The following is a test of Mark Cordone's Dominion of Leaders and Generals rules (possibly posted on Facebook) using Dominion of Napoleon Bonaparte as the core rules. The setting is completely fictional, and armies were balanced and all regular units.
Mark's rules add more random behaviour simulating a General's decision making during the battle, and making combat and reinforcement from the reserve each turn no longer a given.
The Battle of Santa Lucia
The setting is the long running border war between the Grand Duchy of Karbunkle and the Exarchate of Osstlebabstein. His excellency, Bishop Adolphus of Osstlebabstein has instructed his military to reinstate the village of Santa Lucia within the borders of the Exarchate. This has, quite naturally, raised the hackles of the Grand Duke Edrich Marie St. Clemence Pankraz-Kunibert (Ed for short). The armies of the two states arrive at Santa Lucia and set to almost immediately.
As the game is about leaders I feel it is incumbent on me to name the commanding officers, at the very least. The Army of the Grand Duchy (black) is commanded by Herzog Ulrich of Dunkerwald; that of the Exarchate is led by General Monseigneur Francis of Frinchum.
The battle began with an artillery bombardment from both sides which achieved very little. The two sides then advanced...
Early skirmishing saw both sides losing Heavy Cavalry units and the Grand Duchy moving reserves to their left flank.
In an inspired move, General Ulrich took personal command of the 5th Infantry regiment and broke his rival's centre, such was the force of his personality.
Returning to his General Staff, the Herzog observed his enemy bring up reserves. To his dismay the Exarchate's remaining Heavy Cavalry then swept forward and routed the 10th Infantry that were holding his left.
Ulrich then committed his artillery, hoping to blast the enemy Cuirassiers from the field.
Whist cannon balls bounced ineffectively about the horse, the 5th Infantry once again proved their mettle destroying the Exarchate's centre.
The Herzog's right flank suddenly broke and momentarily distracted he failed to commit reserves.
Taking advantage of his enemy's temporary confusion, General Monseigneur Francis swept forward to lead his left flank Infantry who delivered a withering flank attack on the 5th, routing them with many casualties.
Regrettably, the final pictorial record did not download properly for some unknown reason. Suffice to say, the fickle finger of fate was just enough to break the Grand Duchy's Army. The Cuirassiers charged and spiked the guns, pursuing the gunners mercilessly. The Herzog and his remaining Infantry regiment bid a hasty retreat, and Santa Lucia was, once again, in the clammy hands of the Bishop.
Mark's rules worked very well and created the sort of chaos that this solo wargamer enjoys!
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Nice report. The yellow uniforms look very fetching….✔️✔️✔️.
ReplyDeletePS. Just found the rules on the PW fb pages…thanks for the nudge. ๐๐ฒ
ReplyDeleteCheers Martin - can you reply with a link to Marks Post on FB please?
DeleteThe old RISK figures always look good to me even though they've not been painted (probably BECAUSE I haven't painted them!)
Will do ! (And now I regret blasting my yellow tricorne guys with brown, to be US militia types๐ณ).
DeleteHere’s the relevant fb post, in the Portable Wargame group -
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/share/p/1E9kK2zWBH/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Private group, so you’d need to join the group to see it, I assume.
Thanks Martin - useful for anyone who's missed them
DeleteGlad you enjoyed them. Yes, I originally posted them to the Portable Wargame and Simplicity in Wargames Facebook groups. They have also been submitted for possible inclusion in the upcoming Fifth Portable Wargame Compendium. Great battle report, perhaps the start of a mini campaign?
ReplyDeleteA worthy article for inclusion in PWC5 in my opinion.
DeleteI wouldn't be surprised if those two warring states made another appearance at some point.
Here’s the link to the public Simplicity in Wargaming group post
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/share/p/19ZBWrvVj2/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Great, thanks Martin ๐
DeleteMaudlin Jack - you do have a way with narrative and, yes, I agree that a game in which the leading characters are individual figures - General Officers Commanding the troops - they ought to have names: the more sonorous, the more engaging. I do hope to read more of those estimable gentlemen of the sword, the Monseigneur and the Herzog.
ReplyDeleteWith other commentators, I agree that the Risk figures look good unpainted.
Cheers,
Ion
Well done - the visual contrast between the Yellow and Black armies looks quite striking. The Dominion series of rules are very all very clever and, as you’re playing solo, it’s quite easy to tinker with various rules.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Geoff