Post by stevenpage on Mar 11, 2020 20:36:12 GMT
Inspired by Robert Griffith's wonderful new book "Riflemen: the History of the 5th Battalion, 60th (Royal American) Regiment", I have jumped headfirst into running a campaign using "95th", with the battle boards and counters provided with the book. My character, Joachim Dietrich, began his career as a jaeger, serving in a detachment with Sgt Muller, and Jaegers March and Gunter. Dietrich is a sharp eyed lad(hawkeye attribute), and carries a Baker rifle.
His first action in Portugal saw the sergeant's detail assigned to advance on a distant farm, providing a screen for the troops to follow. Despite a few tense moments, the French opposition was lighter than expected, resulting in a skirmish with five musket armed 'legere'. Sergeant Muller, on the alert as always, noticed the French first, and the firefight began. Jaeger Dietrich dropped a hulking Frenchman(brute attribute) with his first shot. Muller wounded the enemy corporal. The rest ran off, leaving their wounded behind. The objective was easily reached after this skirmish.
Next assignment was not to be an easy one. A fortified village was threatening the Allied advance. Sgt Muller was to take seven picked men and place a petard against a wall, making a breach. The approach was at night, encountering a small detachment of French line troops. Their poor fire was answered by a more robust response from the riflemen, who dropped a couple, and sent two others seeking cover. One continued to the rear. As both groups reloaded, a very young soldier, Bock, slipped away into the darkness, not to return. The next round of fire saw the French take a few more hits, and the able troops fell back. The advance continued. Sgt Muller signaled that someone was just ahead...cavalry, but only six of them. The Jaegers moved into position, and let loose a volley at the unsuspecting horsemen, with murderous result. Muller afterward concurred with Joachim that 'the French leader was obviously wine-soaked". Onward moved the picked men.
Right outside the village was a small farm, with a haystack. The jaegers tried to move into cover, but were surprised by a small group of 'legere'. Joachim was knocked unconscious by a stray bullet(star power negating an out of action), but arose to find his friends putting the remaining Frenchmen on the run. Sgt Muller set the petard, everyone took cover, and a hole was blown in the wall. They waited, but the French did not come out and surrender. "We are going to have to storm that place" said Muller. It was then that Joachim noticed that Gunter was dead, lost in the last fight. Six men into the breach. Muller led, Joachim on one side and March on the other. They shot down the first soldiers they encountered, then sought cover to reload as their friends fired. An attack by line troops fell back, then one by 'legere'. finally a small group of hussars charged down the narrow street, only to be met by well aimed rifle fire. As the hussars fled, the exhausted jaegers looked up to see redcoats approaching from the right side of their position. "Well played , lads! That explosion was just the distraction we needed to force the main gate....well played indeed". The British officer tossed them a bottle of wine and rode on.
1808 ended quietly for the detachment. Joachim proved himself to be a fine one at the gambling table, whether playing dice, or cards, never resorting to, or be accused of cheating. He won enough loot to sew some coins into the lining of his jacket.....just in case.
Players notes: The game plays quickly, and builds a narrative so quickly, you become immersed in the story. After the third or forth skrmish, you hardly need to look at the charts. I am rolling on page 12 for the Mission Assignments. Next up 1809.
His first action in Portugal saw the sergeant's detail assigned to advance on a distant farm, providing a screen for the troops to follow. Despite a few tense moments, the French opposition was lighter than expected, resulting in a skirmish with five musket armed 'legere'. Sergeant Muller, on the alert as always, noticed the French first, and the firefight began. Jaeger Dietrich dropped a hulking Frenchman(brute attribute) with his first shot. Muller wounded the enemy corporal. The rest ran off, leaving their wounded behind. The objective was easily reached after this skirmish.
Next assignment was not to be an easy one. A fortified village was threatening the Allied advance. Sgt Muller was to take seven picked men and place a petard against a wall, making a breach. The approach was at night, encountering a small detachment of French line troops. Their poor fire was answered by a more robust response from the riflemen, who dropped a couple, and sent two others seeking cover. One continued to the rear. As both groups reloaded, a very young soldier, Bock, slipped away into the darkness, not to return. The next round of fire saw the French take a few more hits, and the able troops fell back. The advance continued. Sgt Muller signaled that someone was just ahead...cavalry, but only six of them. The Jaegers moved into position, and let loose a volley at the unsuspecting horsemen, with murderous result. Muller afterward concurred with Joachim that 'the French leader was obviously wine-soaked". Onward moved the picked men.
Right outside the village was a small farm, with a haystack. The jaegers tried to move into cover, but were surprised by a small group of 'legere'. Joachim was knocked unconscious by a stray bullet(star power negating an out of action), but arose to find his friends putting the remaining Frenchmen on the run. Sgt Muller set the petard, everyone took cover, and a hole was blown in the wall. They waited, but the French did not come out and surrender. "We are going to have to storm that place" said Muller. It was then that Joachim noticed that Gunter was dead, lost in the last fight. Six men into the breach. Muller led, Joachim on one side and March on the other. They shot down the first soldiers they encountered, then sought cover to reload as their friends fired. An attack by line troops fell back, then one by 'legere'. finally a small group of hussars charged down the narrow street, only to be met by well aimed rifle fire. As the hussars fled, the exhausted jaegers looked up to see redcoats approaching from the right side of their position. "Well played , lads! That explosion was just the distraction we needed to force the main gate....well played indeed". The British officer tossed them a bottle of wine and rode on.
1808 ended quietly for the detachment. Joachim proved himself to be a fine one at the gambling table, whether playing dice, or cards, never resorting to, or be accused of cheating. He won enough loot to sew some coins into the lining of his jacket.....just in case.
Players notes: The game plays quickly, and builds a narrative so quickly, you become immersed in the story. After the third or forth skrmish, you hardly need to look at the charts. I am rolling on page 12 for the Mission Assignments. Next up 1809.
