FSW Campaign Log, Year 3

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No More Provincials - Provincials No More?

During the Formaggian Succession Wars, "light" troops were rarely used for their intended purposes. Some were detached for patroling the hinterlands and providing lines of communication, but raiding and covering the flanks of an army has been outsourced to mercenary Freikorps from all around the world. As a result, most "homegrown" light units performed poorly and discipline was lax.

This had not been remedied even after the Schiavona clan took control and established themselves as rulers of all Quattro Formaggi. Most provincial commanders kept a small body of Cacciatore for surveying rough terrain and border control, but the pay was little, and besides a fusil (in better cases an old hunting rifle), a measure of dyed wool to cloth themselves and a barracks to sleep in, the men basically received nothing else from their masters.

When the Calvacasa rebellion broke out, the Cacciatori had to return to their former tasks, and due to the circumstances previously explained, they failed at it spectacularly. Some provincial commanders on the North went as far as to keep them safe inside redoubts and fortifications, to prevent mass desertion in the face of the enemy. 

While a large contingent of the central garrison prepared to advance on the rebels, a group of young officers approached the higher military authorities in the capitol, and pleaded them to do something about the deteriorating state of the provincials. In case the well-trained and maintained royal troopers are redirected, they argued, the southern provincials also must be prepared to replace them in doing their tasks.

The first step was to commence the training of the provincials around the capitol, supervised by veteran officers and sergeants of the War of Succession. This had also meant that the same lobbyists had recognized the danger of "reinforcing a distaster" in the north: no manpower or resources were sent there, they were instead all given to the Parmigiano Military Council. 

When the regulars and dragoons were somewhat up to date, the time has come for the light troops as well. Maledetto, Duke of Rospini, one of the many courtiers of questionable honor and intent (his main character trait is mustache twirling) around the person of Beatrice Schiavona has been tasked with reforming the Guild of Hunters, the organization all volunteer and provincial Cacciatore must be a part of. 

His first edict was to organize two battalions of Royal Cacciatore, No. 1 Schiavona and No. 2 Parmigiano, and greatly reduce the number of provincials. He thought, and rightly so, that keeping the men under central supervision means more discipline, and more discipline means better combat effectiveness. While the court has little money to spend, they have given uniforms to the troops, and now training can begin.

The Treasure of Pizzarro

This is episode four of the Flashing Steel mini-campaign. Two 320pt parties search for the hidden treasure of Pizzarro, as both the loyalist and rebel side is in dire need of gold. 

There were six markers placed on the field: four of these are dummies. Whichever side controls two markers wins the game. If both sides acquire one, a die is rolled to break the tie.

The bandits basically used the same composition as in the previous battle they had won. The loyalist commander has counted on this, and organized a group of veteran horsemen. 

Schultze-Böhnstadt in WW1

So I've had this idea of playing World War I-era colonial battles using this imaginary world as a background. 1/72 figures for the armies, and 1st edition Bolt Action rules.

Of course it's just an excuse to paint more warships.

FSW Campaign Log, Year 2

Campaign rules

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FSW Campaign Log, Year 1

You can follow events on the map above, and don't forget to check the campaign rules if something is not clear.
The log of Year 2 is here.

Maurice "Not Entirely Lite"

For starters, I decided to conduct one battle in my Formaggian Succession Wars campaign, using the "Lite" version of Maurice.

As one side's army was almost entirely made up from fresh conscripts after a devastating defeat, I gave them a combat value of 4, whereas all units in the Lite verison have 6.

I used the morale rules from the Lite booklet, and did not include too much terrain or any Notables.

The scenario is this: two allied Houses advance on a weakened third. The defending side is really on the defensive this time, the enemy has overwhelming numbers.

Rules of Engagement for the FSW Solo Campaign

a.k.a. the Formaggian Succession Wars. 

Prelude: the ruling House of the Alliance of Quattro Formaggi has become extinct. The last surviving members have made a run for the New World, perhaps anticipating what is to come.

Four houses of the four corners of the Alliance rise with a claim to the throne. 

I've been looking for quick and easy rules...

Only to find out it's been sitting on my hard drive for a long time now. 

If you had not guessed already, it's the Lite version of Maurice, a free offer containing only the basics of the "big" rules. With some tweaking and still keeping it simple, a good number of 6mm battles could be fought with it, even in the nick of time and space. 

A further advantage is that I have the card set, so no need to print the identical "Lite" free cards. After two years of wear, however, they must be protected from the foul hands of players, using plastic sleeves.

I have received a smaller Baccus order recently, and three more units of foot (WSS infantry painted as Bavarians) are already complete, while three more (SYW Austrian grenadiers) await flocking. More Freikorps will also partake in these games, for which I'll be using the WSS dismounted dragoons in very bright uniforms. 

As a result of my earlier experiments with the rather small and crude Heroics and Ros figs, I dropped the basecoat-wash-highlight method entirely for painting 6mm figures, and have been using a sort of shaded basecoat, which is basically 

1. primer
2. paint the entire strip dark brown 
3. brown drybrush 
4. highlight with block colors.

This produces acceptable results (viewed from at least 1-2 feet) and reduces time required to paint figures - indeed, a Baccus pack of 96 infantry only takes two to three hours from priming to attaching the not yet varnished figures to bases.

Forte Prada redoubts, Day 1

The Count of Calvacasa oversaw the beginning of siege operations against the next obstacle in his way south: the loyalist stronghold, Forte Prada, The stone fort was built in the midst of a salty swamp, inside a river estuary. This meant that mining was not viable: the rebels had to use more traditional (and risky) methods.

The Glambrian engineer d'Arson has fallen ill with the gout, so Major Halmarson and the Count were in command on day one.