A GNW reprise

A few weeks ago Steve and I played through a GNW scenario using the Ga Pa rules (link).  In my post I remarked how, given the time since the last Ga Pa scenario, we found the game a bit slow.  So, this week we ran the same scenario again, but used the Pike and Shotte rules instead.  Now, the rules do not include factors for the GNW, (those appear in the Black Powder supplement, "The Last Argument of Kings"), but the GNW was about the last war fought using pikes and it is only just outside the time frame of Pike and Shotte, so we thought it was worth a try.

Russians on the right, Swedes on the left

Once again the Russians have the benefit of a defensive position though they have poorer quality troops.  The Swedes must attack, pinning the Russian line before the Swedish flanking force appears.

The Russian attack strikes home

  In this second run through the scenario, the Swedish infantry managed to come to contact much better than in the first game.  I think the greater movement rate, (up to a maximum of 18" rather than 6"), helped reduce casualties; as did the difference in close range artillery fire (6" rather than 12").  However, the increased musket range (18" rather than 6") did offset this.

Even with "Ferocious Charge", (which meant the Swedes could re-roll failed attack dice in the first round of melee), the Swedish infantry failed to drive back the Russian line.  Instead, it was they who had to fall back, regroup and charge again.

A unit of Swedish infantry routes

Meanwhile the Swedish cavalry was making hard work of their attack on the Russian dragoons.  They failed successive command rolls, enabling the Russians to at least get some units out of the defences and deployed to receive the Swedish attack.  When the attack came the "Ferocious Charge" again proved not to be decisive in the first attack.  It was only when the Swedish supports joined in that the Russians cracked and fled the field.

The Swedish cavalry prevail at last

The second Swedish infantry attack was more successful.  On the Russian right one infantry unit was disordered by close range artillery fire before the infantry charged home.  At a disadvantage, the Russians put up only token resistance before routing, enabling the Swedes to gain a foothold within the defensive perimeter.  Reinforced, this slowly gained ground, aided by the Swedish cavalry. 

The Russian defensive line compromised

Although it arrived promptly the Swedish flank attack found that most of the hard work was done.  The infantry marched across the battlefield searching for an opportunity to attack, whilst the cavalry tussled with a brigade of Russian dragoons which had just arrived.  Once again the Swedish cavalry under-performed, with their veteran units being driven back in disorder.

More Swedish infantry arrive

This flank battle could not however save the main Russian force from being driven from the field thus ensuring a  Swedish victory.

The Russian dragoons try and hold back the Swedish attack

Thoughts

The game flowed better due to our familiarity with the rules

In general the 'upgrades' principally"Ferocious Charge" for the Swedes and "Stubborn" for the Russian infantry reflected the strengths of the two forces.  Poor command levels was less of a problem for the Russians in a defensive posture than it could have been if they had been trying to co-ordinate an attack.

The change in movement and weapon ranges made the attack easier, in Ga Pa the attacker suffers at least two rounds of close range artillery fire before coming to contact, enough to seriously erode their chances of success.

One outing is not enough to definitively say that this would be the right option to take.  As we all know (only too well !), dice are fickle.  Units which fail one week can succeed another, even though the circumstances are much tougher.  A few more trials are needed.

Russian success, but peripheral to the main battle