Back to the Wargames Holiday Centre (WHC) for a refight of one of the major battles of the War of Spanish Succession (or Marlburian wars as I called them as a school boy).
There were 8 players over the weekend, myself and 4 friends and 3 others, all of who I'd happily join in with again. One of the reasons for choosing a "public" game was to play with others more experienced with the Black power rules (and after my earlier fun experience this year at the WFC, to meet more wargamers)..
I expect that many wargames will have some knowledge of the battle but in case it's new to you...it was in Aug 1704 , our refight was the 315th anniversary. The French, Bavarians and their allies vs the Imperials (Austrians), English and their allies. I say English as the act of union with Scotland was still 2/3 years away.
The French were the finest army in Europe and were therefore rather shocked when John Churchill (the future Duke of Marlborough) attacked across the Nebel river. The French-Bavarian line was flanked by two towns (Lutzingen & Blenheim) with a third Oberglauheim in the centre.
The assault on the two flanking towns ended in a stalemate for much of the battle and the battle hinged on the encounter in the centre between the English and the French. To be fair it's often not mentioned that the French cavalry had been infected with Glanders which is a serious horse disease. The Finest cavalry in Europe the French Gensdarmes met the English horse and were defeated. After that it was all down hill for the French.
So much for the history... over the weekend we fought the battle twice, each of us getting to command both sides. The first battle was a learning curve for us all. We were using WHC house rules for WSS and Black power 1. Unfortunately my friends and I had all read/played version 2 and there were a few key differences. Still it was a good battle and due to a blunder the entire French centre's cavalry charged the British centre. They lost but it took long enough for the French to start to win around Lutingen, aided by the fact it took hours to winkle the defenders out of Oberglauheim. We called it a winning draw for the French.
24' of battle line
Traffic jam trying to cross the Nebel
The second version of the battle was much better planned and run. The defenders of Oberglauheim were shot out of their fortification in a couple of turns and the French left got suck into a major fight swinging backwards and forwards. The British centre made a very controlled advance into the centre against the Bavarians. In the right centre the French cavalry held back giving the guns and infantry a clear shot at the attacking Dutch troops. Two attacking brigades of Dutch were shot off the French line and retired from the battle field. The British ignored Blenheim which was a good move. Once again I'd call it a winning draw to the French but another one or two turns would have seen a major battle in the centre which would have swung the battle one way or another.
The Bavarians wait on the English assault
My French have already driven off two assaults
As when I played at the WHC in March, Mark Freeth was an excellent host, remembering everyone's names and keeping us supplied with drinks, sandwiches and cake.
It's a big table, this is just half
Black power gives a nice speed to the game and the mechanics are easy to learn. The house rules added flavour. I think I prefer pure "The Last Arguments of Kings" supplement for WSS and SYW but I was happy enough with these rules. It certainly did not feel like a Napoleonic battle. It's always interesting to see in these big battles how they break down into a series of more local fights and an army that is winning on one flank can be getting creamed on the other. There is a lesson here that we can all use when we want to fight a big battle but don't have the time, space or troops. It's possible to fight one or more sections of the battle on its own. For example in this case the assault on any of the towns could be fought in an evening or maybe even the battle for the centre.
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