(Big Game) Ramillies "All that remained of the Original Cavalry, Faces Off in a Third of the Original Space" [Game 7] Post #9

On night four (I kid you not) of the Ramillies re-fight I forgot my iPhone so was bereft of pictures, thankfully my erstwhile French opponent providing me with the following stills from the night. Naturally there is more of a French narrative of their "heroic" cavalry arm. As seen from the first still, the heroic French are seen attacking the Allied cavalry, both sides reeling from disorder after a bloody and confused melee (see below, bottom middle, the Prussian Guard laying disorganised and a tempting target at the top of the photograph):

A wider perspective sees the last two fresh French cavalry units (bottom left and middle) ready "to go" at Allied tempting targets. The (disorganised) Prussian Guard and a unit of "pistol armed" Dutchmen (see below, behind these boys and off camera Bavarian curassier can be heard approaching):

A closer to the ground view of the same scenario (see below, the cavalry will probably go and "charge" if asked but what will return afterwards - the destruction of units for little or no gain has been quite sobering):

The French cameraman seemed to be particularly captivated with this scene as this photograph again shows the same scene from a slightly different angel (see below, no dice had been thrown so perhaps "the General" was merely taking stock of the situation):

Compulsory moves are about to be taken and charges declared. The retiring Allied Cavalry (middle right) will open the gate for another Allied unit (of mounted Dragoons) to press the mass of disorganised French (see below, bottom right):

Three charges are declared: the Allied Dragoons charge and the first line of French perform a disorganised counter-charge; The Prussian Guard is set upon but in their turn manage to counter-charge disorganised and finally two fresh units (far left below) sink their teeth into each other (see below, so add another three charge combats to all the numerous others that have already gone before):

Combat is still hot on the French right (and Allied Left) flank. The assault on the village has already depleted two units of French Dragoons (to half strength or below) in the viscous firefight with the barricaded defenders. The final Dutch Guard cavalry unit (though disorganised) sees the dismounted French Dragoons as "fair game" or rather "a easy kill"(see below, the ensuing rather complicated formulation to work out charge mechanics [as the Dutch Guard attack the mounted Dragoons retire (as indicated by their morale result) but on foot or mounted - but regardless they were 'caught'] and the French Dragoons destroyed. Another unit of retiring French Dragoon unit mount up withing range of the defenders (oops!) and too are sent below half strength. All in all that village has cost the French dear, four fresh units of Dragoons. Albeit poor mounted cavalry they still would have been much more useful in a cavalry or mounted role elsewhere):

Meanwhile the hammer of combat takes place in the middle of the cavalry battle. The disorganised Prussian Guard still manage to fight their opponents to a standstill and retire; the disorganised French are routed but the fresh French versus fresh Allied are victorious and set off in pursuit (see below, the French need a 'good' round of combats but are presented with a mixed bag - their reserves are near empty):

The battle as seen from the French rear baseline (see below, these French are rather prosaic with their photo journalism and mull over the same scene from many different angles):

A wider picture of the cavalry engagements, the fortified village is off camera to the far right (see below, note the charge on the French Dragoons is about to take place - far bottom right [the much maligned - by me - French unit of Hussars is the only cavalry reserve they have near the village, it may yet avenge the Dragoons in some subsequent combat]):

The Allied cavalry press forward and my second unit of especially painted of French cavalry faces me. Thankfully it has learnt well from the first unit and is bested in battle (see below, the fresh mounted Allied Dragoons top left, have scared off battered remnants of first line French cavalry, so they clearly have a genuine role):

At my request  I asked for a close-up of the valiant 'grey and red' unit in their first and only combat of the game (see below, all those many hours of painting were well worth it!):

Seen to the far top left are the victorious pursuing French cavalry - reaching (dangerously perhaps for them) the Allied baseline. Will they hit a volley from the first line of Allied infantry or the first wave of the fresh Allied Reserve Cavalry deployed in line appearing (far top left). You win, but then again you expose yourself to deadly danger! (see below, the rules seem to promote "a last man standing - winner takes all" result table):

The second wave of cavalry (for both sides) in now all but spent (it has been a bloody affair in horse and men) .. yet the battle goes on!

(Big Game) Ramillies "Not Even a Pause for Breath .. the Cavalry Go Again" [Game 6] Post #8

The Prussian Guard cavalry chose this time to show their metal and ploughed into a blade wielding unit of French Cavalry (see below, a unique wargaming moment as I am fighting a unit of the very troops I had painted for this battle):

The elan and the spirited charge yielded good results in the first round of combat (see below, note one always fears that these "painted units that turn on their masters" will do you evil when you face them in combat, this one however knew better not to bite its creators hand - one full base is removed as the Prussian Guard score four hits): 

The French unit is decimated and in two rounds of combat no survivors were to be had on the French side (see below, victorious yes, but on the 'down' side but now disorganised in front of fresh formed French cavalry). In response the French cavalry commander committed the a huge portion of the remaining 'intact and fresh' French formation under his direct (as in ignoring the reserves that were heading his way) command in a condensed cavalry charge (see below, the outcome again favoured the Allies, as although defeated in combat the Allied Cavalry 'retired' back, forcing larger the French to halt in disorder):

Too much elan and hot pursuit can be bad for you as the "three base" strong French pursuers are cut down to a mere "single base" by running past a formed Allied infantry formation and receive their devastating "first fire" (see below, "oouch" something that would temper the fiercest Frenchman's ardour):

Meanwhile regiments and brigades that were a shadow of their former selves still clashed in the flotsam and jetsam that juggled in almost Brownian motion at the edges of the battlefield. Once committed (as in the morale roll to pass a charge or counter charge was passed) a single dice roll held the fate of both (see below, two pistol wielding formations hit in a desperate battle): 

The Allied contingent was proclaimed "winner" but in reality its worth would be to "feed into" later rounds of more organised formations fighting (see below, it has to be noted that as long as their commanding Generals looked on the propensity to charge was as high as 75% even if 50-66% casualties had been suffered - cavalry naturally charge seems to be the dictum):

Seeing their nemesis (the Dutch Guard) chasing off two French cavalry units, the "one remaining stand" of French Guard cavalry were incensed enough to charge, smashing into their disorganised foes at a trot (see below, the battlefield was now littered with 'fragments' of cavalry units): 

What followed was mutual annihilation, nobody survived to tell the tale (see below, and the French routers .. well continued to rout away to the far distance):

The battlefield (well the cavalry wing) had been cleared on many units but no strategic gain had been made. There was still much more fighting to be done but the artillery bombardment of Ramillies was showing results. If the Allied cavalry were successful a dangerous "L" could be made in the French lines.

(Big Game) Ramillies "The Second Wave of Cavalry is Gone" [Game 5] Post #7

Hussars versus Gun: Perhaps there is a "Lesser god of Wargaming!" My heaven sent curses must have chaotically disturbed the atmospheric air vortexes and influenced the roll of the dice  ..  or I got lucky. Seeing as it was an "anything but a one" result that save the Allied artillery (naturally it was their professional manner in manning the guns) that sent the "dubious" [my nickname] packing with a casualty figure to boot (see below, I am careful that 'hubris' is a fate of one'sown making - but serves you right):

Alas, the French are victorious elsewhere (pass me the glass marked 'hubris' to drink out of. The condensed formation of French cavalry survive the meagre Allied cavalry charge and the tear them apart in a second round of combat, picking up another casualty but not removing a base (see below: this French unit has put in the best performance in the game and still has the potential to do more (see below): 

The milling group of Allied Generals makes way to avoid being caught in the hot pursuit (see below, the Frenchmen's has its gander up!):

Alas the routing Allied "block of four" is caught in the pursuit (see below, too far away from distant friends to help with morale modifiers and support):

They are blown from the field (see below, this reverse in one blow levels much of the previous turns combat that ran in the Allies favour, still that just takes it back to a level playing field - theer is plenty to still fight for):

More than half of both sides cavalry seems to be in the "dead pile" which leaves barely half a dozen fresh or relatively fresh units a-side left in play. Along each respective baseline yet more cavalry can be seen massing as "fresh reserves" from the other flank are committed (see below, historically Marlborough did this but not the French General):

The last or the original cavalry troops "go at it again". By this time both sides have a grudging respect for each other's troops. If anything is still telling it is the Allied preference for the sabre and protective armour afforded to the cuirassier cavalry (see below, will this 'senseless' charging never cease?):

That terrifying French cavalry unit pursues its third victim, but now it too is out of support of friends and Generals and beneath the loaded guns of Marlborough's fresh infantry, its end may soon come (see below, the attitude of the Allied cavalry is that "somebody else" will deal with the rear - there is a more dangerous foe to the front):

Ramillies meanwhile is still being bombarded but the infantry is moving up into attack position. It seems crazy for the Allies to even contemplate attacking as they did historically as the French are defending much further forward. A contested crossing would be a blood-bath, a stand-off draw along the infantry line would be a good Allied result.

(Big Game) Ramillies "The Second Wave of Cavalry is Committed" [Game 4] Post #6

The view from the extreme left of the Allied line. The French Guard Cavalry that dominated the are is simply put "gone" and a second line of French Cavalry comes forwards. Two units of Dutch Guards are looking for their next target (bottom right) while a unit of French Hussars (middle top - two bass of two cavalry figures) is thinking of doing something sneaky to the Allied gun (see below, I have a particular dislike for the Hussar units as it is dispersed for artillery shooting, yet at the same time it can immediately concentrate for a charge with a very long reach - a rules loop-hole as it has the best of both worlds): 

Meanwhile the mayhem in the middle of the Cavalry action shows a "bowling alley effect" as the victorious cavalry of either side ignore each other [on their respective flanks] and dash off to the races (see below, symmetrical results - the Cavalry battle is a grind going down the middle statistically):

Suddenly there are acres of open ground where but a few moments ago thousands of horse were engaged in desperate combat (see below, strangely the Allied are already in the enemy baseline while the French are heading to it - one feels no good of it will ultimately come for either unit):

Into this void the second wave of both French and Allied Cavalry is committed to fight (yet again) over the very same ground (see below, oh the "humanity of it" - for what purpose indeed):

I told you those French Hussars were after the blood of that artillery piece. What is more dire is that because we are bath-tubbing up a set of tactical rules from regiment to brigade level, through in inter-penetration rules the supporting cavalry are not allowed to charge. Hmm, the "billimeter" is in play here (see below, a bit like rules of Newtonian Physics versus Quantum Physics these rules are breaking in places when elementary particles clump together into atoms and molecules - the guns are charges and Allied players suck air in air between our collective teeth, the dice will have their say [OK, I am sounding sour, because it was a bitter vinegar moment]): 

Meanwhile Dutch Guard Cavalry charges a hapless group of French Cavalry to "clear the ground" for fresh Allied units to deploy (see below, the French are not in column but two half units stuck in a condensed formation):   

The victorious French pursues take on another Allied cavalry unit, which means they are positive in the trade for bodies - they are taking out more than their own weight (three for the price of two). They may even get the better of the new cavalry unit if the fight becomes a protracted melee (see below, the combat life of a cavalryman seems to be as short as a May gadfly!):

Meanwhile the successful Allied cavalry is torn apart by a French "Flank Trot" to combat. The Allied cavalry roll disastrously low on their morale and disintegrate after first routing and then being pursued to the ground (see below, the start of their doom, this trade was a selfless one-to-one sacrifice):

A remnant from a previous successful French charge id catch deep in the Allied backfield by Allied Mounted Dragoons (see below, which much to everyone's surprise are very useful in mounted combat against weakened first line cavalry): 

The French are dispatched quite professionally (see below, the key thing is for the Dragoons not to overplay their hand and mop up broken, disorganised and reduced line cavalry):

The rear fresh units of the Allied and French lines are lined to contest the "deadly middle-ground" once more.

(Big Game) Ramillies "The Heart of the Matter" [Game 3] Post #5

The repetitive sequence of combat continues. The French second line of cavalry finds itself embroiled in sprawling melees (see below, a wave of double-lined French hits a single wave of Dutch):

The captured town on the extreme left of the Allied line is a painful proposition for the French Dragoons who are trading their lives with Dutch infantry. It has already cost the French a stand of cavalry who ventured too neat the place (see below, the protected status of the town gives the defenders good cover and a saving throw - already costing the French a stand of Dragoons):

The Dutch again bested the "double-ranted" French trading their lives dearly to stem the desperate French counter-attack  (see below, the Dutch are shattered, but have shattered one in return and disorganized yet another - a small factor in favour of the Allies):

Part one of the juggernaut, another Dutch convincing win (see below, the French are in despair):

A second round of combat decimates the French and a virtually untouched Allied force of cavalry will be in hot pursuit next round of a routing enemy (see below): 

Alas (statistics) and fortune reverse on the other combat as the French are (uncharacteristically) victorious in an equally decisive manner (see below, taking 50% casualties this Allied block of cavalry will be routing and in turn vigorously pursued by Frenchman with their "tail-up"):

Meanwhile the Allied artillery pound away at Ramillies, their ammunition is running low but they are now reinforced by a the second contingent of Allied artillery with fresh stacks of black "cannon balls" (we have added an advanced logistic feature to the rule system - limited artillery ammunition. The French C-in-C had suffered too much at the hands of the Allied artillery in the last game and decided to do something about it. In his favour it seemed a good historical call): 

Ramillies was approaching its ruin and the infantry seemed to be getting restless to get "stuck in". Yet more cavalry was being sent in the meat grinder of a battle on the "cavalry wing" from both sides.

Note: This is where we are departing from the historical narrative as Marlborough was the general who had the 'touch of genius' to commit his cavalry to one wing with a cunning "secret move". Here, both commanders can allowed do so.

(Big Game) Ramillies - Cavalry "Sash and Sabre" [Game 2] Post #4

The cavalry battle began in earnest both sides hammering chunks out of each others formations. The French chose to send in their elite Guard early, meeting their Dutch counterparts (see below, Dutch Guard meet the French Guard bottom left):

The Dutch Guard are victorious but it is a Phyric victory as the survivors hardly muster more than a "Mad Hatter's tea party" (see below, one third [two horses] remain):

Across the battle field waves of cavalry clash. After the initial besting of the French Guard a strong force Dutch Guard fancy their chances at the French "Second Line" Cavalry (see below, the French were putting much in store by the tactic of blocking two lines together in a condensed mass - great if you win disaster for all if you lose):

The first row of French Cavalry was removed in a desperate action that was so quick that it was not captured on camera (see below):

The last full unit of French Guard are committed at an ordinary Dutch unit but surprisingly are held, squaring and trading blows in disorder (see  below, the French Commander is exasperated at the lack of success with his best weapon):

Another bloody round sees the valiant Dutch routed but again at extreme cost to the battered last stand of French Guard Cavalry. The French Guard "wing" has gone but the Dutch still have unspent elite to press home attacks with (see below): 

Meanwhile at the other end of the table, dragoons face off against each other, over the most horrible of 'boggy' terrain (see below, sniping ensues and the blast of the occasional cannon but no main combat):

Over back on the "Cavalry end of the table" both sides now commit their "Second Lines". The French have again compressed their units together in dense formations. The Allies respond by similarly compressing theirs (despite having had a remarkable run of success sending in a less numerous [one line] attack but with a subsequent follow up against victorious but disordered cavalry). The juggernauts hit "head on" (see below):

The results of this clash could be decisive as both parties gamble the fate of two units a piece in two separate furious melees! That is a good quarter of the total engaged cavalry.