Medium Grenaider X 2
Foot artillary X 1

No cavalry pieces.