A first look at Rebels and Patriots

In conversation with the Club President recently the thorny question of "just what does an element base represent" was raised.  After some deliberation I agreed that it represents just that, an element, a game piece.  We did however identify games where a figure represents an individual, and of late it seems to me that my gaming has been following this route.  Chain of Command, Sharpe practice and supremely En Garde, all have a scale of 1:1.

On returning to Cyprus this conversation resonated with me and lead me to dig out the French Indian War figures last used with the venerable Featherstone Close Action skirmish rules.  I had only ever painted up a few of these Pendraken figures, although they are works of art in 10mm.

Since we had also discussed the new Rebels and Patriots rules I decided that £7.50 on Kindle was quite reasonable, so a mini project using these rules with my French Indian War figures is my new focus...  short term... honest.

First off then here are some notes made on getting the Rebels and Patriots rules to match up to my preconceptions.  Rebels and Patriots follows a single Company and its Officer.  In the French Indian War this is reasonable, and this level of skirmish is quite common.  For 24 points a player can just about field the right numbers.   The composition of course is something else.  Rather than being a single humongous  company various "group" types can be selected. 

After a bit of thought I decided to go with it.  Using 10mm figures I have two figures on each of my line bases so it "looks" like I am representing 24 men in a group rather than 12.  The average company size during the French Indian War has been estimated to be 47 men.  Clearly if I want 1:1 I am somewhat above the level of a single company here, so the use of additional platoons from other companies within the battalion seems reasonable.

My British company for example has a group of Grenadiers and a group of Light Infantry as well as three Line groups.  In terms of figures that is 102 men.

My French have two line groups, a grenadier group and a light group, with the addition of a group of native Americans and one of French Woodsmen.  That is a Company of 54 men and 24 Auxiliaries. 


For Officers and NCOs, to mark the central base of a group I used a larger base.  Here for instance are the British Grenadiers of the 20th Foot.
   
Officers begin as 2nd Lieutenants.  They progress to Major and are then promoted out of the game.  Given losses to the enemy and to illness, leave and the vagaries of fate it's just about possible that a lowly 2nd Lieutenant would be all that was available to command the Company.  A Captain, two Lieutenants and a few Ensigns should be present, but perhaps it is our man that is the decisive figure noticed by the dice of fate...

I decided that to test the rules I would run through a few scenarios before committing to them, or not...  After all this is also Sharp Practice territory, so they have a lot to prove.

Scenario One
First Clash at Lament Ridge

French troops have been reported in the area of Lament Ridge.  An Company of the 20th Foot has been sent out with 2nd Lieutenant Best-Knobwynde to investigate.  Advancing towards the Ridge the Officer discovers that the French are indeed here intent on burning down Billy Bob's log cabin (in the interests of hygiene) and a skirmish ensues.

2nd Lieutenant Best-Knobwyde, 20th Foot, is "unlucky" he has a minus one on all Officer tests.
3 Line Infantry @ 4 points each
1 Shock Infantry @ 6 points (Grenadiers)
1 Light Infantry @ 6 points

The French Sous Lieutenant GrosBoules is "Brave," and can re-roll one test.
2 Line Infantry @ 4 points each
1 Large unit Aggressive Natives @ 6 points each (Huron tribe)
1 Light Gun @4 points
1 Light Infantry @ 6 points

The Objective marker for this game is Billy Bob`s cabin.  Just don't go inside!

Lead by their "Shock" group the British come on table

on lament ridge the French stand waiting.  I used the High Porte pose for the French and it pays off in terms of look..

The Native American group get forward into the dense woods.

In Close order the Grenadiers advance.

The British lights, including a group of rangers, scout towards the cabin.  Is that smell Billy Bob?

The Grenadiers take casualties.

Ensign Fitch-Fooukes chooses This moment to roll snake eyes.  He then decides to retreat...

The Grenadiers try to get in with the bayonet...

In the centre the British face the french battalion gun and are canistered away.

The mighty Grenadiers approach half strength

Snake eyes.  The British light Infantry under Ensign Cecil Soditt fire on their own side, killing two of the rangers.  I say!!!

The Grenadiers rout as they fail to get anywhere near.  That big group of native Americans and support from the French group beside it was far too much for naked steel and valour.

The 20th Foote retreat off table.  What will Colonel Whytemoore say!  Poor Lieutenant Best-Knobwynde is left to the mercy of the Abanaki natives and loses his life as well as his hair.

My "Imaginations" New World ideas
Set in an alternate version of history where the Dutch hold onto New York and geography is just a little more hazy...

New Holland Dutch
Louisiana French
Quebec French
Florida Spanish,
New Spain
New Virginia English
New Caledonia Scottish
The Algonquin Nations
The Huron Tribes
The Iroquois Confederacy

Naval forces at ports
       
My Army Lists

The British Army
3 Line Infantry @ 4 points each
1 Shock Infantry @ 6 points (Grenadiers or Highlanders)
1 Light Infantry @ 6 points

The British Colonial Militia
4 Green Line Infantry @ 3 points each
3 Skirmishers that are Good Shooters @ 4 points each (Mountain men)

British Rangers
2 Small units Aggressive Veteran Light Infantry @ 8 points each (Rangers)
2 Veteran Skirmishers @ 4 points each (Mohawk tribe)

The Regular French Army
2 Line Infantry @ 4 points each
1 Large unit Aggressive Natives @ 6 points each (Huron tribe
1 Light Gun @4 points
1 Light Infantry @ 6 points

French Wilderness Columns
2 Light Infantry @ 6 points each (Compagnies Franches de la Marine)
1 Skirmishers that are Sharpshooters @ 6 points (Coureur des Bois)
1 Large unit Aggressive Natives @ 6 points (Huron tribe)

Native War Party – fighting for the French
1 Skirmishers that are Sharpshooters @ 6 points (Coureur des Bois)
3 Large unit Aggressive Natives @ 6 points each (Huron tribe)