Project Waterloo: Movie Quotes and Game Results!

Gepost op door in Internetblog

 With the theme for 2024 being “Historicon goes to the Movies”, part of the idea for the game is to use quotes from the film to make chance cards. I thought of all sorts of creative ideas, but in the end decided to just go with the ideas Neil Thomas set forth himself in One Hour Wargames, slightly modified. The result was one deck of 15 chance cards for each side. 

#

French Quote

French Effect

1

[Observing the advance of the Gordon Highlanders]

Napoleon: Has Wellington nothing to offer me but

these Amazons?

None

2

Mulholland: Brave Frenchmen! You have done all that

the honor of war demands; His Grace, the Duke of

Wellington, invites you to save your lives! Will you

surrender?

Cambronne: MERDE!

None

3

Napoleon: Those men on grey horses are terrifying.

Marshal Soult: They are the noblest cavalry in

Europe; and the worst led.

Napoleon: That may be; that may be, but we will

match them with our lancers.

None

4

Napoleon [in pain from piles] My body is dying, but

my mind is still good!

None

5

Napoleon: The only enemy I fear is nature.

None

6

Napoleon: Never interrupt your enemy while he’s making

a mistake. That’s bad manners.

Enemy Panic!

One enemy unit acquires

1-3 hits!

7

Napoleon: What’s he doing? What’s Ney doing? Can’t

I leave the field for a minute? How can a man go

forward with the cavalry without infantry support? 

Confusion

1-3 French units of one

command may not move

this turn

8

Napoleon: Let’s not have any disagreement.

Any disagreement only leads to disaster.

Confusion

1-3 French  units of one

command may not move

this turn

9

Napoleon: This Wellington wages war in a new way.

He fights, sitting on his ass. Well, we’ll have to move

him off it.

Low Ammo

1-3 French units of one

command may not fire

this turn

10

Napoleon: Battles are lost and won in a quarter

of an hour.

Low Ammo

1-3 French units of one

command may not fire

this turn

11

Napoleon: If I die, it will be here, in the field,

with my men!

Demoralization

A single French unit

acquires 1-3 hits

12

Wellington: On the field of battle his hat is worth

fifty thousand men; but he is not a gentleman.

Initiative

A single French unit is

chosen to either move

twice, move then shoot,

or shoot twice.

13

Wellington: [on Napoleon’s maneuver that split the

English and Prussian armies]

By God, that man does war honor.

Initiative

A single French unit is

chosen to either move

twice, move then shoot,

or shoot twice.

14

Napoleon: I’ve been in this position before, at the

battle of Marengo. I lost the battle at 5:00, but I won it

back again at 7!

Rally!

1-3 French units are

chosen to remove 1-2 hits

each

15

Napoleon: Let me tell you something. The most

precious quality in life is loyalty. Loyalty!

Rally!

1-3 French units are

chosen to remove 1-2 hits

each


#

British Quote

British effect

1

Wellington: Next to a battle lost, the saddest thing

 is a battle won.

None

2

Lord Uxbridge: As I am second-in-command and in case anything should happen to you, what

are your plans?

Wellington: To beat the French.

None

3

Wellington: Dramatic fellows, these French. Music and banners. Quite beautiful. You’re a lucky fellow,

aren’t you, Hay, to see such a wonder in

your first battle.

None

4

Lord Gordon: Good beans, Wellington!

Wellington: If there is anything in this world about which I  know positively nothing, it is agriculture.

None

5

[before the battle starts, the British troops are

singing a mocking song about Napoleon]

William De Lancey: Shall I shut them up, Sir?

Wellington: No, no, indulge it . Anything that wastes time is good. Indulge it. Normally I don’t like cheering,

but there’s always a time to cut cards with the Devil.

None

6

Mulholland: We’re doing murder, your grace.

Wellington: I hope to God… that I’ve fought my last battle.

Enemy Panic!

One enemy unit

acquires  1-3 hits!

7

Lord Uxbridge: By God, Sir. I’ve lost my leg.

Wellington: By God, Sir. So you have.

Confusion

1-3 Allied units of one 

 command may not

move  this turn

8

Wellington: If Blucher doesn’t show up here soon, 

they’ll break every bone in my body!

Confusion

1-3 Allied units of one 

command may not

move this turn

9

Wellington: Brotherly business, isn’t it, De Lancey…

killing.

Low Ammo

1-3 Allied units of one 

command may not fire 

this turn

10

Wellington: Commanders of armies have

something better to do than to fire at each other.

Low Ammo

1-3 Allied units of one 

command may not fire 

this turn

11

Wellington: It appears, Uxbridge, we’re losing the battle. Give me night, or give me Blucher!

Demoralization

A single Allied unit 

acquires 1-3 hits

12

Sarah: General Picton doesn’t know how to walk

in a ballroom.

Wellington: But he is very good when he is

dancing with  the French.

Initiative

A single Allied unit may

be chosen to either

move twice, move then shoot,  or shoot twice.

13

Wellington: The whole line will advance.

Lord Uxbridge: In which direction, your grace?

Wellington: Why, straight ahead to be sure.

Initiative

A single Allied unit may

be  chosen to either

move twice, move then shoot, or shoot twice.

14

Wellington: [referring to his army] I don’t know

what they’ll do  to the enemy; but, by God,

they frighten me.

Rally!

1-3 Allied units are

chosen to remove  1-2

hits each

15

Wellington: They’re coming on in the same old style.

Picton: Well, then we shall have to meet them in the 

same old style.

Rally!

1-3 Allied units are

chosen to remove  1-2

hits each



Project Waterloo: Dutch Line Infantry, 1815

Gepost op door in Internetblog

 

The Treaty of Paris, signed May 30. 1814 determined that the House of Orange would return to the rule of Holland, and that the Kingdom would be enlarged by adding the originally Austrian territories more or less corresponding to modern day Belgium.  

Initially the Dutch (North Netherlands”) and Belgian (“South Netherlands”) armies were separate, but the army was reorganized several times, and and April 15, 1815, the two armies were combined into a single force… less than 2 months before the French would attack! 

These troops wear the (very idealized compared to probable reality!) uniform of the Dutch line infantry of the time; single breasted dark blue coats with brass buttons, white collars and cuffs, and red turnbacks. A “double billed shako” of Austrian style had red or green short plumes plumes for the flank companies reminiscent of French line infantry, but blue and white shoulder rolls in a more British style!; quite a hodge-podge of schemes!
Orange cockades were worn on the shako, and commissioned officers had orange sashes. The drums  had a pattern or red, blue, and white triangles on the rims. 

Figures are from Perry Miniatures. I see I forgot to trim down and guild the tops of the flagpoles; that has already been corrected. 

Flags themselves were printed from the Napflag site; he notes they may not have actually been issued until as late as 1820, however. 

Project Waterloo: 2nd Nassau (Nassau-Usingen) Light Infantry Regiment

Gepost op door in Internetblog

 

The twin Duchies of Nassau (much reorganized after losing territory to France and the new Grand Duchy of Berg) joined the confederation of the Rhine in 1806. 

The Nassau troops were (less than happily)  stationed in Spain during most of the Peninsular War. 

Nassau left the Confederation of the Rhine in November 2013.
The regiment is equipped here as it was during the Hundred Days in 1815. These are Perry Miniatures. I see that I forgot to trim and paint the top of the flagstaff; that will be corrected momentarily!

Technically the Grenadiers should wear Colpacks, but I have given them shakos like the Flanker company. Note the colored shoulder rolls in red and green for the elite companies, replacing the epaulettes of the French allied years.  

Project Waterloo: Order of Battle

Gepost op door in Internetblog

Using the previously referenced “English Waterloo” hex scenario for Blucher as a guide, the following are needed:

French Army:

2 Legere:  7 hits

13 Ligne: 6 hits

2 Cuirassier: 7 hits, shock

5 other Line Cavalry (Hussar/Dragoon/Lancer/Chasseur):  6 hits

2 Guard Light Cavalry: 7 hits, shock

1 Guard Heavy Cavalry, 8 hits, Shock

2 Guard Infantry, 8 hits, shock

1 Guard Artillery

1 Line Heavy Artillery

The French troops are no problem; I have far more than these!

Leaders:  Napoleon, Ney, Reille, D’Erlon, Kellerman, Milhaud

As the game will have three players a side, these have to change, along with the command structure. Thus Napoleon and Ney will share Army command; each turn the French player will have to decide which one to use; each will come with their own characteristics. 

The three player commands will be Reille, D’Erlon, and Lobau. In the interest of the game, the troops will be pretty evenly divided amongst the three commands, with La Garde in Reserve.

Anglo Allied Army:

3 Nassau Line:  5 hits

1 Dutch-Belgian Line:  5 hits  Conscript

3 Hanoverian Infantry:  5 hits  Conscript

2 Brunswick Infantry:  5 hits

5 British Line:  6 hits  Firepower, Steady

2 British Light:  7 hits  Firepower, Steady

2 British Guard:  7 hits, Firepower, Steady, Shock

1 Brunswick Cavalry:  6 hits

3 Dutch-Belgian Cavalry: 5 hits  Reluctant

4 British Light Cavalry:  6 hits, Shock, Impetuous

2 British Heavy Cavalry:  7 hits, Shock, Impetuous

Leaders:  Wellington, Picton, Orange, Buttlar, Collert, Uxbridge

Like the French, I have more than enough British for the game already. I also have more than enough Brunswickers (MInifigs painted 3 decades ago). I have a single Nassau regiment, and no Dutch-Belgians or Hanoverians. 

In contemplating the situation, I decided to get a second unit of Nassau troops (There were 2 Nassau regiments in the Confederation of the Rhine anyway, so they will be useful elsewhere as well). Rather than get a 3rd Nassau infantry, I decided to get one each of Dutch and Belgian infantry for variety. These troops are only of use for the 100 days campaign.

I didn’t want to get 3 units of very limited use cavalry, so British Light Dragoons in shako will have to stand in for them. OK, that works, I have 4 such units and only need 3.

The Hanoverians posed the biggest problem; I didn’t want to paint up 3 more units of very limited use troops! In considering the situation,. It occurred to me that I could use the (very nicely painted)  Minifigs British Line infantry I purchased from Jamie W. at Historicon about 25 years ago, and could even give them Hanoverian militia flags!  I have 66 such figures plus 2 mounted officers; with adding a few spare Old Glory command figures that would make 4 units, and I could even retain the original flags on their own command stands if I want to use them as British again. OK, Hanoverian dilemma solved with zero added expanse and perhaps some minimal added painting. 

As for Leaders, it will be Wellington as C-in-C, Picton, Hill, and Prince Wilhelm of Orange. Once again there will be some special characteristics for them. All I will need to paint up there will be Prince Wilhelm.

An order was thus fired off to Perry Miniatures last month for the necessary troops (some of the DB units I wanted were out of stock, but others were readily substituted, and they arrived across the pond in record time. 

Painting information was needed for some of these new troops. Fortunately. I have pretty much bought every Osprey Napoleonic uniform title I can find, so I already had these:


Let the painting begin!

The biggest baddest brightest wargamers of Amsterdam celebrated their 10th birthday!

Gepost op door JurjenB in Club News

We tried to hide it, but we couldn’t: we were too happy. In March 2014 two wargamers, one with a beard, one bald, (none of them was female) organized an Open Wargame Day in Amsterdam that was the start of the now famous 70-member club the Amsterdam6shooters. Here’s an impression of our FIRST club meeting ever, in 2014:

We expected just a few, the happy few, a band of brothers. One modest game day per month. We were too modest.

In March, in the same club building, we had a great day again. We have weekly club days on Saturday or Sunday, and often an extra Thursday. We’re a proud mixed group of happy social wargamers who play historical wargames and 40K. No WAAC-players. Lot of club terrain. Great bar inside. We visit conventions and give demonstrations. Most important: WE HAVE FUN. Every time.

Here’s a video impression of our March anniversary. In the grimdark clubhouse, there’s only smiles!