Baccus 6mm English Civil War Scenario

A scenario based game for Impetus Baroque using Rob (B) Baccus 6mm English Civil War figures.

The basis of the game was a simple objective based scenario.  A force of late war Royalists attempting to occupy two enclosed fields which were being held by the New Model Army.

It involved 4 players;  myself and  Bob handling Parliament with Mick and Rob (B) being for the King.

The two armies were has one would expect; mostly foot with the New Model having the majority of better quality infantry.  These supported by Galloping Cavalry on the side of the royalist and Trotting Cavalry for Parliament.  In Impetus Baroque, the Galloping Cavalry reflect Cavalry of the Swedish School, charging En-Haye in to contact with sword and pistols used as melee weapons.   The Trotters are of the German School, with deeper formations, attacking at the trot and firing on the enemy before contact.  The Gallopers have a better Melee Value but the Trotters are able to discharge their pistols before contact getting a two dice roll to try and break up the enemies charge.

Deployment was as standard with infantry in large blocks in the centre with cavalry on the wings. The Parliamentarians had  3 units of foot on the table and two units of Cavalry on table with a further two to come on after the 2^nd turn on a successful reserve roll. Two of the Parliamentarian foot units occupied the enclosures which were the Royalist objectives.

Rob (B)’s figures were ideally suited to this game.  I don’t have many 6mm figures myself as I don’t enjoy painting them.  However there is no doubt that when presented en mass on good bases they look excellent on the table top.  Rob(B) has based his on large bases with a 12cm front, a large block of pike in the centre and musketeers on the wings.  This allows room for a good level of detail on the terrain with casualties, officers and even trees built on to the bases to turn each in to a mini diorama. 

All the terrain was by Baccus with the game board being one of Games Workshops own.

I had agreed with Bob that he would hold on with what he had and I would get the benefits of the reserves (when they arrived)  to try and win the game with a counter attack on the right.

I certainly felt confident at the beginning as I thought Rob (B) had got the forces a little two even for an attack –v- defense game and that the Royalist’s would simply not have the strength in numbers to push through the disciplined New Model. How wrong I was!

Things started as one would expect with a short artillery bombardment with no success on either side.  The Royalist Cavalry then advanced on the wings.  Things moved quite quickly as there was not a lot of movement on the part of Parliament as they already occupied the objectives.

On the New Model’s left I had an advantage in Cavalry numbers but they were not of as good  quality as the Royalist, still I was sure I could clear the enemy horse and then be free to threaten Rob (B)’s flank as he advanced on the objectives.  Rob (B) would then have to make a decision whether to move his greater number of foot all onto the objective and leave his flank exposed or peel off some of this infantry to pin my Cavalry.

I moved by cavalry forward in two lines, the plan was to sacrifice the first but in doing so weaken the enemy enough so that the 2^nd line would be able to finish them off.  I was boosted by the arrival of additional units following our successful reserve roll on the Turn 3.

The plan worked well and as anticipated I lost my first unit but my second line disposed of the enemy cavalry.  The only draw back was that the melee had pushed my cavalry way out of position and it would take them a number of turns to maneuver into a position that was threatening to the enemy foot.

Bob had been doing his part, the had traded blows with the cavalry but though initially getting the better of it, he burst through an enemy cavalry unit, straight in to the jaws of the waiting musketeers. 

Rob (B) made the bold decision (despite my baiting him)  to ignore my cavalry and throw everything at the objective.  Given that we were running out of time this made sense so he gathered two units of foot and marched them steadily towards the waiting muskets of the roundheads.

Bob was outnumbered on the left but both of us held the objectives and were emplaced behind a wall. 

Unfortunately the sheer weight of fire being poured on to Parliamentarians began to take it’s toll.  Bob lost the objective on the left and then on the last turn just as my Cavalry were formed and ready to charge the enemy foot, Rob (B) forced the wall and took the objective on the right for an excellent Royalist victory.

A good game and a brilliant example how irrespective of how strong you think your position is, there is always room for things to go disastrously wrong! I felt that Bob and I where really in the driving seat  and the Royalist just would not have the manpower to push us back off the objectives.  However by being bold and concentrating their numbers in the right place (and at the right time) Mick and Rob (B) were able to snatch an impressive win.