RJW War - Not the Laishui Boxing Grounds - Game 2

Game 2 of the adapted Boxer Rebellion Linked games adapted for the Russo Japanese War and the Laishui boxing grounds scenario which sees a the Japanese advance to Northern Laishui after a Russian column had attacked the village. The Japanese counter attacked but the Russians were lying in wait for them. The Japanese win if they can get with 6" of the temple.

This is the table layout with the 1o Russian units who can be deployed anywhere behind the yellow line.

The Japanese massed on the left flank looking to push directly down the table using their mass ranks to push any defenders or potential ambushers.

The Russian outdated doctrine meant that with less range they would need to advance to meet the Japanese attack, dismounted cavalry appeared on the treeline and Infantry marched out from the village.

With artillery in support the Japanese columns advanced up the table with HE shells landing amongst the deploying Russian sailors.

The Russians advanced forward to engage the advancing Japanese.

The Russian sailors were forced backwards and but more Russian Infantry rose up from woodland who  were confronted by the Japanese firing line. With multiple casualties the Russian formation was battered.

The Japanese pushed forwards driving back the remaining Russians there was nothing left to stop the advance on the temple. Another Japanese victory.

Points from the game.

Japanese Results.

Japanese fulfil their victory conditions. - 3 Points.

4 Russian units destroyed - 4 Points.

Russian Results.

2 Japanese units reduced to half strength - 2 Point.

Next up the final game of the this phase with the Russians down 12pts to 5pts they will need to really pull it out of the bag.

15mm Boxer Rebellion Collection - For Sale.

Yes it's a blatant sales pitch!!

The new games room has given me the opportunity to review the various collections still tucked away in boxes. With a (semi) permanent 8 x 4 expanse means that space is at a premium especially when the ancients need a proper home and that coupled with the principle that every collection and it's terrain must be able to support multiple periods and theatres these don't really fit the bigger plan. 

So these go up on e-bay tonight, hopefully they will find a good home for someone who can have as much fun with them as I have over the years...

Pic's captured for prosperity and to remind me not to start them again in about 3 years when something shiny comes along or a new set of rules re-sparks my interest.

You can find the listings here if anyone is interested.

Items for sale by seelowe1972 | eBay

Thanks for stopping by.

Defenders of the Legations.

The Allied Relief Column.

The Chinese Imperial Army.

The Boxers all 104 of them...

The Laishui Boxing Grounds - Colonial Campaigns #2 Part 2

Sunday night saw the Chinese Army attempt to put down the Boxer Rebellion before it took hold.

Extracting the forces for the Scenario as laid out in the book and converting to TMWWBK  equated to 30 points apiece, we had a lengthy discussion around the number of turns and decided that given the potential for units to fail their activation role we would push the turns out to 20, assuming a 50% activation rate.

 

I played the part of the Boxers. To secure victory I must ensure I retained at least one Boxer unit within 6" of the temple (Boxing Grounds) situated at the top right on the table.

 

With 10 units I opted to hide 9 and leave one in front of the Temple to draw in my opponent, sneaky Boxers....

The Chinese deploy on a broad front, as trained regulars they would get to Fire for free which would make breaking them difficult, but I only had to hold out and stay out of trouble and their firing line.

I had placed one unit well in advance of my main body of troops and this advance party rose up from behind the hill and charged into the westernised Infantry on the left flank. First blood to me....

Despite knowing I simply at to hold the temple I could not help myself and threw a couple more units into the fray hoping to turn the flank of the Chinese. Fire poured into the advancing Boxers, first they became pinned and then they were shot down to a man. Revenge for the government forces.

Meanwhile on the right flank I rushed out of the woods looking to take down the Artillery. I had now comitted over 50% of my forces so much for holding back.

I managed to over run the gun but the Boxers were spent and the reorganised firing line  destroyed what was left of the attack force. The remaining Boxer moved back into the safety of the woods to await the government advance.

The government forces advance towards the temple and sighted a number of my remaining units defending the village the stockade was no defence to round after round of rifle fire. I urged my troops forward but they stopped short of the firing line and are ravaged by fire.   

The clock ticks down and as the Kansu Braves near the temple I trigger my remaining units and rush forwards in a pincher movement on the advancing Braves. I have a chance to still pull this out of the bag, do you think I could activate a charge or Double far enough to contact...

The Kansu Braves and other Infantry elements fired at will. Pinning unit after unit slowly reducing their numbers to make any hand to hand combat a less than even affair.

A small number of the Boxers made it into combat but failed to win a single round of combat.

 

With plenty of time to spare the Government forces marched on to the Boxing grounds and the remaining Boxers fled back into the woods and countryside.

A fine victory for George and the Chinese regulars as with most TMWWBK games it went down to the wire with both of us feeling at one stage or another under serious pressure.

The result mirrored the historical outcome and the casualty count felt about right. Increasing the number of turns to 2x the book seemed to do the trick and keep the scenario balance right.

I could have been a little luckier on the dice front but I was out fought in hand to hand and shot to bits once pinned. I perhaps should have held back longer but Boxers do like a good charge...

The Laishui Boxing Grounds - Colonial Campaigns #2

Back in 2013 I posted an idea for several linked scenarios from Mark Fastoso Colonial Campaigns book. 

Like many projects this did not get as much air time as I would have liked and other projects came along, after a four year absence the second scenario finally lands on the table top. This time switching from Mud & Blood to using The Men Who Would be Kings - The Colonial Campaign books are written with the Sword and Flame rule set in mind but rather conveniently the point system within TMWWBK works perfectly with the units sizes and forces within the campaign book. 

With no changes The Laishui scenario works out at 30 points aside.

For last nights game I added in a couple of rule amendments in preparation for the up and coming Osprey all dayer.

A restriction on arc of fire with troops only being able to fire at 180 degree arc to their front hopefully allowing the Boxers a little more flexibility to flank the Imperial forces.

I have added a commander for both sides which if the unit is within 6" of the commader they get to re-roll on his initiative rather the doing nothing in a turn however if he fails all additional orders for the command are lost. ( I guess a mix of Black Powder and Dragon Rampant..)

Now to see how the game plays through?

The Scenario

The Boxer movement died down after the Battle of the Senluo Temple.

http://dusttears.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/colonial-campiagns-senluo-temple.html

But members of the Imperial Court were pro-Boxer and restrained the Imperial Forces from pursuing the Boxer bands. By the begining of 1900 the Boxers were on the move again attacking and looting Christian settlements. The Boxers arrived at the village of Laishui and burned down every Christian home killing 30 families. Colonel Yang Fu-tong was quickly dispatched to supress the Boxers. 

Boxer Commander.

The Foreign Devils have for too long humiliated the greatest nation on earth. The decadent Qing dynasty rulers, Manchu devils themselves little better than foreigners, are begging dogs, asking their Foreign Devil masters for permission to live. The only way to return harmony to the Heavenly Kingdom is to destroy all the Foreign Devils, drive them and their evil technology back to their own barbarian lands, and replace the decadent Qings with real Chinese.

To secure victory you must ensure your retain at least one Boxer unit within 6" of the temple (Boxing Grounds).

Can Colonel Yang Fu-tong can follow history...?