Advisory Note

Please Note: This blog contains poorly painted toy soldiers that may offend those of an aesthetically sensitive disposition.

Thursday, 16 January 2020

A well trodden battlefield

For my second test battle using the The Portable Napoleonic Wargame rules, I set up the board roughly as described in the very first wargame report I read.


The same Brigades as the last game fought for the crossings of the River Trimsos. The game was to be 15 turns with Exhaustion Point at 30% casualties. Yellow's objective was to take both crossings and hold them until the end of the game.
Initial dispositions - Yellow attacking Lilac Defending
Yellow marches boldly onto the New Bridge under heavy fire
Light Infantry exchange fire at the Old Bridge
Yellow falling back having lost one battalion

The Old Bridge is taken by Lilac who have out-flanked Yellow

Yellow reaches Exhaustion Point

End of the Game. Lilac has successfully defended the bridges

I'm currently planning a mini-Campaign using the Risk figures and PNW - more on this anon.
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21 comments:

  1. Jonathan Freitag16 January 2020 at 20:21

    A "mini" campaign sounds interesting. Are you tempted to paint the Risk pieces?

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    1. Maudlin Jack Tar16 January 2020 at 21:55

      Thanks Jonathan. I don't think I will paint them. I actually like the playing-piece look!

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    2. Jonathan Freitag16 January 2020 at 23:23

      Then that is perfect!

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    3. Maudlin Jack Tar17 January 2020 at 07:29

      The plan is (how many times have I said that!?!) to use the upcoming campaign as a "sandbox" for testing a more designed/structured approach than I've used before and that could be used with 20mm or 28mm figures in future - we'll see how far it gets...!

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    4. Jonathan Freitag17 January 2020 at 12:30

      I will be watching...

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    5. Maudlin Jack Tar17 January 2020 at 13:37

      No pressure at all then!

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  2. Archduke Piccolo16 January 2020 at 20:59

    Looking forward to the campaign. You know - I'd be disinclined to paint those figures you have, except maybe (MAYBE) the bases. There's something about them as they are. (I have a few 'Age of Imperialism' Red and Blue figures. On these I just painted the topees white, and the bases green. They are reserved for particular types of action.

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    1. Maudlin Jack Tar16 January 2020 at 21:59

      I've seen painted ones and they can look good but as I replied to Jonathan above I like them as they are (plus my painting skills are not legendary!)

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  3. Sprinks17 January 2020 at 09:08

    Great to see the classic take and hold the crossings scenario in action, it always produces an exciting game. I agree with you about painting the risk figures, they are so recognisable and so iconic as they are.

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    1. Maudlin Jack Tar17 January 2020 at 09:35

      Thanks Mr Sprinks - unpainted toy soldiers, who'd have thought? When I was at school (very long time ago) another young fella and me were roundly criticised for wargaming with unpainted figures - that stayed with me for over 40 years!

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    2. Sprinks17 January 2020 at 10:38

      As I'm sure you know I am no fan of the 'you have to colour them in or your doing it wrong' crowd. It's like saying a black and white sketch is inferior to an oil painting!. Once you have paid for the TOY SOLDIERS they are yours to do with as you wish, if someone wants to be miserable that's their issue as far as I'm concerned.
      And unpainted risk figures are cool. Period.

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    3. Maudlin Jack Tar17 January 2020 at 10:53

      I do know that freedom of choice is a hot topic Chez Sprinks!

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    4. Ross Mac rmacfa@gmail.com17 January 2020 at 12:40

      There is nothing being told "you're having fun the wrong way" to make me do it more boldly!

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    5. Maudlin Jack Tar17 January 2020 at 13:36

      Nice!

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  4. John Y17 January 2020 at 14:37

    I'll chime in with my love for the unpainted Risk figures! I had started painting some years ago - mine are the AWI figures - and then gave up when I got to cavalry (a running theme with me). You've inspired me to give them a second look - unfortunately, I can't go unpainted now.

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    1. Maudlin Jack Tar17 January 2020 at 15:04

      I've one word for you, Paint Stripper. OK that's two words.
      Thanks for chiming in John. The humble Risk figure seems to have a keen following.

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  5. Zabadak20 January 2020 at 14:02

    Great little test piece, but yellow was u[ againstt it from the start.
    These are great actions for learning the rules and their idiosyncracies and I'll be looking forward to your campaign thoughts too. -Such quick games seem to be crying out for a campaign setting.

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    1. Maudlin Jack Tar20 January 2020 at 15:21

      Cheers Joe. I'm reading some books on campaigns at the moment to formulate a set of rules for map movements etc. Nothing too complicated but enough to tell a story I hope.

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  6. arthur181512 February 2020 at 12:14

    I've just found some good ideas for a simple campaign linked to PW rules on Stealth's Wargaming blog: https://stealthswargaming.blogspot.com/2020/02/pwg-campaign-thoughts.html
    which might give you inspiration. Regards, Arthur

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    1. Maudlin Jack Tar12 February 2020 at 13:54

      Arthur. Thanks for drawing my attention to this post. It's always interesting to see how other gamers are using the same rules. When I have finished formulating my campaign rules I may take the liberty of emailing them to you for your thoughts if that's ok.

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    2. arthur181512 February 2020 at 15:49

      Please do! As you say, it's always interesting to see how others tackle an issue, and one can borrow or adapt useful ideas. Best wishes, Arthur

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