Lasalle Tournament Alicante 2013

 

On the 19th November in Alicante we held our annual Lasalle Tournament. In the end there was eight players after two players having to drop out due to work and family commitments. We were going to play with one support and have three games using the normal set up and winning conditions as laid down in the rules. For the  system for working how many points we had after each game we used the SUM 20 rule.

 

I have a love hate relationship with the Lasalle rules, I like the simplicity of the rules but there are a few major things that happen due to the rules that I personally feel do not reflect the tactics of the time. A few months ago I decided to try out the Austrian Infantry División with linear tactics, there were a number of reasons for this.

  

1) Due to the units being large, I`m more confident in standing and firing when an enemy unit is attacking me. This the main thing for me, because I can fire my muskets more often which feels more like a Napoleonic game. Instead of retreating and then attacking in the next move.

 

2) Using an army using linear tactics who can only charge when in line is quite challenging especially when attacking.

 

3) You get nine or seven large infantry units if you are attacking or defending respectively.

 

 

My first game was against Kevin, who had kindly stepped in when somebody had to drop out at the last minute. When I said I have a love hate relationship with Lasalle, Kevin has a hate hate relationship with the rules, the last time he played in a friendly tournament he vowed never again and sold his Austrian army (to me). So it was very good of him to give up his day to help the other guys out at the club.

 

 

Kevin on the left, begining his first move.

              Kevin had borrowed my French army which was Conquest Infantry División with Light Cavalry Support. I chose to defend and for additional terrain I used my two thin hills (ridges).

 

 

Kevin begins by bringing his artillery to threaten my right flank.

 

                               My Infantry mounted the ridge and prepared to defend against the French Infantry that advanced directly against them. I reinforced my  threatened right flank with my Hussars.

 

The French advanced and charged the Austrians, the French all lost their close combat and fell back. This was the only large attack the French managed to make on my centre and due to my Austrians not been able to charge it settled down into a musket duel.

 

 

A large cavalry battle was being fought on my right flank.

 

 

By turn twelve Kevin had reached his breaking point and managed to hold on to turn nineteen where he failed his morale roll. Therefore it was 18 points to me and 2 points to Kevin. The first game went right up to the time allowed so I only managed to get a few photos of the other battles.

Francois´s French 1814 Liberation Army with Light Cavalry Brigade against Javi´s Spanish Army with Cavalry support.

 

 

With both players arriving late, I think Javi´s Spanish came out of their defence lines to try to crush

the French but time had ran out and it was a draw. Francois had  7 points and Javi 13 points.

 

 

Jose´s French Conquest Infantry with Light Cavalry support defended against Toni´s Russian Infantry Guard División with Guard Cavalry support. This ended in a victory for Toni´s Russians with 13 points to Toni and 7 points to Jose.

 

 

Dani´s Prussians with Light Cavalry support attacked Juan Marcos´ Ottoman Turkish army with Heavy Cavalry support.

 

This also ended in a draw with Juan Marcos gaining 12 points and Dani 8 points.

                                             After the first round the scores were as follows

                                            Coalition                           
                                  Phil  (18)                   

                                  Javi   (13)               

                                   Toni  (13)               

                                   Dani  (8)                 

             

                                               Total    52                        

                                   French and Allies
                              Juan Marcos  (12)      
                              François           (7)  
                             Jose                 (7)
                             Kevin               (2)  

                                       Total                 28

     Round two and I was playing against Juan Marcos and his Ottomans, we both wanted to defend, but I lost the dice off and became the attacker. Juan Marcos deployed first and used a stream to bolster his defence.

 

It is quite tricky to attack using linear tactics but the important thing is to get as near to the enemy as fast as posible, luckily Juan marcos had sited his artillery on a flank where I wasn't attacking.

 

 

I was holding my Hussars back in reserve waiting for his reserve cavalry to arrive, but Juan Marcos sent a couple of irregular units of infantry over the stream  and into the woods. It was opportunity too good to miss, so I charged into the  woods with my cavalry. The first enemy unit was destroyed.

 

 

The Ottoman Cavalry then arrived, although they found it hard to fully deploy due to lack of space.

In the centre my Austrians were beginning to find it tough going, due to the hard pounding by the newly sited artillery and cavalry advancing through the woods.

 

I had deployed my artillery and a unit of hussars on the Ottoman left flank, these had soon destroyed one Ottoman unit and were bombarding the other units. To the front my infantry had finally reached the enemy, but the first attack was beaten back, however there were plenty of enough waves of infantry behind the first one.

 

Sadly we had come to end of the alloted time and the game was declared a draw which was a pity because I was sure If we had gone the full number of turns we would have had more of a decisive result hopefully in my favor. The score was 12 points to Juan marcos and 8 point to myself. 

 

On the next table was Jose`s French attacking  Javi´s Spanish

                             This game ended when the Spanish army was broken by turn 10 and Javi had thrown his 5 dice getting 2,2,2,2 and a 1 (I´m glad it isn´t just me who can do this ). Jose gained 15 points and Javi 5 points.

                            

                          Kevin´s French defended a stream line against Dani´s Prussians

 

Kevin used the stream barrier to great effect, when I had looked in, halfway through the game. Dani had broken through to the otherside of the stream with an unit of cavalry. But Kevin managed to shore up his defences and held on for a draw gaining 12 points and Dani 8 points

 

 

   The final game of the second round was Toni´s Russians defending against Francois´ French
This ended in a victory for Tony with 15 points and Francois recieving just 5 points.


So after the second round the results are as follows

                                          Coalition                           

                                   Toni  (28)              

                                  Phil  (26)                

                                  Javi   (18)              

                                  Dani  (16)               

                                                     

                                               Total    88                        

                                 French and Allies

                                Juan Marcos  (24)      
                                   Jose                 (22)       
                                Kevin               (14)     
                                François           (12)    

                                      Total                 72

 After a quite awful meal at a local restaurant, which I dont think we will be going back any time soon. We eventually arrived back at the club for the final round. I was paired off with my old adversary Jose and his French conquest army.

 

I went back to the role of defending, hoping my troops would be able to break his army.

 

 

 Using my two  ridges to hide my troops, I realised Jose was going to try to combine his infantry and cavalry into multiple attacks. So a little too late I adjusted my position to allow my cavalry into the frontline. 

 

I managed to get my cavalry into the front line, just as the French rose over the crest.

 

 

Unfortunately I had no room to maneuver so my all cavalry had to charge two units each. Although I came worst off in the combat, Jose did not manage to take advantage of this and his attack began to falter.

 

 

To give Jose something else to think about, I sent two Infantry batallions around his left flank. With his attack stalling in the centre and neither of us anywhere near our breakpoint time had run out and the game ended in a draw. With 12 points to me and 8 points to Jose. 

 

 

 

 

On the next table Kevin managed to win the dice off to see who would defend. Meaning Javi´s Spanish would have to uncharacteristically attack. Kevin placed the stream once again to slow the Spanish advance. Even though Javi managed to get his irregular cavalry over the stream and behind the French lines. By the end of the game, surprisingly  neither player lost a single unit. This game also ended in a draw therefore Javi gained 12 points and 8 points to Kevin.

 

 

Francois' French attacked Dani's Prussians. Dani set his troops up to allow máximum fire from his troops onto the French troops. This once again ended in a draw with 12 points to Dani and 8 points to Francois.

 

 

Toni's Russians attacked Juan Marcos' Ottoman Army. Well done to Toni , for achieving something that myself and Dani couldn't achieve in winning against the Ottomans.

 

So the the final score were as follows

 

Coalition Armies

 

1  - Toni (Russia) ; 3 victories, 0 draws and 0 defeats, 41 Points

2- Phil (Austria)  ; 1 victory, 2 draws and 0 defeats,  38 Points

3- Dani (Prusssia)  ; 0 victory, 3 draws and 0 defeats   28 Points

4- Javi (Spain) ; 0 victory, 2 draws and 1 defeat, 30 Points

 

   French and Allies

 

1- Jose (French) ; 1 victory, 1 draw and 1 defeat, 30 Points

2- Juan Marcos (Imp. Otomano) ; 0 victory, 2 draws and 1 defeat 31 points

3- Kevin (Francia) ; 0 victory, 2 draws and 1 defeat, 22 points

4- François (Francia) ; 0 victory, 2 draws and 1 defeat 20 points

Coaltion had 137 points and the French 103

 

Therefore the Coalition players won the team game.

 

 

Francois' reaction on hearing the French have lost the Tournament and Napoleón had abdicated.

 

 

The Trophies

 

 

Juan Marcos won the Trophy for the most freakiest Arny with his Imperial Ottomans.

 

Javi's Spanish won the Trophy for the best painted Army.

 

 

 

Toni recieved his Trophy for comimg first in the coalition side and overall winner. 

 

 

 

Jose just pipped Juan Marcos to the first position for the French, due to him winning one victory. Actually the only victory won on the French side.

 

 

 

We also had the prize giving ceremony afterwards with some great donations from our Sponsors. Who were:

 

Andrea Miniatures

 

Atlantica Juegos

 

Estrategos

 

Wargames Bilbao

 

Breaking War

 

Merceron Games

 

Bandua Wargames

 

Warmodeling Miniatures

 

De Dados

 

Mirmidonia

 

Xan Miniatures

 

Pinturas Vallejo

 

Encobertura

 

Once again thanks for everybody for making the day a great event, hopefully for next one we can see more players from other áreas. Also a  special thanks to Salva who organised the event and unfortunately was unable to participate.

 

 

 

Day of the Zulu Part two Rorkes Drift

      After a quick barbecue we resumed our Zulu Day with our second battle, Rorkes Drift. The last time we had played this game was January 2012, but I had few ideas how to improve it. I had converted my original barricades into stonewalls for my Gettysburg game, so with being on summer holiday I decided to make new ones. Also I revamped my hospital and storehouse to appear more accurate.
  

 

The Zulus were split up into 4 regiments of a hundred figures on ten bases, each regiment was placed on different  sides of the garrison. Kevin changed allegiance to the Zulus, so four of us commanded one Zulu Regiment each. To stop the Zulus making co-ordinated attacks and potentially massacring the British in their first attack I used a rule that each Zulu regiment had threes stages before they attacked, they were ;

 

1) Resting,

2) Standing up 

3) Chanting 

 

the Zulu player had to roll 1D6, 1-3 the level stayed the same, 4-5 the level changed up one step, 6 the level changes up two levels. So when the Regiment is on Chanting  a 4-6 means they charge.  

  The first to start chanting were Luis´ Zulus, I expected the British players to reinforce this threat but they didn´t move any of their figures. Once again I put on the Zulu film for effect ,  I know there are quite a few inaccuracies but I never tire in watching this great film. The Zulus charged the hospital and wrapped around the barricades, however they made little impression, apart from killing and wounding the gallant defenders at the barricades in front of the hospital verendah. Luis´Zulus skulked back to his line to rest and form up. Each Regiment had five charges in them before they gave up and went back to their kraals.

 

The next Zulus to charge were Kevins , the problem for him was his Zulus had to climb a few fences and walls to get to the barricade. Quite a few of Zulu were killed by the defenders firing from in the Hospital

 

 

Now the barricade in front of the hospital was unmanned, so it was easier for them to cross over and reach the front doors.

 When I revamped my buildings, I decided to fix the roofs on, so figures could fight on them in true Michael Caine style. To make it more interesting I made simple floor plans of the building where we could recreate the struggle inside, In the above photo the Zulus have broken into the side door and killed the defenders inside the room, Fortunately for the other defenders, its a dead end, so they have to go back out and try their luck at another door.

 

Kevin´s attack had finished, but due to great throwing of the dice (to kill a British Soldier you need throw a six) the south barricade has only 2 men and 1 wounded left. At this point I thought the game was going to finish quite early.

 

In the last attack, Lt Chard was wounded, so he visited Surgeon Reynolds and his dog, in the Hospital. However unlike the film this had a different ending. Jose who was playing Surgeon Reynolds, threw a 1 meaning that Chard had died whilst being treated, much to the anguish of Javi who was controlling Chard.

 

I kept throwing three or under so my Zulus were still asleep, as the 4 soldiers in the middle of the open ground made a redoubt out of the mound of sacks. The men on the storehouse roof spot Miguel´s Zulus beginning to  charge. 

 

The Zulus hit the south barricades and enter the hospital killing most of the defenders including Pvt Hook. 

 

 

With the Hospital severely depleted with only a few wounded soldiers to defend it. The British players decided to abandon it and move to the barricades by the store house.

 

With the hospital deserted apart from the dead, there is no-one to stop the Zulus setting it on fire.

 

At last my Zulus wake up and attack the west end of the barricades.

 

Some of my Zulus manage to climb on the roof and enter into hand to hand combat with the British on the roof , who manage successfully  to push my Zulus off the roof. 

 

 

In the pause of the action the redoubt was finally built and Surgeon Reynolds tried to treat more patients, however Jose kept rolling them ones and he killed more patients than he saved, the other players gave him  the nickname of Doctor Mengele.

 

 

The next attack is a two pronged attack with mine and Miguel´s Zulus, who set fire to the cookhouse as they attack.

 

 

Maybe this was the attack that would finish off the garrison.

 

Two of my Zulus manage to fight their way through the storehouse and enter the courtyard. However Pvt Dunbar the best shot in the company (in the game he can fire twice at +1) kills both from his vantage point in the redoubt.

 

 

The last of Miguel´s Zulus try to make it across the empty courtyard but the British rifles kill most of them before they get to the ramparts.

 

 

 

Next it was Kevin´s and Luis´ Zulus turn to  make a two pronged attack,  

 

All of the are players involved in the last attack whilst Colour Segt Bourne looks on from the televisión in the background. (unfortunately in the game he was another of Surgeon Reynolds´ victims)

 

 

The defenders are forced to abandon the Kraal and reinforce the redoubt.

 

The game ended in game time at 19.10 when it was getting dark. The defenders still had over half their numbers left, including Lt Bromhead, Pvt Dunbar and Surgeon Reynolds who it seemed finished off more soldiers than the Zulus did.

 

This was a great game to play, plenty of action and twist and turns. After the second attack it looked like an early defeat for the defenders, but once they consolidated their forces they were able to give a better defence. Everybody seemed to be enjoying themselves and once again the rules although slightly different can be played without resorting to any charts.

 

I played the game with each British figure representing 2 real men, next time we play this I want to change to a ratio of one to one with each figure been labelled with the soldiers name. Also I am going to improve the hospital and storeroom floor plans making them more 3D.

 

 

 

 

Day of the Zulu Part One Isandlwana

 

Last month I decided to put on Zulu Day for a few of my wargaming buddies, I planned on playing the Battle of Isandlwana in the morning and after a Barbecue, we would play Rorkes Drift in the afternoon. In the end there was seven of us playing and everybody arrived on time.

 

 On the Zulu side there was myself controlling the centre, Miguel the right horn and Luis the left horn. On the British side, Jose controlled the cavalry, Javi the left flank and centre, Angel the right flank and artillery and Kevin was in control of Durnford`s  column. Before the game started the Zulus had to decide on their off table position, waiting to be discovered by the British scouts. They would only be triggered to start the attack when the main Zulu force, the chest and loins were found. To add a little background atmosphere, I also put on the DVD "Zulu Dawn".

 

Zulus arrive on the table

 

Jose sent out his cavalry at 7.00 a.m with two units in the middle and the other to units at the far end of the table. Unfortunately for the Zulus the Natal Carbineers headed straight towards where the Zulu main body was hiding . After 2 quick moves Jose threw a six and his troops discovered the mainbody triggering the attack to begin, a lot earlier than the real battle.    

 

The Zulu advanced rapidly with the British mounted troops firing and retreating in front of them. To represent the ammunition rules, I had a small box for each British unit with homemade plastic bullets in them (Wall plugs) I was going to paint to make them look more realistic, but I had run out of time. Each time the unit fired the player had to give me a bullet, when the unit`s ammunition reached a certain point they had to send a runner to get more ammo.

 

On the Zulu left with Durnford not appearing yet, their largest regiment the InGobamakhosi Regiment crossed the Donga whilst the Zulu center was held up by the cavalry. 

 

The Camp´s horses and oxen are moved towards the rear.

 

View from behind the British camp.

 

The British companies begin to give a telling fire on the Zulu´s, you can just make out the range marker stakes that have been hurriedly put out.

 

 

Lt Col Pulline, Lt Melvill and the standard bearer in the camp, watching the artillery help support the British right flank.

 

The Zulu extreme left flank come into range of the British rifles although the Natal Native Contingent only had two rifles per base and very little ammunition.

 

A casualty marker is placed next to a Zulu base to show that the are pinned and cannot move until rallied. In the foreground four boxes of the cavalry ammunition.

 

Behind the Zulu left flank the Mounted Infantry begin to fire  into the back of the formation.

 

The Zulu centre is still making little headway but the Cavalry are now low on ammunition.

 

Due to the low rate of fire from the N.N.C the Zulus are getting closer to the British right flank.

 

The Carbineers with no ammuntion left and waiting for their runner to return, finally make it back and take their place in the British Lines.

 

 

Behind the companies of N.N.C the  runners are queuing up to receive ammunition from the quarter masters wagon. In the background behind the wagons. Durnford´s column finally arrives. 

 

The Zulus go into close combat with the N.N.C and are virtually destroyed as the victorious Zulus begin to chase them through the camp.

 

Only a small amount of ammunition is getting through and now most of the British Companies are down to their last few bullets or are completely out of ammunition. Also there is a gap in the British lines and a Zulu base attacks the artillery from the flank.

 

All the bullets that the British have used and not been given back.

 

 

Even though Durnford´Troops are stabilising the Right flank, nearly all the British companies are now out of ammunition, as can be seen by the turned up boxes in the background.

 

Unfortunately due to time constraints we had to end there, although almost certainly in the next few turns the British left flank and centre would have been broken by the Zulu onslaught.

 

Conclusions

 

The game worked out very well, the Zulu´s were found a lot quicker than I expected but this was something that always happen when its random mechanism. The ammunition mechanism worked very well and it was good watching the players getting worried when they started scratching around their ammo  boxes for their last cartridges.  They only problem was probably the Quartermaster was too stingy with his supplies, and I might have to adjust the table for next time. The Shooting rule worked ok, but I feel it still needs a little improving and I will probably run through the game again a couple of times in the next two weeks to get that aspect better.

 

We then enjoyed a quick Barbeque outside and moved the figures upstairs to play our next game, Rorkes Drift.

 

I will post an account of this in the next few days.