AAR ECW 7th November

Previous game

Tony and I played this back on November 7^th, we lined up blindly, ie, Tony put his down, and I’d already decided where mine were going and put them down afterwards. The original disposition was all my cavalry facing off against three of Tony’s whilst his other two units had no cavalry threat instead I had place two units of commanded shotte there. In the centre there are three Pike units with supporting shotte.

Our commands were poor, I moved some Pike forwards my other Pike units and command shotte declined the offer to move.

Then moved half my cavalry to their right of the woods to threaten his commanded shotte, the other half ignored the command to go on the other side and present a dilemma.

 Tony moved some Pike forwards and moved his cavalry up to protect the threatened unit. The other pike and cavalry units were still discussing the weather and didn’t move. Unlike my ineffective shooting Tony’s had disordered some of my shotte so they’d not be charging next turn.

 The image is at the end of turn one.

In turn two I was able to charge my gallopers at Tony’s Cavalry I aggressively charged my Pike into Tony’s. The other half watched ignoring orders to go around the woods.

I also moved the Pike and commanded Shotte to fill the gap and prepare for the cavalry charge. One unit being sent forwards to fire at and hopefully disorder his cavalry, which it did.

My cavalry retired from the combat having pushed back Tony’s and disordered one. The pike combat caused wounds, but all sides stood steady.

 In Tony’s turn he moved the cavalry back, disordered unit stayed the other flank refused to move again. My isolated and disordered shotte was shot to pieces and destroyed whilst there was more pushing and shoving involving the pike units.

 Image at the end of turn two.

In turn three, my commands were ignored. Tony managed to do worse, his cavalry command blundered sending them off table. Lots of ineffective shooting and whilst one Pike combat stayed constant, the other fell back and Tony followed up.

 Image at the end of turn three

In turn four my commanded shotte has moved up towards Tony’s cavalry and are hammering them they are disordered and unable to move in their turn. My cavalry charges his dragoons which successfully evade, repositioning in his turn to attack my flank when the  his cavalry return as they do that turn. His Shotte destroy one of my cavalry units and in the centre his Pike is successful destroying both of mine and lining up again.

 Image at end of turn four

Hopeful that my cavalry might turn the battle in my favour we play a fifth round, instead it’s even but tips me towards losing the division. With the central division already lost it’s time for me to admit defeat, but Tony still has his turn.

 Image end of my turn five

Tony finally gets his cuirassiers to charge the commanded shotte holding them to a draw but Tony shoots my cavalry unit forcing it to flee and it really is the end.

 Tony’s win

 Final Picture

AAR 30th October 2024

 A right Royal mess 30th October.

Last game

Unfortunately we both forgot to take photos of Wednesday's game but here is the final shot at the end of my turn 4 or 5. I got to start but my troops weren't ready failing most command rolls or staggering forwards one pace. My left wing of cavalry is only hanging by a thread, just one more unit and its a broken division. The other wing is badly shaken, unable to attack or counter attack it will probably crumple on contact. The left half of my centre advanced to within 9" so was exchanging damaging fire with the opposition, but then wouldn't be moved further forward whilst the right half failed sequential orders to move. Then when it did, it paused before moving to within 1cm when commanded to charge. Tony took advantage charging with his pike, his muskets flanking my pike block, which was shaken after that assault. It was time to call for a tactical retreat before his cavalry trampled my force. A resounding win. An element of interest was the combat between our Dragoons, mine had moved towards the woods, Tony did what I had wanted to do, move, dismount move to the edge and then fire at my dragoons. I failed the save. Then in my turn I dismounted and charged under command not initiative. After two rounds of combat I was shaken and pushed back. In my next turn they re-mounted and moved away. The power of Parliament's muskets & cannon also influenced the game disordering units that then had to stay in position to be shot at and disordered again. For the record, my pink dice have received a written warning.

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