The Sharp End Gaming

"The Final Struggle" is a multiple scenario demo of the Battle of Waterloo.  It is a great way to preview John Tiller's Napoleonic system. I am playing the 12 turn scenario called "D'Erlon Attacks" in the Napoleonic battles demo called "The Final Struggle."  The scenario was designed by Rich Hamilton and details the fighting for the ridge beyond La-Haye Sainte and Papelotte.  I am playing solo as the French. The scenario description follows: Small scenario depicting the attack of the French I Corps on the Allied defensive positions along the ridge between La Haie Sainte and Papelotte. This version starts at 1:00 pm, the first phase of the attack. The Grand Battery was shelling during this time and the infantry was just beginning to move up. This scenario has no fixed units. Also visability is set to 6 hexes for the entire match to simulate the dense smoke created by the firing of the Grand Battery and the Allied response. My game so far:...

Scenario 1:  Vandamme's III Corps lurches forward on the French left, towards the beautiful village of St. Amand. It was a New Year's gaming resolution of mine to gradually attempt to make the shift from digital games to tabletop games.  My goal is to put a new wargame on the my very small gaming table once per month. I've changed my January game probably three times (without starting any of them) and landed finally on my newest game purchase Ligny -Last Eagles - The Battle of  June 16th, 1815 from Hexasim . In true Sharp End fashion, I am reading the rules while playing the introductory scenario. GD Dominique Vandamme The game components seem very nice, though I have only a few games to compare them too.  I appreciate the map work, the absence of numbered hexes (an interesting choice), the typefont and the rounded counters.  I especially appreciate the latter as I don't have anything to clip my counters. OOB's are presented by scenario and...

A Google Maps view of Bussaco Convent in the distance looking from the eastern side of the village of Moura.  In 1810, the slopes were less forested and dominated by farming.  Four French generals stood in this village and made a plan to storm the ridge. The Argument There is a scene in the book that I am currently reading about the Battle of Bussaco, where on the afternoon of September 26, 1810 the French Generals Massena, Ney, Reynier and Junot are meeting in the village of Moura and arguing heatedly about what should happen next.  Ney and Reynier have been camped below the high ridge of Serro de Busaco overnight and have observed the British positions strengthen since their arrival. Marshal Michel Ney, a strong, opinionated general and the VI Corps commander (22,000+), urges an immediate attack before Wellington's army can fully assemble on the heights above them.  Had he been in command, he would have attacked with Reynier (II Corps commander 15,000+) the...

This is the in-game Allied solo scenario starting placement.  Note French columns advancing on multiple axes towards Vimeiro. I have mentioned before that the battle of Vimeiro in 1808 is my favorite battle of the Peninsular war. It is Wellington's first major set piece against the French, the opposing French commander Jean Andoche Junot was a favorite of Napoleon as one of his ADCs at Austerlitz, the Light division is present for the Brits (think Sharpe's Rifles), the brigade commanders on both sides would oppose each other for years on the Peninsula...and I could go on and on.  This battle sets the tone for the Peninsular war and propels Wellington to his momentous meeting with Napoleon at Waterloo six years later. The John Tiller Software version of Vimeiro faithfully recreates the historical result.  Junot's separate columns converge on Vimeiro and Ventosa farm to the north and are defeated by Wellington's forces in succession.  What I've always wondered,...

Christmas has come early.  John Tiller's Software has produced Peninsula War.  This is turn 3 representation of Vimeiro my favorite Napoleonic battle.  To the far north are Ferguson's and Nightingall's Bdes where they have bumped into a smaller French flanking force.  In the center Wellington and 4 Bdes are watching the French regulars advance off the far hills and across the valley towards Vimeiro.  The battle there only joined by skirmishers. To learn more about this new release click here .