tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post896108953187675876..comments2024-03-27T23:01:31.478+00:00Comments on Battlefields and Warriors: The Battle of Quatre Bras 1815Normhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-548640626772896162021-01-02T06:49:23.079+00:002021-01-02T06:49:23.079+00:00Tanks Gareth, I have been thinking about post cont...Tanks Gareth, I have been thinking about post content lately and have decided that for 2021 I will increasingly go for the mixed style of AAR that highlights some of the system processes in action.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-43047578331554393762021-01-01T19:35:12.596+00:002021-01-01T19:35:12.596+00:00Norm,
Just read through this after you mentioned ...Norm,<br /><br />Just read through this after you mentioned it in your Christmas message. I really enjoyed it, particularly the way you mixed narrative and mechanics. I find the combination makes both more digestible. Thanks very much!Gareth Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03786279225783094427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-65000160521562272302020-05-19T09:22:55.643+00:002020-05-19T09:22:55.643+00:00Thanks Iain, it may have become a bit much as a si...Thanks Iain, it may have become a bit much as a single post, but thanks for sticking with it.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-39386634640124898912020-05-19T09:21:32.779+00:002020-05-19T09:21:32.779+00:00Thanks Lee, it was written up on a daily basis, so...Thanks Lee, it was written up on a daily basis, so was fairly bite sized to read as it was building up, but I’m afraid atthe end of it all, as a single post, it just might have become too much.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-12278846883108474582020-05-19T08:10:20.228+00:002020-05-19T08:10:20.228+00:00That was epic and I just read it! Well done sticki...That was epic and I just read it! Well done sticking at it I'm sure it was loads of work, very entertaining and interesting, a marginal French victory seems a bit much its more like a winning draw!<br />Best Iain caveadsum1471https://www.blogger.com/profile/02174163740406928172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-62918631813994229672020-05-19T07:52:58.342+00:002020-05-19T07:52:58.342+00:00Good Lord Norm, this is quite a body of work. Its ...Good Lord Norm, this is quite a body of work. Its a battle that has long fascinated me and I will certainly read my way through it all. Real dedication to write it up in such detail but it does bring the action to life.<br />'Lee.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02728400013024811279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-9443920770621363612020-05-18T16:05:45.804+00:002020-05-18T16:05:45.804+00:00Hi Stew, It was a very enjoyable game to play and ...Hi Stew, It was a very enjoyable game to play and I will do it again. A mistake I think to invest so much time in blogging it though. <br /><br />I think from the perspective that Ney acting earlier in the day could have got him a better position or the fact that when he did act in this game, he came perilously close to destroying his wing, probably quite fairly, put him close to such a defeat.<br /><br />I would love to draw some actions down to the tabletop, but I don’t have Napoleonic British forces, however, I am working on an Austrian force and I have exactly those plans for another boardgame. Cheers.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-74674536175704605962020-05-18T15:35:31.841+00:002020-05-18T15:35:31.841+00:00I hope you enjoyed this experience Norm. It seems ...I hope you enjoyed this experience Norm. It seems like a lot of effort. I’m surprised that that the French victory was also so close to a major defeat according to the victory conditions. But that does sound like war. <br />I wonder in your usual style, if a few actions during The game might find their way into a miniature scenario? 😀Stewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00340930167419307092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-57969819019452895022020-05-16T20:19:19.980+00:002020-05-16T20:19:19.980+00:00Thanks Mark for the thumbs up, it played quite tig...Thanks Mark for the thumbs up, it played quite tightly to the end and I would be happy to dive into it again.<br /><br />No oddly I didn’t do Wellington’s Victory, it was in the days when I was buying and playing pretty widely and was a big SPI fan, but from memory, it was a bit unwieldy, is that right?<br /><br />Not everyone will agree, but for me, the Eagles system just seems to strike the right balance between fun / game / feel and depth.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-16937002527056514232020-05-16T18:03:48.305+00:002020-05-16T18:03:48.305+00:00Well what a dramatic and entertaining read this wa...Well what a dramatic and entertaining read this was Norm, thank you for taking the time to do this. I`ve been following along each day with bated breath :) I`m a relative newcomer to the Eagles system, but not long ago volunteered to playtest Fallen Eagles 2 for the re-release. I love this system! My only prior experience in the genre was SPI`s Wellington`s Victory, did you ever play that? Mark Trowbridgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12807191826554136775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-75515647872967256362020-05-16T15:49:11.358+00:002020-05-16T15:49:11.358+00:00Thanks Dean, For a generation, Rod Steiger will al...Thanks Dean, For a generation, Rod Steiger will always be more like Napoleon than Napoleon :-) Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-11866411011099245352020-05-16T14:59:13.412+00:002020-05-16T14:59:13.412+00:00Impressive recreation of a most famous battle. I l...Impressive recreation of a most famous battle. I love the scene from Waterloo when Ney is chastised by Rod Steiger for letting Wellington get away. :)DeanMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07724268555970663130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-37232551914558550152020-05-16T10:17:27.365+00:002020-05-16T10:17:27.365+00:00Thanks Mike. Considering the small battlefield and...Thanks Mike. Considering the small battlefield and the focus on Quatre Bras, there seems to be a good variety in outcomes and the ‘story’ of the individual formation comes through - a very replayable game, which as we have already discussed will be one of the first we will get onto the table once face-to-face gaming becomes a thing again!<br /><br />yes roll on Eylau - a very good series.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-29036042980033699082020-05-16T09:42:40.360+00:002020-05-16T09:42:40.360+00:00A fine cliff-hanger ending. Love those moments of...A fine cliff-hanger ending. Love those moments of decision and the sudden unexpected outcome. Thanks for all the effort that you put in as usual in all your writing, but particularly AAR's which are hugely time-consuming. As you know, inspired by this to get my own copy out and follow the same road - with the French currently in a stronger position and Picton just one loss away from demoralisation. I find it hard to imagine that a game would ever come to a decisive victory for the French, as the 40 pts of Allied loss is a huge proportion of the Allied force to destroy. If any side is going to suffer a decisive defeat then I think it is going to be the French.<br /><br />Like you, this has become the go-to system for my Napoleonic gaming and however far down the line, I hope we see Eylau eventually produced.Polydorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08875339847623732683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-72626180603683946582020-05-15T06:06:05.121+00:002020-05-15T06:06:05.121+00:00Hi, thanks for visiting, it is such a while since ...Hi, thanks for visiting, it is such a while since I played anything comparable that I would struggle to do a proper comparison. As part of my streamlining of games, most of that stuff has gone as I make the Eagles system my go to game, which I am happy to do as I like it and it is shaping up to be a real series.<br /><br />I do have some Napoleonic 20 games, which I do enjoy at the ligter end of things and also have the Wagram game from Paper Wars by Ty Bomba that I would at least like to get to the table to try.<br /><br />The restrictive terrain helps the Allies as does their command capability of having both Wellington and Orange in play in such a small space with command ranges of 8 - they can do quite a lot, especially in stopping routs and ordering individual stacks.<br /><br />this scenario compared to the intro scenario where Ney attacks three hours later is a sobering history lesson.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-10646382409102693392020-05-14T23:33:27.565+00:002020-05-14T23:33:27.565+00:00Great write-up.
I love this system. I'll be ...Great write-up.<br /><br />I love this system. I'll be interested in your comparison to other Napoleonic series.<br /><br />I didn't fully appreciate what a tough nut the Allied position actually was until I tried this.<br />VA-Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10540414420655240286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-70557171762260049232020-05-14T15:43:14.601+00:002020-05-14T15:43:14.601+00:00Hi Mike, I thought this turn of mine was quite eve...Hi Mike, I thought this turn of mine was quite eventful and brought out nicely a few areas of the rules, particularly individual units being charged attempting to go into Defence Orders (Square).<br /><br />I know you said that you had had an early end of turn result on the first turn, bad for the French it seems, but luckily in that regard they only have a couple of commanders at first and then three when Kellerman gets on, so they should all stand a good chance of getting a proper activation ... last famous words :-) The clock ticks for more and more Anglo-Allied reinforcements to arrive! I will give you a ring later.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-41793050117058076372020-05-14T15:32:11.690+00:002020-05-14T15:32:11.690+00:00Yet another eventful turn with lots of action and ...Yet another eventful turn with lots of action and a highly plausible narrative coming out of it. I'm now a fair way along in turn 3 [4p.m.] The French ahd established a fairly solid force of IInd Corps lined up below Ferme de la Bergerie, but the Allies opposite are of similar strength. The latter are standing on the densive and letting the French come on to them. Currently three stacks of French and one Allied stack have routed, but the Allied left flank has taken a couple of hits and looks weak, but the French are not ina greta position there to exploit it. The first end of turn dice roll failure has occurred so if I roll 9+ the Turn will end [and I've been rolling 9 several times for end of Turn at the stage when it had to be 11+]. Polydorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08875339847623732683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-67827871995976810472020-05-14T05:23:13.446+00:002020-05-14T05:23:13.446+00:00Richard, thanks for the thumbs up. Very interestin...Richard, thanks for the thumbs up. Very interesting on the cavalry set-up and as well as good history, seems important that it will help to better ensure that the French have a 'good' turn one, which I feel they need if they are to meet the rigours of this scenario. Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-62055284840106226812020-05-14T03:28:42.201+00:002020-05-14T03:28:42.201+00:00Very much enjoying watching you play this one out....Very much enjoying watching you play this one out. It can be a real nail-biter. <br /><br />Another suggestion for your errata: Reille's cavalry should set up with the 5th div., which is where it was deployed historically, rather than at the rear of the corps with the artillery. Doesn't seem to change the outcome very often, but it can make the first turn even scarier for the allied player, who now must take real care in deciding when to bring Wellington on the board.<br /><br />Keep writing, Norm, you have a flair for it!<br /><br />Richard<br /> <br /><br /> wlkbouthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12303222507766783470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-45759983543654046592020-05-12T21:58:39.979+00:002020-05-12T21:58:39.979+00:00Oh yeah, I liked the battle of the bulge play thro...Oh yeah, I liked the battle of the bulge play through. <br /><br />I also agree that there’s a happy length to blog posts. Too long and people just end up skimming or ignoring. And they take a lot of effort to write. I prefer to write and read blog posts that are a *little* on the long side. But I only write one 2-3 times a month (if that), do how often you post can also be a factor. <br /><br />And of course, the main thing is if the writer is enjoying the process. Otherwise there would be no blogs. 😀<br /><br />Now to read the next turn. Stewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00340930167419307092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-80538450534617738142020-05-12T19:18:41.498+00:002020-05-12T19:18:41.498+00:00Thanks Iain, I am really getting drawn into this.Thanks Iain, I am really getting drawn into this.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-13872249079953277052020-05-12T19:11:27.608+00:002020-05-12T19:11:27.608+00:00Interesting and entertaining as ever! I'd bett...Interesting and entertaining as ever! I'd better catch up on what's happened today!<br />Best Iain caveadsum1471https://www.blogger.com/profile/02174163740406928172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-68983496997595597362020-05-12T05:41:25.688+00:002020-05-12T05:41:25.688+00:00Hi Stew, glad you are liking the commentary. The t...Hi Stew, glad you are liking the commentary. The turns have been taking me around 1 hour 30 mins to 1 hour 40 mins to do and then there is the write up to post and editing photo's etc, which can take close to the same amount of time.<br /><br />I had resolved this year to go to a shorter style of post and I thought a single AAR post on this would be overwhelming for many readers, while doing it this way makes it less onerous on me and hopefully gives a more interesting and more easily consumed read for the viewer - also, at the end of all this, the whole thing is still preserved in a cohesive form for anyone late to the party.<br /><br />I think there are gamers who can in the future plough through what will become a long article like this when completed if they are thinking about plonking their money down on the game or have the game and want to break into it, but the average browser, shooting around a load of new stuff to read that day on their feed might not.<br /><br />I did a similar thing 18 months ago when I followed the Bulge battle on a day by day basis, matching my play date with the historical battle date, that was interesting, to see how the game kept pace with the historic calendar.<br /><br />I must say though, having started this, I'm not sure the efforts are worth it and I will be unlikely to repeat it. I am remembering that it was with good reason that this year I planned to do less 'work' on the blog.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-85975940376424295572020-05-12T02:46:45.913+00:002020-05-12T02:46:45.913+00:00I glad you are enjoying the play through. Why one...I glad you are enjoying the play through. Why one turn per day? Do they take that long to do or is it also because of the added effort to document the moves? <br /><br />I must be the only moron who doesn’t know napoleonic history. Sure, I’ve heard the name Quarte Bras but I couldn’t tell you anything about it. 😀<br />Means you’re doing a good job with the AAR since I’m mostly following along despite being an alien battle fought with an alien system. I’m obviously not worldly enough. Stewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00340930167419307092noreply@blogger.com