I thought I’d give the “Die Kriegskunst” SYW rules a try at 1:20 scale. They are adapted from the General de Brigade Napoleonic rules. So far I like the deceptively simple command rules. Here the Hanoverian and French armies are manoeuvring for position and control of the farm.

The Hanoverian/British cavalry brigade has been beaten to the ridge on their right flank losing the high ground advantage the French.

The Hanoverian/British Left Wing brigade is advancing and getting itself into line in front of the French occupied farmhouse. I’ve discovered that getting SYW foot regiments from column of march into line is no simple matter!

The Hanoverian Left Wing moves off to take the woods. It’s just dawning on me that the supporting lines of infantry, while adding support to the forward ranks, may struggle to find room to get a shot in. The artillery will probably arrive when it’s all over.

The French are managing to consolidate their line on the hill. Bringing up a battery under the protection of their cavalry. The frustrated Hanoverian cavalry brigade under “Support” orders miss their chance to charge. The fight for the wooded hill will probably decide the day.

The British and Hanoverian left wing brigade begin their assault on the French positions and take heavy losses. The lesson learned here is that the attacker (me!) was too rash and needed to outnumber the defender for any chance of success.

Catastrophe for the allied cavalry brigade. After charging the French they are repulsed and routed leaving the French to rally and reform. I think I made a mistake here with melee calculations and forgot to count one of the allied regiments! Monkey Shoulder strikes again!

Time calls an end to game with a probable French🇫🇷 victory. They have managed to hold the ridge and the farm. They also have a reformed cavalry brigade ready to turn the allied flanks. I’ll probably do an ACW game next. Thanks for your comments.

Somewhere in 17th Century England the Royalist & Parliamentary armies advance towards each other in the same old style. Infantry in the centre cavalry on the flanks. This time they are going to fight it out using a slightly adapted version of the Forlorn Hope rules.

As expected Prince Rupert could not hold his cavaliers back and so they charged straight into the opposing parliamentarian horse and foot. The Parliamentarian horse countercharged and the foot managed to form a pike stand before impact. Melee ensued.

A troop of Parliamentary dragoons pass through the baggage park and enter the village. At the opposite end of the village a royalist light artillery piece is manoeuvered down a long narrow lane towards the churchyard.

The two armies advance towards each other. The Royalist right flank Horse brigade charge their opposite number. The Parliamentarians countercharge and after 3 rounds of melee are broken, taking Gell’s grey coats with them. The Parliamentarian first line is starting to crumble!

On the left flank a Royalist horse regiment routed and pursued by the Parliamentarian horse while another regiment retires to reform after its foolish charge on the Parliamentarian pikestand. Meanwhile in the churchyard the dragoons trade shots and insults among the gravestones.

The combined efforts of the Kings Lifeguard Foot regiment and the Royalists horse brigade have collapsed and turned the Parliamentarian left flank. The raw Parliamentarian blue coat regiment (Popham’s Foot) bravely advances to try and hold the line.

On the Parliamentarian right flank the Roundhead horse are having some success against Rupert’s horse. However the loss of the Roundhead general may push the advantage back with the Royalists.