A Wargamer in Cyprus: The Ridge at Withshaus zum Lamm. Scenario One

Rebels and Patriots, the Olde World.

The War between the Grand Duchy of the Blaū and the Old Elector of the Margravate of Das Weiß has just begun. The 3rd Regiment of the Blues is escorting a Diplomat to Altdorf, and faces a similar sized force of Whites on the Lamm Ridge at Wirthshaus. The Inn atop the Ridge is called "Das Lamm," and it serves an excellent apricot pie. Our objective for today is that pie, and neither side wishes to share.

Due to reports that enemy troops have been seen, the White sends out a battalion of troops on a scouting mission to check the information. They advance along the small road towards the Lamm Ridge, where they encounter an advancing enemy battalion and a skirmish erupts.

SET UP

Both sides are 24-point battalions. Table size 48" x 48". No special terrain rules. A fairly open table is recommended with some hedging around the fields/roads and on the ridge in the Central Zone a small group of buildings representing the Inn. Place an Objective marker on the Inn.

Attacker starts in the North Zone. Defender starts in the South Zone.

I will use blinds to determine solo deployment, marked for unit type.

SPECIAL RULES

Count the number of turns each side controls the Objective Marker by being the only side to have a unit within 3" of it.

ENDING THE SCENARIO

After turn 8, roll a die and add the turns already played. If the result is 14 or more this was the last turn.

OBJECTIVES For both attacker and defender:

+ 3 Honour if your battalion controlled the Objective Marker for the most turns.

+ 1 Honour if your battalion managed tocause at least 33% casualties to the enemy.

+ 2 Honour if your battalion has taken less than 33% casualties

The Blàu

The Grand Duke Sepulchrave Stöhnen, Seventh Groan of The Blau, is an eccentric ruler, whose time is spent drilling his battalion of giant Grenadier Guardsmen. The Blaü Gardé have been "collected" by the Duke, who has quite literally kidnapped these tall fellows from across Europe.

Major Otto von Smallhausen commands "die Großer Gardé" although unlike his huge Grenadiers he is not very tall, (4 ft 4ins according to court gossip) and stands on a drum to drill them. The giants call him "Der Kleiner Korporal." The Gardé often send out a company to serve on the borders, usually under their tiny commander.

The main force of The Grand Duchy is under the command of the Baron Pumphosen, a immense presence of military obesity. The hugely fat Baron spends little time campaigning, having won glory years ago with his famous victories over the Margrave Flatulenz of Das Röt. Both of his historic wins have been called into question in certain Red quarters, but the Blue response has been insouciant. The word "indolent" aptly describes the Baron and most Officers of the Blau Duchy.

The Baron's eldest son, Oberst Joachim von Pumphosen, commands a mixed force of the Duchy's regulars at the border, but also relies on its Militia. The Oberst uses a walking cane following an accident involving a contraption being demonstrated by the inventor Caratacus Potts at the court in Altberg. He rides a dappled grey mare called "Ingrid," after the Blau Countess.

Blue Officers

His Military Obesity the Fat Baron Pumphosen
Oberst Joachim von Pumphosen (Der Junger Pumper)
Hauptmann Frederick Schlag
Grenadier-Major Gerd von Smallhausen
Jägermeister Hans Hämorrhoiden
Titt-Meister Cosmo Kleinesstück...
Korporal Gerd Üppig.

Characters
Physic Dr Bogenbroom, Royal Physician.
Minister Alexei Salé, Holy man and diplomat.
Wagonmaster-General Franz Pisst

Blue Battalion Force

Oberst Joachim von Pumphosen

1 x Shock, Grenadiers, Large unit, Aggressive. @8

3 x Line Infantry, Musketeers, @4

1 x Dragoon Skirmishers, @4

The White

The Pfaltz of Das Weiß has only recently become hostile to the Blue. Prinz Spôoner sees an opportunity to antagonise the Groan of the Blaū and gain the support of the Elector of the Red by causing friction along the borders. One of the Prinz's sons serves as Battalion Major in the force that has been sent to the border, thus indicating the intent of the Wieß.

Oberst von Maläprop, infamous for his mistaken use of similar sounding birds, and appointed by the Grand Groan of the Blaū to command the "Turd" Regiment. The colonel has 10 honour and the trait "Stonewall" for his huge voice that adds +2 to morale reels.

Major Gerd Spôoner, Royalty! The Pransome Hince of the Wieß. Gerd has a Bravery trait allowing a nearby unit a reroll of morale dice. He has 10 honour points and lixes his metters.

White Battalion Force

Colonel Malaprop

Major Spôoner

3 Line Infantry @ 4 points each

1 Shock Infantry @ 6 points (Grenadiers)

1 Skirmishers that are Sharpshooters @ 6 points (Jaegers)

Optionally:

1 Light Artillery @ 4 points

The battlefield

The Inn.

The White look up at the Lamm Ridge. They can smell the Apricot Pie.

The Game

The Blinds for the Blues. I used d6 dice for my 6 units and rolled for order of activation. At this stage I don`t know what's on each blind.

The Whites come on in a central main body, Lights and Grenadiers to the right and the battalion gun on the left.

With the Whites committed I deploy the Blues according to random dice allocation. The Grenadiers and skirmishing Dragoons are central, with a strong force to the left, including a 9pdr gun and a single line company on the right..

The dragoons abandon their horse holders and rush to get to the Inn. An Apricot Pie is on the menu.

Hauptmann Frederich Schlagg leads his company to the left of the Inn. Mine Host is observed drinking the Octoberfest brew.

The White form their lines for the assault up the ridge

The Blue's Dragoons get into the Inn. Apricot pies all round.

Hauptmann Schlagg rolls a double six for activation. I dice again and its a 4. The Hauptmann's stern demeanour has been recognised in Court and its a plus one to his honour.

The view down the ridge.

The firing starts. Under 12" close range 5 and 6 are hits, and this is first fire, so 4s would also have hit. Schlagg loses two men to the White's attack.

The Blue Grenadiers also lose two men as White prepares its ground for the attack.

A puff of smoke behind means the unit has already activated. To the front is the marker for having fired, and also indicates that the unit has activated.

And the White take casualties all along the line.

Some counter battery fire between the light battalion gun and the Blue's 9pdr.

And its the Blues who get the worst of it with a permanent disorder marker for being reduced to half. Not a good start.

It's the second turn that the Blues have controlled the objective/.

Schlagg rolls another double 6. He gains a second activation and elects to fire twice.

The Grenadiers are swept back by the fire, three casualties.

And another one. The White grenadiers fail their morale and reel back disordered.

Still over half strength so no permanent disorder marker.

Von Smallhausen activates with a roll of 10. He orders a charge knowing that 10 inches will see him into the white Company opposite.

Five casualties as the grenadiers gain +1 for aggressive and +1 for first attack. Presumably one of them carries von Smallhausen forward. The Whites kill two grenadiers.

The Grenadiers follow up the retreating Whites. Another four casualties, but they lose another man.

The White Company have two markers and are broken.

The far left White Company has a disastrous morale roll after losing a casualty. Broken

And the Blue artillery hits back killing two of the battalion gun crew.

White use their Light Infantry to assault the Inn. The troops least likely to succeed. The double six with a one, rallies any White unit, and the far left Company straighten themselves out at the example of the Lights.