Wednesday, May 15, 2024

The Rebel Lands Campaign, episode 3: Making a Stand

The Rebel Lands army, now thinking themselves sufficient to give battle after major concentrations, chose their ground well and stood against an invading Medvetland column.
Generalmajor Prince Hegyeshváry Szabolcs looked over his army with contempt. It could be best termed a rabble. He had three fresh reserve battalions, three of regular foot, a good artillery battery, three battalions of Grenz and three regiments of Hussars - these last were pretty excellent troops, but too few to make up for the rest. 

He knew of the Medvetland invaders' route, and chose a path where he thought he could block them, a narrow defile between two wooded areas near Kocsonya Hill. There he arranged his makeshift army in a very usual position: two lines of infantry in the center, skirmishers and Hussars on the flanks manning the woods.

Soon the Medvetland Corps of Observation appeared in force, and battle commenced. The foe deployed in good order, and, as a first move, attempted to encircle the Rebel center with their horse, thinking the woodland empty but passable. Of course the Grenzer and Hussars had hidden well from enemy reconnaissance, so the fiery countercharge they had given when the first Medvetland columns approached the woods was of good effect. Both flank attacks faltered, but the Rebel troops were way too exhausted to be useful for the remainder of the fight.

After some probing attacks, the Medvetland center line crossed the defile, and, despite a valiant stand, their disciplined musketry soon melted the already tired first Rebel infantry line away. All of the Prince's hopes were now in his second line to save the day. 

The first onslaught of the Medvetland lines was well met and soon they fell back, but then the foe committed his own reserve, and the tired and demoralised Rebel forces gave way. The irregulars were finally be able to join the action again, so losses were few, and despite all odds none of the fresh battalions turned the retreat to a rout, but the best the Prince could do was to fall back towards the capitol in hopes of getting more reinforcements before the next pitched battle.

This was a "virtual" battle, using random.org card draws, one card drawn for each side per clash.
Rules used were my own Simple Card Game, the transcription of the above for game terms are below.

Terrain
There is a Woods on both flank areas.

Rebel OOB
Left flank - 2x Average Cavalry, 1x Average Irregulars (total VP 10, situational counted)
Center - 2x Raw Infantry, 1x Average Infantry (total VP 5)
Reserve - 2x Average Infantry, 1x Raw Infantry, 1x  Elite Artillery (total VP 8)
Right flank - 1x Average Cavalry, 2x Average Irregulars (total VP 11)

Medvetland Corps of Observation OOB
Right flank - 2x Average Cavalry (total VP 6)
Center - 4x Average Infantry (total VP 8)
Reserve - 2x Average Infantry, 2x Average Artillery (total VP 8)
Left flank - 2x Average Cavalry (total VP 6)

Battle
Rebel left flank - R draws 8(18) M draws Q=10(16) - Difference 2, the Medvetland cavalry is routed
Rebel right flank - R draws 4(15) M draws 7(13) - Difference 2, the Medvetland cavalry is routed
Center - R draws 8(13) M draws A=11 (19) - Difference 6, the Rebel center routs

Reserve - Rebels commit.
Rebel reserve vs. Medvetland center - the Rebel reserve removes Medvetland Elite Art.
R draws A=11(19) M draws 2(7) tactical victory for Rebels
Rebel reserve vs. Medvetland reserve - R draws 2(10) M draws K=10(18) - Rebel reserve is routed

I forgot to draw two cards for the reserve battle, but otherwise the rules work well and it's easy to conduct a battle like this, even without figures.

Long-standing effects: a near-draw tactical victory for Medvetland (deeming the victory of the reserve more important). The Rebel army falls back.

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