Regular Monday SOW HITS games

Well according Furor Kuster they are I really think he is going of the baggage train this time.  I fear for my life in the next LBH game because I was brave enough to let this out.  Please notice the Kuster has not denied these accusations either.

Background

It is 15.00 hours on 17th April 1780.  After decades of devastating Comanche raids on New Mexico, a new governor was appointed last autumn to reorganise the Indian frontier.

He found the defences in a deplorable condition, and the Companias de Praesidio (garrison cavalry companies) under-strength, ill-trained and demoralised.  For the last several months he has worked hard to address these problems, and now feels ready to go on the offensive.

The plan is to advance onto the Llano Estacado in NW Texas, where the Comanche bands over-winter and feel safe from attack.  By moving in April, he intends to strike them before their ponies regain full strength on the spring grass.


Special report for the Spanish Governor of New Mexico

You advanced as planned, and two days ago your force struck a large camp of the Comanche Paneteka band.  The result was an almost complete success, marred only by the fact that few prisoners were taken for interrogation.  You did discover that there were very few warriors in the camp.  This was apparently due to the fact that they were absent on a raid further south against the Pueblo settlements in your province.  You are somewhat surprised at this due to the earliness of the season.

You suspect the raiders will shortly return, and have advanced further with the intention of intercepting the murderous band.  You are now in the vicinity of the old Santiago Mission.  This and the villages in the vicinity have been deserted for many years due to the Comanche raids.  One of your captives revealed the returning raiders were due pass this way on their journey back.  

You were joined this morning by a large number of allied Jicarilla Apaches, and your combatant force now totals over 900 men, composed of the following elements:

(a) Praesidial cavalry - 300 men
6 companies organised in 2 squadrons under Don Esteban Gomez and Captain Pablo Escobar.  These are the mainstay of your army.   Their main armament is the lance.  You expect them to give an excellent account of themselves against the hostiles, as they are now well trained, their lances are longer than those of the Comanche, and they have protective stiff leather jerkins under their tunics.
They are also equipped with muskets, so most can fight dismounted if needs be.  They include your own elite Governor's Guard company however, which would never consider fighting dismounted!

(b) Volunteer cavalry - 95 men
2 companies recruited from small landowners, and organised in a small squadron under Don Enrique de Palomas.  They hate the Comanche with a passion, are well-motivated, and reasonably well-trained.  Like the Praesidial cavalry their main weapon is the lance, but they can also fight on foot with their muskets.  Don Enrique is a gentleman of great standing in the province, and is your second in command due to his social status.

(c) Infantry - 300 men
7 companies of musketeers recruited from His Most Catholic Majesty's Pueblo Indian subjects, organised in two units under Captains Alonzo Garcia and Felipe Sandoval.  The Pueblos have been terrorised by Comanche raids for almost a century, and this is their chance to set things aright.  These are newly-levied troops however, have not traditionally been trusted with firearms and you are not sure how well they will fight against a strong force of warriors.

(d) Jicarilla's - 300 men
A loosely-organised force under the celebrated Apache war-chief Jacammo Colorado.  The Apache loathe the Comanche.   They are good fighters, but are they as good as the Comanche, who have recently driven them off the southern plains?

(e) Wagon train - 125 men (non-combatants)
56 wagons under Chief Wagonmaster Paulo Arroyo organised in 5 sub-units.  Its existence is the only reason you can stay in the field, as it carries food for your men, extra ammo and - most crucial of all - fodder for your horses.  Without it, the latter would starve due to the lack of grazing at this time of year.  Protection of the train is crucial.


The Comanches

The Panetekas are believed to have 6-800 warriors at full strength, so your force outnumbers them.   But they often raid in company with other bands, and may not yet have separated.  They are famed warriors and fight with the lance and bow.  A very few have obsolete firearms and could engage at longer range.


Technical issues

All the cavalry on both sides is of the charging type.   The Comanche and Jicarilla bows are only reasonably effective at 30-50 yds.  The Spanish muskets are fairly effective at up to perhaps 100 yds, and can on occasion kill at somewhat longer ranges.


Scouting

You should feel free to scout ahead of your troops.  Officers were after all mounted on the best available horses, so could normally expect to get out of trouble, provided visibility was good.  However you should not ride closer to hostiles (or trees) than about 500 yds.  Remember too, that if you are away from your troops, they will be in extreme danger if Indians appear.


Dusk

This will be at about 17.50 hours - ie the scenario will be about 2.5 hours long.  


Before the game

A very short additional briefing will be given before the game.   I will then allow time for a brief pre-game team chat if necessary.


The KS Little Bighorn Campaign Mod

You will need the latest version of this and I will post it probably tomorrow (Saturday).  Still refining it.  It's now quite large due to the inclusion of numerous extra sprites, so please try and download it well before the game.


Number of players

I see we have 4 registered so far.  We don't need a lot for this particular game, but could certainly fit more in.  Here's the doodle again
http://doodle.com/8b54vha4veme723n

Martin (J)

They make some nice wine out in the Llano Estacado.


http://llanowine.com/index.php

You said this would be different Martin! Looking forward to this. I do hope you remembered to alter those Sioux unit classes and take away their Winchesters.

Hee hee. Time for a bit of fun at Diggers' expense

Soldier wrote...

They make some nice wine out in the Llano Estacado.

That's interesting Mark.  Looks like a number of varieties in several different regions.  Wow, they even produce a port! I do like wine. What's the cost and quality like?

Martin

As I recall the Mexicans were badly handled by the Comanches during the entire time they were in conflict. I fear many a Mexicano will go home with a very short haircut.

Note to self be a Comanche.

Martin,

I like their Merlot, $14.00 U.S. http://llanowine.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_lw.tpl&product_id=137&category_id=2&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=30

The Port is a little pricey at $25.00 U.S. http://llanowine.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_lw.tpl&product_id=125&category_id=2&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=30

Thanks Mark. Sounds good. I wonder if it's available in the UK? I'll have a look. Bet it's more than $15. We have very high duty on alcohol

Martin (J)

Here is the latest version 1.4 of the Little Bighorn Campaign mod https://www.dropbox.com/s/0jhiy6x4fhgmnz9/KS%20Little%20Bighorn%20Campaign%20v1_4.zip?dl=0

For Monday’s game you will also need Crikey’s Rio Espanol Mod, which you can get here https://www.dropbox.com/s/h1v0sn5bbqqligo/Rio%20Espagnol%20Map.zip?dl=0

No other Mods required for this one. Specifically you do not need CouriersAndMaps.

Martin (J)

PS to all those playing this evening, have a good game

so what command does one pick if one is used to civilized warfare? it seems you get a choice between peasants and Injuns....

Captain Pablo Escobar, do his men get a special fatigue (white powder) bonus ?

Well spotted Steve. All quite inadvertent of course

Martin (J)

I'm hearing disturbing rumours that Morsey has been conserving the lives of his men.  We shall see whether this can be sustained in today's game vs the dreaded Comanche

We will aim to start the game at 20.00 UK time, but if you can, please try and get on T/S a few minutes before.  Please make sure you have downloaded the Rio Espanol Map and Little Bighorn Mods.  Before the game can you also set your vegetation at 25% in the second screen of the Options menu.

We have 5 registered on doodle, but could still fit a few more in.  Here's the doodle again
http://doodle.com/8b54vha4veme723n

Martin (J)

indeed - this isn't going the right way...

at least he sacrificed some Hussars last night against a few impregnable squares... so some part of his true self is still present...

Martin who told you these lies. LOL

Roland it was my superior handling of other peoples sons not to mention horses that keep you guys busy and you fell into the trap by El Pepe and Senor Palmer!

I know everyone thinks that after last night's fight... even I was of that belief during the engagement... I kept telling myself: we should have gone west... we should have gone west...


UNTIL I SAW THE REPLAY... the fight would have always ended this way... I believe we managed to extricate actually quite a few more men than I initially thought...
and if the Spanish army is short of anything it is CAVALRY

nevertheless... an excellent game last night - I am sure tonight's game won't be any different!

so some part of his true self is still present...

A little like Smeagol being corrupted into Gollum by the darkness. Morsey's true state is to have no men left at the end of every battle but the effects of the blackness in his heart is making him want to keep a few of his preciouss men.

He can only be cleansed of this torment by throwing him repeatedly into a pit of (canister) fire.

I am going to have to start the one and only HITS/KS Anonymous Costa Rica Chapter and not only am I a member but I am the President!  

President?  Sounds very like Generalissimo, which is only a whisker away from CinC.

Gentlemen, we may have a commander for today's game.  Bravo brave Morsey, bravo sir

Good man! Without question, I see no possibility other than complete success.

my apologies gentlemen - this just in: It would appear that I have received orders to report to my new command in the outer Hebrides....
unfortunatley that makes it rather impossible for me to take part in tonight's campaign....what would I have given to serve under this promising and invincible CinC...



I am off to the hairdresser...

You all are some very masochistic people.

Stand By to DIE!!

You wont need a Hairdresser after this afternoon!

exactly why I thought I'd see one now - you know - a last ditch effort to save and support his profession...