Skip to main content

A Tangled Mass: Pared Down Close Combat Rules. . .


Another rousing engraving by Adolph Menzel, showing a clash between cavalry and Infantry at The Battle of Leignitz

 1) Declare charges at the start of a turn.  Move the charging unit half of its charge move toward the enemy target.  

2) Place a purple Bingo chip behind charging units, as a reminder, before attending to other matters on the table during the turn.  

3) Once events elsewhere have been seen to, check to see if charging  units actually close with intended targets for close combat.  Both players roll a D6 and move their units according to the following situations:

 

a. Charging Infantry versus Infantry in the Open

Close combat occurs if both players manage to roll the same number on their respective D6s.  If not, the unit(s) facing the oncoming bayonet charge 'retire at the double' (Retreat!) directly to the rear while the charging infantry occupy and hold the vacated space if possible.  Lower quality troops (D. or E. class) facing an oncoming charge might rout.


b. Charging Cavalry versus Counter-charging Cavalry 

Close combat occurs if both players roll the same number.  If not, the respective cavalry units pass through each other, turn about, and return to their own lines to reform.  Lower quality troops (D. or E. class) facing an oncoming charge might rout.


c. Charging Cavalry versus Infantry in the Open

If the cavalry rolls high, it closes with the fleeing infantry, gets in among them, and carnage ensues.  If the infantry rolls high, it holds steady and unleashes a volley into the oncoming cavalry.  Lower quality troops (D. or E. class) facing an oncoming charge might rout.

 

d. Artillery Crew and Light Infantry

Regardless of morale class, these troops evade approaching charges, which is to say they run for the hills. 

 

4) If close combat occurs based on above procedures, move charging units into contact with enemy targets.

5) Assess hits, saving throws, actual casualties, check morale, and carry out any compulsory moves for units that actually close with one another and/or charging cavalry receiving fire from steady infantry (see 3c. above). 

 

There is a bit more coming for close combat when it comes to determining casualties, but I think the above might clarify things reasonably well.  

But now, it is time this Sunday afternoon to take care of some preparation for the coming semester, which kicks off on September 1st.  Sigh.

On the bright side, those first 32 Schaumburg-Lippe infantry are finished except for glossing, so I plan to apply gray basecoat to the next batch of 16 bare metal castings this evening after The Young Master's bedtime. 

-- Stokes

 


Comments

arthur1815 said…
I like the simplicity of your method for determining whether troops stand to engage in close combat or break before a bayonet/cavalry charge very much (and may well steal it for use in my own rules!).

Thank you, Arthur! It's odd how difficult it is to keep things simple, but we're trying.

Best Regards,

Stokes
Rob said…
This is sort of close to what I suggested on an earlier post, obviously you'd got there before me - but I do think caargers stopping short should be more likely.

Popular posts from this blog

Presenting the Anspach-Bayreuth Kuirassiere!!!

Here they are, with the rearmost nine figures still drying, three squadrons of the Anspach-Bayreuth Kuirassiere, now in the service of the Grand Duchy of Stollen. And now, it's onto that artillery!

Keepin' an Eye on the World Going By My Window . .

'The Nap at the Palace' by Jose Triado Mayol N ot much in the way of hobby-related activity happening here in the Grand Duchy lately.  Sigh.  And no surprise there really since there are only so many hours in the day, only so much mental and physical energy to spare, and you sometimes simply just have to give in and know when to say, um, "When!"  A glass of wine and/or evening yoga by the hearth with the Grand Duchess (who has practiced for over 20 years), and then off into la-la land.  Zzzzzzzzz.   More immediately, I'm recovering, mentally speaking, from a grueling Friday in which I was involved with three (online) conference sessions, one right after the other, followed by a 90-minute meeting at the end of the day. Also virtual. My brain has been mush ever since, so an easy, completely unproductive Saturday watching intermittent snow fall outside (no accumulation however) and drinking coffee while the visiting handymen completed some repair work down h...

Having a "No Day". . .

  F or the almost 20 years that she lived in Mexico, one of my late mother's Irish friends frequently mentioned having a "No Day."  A day with no social obligations, chores, tasks, or other work that interfered with whatever personal interests took one's fancy on the day in question. Since today -- a gray and chilly Saturday -- is Mom's birthday, the Grand Duchess is out with friends, and the Young Master is ensconced on the sofa in the TV room with a cold, yours truly is taking his own such No Day.  I think Mom would approve of my decision to make the world go away, as the old Eddie Arnold song intoned, even if only for a little while. So, I will spend Saturday afternoon focused on that first squadron and small regimental staff of Eureka Saxon cuirassiers.  These have stood waiting  untouched over on the painting table for almost three weeks while we skied and otherwise gadded about with snowy, winter outdoor activities. I hope to share a painting update Sunday...