In a Galaxy Far Far Away

Last week gave was the last meet up before Christmas and gave us a chance for a last fun game of the year and also an excellent buffet put in by our convivial host “Broken Dice” David.

Now by pure coincidence it had been decided that I would break out the Star Wars ships to give us a straightforward game to end the year 😁

Now let me say from the start is that when we play this game we definitely go for the “cinematic” end of the scale and this time I decided to push the boat out fully and got to work on the lists.

The Imperial Forces would contain both “Uncle” Darth himself ably supported by Boba Fett while the Rebel Forces would be led by Skywalker and Han Solo. The Imperial forces were:

• Tie Advanced – Darth Vader
• Tie Reaper
• 2 Tie Interceptors
• 3 Tie Fighters
• Tie Punisher (loaded for bear)
• Firespray 31 – Boba Fett

While the rebel command were:

• 2 X-Wings (one flown by Skywalker accompanied by R2D2
• Millennium Falcon (Han Solo, Chewbacca and Nien Nunb)
• 2 B Wings
• A wing
• U Wing

The Imperial forces were flown by Dave B, Nigel and Paul, while the Rebels were flown by “Broken Dice” David, Dave A and “Uncle Albert” Julian, while I provided umpiring services.

The mission plan was simple, the Rebel Forces had to stop the incoming Imperial Attack force.

Millennium Falcon and A Wing

Darth Vader in Tie Advanced and friends

Tie Reaper

Boba Fett and wing man

Tie Punisher and escort

The early exchanges featured the Millennium Falcon (“Broken Dice”) vs Boba Fett who proceeded to blow lumps out of each other shedding shields and hits along the way.

Early Exchanges up close and personal

While and X Wing soon run onto a couple of Tie Fighters protecting Boba Fett’s flank and also took some damage.

“Boss we have a problem”

But it needn’t have worried as the Millennium Falcon soon turned into a bullet (or rather laser) magnet and you will notice the cheeky proximity mine dropped by Boba Fett, which meant that to avoid the Falcon taking more damage his A Wing “wing man” flew through and detonated.

“Laser Magnet”

While on the other flank “Uncle Albert” was paying bumper cars with both his own and his enemies ships.

“Bumper Cars”

But the Tie Interceptor was soon cleared out of the way after receiving hits from both B Wings.

“What was that”

By now the Millennium Falcon was in real trouble being the focus of attack by both the Tie Reaper and Darth Vaders (Paul) Tie Advanced.

Falcon in real trouble

And with accompanying bad “sound effects” Darth Vader delivers the killing blow removing Solo and co from the game.

Vader Strikes

But the Rebel forces were soon to get their revenge with Boba Fett (Nigel) receiving attention from Skywalker and friends.

Boba Fett has problems

And he soon joins Solo in an escape pod.

The end of Boba Fett

At this stage things were getting tricky with ships all over the place trying to get into attack positions and after “Broken Dice” lost his A wing as well as the Falcon (very careless of him), “Uncle Albert” hands over the control of the U Wing (which soon proves to be a mistake).

Everyone maneuvering for position

But despite taking an Ion hit, the B wing fires and takes out an Tie Fighter.

Tie Fighter bites the dust

But his success does not last long as he is targeted by 2 Tie Fighter himself

Targeted by Tie Fighters

And its “Revenge of the Tie”

B Wing disappears into dust

In the center of combat the U wing targets the Tie Reaper supported by an X Wing but the reaper shrugs off the damage.

Now the Imperial forces are on top especially when the U Wing is destroyed (see I told you that is was a mistake to let “Broken Dice” control it).

Imperial on Top

And the cry went out where was Skywalker, are there he is flying along by himself.

“Where is Skywalker”

But it was time to call the game with an Imperial Victory. The Imperial forces had lost 3 ships (well done Nigel) while the Rebels had lost 5 (including 3 controlled by “Broken Dice).

• 

Skywalker Observes from a distance

But the most remarkable thing “Uncle Albert” still had an intact B Wing flying around the board.

Cracking game and good laugh (despite the bad Darth Vader impersonations – you know who you are) and a fitting last game of the year. And a Merry Christmas to you all.

Battle of Soignes May 1707

Well for this week’s game Paul came up with a “what if” scenario based on the events in the War of Spanish Succession. The scenario was that rather than stare at each other across a field, the French commander Vendome launches an attack on the allies.

The French had to advance across the field and drive the Allies from their position and take the Allied camp and for a complete victory advance 3+ units off the field. The Allies had to hold or for a complete victory drive the French back to their start lines.

The French were played by Dave A, “Uncle Albert” Julian and myself and the Allies by Alan, Dave B and Paul. Figures are from Pauls and my collection.

French deploy to advance

The French deployed with the majority of the Cavalry on the right wing including the Maison de Roi supported by 2 other Cavalry brigades with the 4 infantry brigades in the centre and and a brigade of Dragoons on the left flank.

Allied Infantry

The Allies had their infantry in the centre defending the camp and a brigade of cavalry on each flank while they awaited the arrival of the English reinforcements.

Allied right flank

Allied centre

Allied left wing

The allied left wing cavalry brigade had also deployed a regiment of Dragoons dismounted in the woods which was to prove very annoying to the French.

French Elite cavalry and supporting horse

Remaining horse and Bavarian Infantry

Now the game did not start with the auspicious way for the French as on the first turn we could only issue 25% of the army orders (yep someone threw a one (didn’t they Dave A), lucky Vandome is classed as skillful). But this was enough to get the Cavalry wing and the Garde Infantry moving forward. For the second turn this left “Uncle Albert” in the position to launch the “Grey” Musketeers and the Cuirassiers du Roi at the lead Dutch Horse. Albeit at the cost of a French Horse squadron shot to pieces by the dragoons in the woods. It was at this stage Paul decided to impersonate the missing “Broken Dice” David by throwing “ones” with both Dutch Squadrons and deciding to stand to receive the charge rather than counter charge.

Musketeers and Cuirassiers ride down their opponents

While on the French left flank the infantry advance forward to start a protracted firefight with the Allies.

French infantry moves forward

While the Infantry was slowly moving forward the French cavalry wing was sweeping forward under the watchful eye of Vendome.

French Cavalry wing advances

The same could not be said for the French left as the Dragoons were slowly following up behind the Cavalry.

French Dragoons advance

The Garde Francais had now started to exchange fire with one of the Scottish regiments both taking damage.

Garde Francais lead the advance

So while the French Left and Right flanks had both advanced and were engaging the enemy the centre was lagging behind due to some poor order rolls.

View down the battlefield

On the French left the Allied Cavalry had started to move forward to try and threaten the French Infantry from combining fire on the Scots Infantry.

Allied Cavalry move forward

While on the French right wings things have got even better and Paul’s dice throwing even worse, as when the Musketeers and Cuirassiers charge again one Dutch Squadron routs and the other stands to recieve the charge again!! and loses.

Cuirassiers du Roi chasing the Dutch

But the Dutch Dragoons still causing pain in the woods and get mentioned in despatches by damaging 3 horse Squadrons with fire, basically removing them from the battle.

Dutch dragoons enjoying themselves in the wood

Now Alan tries a new plan and launches a squadron of the Oxford Blues towards the French infantry line.

Cavalry launch charge at Infantry

But their target is one of the Irish “Wild Geese” units (which are Elite) who calmly wait to deliver their volley.

“Wild Geese” await the charging cavalry

Now under the rules you have to throw to see at what distance you deliver the volley, and guess which lucky little soldier threw a 6 for a close range volley (yep that’s right it was me). So close range volley, first fire, elite unit yep you guessed it the charge was shattered and not a lot of the cavalry were left when they withdrew.

Geese stops the charge

BUt things were not going so well for the Garde, they had forced one Scots unit to retreat, but a unit of Grenadiers had moved up, delivered a voley and charged. The Garde Francais died to a man in front of another Irish unit.

Garde Francais fall

But on the other flank, Paul has finally done something strange, passed a morale test and countercharged!!! Not only that he won the melee, well actually the Cuirassiers were wiped out automatically as they only had 2 men left, but a win is a win (and we won’t mention the double 1’s rolled on the artillery that saw the gun blow up, shall we Paul).

Cuirassiers Du Roi destroyed

But in the other fight the Gendarmes hit an English Horse unit and are victorious.

Gendarmes win the melee

With Vandome lending his support the French cavalry continue to advance.

French Cavalry press the advance

While also on the right flank the Bavarian brigade has advanced forward but the Allies step forward to engage.

Grenadiers about to suffer some real pain

While on the French left the Geese deliver a close range volley into the Grenadiers while the other regiment stops another cavalry charge. However as seen in the photograph we have lost one of the French line infantry in rout after watching the Garde die.

Infantry heavily engaged

BUt as the end of the game approaches the Allies start to advance to try and drive the French back.

Allied Infantry advance

While on the right wing the French cavalry has also managed to drive off the majority of the English horse, meaning that there is something odd going on as “Uncle Albert” has not managed to destroy all his forces, although he was aided and abetted by Paul’s dice throwing (I bet you can’t wait till “Broken Dice” is back and he can take over again).

French Cavalry hold the field

However for all the success of the French Horse the game is lost as the Allies still hold their lines and camp. so the French will have to withdraw to lick their wounds and wait for another chance.

A cracking game as usual with these rules.