" Next to a battle lost, the greatest
misery is a battle gained."
~ Duke of Wellington
I am Presented With an Award!
The third battle of Pacificon 2013 started with yours truly
getting a surprise award. a ducal proclamation b y General Lee Adequate and Major
General Modern( aka
Steve Bean Games). I was awarded with a bowling ball (to hold
for Geneva convention reasons) and a unit of very well painted Weebles- which
sadly I don't have a good picture of currently.
The entire affair was done with the correct amount of pomp and put a
huge smile on my face!
With my new rank
of "Field Marshal of Wooden Wars" pinned to my ego and the awards
ceremony complete, the combatants were eager to win their own awards.
My apologies if this post seems a bit verbose with images, but there were so many that told a good story to be left out.
La Haye Bloque- or
the Battle of Columns
The Battle commenced with some preliminary scouting of the
battlefield, testing the strength of the objective position, The farmhouse of La Haye Bloque. After
beginning salvos, both armies formed
into columns and raced for the farm house with grenadier battalions
spearheading the operation. The
artillery crews were beaming with so many wonderful targets, but to the
amazement of many spectators, and the relief of the infantry officers, were not
as effective as in previous battles.
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| Blue army commanders |
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| Red army commanders |
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| Miraculously, the statue stayed up the entire battle! |
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| Infantry march to the objective while cavalry work the flanks. |
The building changed hands at least three times during the
action, in brisk hand to hand fighting.
Of particular mention was Captain Shannon, who managed to maneuver her
infantry completely around the building using it for cover, then entering
behind the enemy, who, realizing the precarious situation, high tailed it out
of there!
Hot cavalry on Cavalry Action- the Sons of Mars Revisited!
Both flanks saw heated cavalry battles, and each turn
activation markers were turned over with excitement or dread to see who
would
be able to go first.
Red army's cavalry were dubbed the "sons
of Mars" as charge after charge went home into the blue army's squadrons,
cutting them down.
on the right flank
the red army
gained the activation and
charged, only to find themselves a mere inch shy of victory. Despite great team
work efforts of the infantry and artillery to support them, ( they did take
down the officer of the blue army hussars)
the Blue army counter charged into the blown horses and took them
down.
It was pretty epic!
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Squares are formed as enemy cavalry get within charge range.
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Breaking a Square!
With two Hussar enemy hussar squadrons eying the flag, Blue armies commander ordered a square to be
formed around it. Just in time too, as
the next activation had first one squad charge the square only to bounce and be
taken down, but not without doing some casualties- then another successive charge by the elite
Hussars (the 5th, my personal unit) which
after a hard fought melee, broke the square and captured the flag, ending the
battle!
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| Blue army forms square just before the first hussar unit hits, bouncing them |
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| Second charge into a weakened square- melee ensues |
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| The 5th Hussars are victorious capturing the flag, and the medal! |
After action Reports
I've now had the pleasure of running over 20 Wooden Wars
battles at conventions over the last couple of years, and I think this was
probably the most action packed suspenseful and enjoyable one yet. As players
get more familiar with the game, and tactics (8-15 year old officers discussing
flanking, the merits and perils of column march or when to form square) the
battles start running themselves- which leaves me time for more oration of the
battle.
As this year's campaign season
comes to a close, I'm one happy hussar.
Cheers, and thanks for a great year!
