Two more decks - mostly artillery actions

 The game progressed two more 'decks' today.

 Mostly it was 'artillery actions' cards (yes there are two in the deck) that were drawn ...
 

Alpian cannon take post on the central hillock

 

Stagonian Ordinnance secure the high ground
on the left flank of the Stagonian line

Some cavalry got in a couple of failed 'charges', no noticeable casualties were scored.

Again the table remains set-up, with a couple more 'deck' turns to come.

 We are using the Victory Without Quarter rules set.

 

Campaign battle continues

 The best part about a dedicated game table, is the ability to 'leave' the game in-progress.

Something that Victory Without Quarter does quite well, as each move is slow.

Alpian command at the tail end of the Knights
(who are rated raw for this campaign)

Stagonian command, equally close to the Stagonian Knights
(who are rated Veteran for this campaign)

More moves will be done over the coming week ...

Campaign starts

 The mini campaign as proposed by The Axis of Naughtiness, Continuing Diplomacy, has been laid out for play using the Alpian Wars set.

Alpian Command

Stagonian Command

Terrain Layout for Scenario #11

an overview of the map
Alpia will arrive top left road
Stagonia bottom right

More news from the front once there is something to share ... 

Alpian Wars Return

 There will be an Alpian Wars tabletop engagement this Autumn, in either October or November, in celebration of the game set put together by Bluebear Jeff.

a Stagonian brigade from a game in 2023

A full battle of Alpian Wars

 The Alpian Wars resumed on September 1 & 2, 2023:

Yet again STAGONIA has won a tactical battle ...

 

Read the full After Action Report at MurdockS MarauderS

Tabletop environment

 

just a plain furry throw for a tabletop

after processing

now in 'cartoon' form ready to
explore use in gamebox

Mapping Project

 

A source map of Savoy

some processed images:

New Project

 It will take some time, yet the prospect of a campaign tool kit or visual aid is too great to pass up.

Over the next while the Alpia and Stagonia pages will be getting the full images of the miniature models put on them, to allow for a conversion in a program which will bring a different 'whimsy' to the planned cyberboard gamebox kit for use in Victory Without Quarter games.

Here's the first image to get the treatment:

both the Alpia (left) and Stagonia (right)
Commanders In Chief (CICs)

I will post the converted image once the processing is done.

Processing done:

the same image now
in the 'comic' mode
planned for the coming
gamebox set

Vile Stagonia is on a roll ... yet another victory without quarter

 

Stagonaian Commander
28mm figure by Blood Axe Miniatures
from the collection of Jeff Hudelson

Yet again Vile Stagonia manages another victory, this one was certainly without quarter.

Read the full After Action Report: HERE.

 

 

Yet again VILE STAGONIA bests Fair Alpia

 Murdock'S MarauderS has run another game of Alpian Wars and once again it was Stagonia that won.

Game was played outside under a sunshade in the garden
in October!

Read all about the battle here.

Vile Stagonia wins again!

Alpian 'high water mark' came during a cavalry action that was divided by a town.

Fair Alpia simply cannot seem to catch any luck, on-line at least.  In three actions recently done via live broadcast in April, vile Stagonia has come out the winner in each case.

The recent Command Zone game after action report can be found here:  Command Zone 2020

An Alpian Wars tabletop battle YOU can JOIN IN!

This coming Friday April 17, 2020, Murdock's Marauders will be hosting a live game on twitch.tv

You can join in or just watch the battle starting at 7 pm Pacific Daylight Savings Time.

Vile Stagonia vs. Fair Alpia

Login for the fun starting at 7 pm on Friday April 17, 2020:
https://www.twitch.tv/murdocksmarauders/

Alpian Wars - LIVE and ONLINE

Fair Alpia was pushed back today in an encounter with Vile Stagonia.

You could view the next encounter online on April 2, 2020, starting at 12 noon PDT (Pacific Time, same as Los Angeles)

on TWITCH 

photo taken during the battle while Stagonia had turned the Alpian left flank

 A more complete picture of the back end of this event can be found at MurdockS MarauderS

Another Battle at the Library table.

Yet again Stagonia and Alpia came to battle on the field in the Library.

Yet again Stagonia emerged as victor!

Second Battle of the Library Table

Another engagement between Alpia and Vile Stagonia has taken place on the Library table.

A sleepy town with cupcakes was the prize on offer.

Stagonian Pike & Shotte commanded the heights above the town while crossbowmen took the square

Vile Stagonia prevailed, read the gory details here.

Alpia Wins at Library Table

The Alpian forces overcame Stagonia on September 24, 2016

Alpian General and messengers

Read the full After Action Report at Murdock's Marauders.

Stagonia Captures Rose Ridge

Despite an heroic defense by General Rossi's Alpian troops, General Murdeau's Stagonians have destroyed or routed all enemy units and have gained complete control of Rose Ridge, the third battle in the Alpian Wars.

Gen. Murdeau and staff have just watched Rossi flee Rose Ridge.

To his credit, General Rossi and his surviving staff were the last to leave Rose Ridge as five Stagonian units closed in on Rose House.

The decisive action took place on Deck 23 as the Lau Crossbows finished off the Izzo Pike & Shot just after their volley had destroyed the Blue Squadron of Stagonia's Jillette Chevalier.

So despite Alpia winning the opening Battle of the Crossroads, Stagonia has now emerged victorious in two straight fights (Belleview Hills and Rose Ridge).

What will happen next?  We shall have to wait and see.

-- Jeff

A Tale of Two "Knight Fights"

Decks 18 & 19 were both short ones but very significant.

South end of ridge cleared of Alpians

The very first card of Deck 18 was for Stagonia's Jillette Chevalier . . . and the Blue Squadron of those knights charged and obliterated both Captain Ariete's Battery and the Artillery Guards.

This charge has eliminated all of Alpia's troops short of the defenders of Rose House.

Note too that Stagonia's Goyette Pike and Shot Regiment (blue banner to right of Blue Squadron) has now advanced past the knights.

The southern defences of Rose House

Alpia's Izzo and Zuff Pike & Shot Regiments (purple and green banners respectively) prepare to defend the key point on Rose Ridge.

Izzo and the Lau Crossbows have exchanged a number of volleys so far with no-one gaining an advantage.  Both have just recently reloaded their weapons.

Meanwhile, on the north end of the ridge, Stagonia's Green Squadron of the de Rappeneau Cavalry charged the Red Squadron of the Lanzia Spezatta.

For whatever reason, Brigadier Olivi did not get his knights to counter-charge (i.e., they rolled "snake eyes" on their test to do so).  As a result they took the charge at a halt and lost the encounter.

During the fighting, Brigadier Olivi was slain and the squadron was understandably shaken by this event (i.e., they suffered a casualty marker and both Olivi and the squadron failed their saving throws).

Stagonia's forces on the North End of Rose Ridge

In subsequent action, the squadron was again pushed back . . . but for the time being they have resisted routing ("box cars" on their save). 

Still they cannot last long which will leave only the Telli Crossbows (who have withdrawn into the woods) remaining from Olivi's Brigade.

So, if Alpia is to hold onto Rose Ridge, it is Brigadier Franscioni's regiments which must hold out against considerable odds.  Can they last until dark?  Or will they be forced to abandon their position?

Only time (and General Rossi's decisions) will tell.

-- Jeff

Stagonia is "On the Ridge"

The great Stagonian sweep to their left has now succeeded in gaining a solid foothold on the southern end of Rose Ridge on Deck 17. 

Stagonian Crossbows & Knights on Rose Ridge

As you can see at left, both of Alpia's pike and shot units (Qeel and Xelt) have been eliminated and the Lau Crossbows (with Brigadier Petit) have led two full squadrons of knights onto the south end of Rose Ridge.

Only a light gun and the defenses of Rose House stand in their way.

True, both Stagonia's Ardant pike and shot regiment and the Flaubert Swordsmen were routed off table in taking the south end of the ridge, but it has been taken.

Alpia's Izzo Regiment faces the Lau Crossbows

A different angle show that the Lau Crossbows must now risk exchanging fire with Alpia's vaunted Izzo Regiment.

Captain Ariete's Artillery is barely visible through the trees as it faces Stagonia's Goyette Regiment (blue banner).

What lies in store for these units?  Only time will tell.

North end of Rose Ridge

On the north end of Rose Ridge, General Rossi has successfully recalled his units over the last few decks once he observed the arrival of the Stagonian Horse.

They now face four squadrons of cavalry and Stagonia's black-bannered Regiment La Capelle.

And Captain Corelli's Gun has been shaken from the accurate fire of Stagonia's Foot Artillery in the center of the field.

Stagonian right flank features Cavalry and Foot

Here (at left) is a look from the Stagonian side of the field.

The Cheveaux de Rappeneau have reached the crossroads in front of the north end of the ridge.

Not far behind them the Cheveaux Pincemail seem eager to get into the fray . . . as does the La Capelle Regiment.

What has General Murdeau intend for them?  We will have to see what he orders.

Center of the field as seen from Stagonia's side

Finally a view of the center of the field.

Rather empty, isn't it?

Currently it seems that Murdeau has planned a classic "double envelopment".

Will it work?  . . .  Again we will have to wait and see . . . time is running out.  Will there be enough daylight left to evict the Alpians?

I await the orders for both Alpia and Stagonia.  What will they do?  For that matter, what would YOU do?

Yes, if you were an aide-de-camp to either (or both) generals, what would you suggest that they do?

-- Jeff

New Units Appear on Deck 13

Deck 13 was a long one and featured new units appearing for both sides.

Four Squadrons of Cavalry arrive for Stagonia

I suspect that the major surprise of the day was the arrival of Brigadier Gilbert's Cavalry.

Shortly after Brigadier Olivi's Green Squadron of the Lanzia Spezatta had charged Stagonia's La Capelle Regiment (black banner) and been shot into oblivion, four squadrons of cavalry appeared straddling the road . . . which significantly changes the dynamic in the Center.

Undated view of south end of Rose Ridge

Meanwhile, on the south end of Rose Ridge, Alpia's Xelt Regiment (red banner) revealed itself as it expanded from its position in the woods.

(note that one end of Xelt is still in the woods . . . so it might or might not have enough movement to charge).

Barely visible in the background, the Izzo Regiment (purple banner) has finally been ordered to deploy in defense of Rose House.

The Flaubert Swordsmen routing

Also noticeable is the fact that Stagonia's Flaubert Swordsmen are routing.

They were able to charge home against Alpia's Qeel Regiment but locked up and were later routed as the combat continued.  Given their current state, it is unlikely that they will rally.

But Brigadier Petit still has his Lau Crossbows and two squadrons of knights as well as another pike unit on the way.  Can Alpia survive?

Center of the battlefield

Viewing the center of the battlefield, it might look like Regiment Falcon (brown banner) is also routing but that is not the case. 

They withdrew away from the Telli Crossbows (who have shaken it with two casualties) so Stagonia's big gun can fire on the Alpian troops in the flat.

Note that you can barely see the arriving cavalry in the distance.

So, given the changes revealed in Deck 13, I now await new orders from my generals.

-- Jeff