Decided enough is enough with my Husaria contest between Poles and Muscovites.

Just “guided” units to set up cavalry confrontations in the center.  Guiding is my polite term for “to hell with the rules, let’s get these units into position.”  Yes, to do so would have involved finagling figures through expansion/contraction of frontage gyrations, as well as the timing of said moves.  Said finaglings would have expanded my deeper knowledge of the rules, but in my current bloody mood, it would have just been another experience tantamount to a telephone hold (thank goodness for the speaker setting on cellphones).

Now that the units are in general position, I can pick up the game using Rules As Written (RAW), and see what happens with cavalry combat.  To this point, all combats have involved infantry units.

Here’s the overall situation:

Poles to the right, Muscovites to the left.  The flanks are secure for both sides.  The Polish Pancerni are moving into attack position, as are the Muscovite heavy cavalry and Ratjars.  The center area is narrow and becoming congested for the Muscovites.  Since both sides are now within charge distance (28 cm), the Muscovites may not be able to expand their frontage before first contact.   In this rule set, only the front rank of Cavalry fights in melee.  However, rear ranks can overlap after the initial melee turn.

This photo gives  little better view of the Muscovite situation.  The cavalry in the foreground is retreating (not routing) and will pass through, and disrupt, the Streltsy infantry.

The Polish objectives are the two villages.  With that in mind, the Muscovite CinC (single figure top center)  has moved to rally the withdrawing cavalry units and direct the reorganization of  each village’s defenses.

I’ll pick this one up with the usual turn sequence, starting with declaration of charges for whichever side wins the initiative die roll.

High winds with rain turning to snow.  Focus at a time like this?  Just TSATF?  Why not get the Husaria re-set going?

I have the roster sheets filled out, and the armies deployed.  All I need to do is annotate each unit’s initial orders.

Very curious to see the impact of the additional generals,  new light horse units, and a  morale upgrade  to veteran status for selected units will have on the game.

A couple of marginal photos to document preparations.

This marginal shot is looking north.

The Muscovites now have Cossack infantry instead of Dragoons in the woods, with Kalmuck light horse in support.  Ratjars will support the Cossack infantry deployed on the east hill.  Also, there are two medium guns emplaced on the hill between the villages.  Streltsy infantry, supported by cavalry, hold the center.

The Poles have fewer dragoons facing the woods, only one heavy gun (instead of the multiple batteries in the previous game), and Cossack cavalry – supported by Ratjars – on their right flank.  Again, the Hussars are off-table and situated to the rear of the Pancerni (now upgraded to Veteran status) supporting the Haiduks in the center.

Game is sputtering along, with my bleatings about Initiative and Response checks a broken record , especially with the Experienced level units  forming the bulk of both armies.

Sat down last night and worked my way through these problems.

Experienced units need a modified Initiative percentage die  roll of 40 or lower to charge or respond to a new order (not to mention fire or move for the first time in the game).

Without command figures in close proximity, the chances of passing are pretty low.

Response tests are also problematic, especially for units with over ten percent casualties (that’s the loss of only one (1) figure for most units).   This test involves a base Morale Value Against Percentage Losses Suffered, added an average die roll, then modified.

Once again, the proximity of a unit’s General and unengaged friendly units is helpful.

An example:  An Experienced unit with ten percent casualties has a base morale value of 5.  In order to remain “Steady”, in response to an event,  it must have a modified score of eleven (11).  Assuming a die roll of three (3), it still needs a net of three positive modifiers to remain “Steady”.

The lesson learned is to increase the number of generals per army, and keep troops close proximity to one another.

If this doesn’t happen, most units will refuse to charge or hold, instead retreating or routing after absorbing a limited number of casualties.

In this game, the Cossacks continue to march up “their” hill, come into contact (or threat of contact), and retreat back down.  Same for the Muscovite cavalry in the center.  They absorb a casualty loss from Haiduk musketry, and then fall back.

Very tempted to reset.  On the other hand, I’d like to get my Transylvanians on the table.

The daily game playing momentum has slowed. Surprising, because once I get going, the game’s very enjoyable.

Interesting set of rules.  Despite the many charts and modifiers, the play is quick, and far less procedural than Wargames Research Group (WRG)  6^th  Edition.  Husaria’s narrative allows some latitude in application.

For example: How far does a unit retreat? Is it full move, move modified for formation changes, does the unit deduct for turning 180 degrees, or what? Not complaining because it allows for applying some common sense.

Another puzzler is what happens when a unit fails its Charge Initiative Test? Does the target unit still have to take a Response Test. The answer is “Yes” in WRG 6^th .  Here, I’m not so sure. I’ve tried it both ways and have decided that if the unit fails its Initiative Test, the target does not have to test. An outcome of both units retreating is, while possible, not that plausible.

This game is full of frictions. First off, it is very difficult for “Experienced” units (which make up the bulk of units in this game) to pass the Initiative Test to charge and also difficult for them to roll for positive Response Test outcome. As a result, and I’m sure this was intended, plans do not go as anticipated.

This breakdown has caused both generals to scamper around the battlefield changing orders. The order changes are not formulated until the last phase of the turn, communicated during the next turn’s movement phase, and take effect the following turn. By that time, events may have rendered the new order moot or even counter-productive.

One interesting rule involves following up a unit that “gives ground” after losing Combat (melee). The victorious unit can only follow if it has the distance needed remaining from its charge movement allowance. If not, the victorious unit must charge again the next turn. This happened to the Russian cavalry in the center. They failed the subsequent charge test, remained stationary, and were then forced to retreat as a result of Polish musketry.

If you enjoy some chaos in your gaming, this rule set provides it. For me, especially playing solo, this is not a bad thing. And, I don’t mind working within a relatively loose framework. Again, this is after playing the very scripted WRG 6^th Edition Rules.

Here’s a summary of the past five (5) turns.

The Polish attempt to hold the east hill using Ratjars failed. However, the Cossack Infantry also withdrew (see comments about mutual failed tests, above). The Cossacks are now working their way back up the hill, but staying on the reverse slope to avoid artillery bombardment. The Polish commander has sent his remaining Ratjars to drive off the Cossacks.

The Haiduks drove off the first wave of Russian cavalry, and holds the center. The Polish Pancerni remain uncommitted, with the Hussars still to their rear and off the table.

The Russian Dragoons holding the forest have been forced to withdraw, with Polish Haiduks advancing through the forest towards the East village.

The Russian Streltsy have retreated to the villages, with orders to defend. The Russian heavy cavalry is beginning to deploy to support another attempt to break the Haiducks holding the center.

Into Turn 10 now.

Artillery fire has driven off the Cossacks. Seemed too easy. But it doesn’t take too long for a unit to have a 10% casualties morale check. And, the morale chart is unforgiving, especially for the Experienced units that constitute each side’s infantry.

Same for the musketry in the center. Strelsky now retreating, with Haiduks following up even after being pushed back for one turn by gunfire.

Recovering from retreat is different. No rallying, just turning around. However, most units will take two turns to do so, with 90 degree turns each turn. I like it. No markers, easy to see a unit’s status on the table.

Command is another adjustment. Not from a rules standpoint, but from a player’s perspective. Orders are given at the end of a turn, carried during the Movement Phase of the following turn, and communicated at the end of that following turn.

A Solo player must demonstrate a more than usual sense of discipline here. Looser rule sets allow more latitude. In this case, as with WRG 6^th, you have to force yourself to stick to the rules – well, within the spirit of the rigorous rules, and really anticipate.

The Muscovite Commander has ordered his cavalry to attack the advancing Polish Haiduks. The Polish Pancerni are now in support. To their flank, the Cossacks have rallied, but are now facing a unit of Ratjars, under orders to hold, and not be drawn into a charge. It will be interesting to see how they respond to musketry.

Here are a couple of low-light photos from the Second Story Game Cave.

Finally started the game last night. The usual inertia compounded by senseless Sunday Night Football viewing, and then the last minute completion of Unit Rosters, searching for appropriate dice, etc., etc.

The Polish Army is running low on foodstuffs. To replenish they must attack and seize the two villages to the North of their current position. To accomplish this, they must clear the high ground situated between the two small villages. Intermediate objectives are the woods lying to the West, and high ground lying South and East of the villages.

The Muscovites also need these villages to feed their Army. The army’s mission is to defend and hold the two villages.  Their deployment has dragoons in the woods, and two Cossack infantry units on the high ground South and East of the villages.  Two Streltsy units are positioned in the center, between the woods and high ground.  Three cavalry units are to the rear and in support of the Streltsy, with a heavy cavalry unit in general reserve, located on the high ground between the two villages.  The Muscovites also have a light artillery piece co-located with the heavy cavalry unit.

Here’s a low grade photo of the battlefield looking North.

And the Muscovite’s center

The Polish commander’s intent is to pin both Muscovite flanks, attrit the Streltsy infantry positioned in the center by musketry, with the Hussars and Pancerni assaulting and destroying any remaining infantry, while charging to melee with and destroying the enemy cavalry. 

The Polish dragoons have orders to advance and clear the woods to their front (I’ve been waiting to use these cheesy Wal-Mart Christmas trees for a year now. They were originally purchased for use with my 7 Years War flats, but that exercise has not taken place, yet), with the strong Polish artillery (two heavy and two medium guns) ordered to bombard the Cossack infantry positioned on the hill to their front. These guns are supported by a unit of Rajtars (heavy, pistol/saber armed cavalry) in case the Cossacks are goaded into an assault, or move to support the Streltsy.

The Polish cavalry is being held off-table, due to table size. They will work their way forward as the Haiduks’ advance towards the Muscovite center develops.

One turn in, I remembered units have to check Initiative before their first move of the game. Immediate Reset!

Other than that, fairly smooth first few turns, especially since the Muscovites have orders to hold and defend their current positions.

Very curious to see how effective the artillery is.  The hill positions are considered  Soft Cover, providing a -2 die roll modifier (drm) to any Fire Attacks. Artillery has aggressive modifiers for both long and short range (-4 and +2 drm, respectively). My table is roughly 51/2 feet by 5 feet, so setup places the two forces in relatively close proximity. This soft cover adjustment mitigates the artillery short range firing drm, effectively making fire from the artillery’s current position a medium range attack.

I’ve also tried to off-set the Polish advantage in artillery by giving the Muscovites a Cossack General.

Cold and very windy here today. I’ve finished manning the paperwork/bill paying bilge pumps, so there’s a good  chance to really get into it this afternoon.