Friday, January 16, 2026

Commands & Colors - another finish and another beginning









Having completed the C&C Punic War play through with Mike on Vassal we have just completed the first of our C3i scenarios with a Roman victory at Argigentum (1st Punic War) and now started a new scenario entitled Castrum Album set in 214BC with what seems to amount to an ambush on a Roman force.


End at Agrigentum



And start up for Castrum Album



Blenheim solo completed with Battle Command















Managed to finish off play through of Blenheim game with a crushing Allied victory.

French left never fully recovered from incapacitation of commander and Allies totally routed French right at Blenheim.

Allies ended with 7 of original morale left and additional 5 for capture of town with a further boost of 6 cards from French.

  

Overview of game end






French left at Oberglau still in disarray and disorder 






French right wing either gone or routing






French center still contesting the ground






Right wing a true disaster







French losses the Allies lost only a single unit (they did manage to Rally several routers)


Thursday, January 15, 2026

L'Art De La Guerre - two games















More practice for Stephen with LADG today.

I used Catalan Company against his Ottomans (his likely army to use at Cork) and then Medieval Teutonic against his 100 Years War English

Two excellent games that were hard fought

With the Catalans I done an outflank with a Corps of elite Turkish light horse which did give Ottomans a lot of problems but was spoilt by my General dying !!

My right flank was defeated and so game lost.














Then it was the Teutons and this was a very bloody game with some really weird dice exchanges.

I seem unable to do wring with my right wing command which carried all before it but conversely and strangely the exact opposite occurred on my left with English rolling stellar whilst I rolled pants.

Things were much more even in center although I did kill an enemy General which stymied his command

Ultimately whilst I only lost 7 elements to enemy 9 his shooting hits from English longbows tipped my army to defeat, so near yet so far..............









Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Blenheim solo with Battle Command













Played few a few solo turns testing Blenheim scenario and using Battle Command.

Going well for Allies on left at Blenheim which fell to direct assault (+5 Morale) from English Foot of Lord Cutts command.

However things bit more of a stalemate on Allied Right as Eugenes command up against lots of French under Marshall Marsin who was however unhorsed at one point (putting his numerous units out of command)

In center Allied horse crossed the Nebel but the Maison Du Roi have put one unit to sword thus far.......

Scenario seems to work fine (of course hard to make French as duff as on the day) but will likely stick with FOB3 if playing at club.



French horse routing after clash with Imperial Cuirassier but their guns have slowed Allies in center





French under pressure to wards right wing as Horse flee but Maison Du Roi showing prowess







Blenheim has fallen to English and first French attempt to re-take has been beaten off






French (actually Bavarians) taking losses on right






Overview from Allied left





Cavalry clash in center







French forces of Marsin in firm control of Oberglau






Allies across the Nebel






Initial assault on Blenheim held by unit of Swiss 














Maison Du Roi have charged into Allied Horse formation and routed a unit






Allied center coming under fire from French gun batteries





Marsins command stuck out of command around Oberglau.





Blenheim solo playtest

Set up a Blenheim scenario for play test with my 10mm

Don't have any Bavarians so some French proxies standing in their stead at Blenheim.








Saturday, January 10, 2026

Ulster Wargames Society - Oudenarde with Field Of Battle and other games












Society meeting today (our December meeting delayed to today) and at last minute I decided to put on a Malburian game with my 10mm toys.

I selected scenario based on Battle of Oudenarde 1708 and trusty old FOB3.


French were commanded by Vendomme  (Bryn) and Burgundy (Ivan) whilst Allies led by Marlborough (Ian) and Eugene (my ownweeself) with reserves under Lottum (arriving on Move card 2) and Overkirk (move card 3) to be allocated as they appeared (Overkirk on left flank and Lottum on base line)

Burgundy had option to place up to 6 units on a flanking maneuver (on French left on 3rd Move card) which he choose to accept placing his 4 units of Horse and an ADC into said reserve, his on table troops unable to utilise 1st Move card. 

Allies had 32 Morale and an extra 'Rolling Fire' card (allowing their Platoon firers an extra re-load) with a Superior deck the French had 36 Morale and an extra Melee card with a Poor deck.

The town of Eyne (in Allied rear) I allocated +10 Morale for its capture (in hindsight +5 Morale would have been better). 

Allies set up first with Marlborough on left and Eugene on right then the French deployed massing both Vendomme and Burgundy on their left (I did not restrict them to historical placement) ie facing Eugene trying to avoid the forces under Mr Churchill.

And so it was to the fray and as ever a great game with FOB.

Vendomme led the advance taking some licks from Allied artillery (both sides had 4 Batteries each) but getting quickly (good Move rolls) into Eugenes force, and I lost both my guns tout suite.

Burgundy advanced in march Columns with his foot and also with his Horse when it appeared.

Marlborough was sluggish (poor Move rolls) trying to swing to his right with Overkirk in support whilst Lottums force came on to aid Eugene (boy did I need it as mass of French foot to my front)

Vendommes horse were roughly handled by Overkirks Dutch foot and were pulled back.

Burgundys horse were also slow getting into posistion as they tried to ride from the left flank they had appeared on to their right (simply no room forward with French foot massed).

A tough old fight took place around Eyne with Eugenes Imperialist foot holding on initially but then suddenly folding and Eyne fell giving French a huge Morale boost.

I did try to re-take the town but could not dislodge the new tenants.

Allied losses were mounting a somewhat faster rate than French and Marlboroughs faith in victory waivered but fortune did swing back toward Allies for a short period before their Morale was fully depleted and despite passing an Army Morale check we decided to yield the field to the bloodied but victorious French.

One notable feature of battle was the Guard and Elite units on both sides were uniformly pants with most ending up Routed or Destroyed

The fleecy type mat I used seems to change colour in the following pics but is in reality much greener


Imperial troops under Eugene deploy around Eyne






French foot push forward





Vendommes forces to fore with Burgundys foot in columns behind






Eugenes force deployed up to Dieonbeek stream






Marlborough on Allied left facing a field devoid of the enemy at start












Later in proceedings as French foot massed in front of Eyne with Marlborough trying to come from left, initially held up by Vendommes horse but these were pushed back beyond Groenwald (town on right)









Things getting hot and heavy at Eyne and French have managed to deploy all their artillery as a sort of massed battery






Both sides taking losses and disorders






Marlboroughs and Overkirks forces starting to get to grips but in piecemeal fashion






Meanwhile British and Dutch Guard in center (the 2 units forming the 'L') about to both Rout unhinging the defence of Eyne which thereafter soon fell to French assaults. This is closest to true colour of mat






Burgundys foot and guns begin march forward








Vendommes guns squeeze past Groenwald 











Also at club (usual comment that I have no idea how these progressed)




A 28mm skirmish type game (not sure of protagonist forces) using Pillage rules (by Victrix) run by Leslie
















A 28mm game of Hail Ceasar run by Andy and Jeremy with Romans facing a Barbarian horde














Lastly a large 28mm Sharps practice game we British vs French (?) run by Jeremy D and several others














Appeared that the British were invading from sea and from a superb vessel supplied by Chris