Black Powder: Hold the ground! Sobota, Czer 26 2021 

Black Powder - Napoleonic Wars and French and Italia and Neapol and Polish and Russians and United Kingdom and Warlord Games and Württemberg tancreddebeauville 19:39

Today we played a bigger battle in Black Powder. There were two manors – one held by my Russians and another held by Gargamels Italians. There were two British – forces of Damian and Tomek – my Russians were on their side. There were Marians French, Kris Württemberg and Barteks Neapolitanians and Würzburg. I don’t remember how manors were threated at the end.

  • Russians used as one brigade of three strelstsi battalions, small artillery battery and Polish uhlans in Tzar service.
  • Russians were defending farm. I could put them to the houses, but I had artillery, so all started in the open ground.
  • Brigades of Marian’s French arrived with artillery.
  • Another farm is on the top.
  • Gargamels Italians were defenders of the other farm.
  • Tomek’s British arrived.
  • When Russians woke up, they saw many Barteks Neapolitanians and Wurzburg forces, that they send one batallion to defend manor.
  • Damian’s British arrived in front of French.
  • Tomek’s line advanced.
  • Uhlans and artillery discussion about what to do.
  • Situation of Russians wasn’t good, still after heavy hand to hand combat they managed to break many batallions of enemy, holding they ground in the manor.
  • Württemberg of Kris arrived on the right flank of Tomek’s force.
  • Heavy discussion beetwen leader of brigade and officers of artillery and uhlans took place.
  • Supported by artillery they marched forward.
  • Vistula Legion charged on Polish uhlans it Tzar service, breaking them and then destroying Russian guns battery. Poles on Poles – sad situations which happend many times in our history.
  • Then jumped back.
  • Brave Italians of Gargamel managed to charge artillery, but then surrounded by British retreated after hand to hand combat.
  • Bayonnets fixed – borrowed from Marian.
  • Marian’s French marched into the middle.
  • Württemberg – cool looing models of Kris.
  • View from side.
  • Vistulan Legion of Marian charged streltsi from back. Russian infantry survived this charge and broke Neapolitan infantry to the front.
  • Württemberg fought against British.
  • Iwan, let’s take a look what we found – barrels of moonshine and ale, we can fight!
  • Only one Russian battalion left on field, another two one gave up the field.
  • Württemberg advanced on British flank.
  • It’s the end of this side. Russians held they position.
  • In the middle UK fought French, but the battle was over. I guess that it was UK-Russian victory.
  • Then I was hungry and ordered a company of Russian dumplings from Bistro Narożnik. They were great.

Summary:
– Black Powder is really nice game, thank you to my game dealer Marian – I’m involved, jet not so fast with painting – unhapilly there is Cyberpunk 2077 which is blocker.
-I guess that we have a chance to build great community in all systems related to Black Powder era – I mean Black Powder, Sharp Practice etc.
– from Bartek we know, that in Praga there is local community playing Black Powder, hope we can find a contact with them.
– thanks for Rafał for terrains and Bolter.pl for place to play.
– thank you Bartek, Damian, Grzesiek, Krzysiek, Marian and Tomek for great game.
– Bistro Narożnik have great dumplings – they are my favourite pub on Nadodrze in Wrocław. Great that they survived plandemy.
– I want to support our hobby in Wrocław – Bolter.pl, Planszoweczka.pl, Ada i Aga – whenever we will play, I will add it under raport. I miss Centrum Gier Bitewnych, old Bard and Sfan, but they got great replacement.

 

Sharp Practice: Battle for the barrels of moonshine Czwartek, Czer 24 2021 

French and Poland and Russians and Sharp Practice tancreddebeauville 22:04

A campaing is going on in wartime Europe of Napoleonic era – we played today with Kris following battle.

  • Cart on bridge with barrels of moonshine, horses near camp and moonshine dealer were objects for Russians.
  • Grenadiers on left crossed small river, jagers and line infantry in the middle and Polish uhlans on right flank.
  • Uhlans advanced to find and take dealer.
  • Infantry advanced, then reformed into line.
  • After shooting event took a place – bayonnets fixed, hoorah!
  • Another event happend after three flags were collected in line – that one wasn’t nice – unit slowed down.
  • French started shooting deadly volleys of black powder.
  • At my commend get out of fire. Russian infantry make step back.
  • Then another step back into the small water pond.
  • Dragoons charged with fury, but were beaten by brave Poles on the Tzar service.
  • Mironov started gathering his troops, the best Smoleńsk infantry.
  • In the name of Tzar, charge – uhlans lowered they lances and tried to run fast on last two dragoons.
  • Unhappilly they weren’t running fast enough.
  • French artillerist saw uhlans galloping on they fellows and measure distance and fire, making panic among Poles.
  • Jager leader said: bayonnets fixed and they charged into cruel hand to hand combat.
  • French skirmishers retreat from combat after losing one men.
  • French skirmishers realized, that they good comrade was left wounded beetwen Russians, so they charged to take him to a medic.
  • Both sides light infantry retreated from melee combat.
  • Hurry up boys, they are more numerous but not so brave!
  • Still Russian morale collapsed to 0 from 9 and soldiers and officers had enough to fight more.
  • Start of another project for Sharp Practice.
  • Good boys from the South – not sure if they will be Texas or maybe Alabama or maybe Louisiana?

Summary:
– interesting game with special events.
– tried to focus on everything and did not took any objectives. Next time I should go one way.
– thank you Kris for battle, Rafał for terrains.
– it’s not the end of campaign of course, developing new scenario belongs now for me, as today we played Kris scenario.
– first time my uhlans beat dragoons, then were beaten by a cannon and fled the field.

 

Musquets and Tomahawks: First blood ENG/PL Sobota, Czer 19 2021 

France and Muskets & Tomahawks and Russia tancreddebeauville 18:01

As Napoleonic wars seems to be popular in Wrocław with Marian we played first time in Musquets & Tomahawks. It’s similar game to Sharp Practice, which I like to play last times. There are also cards of activations – so in someway both games are similar – main differenceI observed are:
– systems of dices D6 in Sharp Practice vs D10 in Musquets & Tomahawks.
– modificators for shooting – more developed in Musquets & Tomahawks.
– sight range for models and many modificators.
– all units of one type on one side are actived at once – so they can shoot, run, fight, reload and so on – but can do one action.
– deck is different as both players take three cards – sometimes enemy player can activate your unit, you can activate enemy units etc.
– no shock points – or we don’t discovered them.

Jako, że wojny napoleońskie zaczęły być popularne w moim rodzimym Wrocławiu z Marianem zagraliśmy pierwszy raz w Muszkiety i Tomahawki. Ta gra jest podobna do Sharp Practice którą ostatnio miałem okazję polubić. W tej grze także są karty aktywacji, tak więc obie gry są w pewnym stopniu podobne do siebie. Główne różnice jakie zaobserowałem to:
– używane kości – D6 w Sharp Practice vs D10 w Muszkietach i Tomahawkach.
– więcej modyfikatorów do strzelania, oczywiście w Muszkietach i Tomahawkach.
– zasięg widzenia i inne modyfikatory z tym związane.
– wszystkie jednostki jednego typu są aktywowane na raz – mogą strzelać, biec, walczyć, przeładować i tak dalej – ale można zrobić jedną akcję.
– nie ma punktów szoku – lub nie odkryliśmy.

  • Russians arrived to check what is inside castle left by French. Rosyjska piechota przybyła by sprawdzić co znajduje się w zamku opuszczonym przez Francuzów.
  • French with order to keep castle as observation point. Przybywają Francuzi z rozkazem zajęcia zamku jako punktu obserwacyjnego.
  • Hurry up advance! Naprzód!
  • French came closer. Francuzi zbliżają się.
  • Some ruins around castle and first shoot. Trochę ruin dookoła zamku i pierwsze strzały padły.
  • Russians on left retreat and losed leader. Rosjanie na lewym skrzydle zaczęli odwrót, stracili też dowódcę.
  • Other leader was shoot moments later. Kolejny dowódca spadł z konia chwilę później.
  • Russian infantry tried to find a cover near solid castle walls. Without success – they runned for they lives. Rosyjska piechota próbowała znaleźć osłonę blisko solidnego zamkowego muru, bez sukcesu – uciekali by przeżyć.
  • Line infantry in the middle – from special effect cannon ball hit some of them. They also gave up ground. Piechota liniowa w centrum – obok nich ktoś trafił z działa, oni także opuścili pole bitwy.
  • French shooting. Francuzi strzelają.
  • Last Russians… Ostatni Rosjanie…
  • Retreated from field – good observation point was left in French hands. Odwrót z pola – świetny punkt obserwacyjny pozostał w rękach Francuzów.

Summary:
– after one game I cannot say too much about Musquets and Tomahawks, but it seems to be interesting skirmish like Sharp Practice.
– thanks for Planszóweczka for place we played.
– as it’s skirmish – it’s really cheap one – to start playing all u need is box of Perry or Warlord plastic miniatures – and you can create your band.

Podsumowanie:
– po jednej grze nie mogę powiedzieć zbyt wiele o Muszkietach i Tomahawkach, ale wydaje mi się, że może to być system równie interesujący jak Sharp Practice.
– dzięki dla Planszóweczki za miejsce do gry.
– to jest skirmish – wejście w system jest tanie – by zacząć grać wystarczy pudełko plastikowych modeli od Perrych lub Warlorda – i możesz stworzyć swoją bandę.

 

Sharp Practice: Moonshine recipe Czwartek, Czer 17 2021 

French and Poland and Prussia and Sharp Practice tancreddebeauville 22:26

Today we played with Kris in our campaing. After last battle Russian-Prussian alliance hasn’t got a supply convoy with vodka from hands of French and Swiss mercenaries. Today we played Russia on France and we played scenario with prisoner – famous moonshine creator.

  • Beautiful houses in a village.
  • But silence was broken when some Polish uhlans saw French troops taking creator of moonshine.
  • Decision was one – to charge!
  • More French arrived.
  • Before charge happened French shoot down one uhlan.
  • Hand to hand combat over a fence wasn’t greatest idea.
  • More French arrived, including cannon.
  • Russian line infantry arrived.
  • Retreat! After heavy loses in men, uhlans retreat.
  • Then rallied.
  • Then they leader started gathering them around the flag.
  • Grenadiers and jagers came and started shooting.
  • Dragoons galloped and infantry with moonshine dealer started organized retreat.
  • Cannon took heavy toll on grenadiers (again).
  • Everyone shooting.
  • Uhlans realized that the cannon is great threat and started flank maneuver.
  • Everyone shooting, clouds of
  • Almost all dragoons jumped over fence – but one was left.
  • Grenadiers saw bayonnet fight of they jager comrades, fast and brutal.
  • Grenadiers reloaded they muskeets and fired.
  • Cannon again shoot.
  • Left, right, left, right. Russian infantry managed to cross forest.
  • Brave uhlans were nothing for a cannon crew.
  • Russian infantry tried to save battle, but it was too late.
  • Few wounded uhlans rode off table on they fast horses.
  • Last Russian unit realized that it’s over.
  • Moonshine dealer was taken by French, but we will find him.

Summary:
– as a Bretonnian player I don’t know how to use Polish uhlans in Russian service, maybe few games later I will learn how to use them.
– we played on 50 points per side today.
– it was nice game – my Russians are still away in this campaing from they target.

 

Sharp Practice: Alliance of Black eagles vs France and Swiss mercenaries Czwartek, Czer 10 2021 

French and Poland and Prussia and Russians and Sharp Practice tancreddebeauville 22:34

After losing townhall, brothel and store full of vodka week before Russians found an ally to retake they losed possesion. French cannot take this vodka for themselfs. So Russian and Prussian according to they spies report prepared an ambush on wagon train with important cargo. With „Prussian heir” Prussians my Russians and Poles prepared ambush, on the other side „General” – Swiss and Kris – French get into an ambush which doesn’t happend, as Russians used last bootles of alcohol last night, and were unable to march.

  • Field of death and ethernal glory.
  • Russian jagers had problems with marching and everything else. It was strong hooch.
  • Polish cavalry arrived looking for enemies, after drinking day before with Russians they weren’t sobber as well.
  • After suffering lose they leader hangover was over.
  • Prussians advanced to retake Russian supplies of vodka.
  • Both Polish uhlans and French dragons advanced.
  • And then uhlans were charged, challenge beetwen officers started, sabre hit sabre.
  • Russian infantry realized, that they comrades are fighting and they were drunking yesterday together.
  • Uhlans won and dragoons retreated.
  • Few remaining uhlans, most of them wounded left the field.
  • Both sides started shooting each other.
  • No one took supply train, French and Swiss won by two mini points, as two of our unit’s left the field.

Summary of game, day and life:
– we played in group of four players, before I played only 1 vs 1.
– my Russians and Poles weren’t sobber, they moved at start so slowly, than Jagers had problem with jumping over a hedge. Prussians were much more disciplined. Need to paint some more unit of tzar army who whose raised on Polish territories.
– good game, many thanks to fellow players and to Rafał from Bolter.pl for preparing our field of battle.
– of course most of the Poles were fighting for Napoleon and some were in units created by Tzar. Still one of the best cavalry in the word was Polish cavalry from winged hussars up to the uhlans cavalry brigades in 2nd world war.
– this day was full of history, due fact that I wanted to be on time and was late at work, I took taxi to take my miniatures and talked with driver – his father was Polish tankist in 1939′ and his unit was deployed near Kutno, I guess that he served in 1st Polish tank batallion using 7-TP tanks – everyone have interesting story behind.
– one of two photos sent to Gazeta Wrocławska was presented on they page – photo with old Polish adds on my building in Wrocław – I only used word Breslau (Wrocław in German) and no one read that those adds are Polish after 1945′ and even if they would be German what’s a difference – we should remember history and ppl who lived before, I’m not sure what reaction I could saw, if I wrote that my grandmother I never meet, was Austrian or German (dispute beetwen my dad and aunt is still living) – unhapilly she died before I was born.
– in case of friendship – different people of different nations can be friends ignoring even hard stories beetwen they countries – I guess that I really like Russians and Germans, but found great people among Moldovians, Indians (thank you Govinda), Phillipinnes, Basks, Italians, Ukrainians, Bialorussians, Dutch, Belgians, Iranians, Americans. I wish to know more ppl, as it’s always to know they opinions, story, they culture. Cheers from Wrocław, Poland.

 

Black Powder: Polish Uhlan Regiment – Russian Empire Wtorek, Czer 8 2021 

Black Powder - Napoleonic Wars and Perry Miniatures and Polish and Russians tancreddebeauville 00:37

After painting batallion of Russian infantry year ago, I started investigating if there were any Polish units in Russian army and I discovered, that there were Polish uhlans. It was fast decision – I wanted to have them in my Tzar army. Many thanks to friend from Maniexite for help in case of sending me this URL and then great pictures of different uhlan units uniforms in Russian Empire army (if I want more uhlans, next one unit will be Wohlynian Uhlans) – I added picture of Polish uhlans I got at the end. As we have discussion on our FB group about banners in light cavalry, I will give standard bearer banner I found here. First unit for light cavalry brigade is finished, more to be done in the future.

 

Sharp Practice: warehouse, townhall and marquetrys house Piątek, Czer 4 2021 

French and Russians and Sharp Practice tancreddebeauville 21:37

Today we played with Kris in Sharp Practice – his French versus my Russians. We played on 50 points plus some more. On his side were unit of Dragoons, line infantry, two skirmishing units and a cannon. On my side were line infantry under banner, grenadiers, two units of jagers. Of course still learning this great skirmish game and need to paint some more models to create universal list for me (maybe when I finish uhlans I will check them?).

We played scenario where one side was defending and the other was attacking. Main target was three objectives we called warehouse/stables, townhouse and brothel.

  • I placed entry tokens on both sides of bridge – I see it was mistake, second one should be placed beetwen townhouse and brothel.
  • French appeard – only Russian unit on table at the moment was Russian line infantry.
  • Grenadiers and Jager infantry arrived. Dragoons forward to get Russian rear.
  • Dragoon leader ordered unit to jump over a wall – two of them stayed, as they skills werent enough to cross wall.
  • Jagers changed windows and prepared ambush. Grenadiers started shooting at line infantry. Dragoons dismounted and moved to the wall.
  • Jagers leaders said: bayonets fixed and all his unit charged the dragoons.
  • In hand to hand combat jagers managed to break dragoons who fled behind a wall.
  • Line infantry shoot at grenadiers and did shock to the unit. Dragoons mounted and destroyed jagers. French skirmishers took brothel on right (no photo as it should be censored 😉 ).
  • Grenadiers saw townhall lost, tried to recapture it, started moving back. Line infantry officer did wrong step into a some cow shit and lost face in front of his unit (his level dropped from 2 to 1).
  • Another shooting skirmishers of both sides. Bulding near them stared burning moment ago.
  • Dragoons
  • After Russian force morale went to a zero, surviving troops realized, that they cannot held stable and retreat to fight another day.

Summary:
– interesting game, I know that I should place 2nd entry marker more wisely next time.