Pike to Bayonet Returns

Post COW there was a need for something simple this week, so I decided to have another look at "From Pike to Bayonet" (FP2B), using my Imperialists and French from the WSS. FP2B is the original engine for "Tricorn and Bonnet" that eventually collapsed under its own weight of trying to be too clever. T&B contained a stripped down version of the central combat mechanisms which enabled me to add in the Intimidation and Unit Quality rules to give them period flavour. We had a FP2B game earlier in the year and it played quickly with a lot of the extraneous bits excluded so I reckoned it would fit the bill for a Tuesday evening.

Steve & Phil had the French, to the right, attacking a village held by the Imperialists who were commanded by Tim & me. Chris couldn't be with us, being at a funeral, but Steve was back from sorting our residential care for his father. Alas that is the stage of life we are all at. Except Tim, who is really young. Compared to the rest of us.

The mistake I made was setting this up so Phil, who only has the use of one arm and mobility issues, had to reach across the table.

My flank had a wood where Steve had a small force of dragoons and infantry advancing to join the main battle. I had some hussars lurking in the trees.

The Frenchies advanced across the open plain. Artillery thundered out with limited effect.

Perceiving the artillery in the woods would be vulnerable (he was right) Tim moved the cavalry reserve across to cover it.

In my first attempt to slow the advance I threw some cavalry into the end of the advancing line. I need to have a look at the cavalry/infantry interface, or at least remind myself of my detailed notes from earlier versions of the rules.

A-ha! Steve makes a blunder, and in an effort to get his troops into action quickly exposes a unit in march column to a surprise attack by my hussars. They are broken on contact.

More cavalry throw themselves at Steve's infantry line.

Phil overruns our guns in the wood. Curses.

The French launch a cavalry attack in the centre of the line, which holds firm. A fire fight breaks out.

My hussars pursue Steve's routing foot.

Firing has now become general. There's a rule about trying to charge after firing has started, which I forgot. It needs bringing back.

Steve's infantry take the village at bayonet point, but his commander is dismounted with extreme prejudice in the process.

This is inconvenient as I have no reserves to reinforce my defeated troops.

Eventually the French dragoons pluck up the courage to take on my hussars. The whole light cavalry part of the rules needs some looking at. Which is a way of saying I came off worst.

Our centre is otherwise holding.

A large cavalry melee develops in the centre right of the line. Steve is holding this flank with an infantry square. I try to break it with pistol fire to no effect.

I'm gaining the upper hand in the cavalry melee.

My cavalry are repulsed by the square, however. Out of shot, my hussars have become seriously unstuck against the dragoons.

This was the end state. Our left flank is under heavy pressure, and we have lost one village. However, my cavalry is on the verge of a breakthrough in the centre. A couple more turns will get us a final result, but Phil tires very easily these days, so we wrapped up for the evening.

It looks like I have two projects on the go now, which is unusual. There is life in FP2B, and I'm excited by the possibilities with the core system. I'm also painting Anglo-Sikh war figures, as recent posts have shown. If I'm to persist with FP2B then I need some Imperialist pikes. I've got a box of Strelets French Pikes from the WSS lying around half used, so it might be that they'll get some attention shortly.

The challenge for FP2B is what is the scope? Is it just Western European style combat, or do I want to include Eugene's campaigns against the Ottomans?  Some food for thought.