Sharp Practice: Germans are coming to the village Środa, Sier 4 2021 

Germans and Polish and Russians and Sharp Practice tancreddebeauville 21:52

We played in Bolter.pl in Wrocław, game in Sharp Practice on 50 points per side. I had three units and Kris had two units. Russia against Germany, battle for some bridge, somewhere in Eastern Europe. It was fast game, maybe it was one hour or one and half hour. I had three groups of Line Infantry under 3 lvl leader, Polish Uhlans with lvl 1 leader and Jagers with leader lvl 2. Kris had also three groups of his elite infantry with 4 lvl leader and skirmishers – not sure about level of leader, but all costs were up to 50 points.

  • Russian three groups of infantry marched as first unit to the village. Then Tiff finished first turn.
  • In the middle of village is a bridge.
  • Russian Jager infantry marched to the table.
  • Also uhlans deployed successfully.
  • Germans are coming.
  • Main target is to secure other side of bridge.
  • German skirmishers runned to the bridge.
  • Infantry followed.
  • Germans are coming to the bridge and Russians are reading maps.
  • Comrade, Germans are coming.
  • Germans crossed bridge with infantry on and skirmishers get into the forest, to shoot down Russians.
  • Russians formed into the line and started shooting at skirmishers.
  • Not many scored a hit, but one hit they own leader in head – resulting with losing one level of leadership.
  • Germans formed line and started shooting.
  • Then fixed bayonnets and charged on Russians.
  • Cruel meele combat started – Russians losed five men – wounded or killed, one group broke due loses.
  • Followed by two more groups retreating. Morale of my army went down from eight we started to two.
  • Then, with another group broken, morale went down to 0. Russians fled the field.
  • Retreat!

Summary:
– we played interesting game, with larger groups of soldiers under better leaders.
– I did mistake and focused on shooting on large unit, jet I should activate uhlans and jagers different way – to cross river by fords.
– after first shoots infantry should fix bayonnets and charge like did Kris.

 

Sharp Practice: Struggle of four gamers Czwartek, Lip 29 2021 

England and Germans and Russians and Sharp Practice and Spanish tancreddebeauville 22:10

Today we played in Bolter.pl with Krzysiek, Tomek and Krystian. For Krystian it was first game in Sharp Practice. Victory points were for taking camp occupied at start of the game by Spanish light infantry and to capture a supply train from German Russian alliance – or safety go out with it from a field of battle. On one side were Germans and Russians, on the other English and Spanish.

  • Germans arrived – taking tents with them.
  • Objective is here and is well guarded.
  • Russians column how it should be. There are some ppl who know something as well – one near bridge, another one next to farm animals.
  • Germans advanced.
  • English arrived and saw Russians on the other side.
  • Russian cavalry runned switfly to the bridge.
  • Spanish moved through obstacle and started shooting at Russians.
  • Russian infantry for few turns were blocked, God and Tzar wasn’t with them for a longer moment.
  • Cavalry arrived just in front of British talking with civilian.
  • Almost everyone started shooting at Polish Uhlans.
  • German line infantry tried to shoot down British skirmishers.
  • Russian infantry squabled if it’s correct crossroad or not.
  • Another round of shooting from Spanish side. Cavalry fall back.
  • British skirmishers hid in forest.
  • Russian Jagers finally took position behind fence. God was with them, as no one died from Spanish fire.
  • Cavalry realized, that supply train was left by German ally and need protection.
  • Gallop!
  • Russian line infantry finally moved.
  • Germans crossing bridge.
  • Spanish outflanking Russians.
  • British against Germans – both side started shooting.
  • Spanish at the Russian flank – not good.
  • Spanish charged on bayonnets – challenge was issued – Russian leader fled heavily wounded – but his unit won.
  • Leader in shame behind fence.
  • Uhlans galloping to supply wagon.
  • Wounded, killed and shocked on both sides.
  • Russian infantry started shooting at Spanish skirmishers.
  • British infantry started retreat under German fire – many shocked and wounded in they ranks.
  • Uhlans took care about supply train, but the battle was over. Victory belongs to England and Spain.

Summary:
– it was really bad idea in taking lvl 1 leaders – I did this mistake.
– sometimes that cards can be really disappointing – when your enemy activate his units and you stay and wait few turns for doing it – of course under enemy fire. Tiff is nice card, but sometimes It could be shuffled out.
– still it was a great game and I hope that we will start all campaing from it.

 

Sharp Practice: Russia vs Wittenberg Poniedziałek, Lip 26 2021 

Polish and Russians and Sharp Practice and Wittenberge tancreddebeauville 23:11

Today we started new campaing with Krzysiek – during last one my Russians did not found moonshine recipe, so they changed area. Last time we played Russian – French campaign, now we started with Russia vs Wittenberg.

  • There are three people we should talk and capture.
  • First units arrived.
  • More units arrived – on Russians side line infantry, uhlans, two unit of Jagers and a cannon.
  • On Wittenberg side big unit of constripts and volunteers, two unit of skirmishers and a medium cannon.
  • Russians slowly moved toward one person to talk.
  • Uhlans galloped forward.
  • Wittenbergians marched forward in the middle and on the left.
  • Russian Jagers took position in the forest.
  • Advance!
  • One part of the unit separated and moved forward under leadership of adjutant.
  • Gallop at full speed!
  • Again infantry first shoot at uhlans to make them shocked, then defeated them in hand to hand combat.
  • Polish Uhlans left the field.
  • Skirmishers could return to they job.
  • After shoot Russian Jagers runned forward.
  • Another Russian unit advanced to the cover.
  • Russian Regular Line infantry started shooting on Germans.
  • Both skirsmishers started shooting each other.
  • Jagers tried to help they centre, but soon were surronded by enemy skirmishers.
  • Cannon started shooting from positions on the hill.
  • Germans take slowly advance – red dices are shocks, blue dices are losed soldiers.
  • Enemy outflanked Jagers.
  • Collecting shocks going on on Russian side.
  • Russian infantry made step back.
  • Cannon started firing grape-shots.
  • While the others started retread, brave artillerist covered they escape.
  • Shocked Jagers retreated.
  • Reload!
  • Fire!
  • German skirmishers took one guy supposed to be a spy.
  • Grape-shot on the hill!
  • After suffering lose skirmishers fled from the hill.
  • But it was over, wounded artillerists took gun and runned.
  • It was over. Russians took no one…
  • When Germans took all three potential spies.

Summary:
– I guess that if you want to have fun from cavalry – u need to take them more – they are really cheap – group of 8 costs 5 points plus leader in case of uhlans. Maybe two groups of 16 can do special things.
– we played on 61 points in Bolter.pl.
– Sharp Practice is great system for narrative playing – one Krzysiek leaders broke his leg, other one was heavily wounded by Russian Jagers bullet.

 

Sharp Practice: A game with game master Czwartek, Lip 1 2021 

French and Poland and Russians and Sharp Practice tancreddebeauville 22:32

Today evening we played with Marian and Krzysiek into a game, where Krzysiek was game master. This was of course continuation of our campaign. This time Russians from two different batallions realized, that in the centre of a village is someone who know recipe for great moonshine. Leaders of both batallions send they men and never contacted themselfs.

  • French troops guarding an inn. Somewhere in western Europe.
  • They move made by Krzysiek were random, as we started at night.
  • Marians Russians arrived.
  • Russian line infantry and Jagers arrived.
  • Both sides moved.
  • And then Winged Hussars arrived – no just Polish Uhlans in Russian Tzar service.
  • French keeping barrels of moonshine and dealer.
  • Beautiful Marian infantry (yeap,he lend them to me on last Black Powder battle).
  • Left, right, left, right – march!
  • Jagers started shooting French skirmishers. Uhlans started galloping.
  • First loses on French side and some shock on Russian side.
  • I smell this moonshine Ivan said.
  • Marians Russians coming in.
  • Rememver, fire at will boys!
  • Marians Russian going into the houses to search for a moonshine dealer.
  • French surronded from all sides fought as a lions. Townhall catched fire from shooting of Russian side.
  • More shock points.
  • They are so close, still behind. I can smell they fear said one uhlan to another.
  • Ready to go!
  • Cruel hand to hand combat.
  • Last skirmisher fled
  • Seeing that someone took someone from building uhlans lowered they lances…
  • and galloped…
  • afterwards…
  • were shocked and fled the field.
  • Russian Jagers tried to save a day, but stayed in shooting with French.
  • Real winner was Marian, who took moonshine dealer.
  • Left, right – Marians Russians march of the field.
  • Marian took dealer, no one took barrels of moonshine.
  • Soldiers realised that they fought for nothing.

Summary:
– thank you Krzysiek, Marian for nice game, for Piotrek and Bolter.pl for place to play and Rafał for great terrains,
– It was rainy evening, but happilly we were inside.
– it was great game with Game Master and interesting scenario.
– Uhlans, my heart was broken – no idea how to use this beautiful models in this game, I guess that skirmishers are more useful.
– happilly I did not get my salary today, if so I would buy few three buildings for North and South conflict (I will do that probably tomorrow).
– we are based in Poland, Wrocław under this adress – Wrocławscy Bonapartyści we are open to play Black Powder and know our neighbours Germans, Czechs, Russians etc.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Sharp Practice: Meeting engagment Czwartek, Maj 27 2021 

Russians and Sharp Practice and Spanish tancreddebeauville 20:51

Today with Rafał we played Sharp Practice game on 50 points in Bolter shop in Wrocław. My Russians were composed of line infantry with command group, group of grenadiers and two units of jagers. Rafał force was composed from line infantry, group of infantry, skirmishers and consript cavalry.

  • Russians came to the village.
  • In second card hand all Russians were on the table.
  • Jagers took positions in the cover. My behind wall, Rafałs in the building.
  • Hurry up grenadiers, outflank them!
  • Jagers started shooting at enemy skirmishers in the building.
  • Another Jager unit tries to outflank enemy…
  • …. at the end prepared to take out skirmishers in the building
  • Spaniards shot at grenadiers taking heavy toll – four of them felt from shooting.
  • On the other side Spaniards skirmishers were reduced to leader and rank and file trooper.
  • Fire, reload, fire reload. Grenadiers fixed they bayonnets. Line infantry as well fixed they bayonnets and runned in the front of Spanish infantry.
  • Spanish cavalry charged, but brave Ivan repelled them with bayonnet.
  • Both sides fought feriously – only Ivan survived from rank and file units.
  • Lone grenadier and half of cavalry moved back.
  • Ivan retreated with Spanish cavalry behind him.
  • After shoot Russian Jagers runned to the hill. The end – no one achieved enemy starting position.

Summary:
– it’s really interesting skirmish game with interesting events which can happen sometimes.
– rallying infantry after they start shooting sometimes is problematic – the man doesn’t wanted to listen to they officers.
– Ivan was promoted to a sergant.
– faith can reduce shock – shock is something like pin system in Bolt Action – unit with many shock points work less and less reliable.
– many thanks to Rafał and Piotrek for great game and helping me finding appropriate priest model – need to work on him with some green stuff to made orthodox pop.

 

Napoleonic skirmish: Sharp Practice Czwartek, Kwi 15 2021 

Sharp Practice tancreddebeauville 21:04

This Thursday I had a chance to practice Sharp Practice game from TooFatLardies. It’s Napoleonic skirmish game and as a skirmish uses less models than Black Powder game.

We played mission, where one side needs to find a spy who is hiding in one of three buildings and other side need to make other side life hard. Under eye of Rafał from Bolter.pl I played Spaniard against Tomasz British.

  • Silent town somewhere in Spain.
  • Spaniards march to then silent town.
  • All Spanish troops came to a town.
  • Marching forward to the city center.
  • Casadores investigate first building. They leader unhappilly find attractive women.
  • British marched in column around the townhouse and then…
  • …spread into deadly fire line.
  • Both parties started firing each other. Some of the Kazadores also investigated if there is spy inside.
  • Cavalry runned into the forest to outflank British.
  • Cavalry losed they leader, regrouped, the same thing happend with regular infantry. With spy safe in town hall British won a day.

Summary:
– it’s interesting that there is Napoleonic skirmish, everything I recognize with that era, are large battles.
– interesting system of unit activation – deck of cards is responsible for it, random events like officer stepping in the shit. Different personalities of leaders is also interesting.
– system of morale decreasing.
– need to try more, maybe with my own Russians – still need to paint them more to play Sharp Practice.