Battle of Mario's Ridge

We last left the weary armies fighting in the North entering Winter quarters with the lines stabalized. The Poo-Boochen victory at the second battle of Farthing Ford left a sour taste in LTG Von Struddel's mouth and some changes were in order for the Katzain forces.

The quiet Winter soon gave way to a pleseant Spring. In the far North, the Hippo-Heimer forces protect the line along the canal while the rebels and their Schlupp allies bivouac further West. In the Southern part of the Duchy, a Katzian division under the command of MG Van Fleck, the victor of the campaign in Doft two year ago, advances to find the Poo-Boochen forces.

21 April- Van Fleck's large division contains two advanced guard brigades, three infantry brigades, a brigade of dragoons, and a brigade of heavy cavalry. The division soon runs into a Poo-Boochen advanced guard division as both forces race for the dominant terrain along Mario's Ridge.

The Poo-Boochen force is of overall better quality, but is outnumbered especially in cavalry. This proves telling as Van Fleck aggressively moves his cavalry forward to seize the ridge and five brigades of cavary clash in the morning sun.

Cavalry advance to the ridge...Katzian's on the right of the picture.

Light cavalry initially seize the ridge but are soon forced back.

Poo-Boochen heavy dragoons are outnumbered but fight fiercely.

Katzian heavy cavalry crash into the Poo-Boochen forces driving away a dragoon brigade and over-running a battery.

The advantage in sabres takes its toll.

Katzain dragoons hold the ridge while the infantry advance.

The Poo-Boochen commander attempts to break the center while the cavalry clash on the wings.

Many saddles are emptied in an ill advised charge.

The attack in the center crubmles before superior musketry.

While the loss of the guns on the Poo-Boochen left leaves the infantry brigade totally unsupported.

The remaining dragoons try to stem any Katzian pursuit as the Poo-Boochen forces prepare to retreat.

The rear guard takes up position. The tired Katzian cavalry fail to pursue with vigor.

A stream of broken Poo-Boochen units head for the rear.

MG Van Fleck settles for a solid victory at Mario's Ridge. The cavalry performed adequately but missed some opportunities to finish off the defeat Poo-Boochen forces.


I played this game with the Carnage and Glory II computer moderated rules. More on that in a future post.
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Katzain Losses
 [ 7%] 1113 men of all arms incl.[ 1%] 177 prisoners of all arms


[ 3%] 365 bayonets [ 15%] 748 sabres [ 0%] 0 artillerists
Honors: [ 162] Krupp Kurassiers

Losses include 1 General[s]: [ 112] Bart Cubbins - Lightly wounded


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Poo-Boochen losses
 [ 44%] 4570 men of all arms incl.[ 9%] 1020 prisoners of all arms

[ 37%] 2715 bayonets [ 61%] 1655 sabres [ 50%] 200 artillerists 11 cannon[s] lost
Honors: [ 516] 13th Dragoons
Losses include 2 standard[s]: [ 518] 29th  Dragons [1], [ 506] 1/33rd Line [1]

Losses include 1 General[s]: [ 506] Lanner - Lightly wounded

August 2011

Got some painting done early in the month then trailed off. Looking for a good output in September.

Did not buy anything this month...only second month since I started three years ago.


61 x Splintered Lands figures: 61 points
1 x Blackhawk helo: 5 points

TOTAL: 66 points

Buy gone bad

I played the first battle in my imagi-nation modern skirmish campaign. My rebel group, The King's Grand Legion, is at a small town to purchase arms and ammunition. A small group of unknown assailants shows up to ruin the buy. This is sure to be trouble with a Federal Police outpost just down the road.

The quiet town of Vodkagrad. The group is spread out pulling security while the negotiations get underway.

Roland leads the negotiations with Angela pulling security (more on the names later).

A trio of masked gunmen emerge near the orchard.

Things are going well so far.

Until a fire fight breaks out. Crystal goes down lightly wounded, but Kesha kills one of the attackers and knocks another out of the fight. The third tries to slip into town only to get blasted by Genessa.

All the shooting brings in some unwanted company.

Two Federals lead a six pack fo local fuzz.

A fierce firefight breaks out. Tommy goes down while Seamus ends up killing one cop and wounding another. Roland is caught in the open and captured.

Doc, Crystal, and Kesha also fall into Federal hands.

Maurice recovers from being shaken up on teh balcany just in time to jump out the window and run after the fleeing truck full of his comrades.

The end result is a busted supply buy and five of the crew taken into Federal custody. Two of the masked gunmen were killed and the other heavily wounded. One of the police officers is also heavily wounded and one killed. This is sure to bring some heat on the movement.

Seamus gathers the remaining members and takes stock of the situation. In order to gain some legitimacy, they will have to strike back...a prison break is in the making. The KGL will also have to find out sent the masked gunmen.

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Played this game with the Flying Lead rules from Ganesha Games.
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Krasnovia is my imagi-nation modern country that is crumbling with all kinds of rebel, independance, and criminal elements...plus the hard pressed government police and army.

The King's Grand Legion is a center-right group advocating for a return of the King in a constitutional monarchy with a strong senate.

The small core of the Legion consists of:

Black Death Seamus (code name): Q3, C2, automatic rifle +2, Hero, Leader ---Group leader and former officer in the Katzian army. Dedicated to returning the king to the throne.

Genessa, Dutches of Bartley: Q3, C2, automatic rifle +2, Hero, Leader --- Second in command; distant relative of the king.

Roland: Q4, C2, automatic rifle +2;

Tommy: Q4, C2, automatic rifle +2; Body Armor

Maurice: Q4, C2, automatic rifle +2; Marksman

Kesha: Q4, C2, automatic rifle +2

Crystal: Q4, C2, shotgun +2

Trixie: Q4, C2, shotgun +2

Angelina: Q4, C2, pistols +2; Fast (long move)

Shakira: Q4, C2,

"Doc" Holliday: Q4, C2, pistol +1; Medic

Charlie: Q4, C2, automatic rifle +2; Stealthy

[The names are inside jokes with my wife and son]

Project Update

Since I just finished the Splintered Lands project, time to take stock of things.

MATURE
1- Imagi-Nation
2- Space Ships
3- Flames of War
4- Splintered Lands

--- I will add to these as I see something I like

IN PROGRESS
1- Modern imagi-nation skirmish

READY TO START
1- Sci-fi skirmish (1st batch on hand)
2- Ancients
3- Pirates

UNDER CONSIDERATION
1- WW2 skirmish
2- Wild West
3- ACW or Napoleonics (6mm)

Song of the Splintered Lands

I have brought another project to maturation. The Song of the Splintered Lands range is from Splintered Light Miniatures http://www.splinteredlightminis.com/ . I am using the Song of Blades and Heroes rules from Ganesha Games http://www.ganeshagames.net/ . They have a specific supplement for these figures that is fantastic but I will modify the setting some to allow for more mixed warbands.

I have one of each of the figures from the whole range...188 figures total.

My painting skills are poor...these are actually super figures. Clean castings with lots of character. I strongly recommend them.

I made an otter fort for the figures and will add other terrain as the mood strikes. My son wants a fort for his hares. I am thinking about a small keep inside a protective hedge wall.

Here is a picture of all the figures together:

Note on basing-- 20mm round 1.5mm Likto bases plus a stick on magnetic bottom. Texture with Vallejo grey pumice mixed with craft brown paint. Green static grass and edge with course sand.

Splintered Lands update

This is the last batch of the Splintered Lands figures. 61 figures. More info in the next post.

Another Ranger Platoon

A platoon from Historicon. Can never have enough Rangers. My son is reading an old (1980) copy of "Darby's Rangers". It is well torn up as I have read it every year since I got it in about 1981.

A M7 Priest is in the back in support.