Relief of Valdi Total Con 2015

Total Con was over the weekend, in the past Jon (or War Games Recon) Adrian and Cortland had put together historical miniatures games but as these fine fellows would be unable to make it I took up the torch to represent miniature games of a historical flavor.  I did this with a twist pitting the Grand Duchy of D'Argent against the Ostern Reich two Imagi-Nations of my own creation. The Duke is trying to drive off Ostern Forces from the key city of Valdi which has been besieged for several weeks. 

The Army of D'Argent arrayed for battle Light Cavalry on the left, Skirmish infantry on the right with D'Argent's small corps of heavy cavalry to their left.  The Duke's superb infantry is in the center backed by two battalions of Irish and Scottish exiles/mercenaries.

The Ostern forces have thrown up some defensive works and deployed artillery.  Skirmish infantry and Hussars can be seen in the for ground with Winged Hussar lancers in the center by the hill.  Beyond the hill the Reich Brigade hold another.

Both side had a poor showing command roll wise first turn (this was true for several turn I was very glad I made the D'Argent infantry Reliable to facilitate both sides getting into the action) with the exception of the Duke's line cavalry who got three moves and were right in the face of the Ostern light forces.

They took some hits form artillery and musket fire but soon drove the Grenzers back and were engaged with the Hussars beyond.

The Ostern Troops were not idle however (though the troops to the rear did have trouble getting up due to poor command rolls) The Cheveliers D"Argent(to the rear)  were soon overwhelmed by the on rushing Lancers of Rakowski's brigade (note pennants on lances) .  Prince William's cavalry found it self badly  entangled with two units of light infantry(for ground) while Jeavons' Horse grenadiers threw back Ostern Hussars in the center.

Alas the Cheveliers broke and the Prince Willim's men fell back from the cross fire leaving  Jeavon's men exposed.

The infantry was moving into position however and the Light Cavalry can be seen racing around the flank at the top of the picture.

 Jenvon's men were broken and scattered trying to return to the main line of D'Argent Cavalry but did manage to hurt one of the Lancers badly enough to sake it. Musket fire saw to the other regiment of Lancers, and the Ostern light cavalry were both broken though they took the line cavalry of D'Argent with them.   More Ostren Heavy cavalry appear along with infantry to shore up the wavering left flank. Sal the the Ostern general while concerned over the breaking of 2 brigades felt he had gotten good coin for the blood spilled.

The D'Argent light cavalry takes position on the flank of Lords Brigade of the Ostern army and opens up with carbine fire.

In the center a lone regiment of Heavy cavalry charges the Guard D'Argent. The fight is a dead lock.

D'Argents infantry closes on its objective the fortified line of hills.  Ostern Cavalry is fails to charge (other then the exception noted above).

On the left D'Argents light troops including the Jager-hounds are pressing the Ostern left flank. The hounds charge first one, then a second and finally a third Grenzer regiment.  The hounds tear at the flesh of the their foes and sew chaos on the left... the Light infantry is broken.

Ostern Cavalry charge up the gut supporting the lone unit the had attacked the guard. The Guard itself is forced to fall back but other unit hold.

The Charge if not quite as successful as hoped buys time for Ostern Infantry to advance to fill the now empty fortification...if they can make it in time. 

D'Argent presses on both flanks the light cavalry and Regiment DeBurre launch a coordinated assault on the right flank with the artillery pounding both the hill top guns and infantry. Much damage is done but no units break though several are just hanging on. 

D'Argent wins the race to the forts but cannot force the Cavalry to break off though this Ostern Currasiers and Dragoons are badly cut off they continue the melee.   At this point time is up as the convention is ending.  Discussing it with both Sal (the Ostern commander) and Lou (the D'Argent commander) we rule this a minor victory for the Ostern Empire.  D'Argent only had one brigade broken but had not taken the main hill fort.  The Siege would continue though the Ostern lines of supply were still threatened even if their siege lines were safe for now.

Thanks to both my players, I apologize if I didn't get your names right (I failed to write them down, please do correct me) and a Special thanks to Mark D'Errico who made up some emergency Disorder and Shaken tokens.

I made a few changes to the  Black Powder rules. 1st I gave each infantry unit 4 dice for firing, I don't think this made them much more deadly but it was easier for most of the player to remember 4 bases=4 dice.  2nd I created a new stat called Discipline that was mostly a save vs. Disorder this meant units could still become disordered but that it didn't happen on every 6.  Finally I also let commanders keep giving orders to their brigades if they failed an individual unit command roll but at a minus 1 per failed roll and this seemed to work well.