Last week, it was once again my pleasure to head over to Stuart's for a game. There always seems to be something a bit unusual and highly diverting on the menu, and this occasion was no exception - a Russia vs. Turkey encounter set in the years immediately after the First World War.
The table that greeted me is shown in the photo above. Minifigs S Range 25mm figures mostly, with a couple of units of Tradition Crimea figures filling out the Russian force. Guns were converted Airfix ACW models plus a few Tradition guns from the Horse and Musket period.
Rules were on one side of A4 - actually about three-quarters of one side of A4. 'You don't think they're a bit too complex?" I was asked. I assured Stuart that this was not the case, and we set to. Well, we actually set to after nearly an hour of convivial chat about wargaming in general, and our own recent endeavours in the hobby in particular. This is always a very pleasant part of our meetings.
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| Turkish infantry. |
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Their Russian opponents. Yes, the flags are from the Napoleonic period.
Do you want to make something of it? |
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| Russian light cavalry |
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| The Turkish centre. |
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| Action! Turkish right wing advancing. |
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| After taking casualties from Russian rifle fire, the two Turkish units are sent reeling back by a cavalry charge. |
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| Cavalry action on the Turkish left wing. The two nearest buildings in the town are from Airfix. |
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| Infantry meet in the central village. |
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| Russian infantry supporting their cavalry against the Turkish left wing. |
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| Nice pointing! |
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Turkish artillery (converted Airfix ACW guns) pound the Russian infantry line.
No way through here. |
Alas, time ran out before a result could be declared. It was great to game a period I'd never encountered before. Also interesting was starting with a very simple set of rules that Stuart was happy to develop as the game went along. This is always a very instructive way to wargame, but needs open-minded and experienced gamers on both sides of the table, as well as people who have the same broad outlook regarding what they are trying to achieve.
Stuart mentioned the possibility of developing a 'single side of A4' set of generic horse and musket rules. Now there's a challenge. Not something everyone would enjoy, and it requires wargamers who are willing to resolve any situations not strictly covered by the rules in a spirit of cooperation. But I can see his point that creating such a set would be an absorbing challenge.
Look out Neil Thomas!
'Til next time!
3 comments:
Lovely to see one of the lesser gamed conflicts being played. I agree that one of the joys of gaming is meeting up with like minded individuals and chatting about our wonderful hobby.
I think that an A4 set of rules would work providing, as you say, you are gaming with like minded gamers. In a sense Bruce Weigle did something akin to this at Colours this year, but with his 1870-1871 rules. Now it helped with him being the author and rather knowledgeable on the period, but often actions were resolved without recourse to die rolls, with Bruce deciding the most likely outcome. It worked remarkably well and the game moved along at a rare old pace.
So I look forward to possible updates on this potential 'project'.
First, let me say I know nothing about tactics post 1865, so I can easily stand corrected, but looking at the photos, did either side move in formations as shown post WWI. Both sides would have ample experience of modern machine guns from WWI and in the case of Russia, the Japanese war a decade earlier. The battle looks more like a SYW encounter?
Graham, I cannot correct you. Perhaps I should just say that strict historical accuracy was not our overriding priority...
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