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| Rebs on the left, Union on the right - the road junction in the centre of the table is the objective. |
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| The Union start the game with three brigades and two batteries deployed. |
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| The Rebs have the same. |
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| We wasted no time getting stuck in with both sides advancing rapidly. |
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| My Zouaves got a run out in this game. |
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| A clash in the woods which became a bit of a see-saw fight. We discovered that while brigades remain 'fresh' nothing too dramatic tends to happen. |
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| Buford's cavalry make it onto the table for their first ever fight. The house is a rather nice 3D print from the Battle Honours range. |
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| Confederate reinforcements start to arrive. |
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| The action in full flow with brigades attacking, being pushed back and attacking again. |
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| Ashby's Reb cavalry appear and, sneakily avoiding my own cavalry, ride and dismount on the flank of one of my infantry brigades helping to push them back. |
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| They then mount up and charge my dismounted troopers at the crossroads with a 'Swept from the field' result! |
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| Fortunately I have infantry reserves arriving. |
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| The action is now general along the whole table. At this point Goya had to leave so I carried on solo for another three turns. |
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| I was hampered by some poor die rolls on the 'Maneuver' table that slowed the deployment of my reserves. |
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| The Confederates were now firmly in control of the crossroads. |
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| With artillery up in the front line... |
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| Their position looked unassailable. |
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| That's it - Chapman's brigade skedaddles and it's game over! |
Now we have more or less mastered the rules I hope to play a few more of these.
No doubt you've said many times before but the figures are AB I'm guessing? Once you've gripped the rules I think a campaign is called for as ACW 'throw-down' games do seem to rather well balanced.
ReplyDeleteNot sure about a campaign Rob but perhaps one of the small battles from the scenario books.
DeleteIan, if you opt to play the 2nd day of Gettysburg scenario in the rule book, give Longstreet an extra hour (or two) to get the job done, otherwise with formation change costs and difficult terrain, he has no chance. Great looking game, btw! I've got to put ACW on the front burner for a game soon....
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info Bob although why I’d want to give Longstreet more time I can’t think!
DeleteBlimey, 30 years wait...must have been a great feeling to finally get them all on this impressive table. Glad to see you've got some Zouaves....they make a colourful addition. Are they rated differently from their comrades?
ReplyDeleteThanks Simon. There are no troop ratings as such in version 1 of Fire & Fury but this is represented by the varying abilities of units to take punishment and stay in the fight. Zouaves were not necessarily elite troops in the Civil War but they do look pretty!
DeleteGreat figures, great battlefield ! I have no idea how Fire&Fury rules play - can you give an impression with a few key ideas ?!
ReplyDeleteWe did look at the rules a few years ago (do you still have a copy?) but thought they looked too complicated. In fact they are quite easy once you get to grips. They are brigade level and have an alternate move system. Everything uses a D10 including movement which makes for some unpredictable outcomes. Units don't break and run very often but are pushed back then rally and come again which is perhaps quite realistic. Troops degrade from 'Fresh' to 'Worn' to 'Spent' as the game progresses (clearly some influence from the old SPI games) and once 'Spent' become very brittle. Quite fun and fast and of course looks good with the 15mm figures and terrain!
DeleteI don't have a copy. I know they are not really comparable concepts but how do you rate them against our 5mm rules, for realism and playability ?
DeleteOur own rules are great for large scale battles whereas 15mm has a much better aesthetic appeal. Both are fun and quick paced. The F&F regimental rules may be worth looking at as the problem with brigade level in this scale is the ranges look too short. However it has taken a lot of effort to get to grips with these so I may just stop at that!
DeleteA magnificent collection - well done!
ReplyDeleteThanks Matt, better late than never...
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