Tuesday, 15 March 2022

Lifting Morale

Last weekend I decided to just lay out the WVS (Wars of the Vaubarian Succession, 1704) armies - not to have a game, but just to enjoy the spectacle as a bit of a morale booster.

There is a tendency to think that in order to have a "proper" horse and musket game one needs to amass huge armies. But that's really not the case. A very fine spectacle can be created from just a few battalions per side, and many interesting and tactically challenging games can ensue.

The whole point of this collection from the outset was to produce something modest, for a small-ish table (this table is just 6x5, but I plan to expand to 8x6), with a couple of balanced armies to fight "teaser-style" games.

In this case, the Astrovians are defending with just 4 infantry battalions (and supporting light troops, cavalry and guns) against a combined Vaubarian-Pils Holstein attacking force of 8 battalions, plus horse, light troops and guns.

So, by many standards a very modest affair, particularly as the units are also relatively small (20 figures for infantry battalions).

The photos are not great quality, so apologies for that. But at least you get the idea.

No prizes for spotting which of Charles Grant's teaser games this is based on...







11 comments:

  1. They look great Phil. Hope they raised your morale.
    I am sure it did similar for the tin soldiers too. They will be glad to leave their winter quarters…

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  2. A morale booster indeed, I am a big fan of modest sized games, so this is a cracking post for me.

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  3. Excellent. I have a game next week and this is just the apperatiff needed.

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  4. A lovely collection of wonderfully painted miniatures and buildings.
    Regards
    John

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  5. An excellent pick me up Phil…

    All the best. Aly

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  6. They all look quite wonderful Phil

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  7. I didn't think your morale needed boosting any higher than it already is IRL, Phil. Any more and you'll explode!

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  8. An excellent set up.
    Everyone’s morale is lifted and demonstrates what can be achieved in small games

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  9. Phil you always excel in quality which offsets any perceived lack of size
    cheers Chris

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  10. These look great set out like this. Very impressive!

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  11. Mustering the troops if only on parade can be a great motivator and inspirational to demonstrate what has been accomplished.

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