Regular Monday SOW HITS games

but just so YOU can remember Kevin... what comes first.. Road to Wagram or Supplemental maps?

One advantage of the new mods is that the order you have them installed no longer matters!

I can't help thinking Kevin has only done this to save a certain person from another embarrassing incident!

I can't help thinking Kevin has only done this to save a certain person from another embarrassing incident!

Précisément.

Well, I haven't taken a beating like that in a long time. The French army of 1807 was pretty good. The mounted grenadiers were even better. They broke three of my squares and then went on to trash my artillery. At least I was able to share the misery with Phil and Roland. They were left with no divisions at all. Martin was there too. He reported engaging and defeating 3 enemy battalions. Well done!

The AI was very aggressive. They even moved their reserve division around us and attacked us from the rear. Watching the cuirassiers emerge from the woods and ride down Phil's troops was painful but mesmerizing, (correct spelling), to watch. I don't think Phil enjoyed it much either.

Reporting from my new Datcha in Eastern Siberia!

Great game. Really enjoyed my first (and probably last) experience of high command. My cunning plan didn't quite work out as my left flanking movement was mirrored by the French. However, Diggers did really well on his side of the battlefield. But as someone said, that may be because most of the French army was on the other side slaughtering the rest of us! The cuirassiers looked great (and explains why many of my men stood by totally awe struck by their fantastic artwork as they were run down!) even if they were unstoppable by my exhausted Russian troops.

A good game even if our victory was marred by only one minor thing. Defeat.

Many thanks to all.

More cunning plans from Baldrick later.

Don't understand what all the fuss was about. Plan went like clockwork. I led the left hook advance to some place that was called (I think) Soweto, saw the enemy down in a valley, lined up 24 guns on a nice slope, proceeded to knock seven bells out of them (both my batteries ended the battle with over 1000 points each and empty caissons), then while some odd looking foreign horsemen fellows in bearskins were occupied trampling Kevin's men to my right, I swung left, went up the hill, captured three batteries, went further up the hill, captured two more, went over the hill, down the other side and smacked some garlic eaters about for a while until they all went off somewhere then found I was sitting on the objective and the enemy had all run off.

Turns out they were running off towards the rest of our corps shouting something that sounded like "On a vont!" whatever that is while our guys were running the same direction even faster shouting "Shiiiiiiiit....!"

Well done Phill, Roland and Kevin, you gents made a nice distraction so our plan worked and I took the objective and racked up a 3,900ish score.

Replay.

Lovely game. Same time next week?

Bad form, Phill.

Around here it's a tradition to blame any personal failings on Kevin.  "He was too slow to engage."  "He never engaged at all."  "He engaged way too eary" (almost never used).

Anything but being honest. Please edit you post and place the blame squarely on Kevin.

Your compliance is greatly appreciated.

...and when Kevin's in command and the div commanders fail it was because of a bad plan or a drunk or insane commander. Or all three.

totally agree! sack the general that's me. Well, at least I wasn't drunk! Not sure about the other though!!! I'm in two minds about it;-) I'm still coming to terms with the fact that I ended up with a strength of minus 7.

Of course, this will all be sorted out in my memoirs. I have plenty of spare time after a hard day counting trees in Siberia. Not sure why the Tsar needs to have such detailed records. Oh well, where was I? Damn, can't remember, 1,2,3...........

I’d like to run another Little Bighorn scenario on Monday, with us playing as the Indians for the first time.  A number of folks have said they'd like to try this.

It will use an excellent new map of the high plains produced for me by Crikey.  You can almost imagine you're at the Little Bighorn.

This is very much an experiment, as we haven’t tried the Indians in MP before.  I’ve tried playing the Sioux/Cheyenne in SP a few of times now, and it makes for a very different game.  There will be some constraints on how you control your warriors, to reflect the historical lack of an Indian command structure.

Let's just say it's probably not one for micro-managers

Here's a doodle http://doodle.com/eeem727rncghc2wq#table

Martin (J)

Can you give us some more info on how the unit control will work?

Yes I can.  Suggest you sit down for this.....

1. There is no Indian CinC.  Because there wasn't in any meaningful military sense.

2. Players will control a tribal division, such as Crazy Horse of the Oglala, or Gall of the Hunkpapa.

3. Beneath you in the tribal hierarchy are a varying number of war-chiefs.  Beneath them are a varying number of war-bands of varying size.

4. Your roles are scouting, liaising with those of equivalent status, and overall control of those who follow you.

5. You can order your warriors to follow you and they mostly will.  You can order them to attack and at least some of them probably will.  At least initially.  You can order them not to attack, and at least some of them probably won't.

6. The only Indian flags you will see are those of your fellow tribal leaders.  There are none for subordinate war-chiefs or individual units.  This is not like commanding a battalion of US cavalry.

7. To reinforce this message, the only way you can gain access to any subordinate war-chief or individual unit is via the OOB pane.  This will not allow easy control, as that did not exist historically.

8. When the scenario starts, you will know the general location of the Indian camps, and where the other tribal groupings are to be found.  For this scenario, which post-dates Custer's Last Stand, the Sioux and Cheyenne are spread among a number of camps, rather than just one very large one.  This was in fact the normal situation.  The mega-camp at LBH was highly unusual for both logistical and health reasons.  

9. No pre-game planning should take place.  This reflects the lack of an Indian command structure, staff or any other mechanism for detailed advance planning

10. You can scout wherever you wish from the outset.

11.You should not contact any other player until such time as you spot the US Army, or you receive a message that they have been spotted by someone else.  This is to reflect the often lackadaisical Indian approach to precautionary scouting.

Right.  If that lot doesn't scare you, I don't know what will  

Martin (J)

Hm. I shall take the role of Big Chief Sit n Bull.

Though without our resident "I am King George the Third and I am NOT mad!" roleplayer I feel this encounter will lack... something.

As previously mentioned, this is is an experimental game, as we haven’t tried the playing Indians vs an AI-controlled US army force before.  There will be some constraints on how you control your warriors, to reflect the historical lack of an Indian command structure.  Essentially you lead rather than command.

The scenario is set in July 1876, some weeks after Custer’s annihilation.  The large Indian force, now swelled by further arrivals of ‘summer roamers’ from the Indian agencies, has found it impossible to keep together because of the lack of game ........not to mention sanitation.  The various tribal groupings have therefore moved east to the Powder River country, and spread over a wide region.



In our area, there are 4 camps - for the northern Cheyenne, and for the Oglala, Minneconju and Hunkpapa Sioux.  Buffalo are plentiful in this area, and smaller contingents of warriors from other tribal groupings, such as the Brule and Sans Arcs, are also in the camps.  In total there are approaching 2,000 braves.

There has been little recent contact with the Army,and you assume they have learnt their lesson.  It’s summertime (and the livin’ is easy).  What on earth could go wrong?!!

The LBH Mod has been updated for this game.  This is the *only* mod you will need for this session.  It will be played on a whizzo new map (thanks to Crikey), included with the mod.  Please make sure you’ve downloaded the new version of the mod before the game.  Unusually for this mod, you should set your vegetation at 100% and map objects as ‘best’ in the options screens.  Link to version 1_3 here https://www.dropbox.com/s/epienz8n97y30mp/KS%20Little%20Bighorn%20Campaign%20v1_3.zip?dl=0

As previously mentioned, we need to reflect the historical lack of planning etc by the Sioux & Cheyenne.  So *please* no discussion of plans before the game   .

All welcome.  Doodle here http://doodle.com/eeem727rncghc2wq#table

Martin (J)

We have 5 signed-up for tomorrow's game, which should be about right.  Although we could fit one or two more in.  Any more than that might make it too easy for the Sioux however

Doodle here http://doodle.com/eeem727rncghc2wq#table

As in all the 1876 battles, the Sioux will be facing an unknown army force.  It will certainly include cavalry, but there might also be infantry, armed civilians, artillery, scouts, and our sworn enemies - the Crow and Shoshone.



Here is a screenshot from a test game on Crikey's new map.  The few remaining men of a US infantry company make their last stand on the bank of the Eagle River.

Martin (J)

I like the dusty hot look to that image, looks very Wild West! It just needs Clint Eastwood and we're done.

It looks as if there are 6 of us for today's game, which is not bad as several Monday regulars are working today, or on vacation.

As I mentioned previously, 6 is probably better than 10 for this particular game, as it will limit scouting by the Sioux and Cheyenne to more realistic levels.

We have 4 main roles:

* Crazy Horse - Oglala

* Gall - Hunkpapa

* White Bull - Minneconju

* American Horse - Northern Cheyenne

Each of the above has a camp to defend and non-combatants to protect.  There are a number of other tribal leaders present (eg Spotted Eagle of the Sans Arc).  These lead hunting parties of substantial strength, which are visiting their friends & relatives.  They have somewhat fewer warriors but more freedom of action.  I will take one of those.

See you in T/S, ideally shortly before 19.30 UK time.

Martin (J)

If there's still room, I may pop in to check out this zoo. ;-) I'm more than happy with one of the smaller commands/hunting parties, if available.

To get in the mood, here are a few pictures from an earlier visit to LBH Battlefield (originally it was "Custer Battlefield" when I first went there as a kid):
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rwberg53/sets/72157648181306901/

And then, just last year at the Buffalo Roundup held annually in the nearby (by Western standards, at least) Black Hills of South Dakota:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rwberg53/sets/72157647769645728/

Of course Ron.  You're always welcome

You'll need the updated Little Bighorn Mod v1_3 for this game.  This is the *only* mod you will need for this session.  Unusually for this mod, you should set your vegetation at 100% and map objects as ‘best’ in the options screens.  Link to version 1_3 here https://www.dropbox.com/s/epienz8n97y30mp/KS%20Little%20Bighorn%20Campaign%20v1_3.zip?dl=0

Nice photos.  I've always wanted to visit the LBH battlefield, and also the Black Hills. They do look beautiful.

Martin (J)

The mod description mentions also having Couriers & Maps activated with LBH lower on the list?

You guys should pop over for a visit. It would be my pleasure to host an expedition to Montana, the Black Hills and maybe Yellowstone with this crowd.

Well spotted! Yes it normally does, and we also normally wind down the vegetation & graphics settings on the standard maps too, in order to get rid of the buildings and provide a more authentic high plains feel. The Pipe Creek maps in particular seem to give the right 'look' when we do that.

But for today's game we are using a new map, specifically designed by Crikey for use with this mod, so we don't need to do either of those things. The new map is actually in the Mod, rather than in CouriersAndMaps, although it probably will included there eventually.

That is a very tempting invite. Thank you. It would really be a fun thing to do. Ideally, I would like to walk along Custer's route from Reno Greek through Reno's Hill and Weir Point to Last Stand Hill. Following Reno's Battalion would also be fun. Is that possible?

Martin (J)

Thanks for the clarification. That does indeed make it simple!

Yes, all of that is possible. It would be quite a long hike (as I recall it is 3 or 4 miles west just from the Reno/Benteen hill entrenchments to Last Stand Hill) -- and if done on or around June 25 the weather is nearly always quite hot. Still, it is well worth it. From the Reno/Benteen battlefield the view is obstructed to Last Stand Hill, so it is easy to imagine the confusion about what was happening to Custer. But from Weir Point (roughly a mile closer) it is just possible to make out where Custer's fight took place -- but still quite distant and indistinct. I recall concluding that Weir no doubt could tell big events were taking (or had taken) place there, but it would have been nearly impossible to determine what was really happening. It's one of the most haunting views on the battlefield.

Another amazing view (among many around the field) is standing on Reno Hill looking down the slope to the Little Bighorn river and trying to imagine how any cavalrymen at all managed to cross the river from the willows and scramble up the hill. An almost unbelievable feat under the circumstances. Regardless of where individuals come down on Reno's performance that day, it's difficult not to have sympathy for his plight and be in awe that he was able to save even a portion of his command.

Though the LBH battle is, in terms of participants involved, very small compared to almost any ACW engagement, it is truly one of my very favorite battlefields to visit. Maybe it's the lingering mysteries, or the large distances across the open plains, but it is easy to lose yourself in the event when there and mentally teleport back to that awful day.

Grandson has school today and sometime he has individual attention. If I get home in time I will be there.

If not enjoy!

Ron - interesting stuff.  Thanks again

Mike - hope to see you there, but I think we have to make you the last.  A most unusual move I know, but this scenario depends heavily on what the players do not know.  The ability to flood the area with human scouts is going to detract heavily from that I fear   .

Given it looks like there will be up to 8 of us, I'm going to quickly try and re-jig the scenario a bit, but there's only so much I can do.  I may also need to do more to limit initial recce.

Martin (J)

If there's 4 main tribal units could we give 2 players to each and not allow scouting beyond 250 yds of your nearest warparty?

Is there in fact any need for the Indians to go look around the map? It sounds like they can stay in camp and chill out.