RJW War - Not the Senluo Temple - Game 1.

Having played a good game a few weeks ago see Paul's post here. From borscht to sushi - The Russo Japanese War | movealongnownothingtoseehere

It gave me the bug for the RJW again looking for a scenario I came across Mark Fastoso's Colonial Campaigns book for the Boxer Rebellion and with a couple of tweaks could be good for converting to the Russo Japanese War.

The book has three interlinked campaigns within the supplement and are of the right size and scale for games within Men Who Would be Kings.

First up the an adaption of the opening scenario Senluo Temple. 

The pretext being a village held by Korean Nationals and the Korean/Chinese army which is holding out from an attacked by the Russian Army. The Japanese look to reinforce the village whilst disrupting the Russian attack.

The Japanese must accumulate 8 Victory Points.

Points are awarded for each Russian Officer figure killed, routed of moved off the board or for each victory area controlled these are the T junction at the end of the board behind the Russian lines, the Bridge or  3 of the 4 buildings.

A few local Chinese held the perimeter having seized the chance to be free of the Russian overlords.

The Russians advance on mass looking to break into the village before the Japanese can get into position to help defend the village.

On the bridge the Japanese move at the double as the cross the river they are brought under shell fire slowing their advance.

The Russians had placed an artillery piece and infantry unit on the left flank, but they were unable to stop the Japanese from rushing across the bridge and disappearing behind cover of a wood.

The Russians closed in on the village their skill was with the bayonet and the poorly trained defenders were too small in number to stop the advance of the Russian masses. One or two units were slowed and pinned but others made it to the perimeter.

A company of Russian Infantry rush the walled compound and push back the defenders forcing there way into the compound. A good start for the attackers.

The Japanese needed to grab the initiative from the attackers and sent their cavalry forward to slow the assault. It was quite a gamble as part of the victory conditions was for the Japanese to not lose a set number of units.

The Cavalry pushed a unit of infantry backwards they lost half there number but the Infantry were broken as a force and the flank exposed.

On the right flank with the first compound in Russian hands with a sailor unit forcing back a counter attack from a Japanese Infantry unit.

It's getting close, the Russian guard having fired a close range volley into the next house charged forward, they needed to clear 3 of the 4 buildings for the victory point.

Help was on hand for the Japanese, called back from the reconnaissance they galloped back from  scouting ahead  and were rushing back to support the defence. 

Crashing into a badly beaten Russian Infantry to take it out of the game. The Russians were too weak to be able to secure the objective objectives within the turn restrictions.

The Japanese held on, the Russians had battered themselves on the defences but were unable to shift the reinforced village. Had the Russians picked the wrong objective to focus on?

Japanese Results.

Japanese fulfil their victory conditions - 3 Points

2 Russian Unit Destroyed - 2 Points

Russian Results.

Japanese Cavalry Unit destroyed - 2 Points

Japanese Infantry Unit down to half strength - 1 Point

A Japanese win by 2 points.

On to the next game in a series of 3 the Russians will need to win the next one.

Rather worryingly I played this scenario 12 years ago - Here's how that one went....

Dust, Tears & Dice: Colonial Campiagns - Senluo Temple October 18th 1899 - Mud & Blood Playtest

How time flies.... :-(