Sunday Frippery - making stuff

 Very short post to showcase a little Fantasy Fortified Town scenery object. It's somewhere between 3D and 2D (2.5D??) as there's room for figures inside the walls, but the flat town means it doesn't take up too much room. The flat town idea was based on a far better executed version by Peter that features in this post. Mine's a 3 inch square mdf base from Warbases with the "structures" made from 3mm foam board. As a proof of concept, I think it works ok. Hopefully it will be used in planned Hyboria games. That's it; enjoy the sunshine (or whatever the weather's doing where you are.

The Battle of Rolica 1808

 In which Sir Arthur Wellesley lands in Portugal and on the way to Lisbon tilts at Windmills.

Having landed North of Lisbon, the British marched along the Coast, collecting some Portuguese troops along the way. At the village of Rolica they encountered the vastly outnumbered French rearguard. (In the game the points attributed to the superior British make it appear that there are more French who were in fact at a 4:1 disadvantage.) This really ought to be a walk in the park...

 

Trying out the flashy new Budget Wargames backdrop - nice.

In the scenario description provided by Steve Parker in Dominion of Napoleon Bonaparte, the British attack is initially slow; this proved to be the case in the game too. In fact, both sides from the off (pre-battle bombardment) threw some appalling dice. I have to confess that I lost count of the Turn number early on...

Eventually the British Centre (Infantry in column) broke. The Infantry on the British flanks, elite and in defensive posture, were going to prove to be stubborn at the very least, and the Imperial Army started to take casualties.

At this stage it looked like the British were going to push through the French rearguard and be historically correct. Unfortunately, my troublesome dice, a pair of scamps, thought otherwise.

The French win again!!!

We're really down the rabbit hole now.

The Battle of Bailen 1808 with DoNB

 My play through of the Scenarios in Dominion of Napoleon Bonaparte has now reached the Iberian Peninsular, and Napoleon stands undefeated (apart from the hiccup at The Pyramids). How will the French fare in this first battle of the Peninsular War?

 The French are in retreat after storming Cordoba and are hampered by an enormous baggage train of plunder. They find their way blocked by a numerically stronger Spanish Army.

Note: Purple dice are elite, White are unreliable, Black are in defencive position.

The French open the action from the centre and the Spanish are forced to throw in more and more reinforcements.

A column of unreliable French Infantry on their Right are attacked and immediately withdraw, however the Spanish are unable to capitalize on this as their own numbers are dwindling.

The Spanish are forced to commit their final reserves, but to no avail.

An overwhelming victory for the French, reversing the historical result! Next time: The boot maybe on the other foot as Wellington arrives...

Bonus picture to celebrate (or possibly not) the new film of The Odessey that is due for release this month I believe.

A Minifigs Cyclops from their 1970s Sword & Sorcery range and a 10mm Odysseus 

 

End of the Fourth Coalition: Friedland 1807

 

Source: Wikiperdia

After defeating the Russians at Eylau, the French push on in pursuit of their foe. Russian General Bennigsen is informed that Marshal Lanne's corp is isolated and attacks across the River Alle.

The Russians, with their backs to the River Alle, attack hoping to defeat the French before they are reinforced.

After exchanging artillery fire the two sides get stuck in and the Russians are soon in trouble. Their retreat is made disorderly by the river, and the French take advantage of this to inflict huge losses.

Defeat is inevitable and the Russians are forced to come to the table; the Fourth Coalition is over. Next time: Start of the Peninsular War.