Blood & Plunder: A Campaign

The gang decided to try a Campaign based on B&P Rules by Firelock Games. We have played numerous one-up games over the years, and have found them to be quite enjoyable. Now we're going to take a step up using a modified system that will have us ranging the Spanish Main. So far we have a Spanish Armada Commander (myself); a Spanish Corsario;  English, French and Dutch Buccaneers; an English Pirate Hunter; and one Brethren of the Coast. I myself represent His Excellency Don Antonio Sebastian de Toledo Modena y Salazar, 2nd Marquiss/Mancera, who represents His Most Catholic Majesty Carlos II of Espana, as the Captain General of Nueva Espana. 

During each turn, the player may attempt to move his vessel, (if he chooses) up to 7 hexes on our map. This can be more/less depending on the trade winds and Random Events that are rolled once per week per player. As a result of said rolls, weather/wind can change, and Merchants or Warships are spotted. 

I put together a 100pt force of said inexperienced commander; a unit of 4x Trained Marineros, and 4x Trained Soldados on a Heavy Bark armed with 4x 6lb Light Cannons. On a second regular Bark, I place a unit each of 4x inexperienced Marineros and Piqueros Marineros. Both Barks are also equipped with 4x Swivel Guns each. With this 'fleet', I set sail from Compeche on the Yucatan to Puerta Cabellos on the route to Panama.

On my sixth day out, we spotted two beached Piragua along the Moskito Coast. This was known to be a target of illegal Logwood Cutters, usually out of Port Royal. Assuming they were trespassers, I ordered my flotilla to attack!

This is the Heavy Bark with the Captain and Soldados on the rear deck and the Marineos forward. All of the ship models and miniatures, come from Firelock Games... 

This is the regular Bark (no cannons) with Marineros (Spanish Sailors) rear deck and Piqueros Marineros (Sailor Pikes) forward...

The view of the beached Piraguas, with the Logwood Cutters in the background...

My approaching flotilla is forced to tack back and forth as we are sailing into the wind. We also have to be wary of the surf so as not to run aground. The Barks draw much more water than the light weight Piragua...

These following photos highlight the Logwood Cutters. First the Engages or Indentured Servants to the Freebooters...

The aforementioned Freebooters and their Captain...

And last but not least, the Sea Dogs (English Sailors)...

After several turns of tacking up the coast (and the Logwood Cutters racing for their boats), the first shots are fired by the swivel guns on the Heavy Bark. Unfortunately for the Spanish, both fail to hit.

As my second Bark approached, it too fires a swivel, but again learns the distance is too great for a good chance to hit!...

The Heavy Bark drops anchor in a perfect spot, but again misses with its swivel guns! Those accursed English Dogs will now make their boats...

Finally, Lady Luck sides with us as my two gun volley gets six hits (raking the stern gives bonuses) But after the English make four saves (!) we take down only two of the Dogs!

The regular Bark is heading for a collision-course with a Piragua...

But before it does, English Freebooters let loose with musket fire (that misses), while the Spanish Piqueros Marineros also miss with another swivel gun volley (will they never hit?)...

The Bark smashes into the Piragua doing a point of damage while driving her ashore. (The Bark is a larger ship. Just as she was about to start using her sweeps (oars) to try to escape...

Some Freebooters let loose but although they score a hit, the Spanish save both the hit and the possible Fatigue...

Another miss from the Engages' Swivels...

The Soldados likewise miss on their initial musket volley...

Even though the English Sea Dogs pulled away from shore and began pivoting its stern away, there is a  major score for the Spanish. 2 6lb guns rip through the Piragua's, causing major damage to the boat (her Fortitude and Integrity are bottomed out) while also inflicting a casualty each on the Engages and Freebooters. Only two Engages remain, and as he now has four Fatigues (twice higher than #figs) the last man Routs! This causing a Strike Test which the English Captain fails! They Surrender...

But the English get a small measure of revenge when their second group of Freebooters drops a Marineros. I am not happy. What to do with the prisoners now?...

The Marineros on the Bark, having failed either to lower sails or to grapple (despite 4 attempts to do so!), are bringing their vessel around for another go...

Initial fight was a learning tool. Must get Swivels much closer for any real chance of success is one point, but it was an enjoyable adventure. At least for the Spanish. On to more engagements...

A Pirate Adventure

 Using Blood and Plunder Rules, we pitted four vessels in a Pirate raid. Unfortunately most of my photos were lost. Here is just a few.

A Dutch merchant Fluyt was attempting to reach safe harbor (to the right) when she was set upon by first two, then a third Pirate Sloop. After only two rounds, a newcomer to the game firing his very first cannon salvo, brought down the Dutchmen's main mast! The light breeze is blowing offshore from the bottom of photo and the downed mast will drag the ship towards the shore and its breakers! The loss of the mast will slow the merchant from 12" to 6", virtually assuring the pirate's success!

Later, a second Sloop is swinging around the Fluyt's stern, while the first Pirate Sloop fires off a second volley, further damaging the rigging. The Dutchmen on the main deck have at least cut away the mast wreckage, but it is barely making headway...

The third and final Pirate Sloop moves to cut off the Fluyt from its destination, and its volley brings down the foremast, so the Dutchmen loses all headway. Eventually the second Sloop will grapple the merchant and swing aboard, but one of the terrified crewmen of the merchant sets off the powder in the hold, blowing up the ship! (taking down four French pirates who only just missed halting the trail of burning powder! Turned out to be a fun little game.

Viking Conflict on the Seas

 With the cliffs of a Norwegian fjord in the background, we pitted four Longships and two Knarrs filled with warriors going aviking using the Saga II Rules...

My Warlord's men (8-man Hirdmen, 4-Hirdmen, 12 man Levy/bows, were in the Longship at right top. My allies' Knarr with his Warlord, 8-man Hirdmen and 4-Man Hirdman in the right center. Our Jarl was in the large Longship right bottom, with 12-Men Levy in the bow, followed by an 8-man Warrior, 8-man Hirdmen and 4-man hirdmen near the stern with the Jarl himself.

Our Jarl's ship makes first contact although an exchange between our Levy made no kills while the enemy, who had two 12-man Levy units up front managed to take down three of ours!

Meanwhile, we even had some spectators taking in the view of this fine fight!

One has already taken in too much (even for a Norseman), while just to his left (second from right) another has gone to his knees while he guzzles straight from the bucket! They did enjoy their mead.

(We flip the view) As the two Longships come together, the enemy bowmen (center right) take out half of the Warriors (center left) on my Jarl's vessel. You can just make out the Prowl of my own Longship at bottom...

The great Longships have now grappled each other, and our enemy strikes first. His 8-man Hirdman unit completely destroys the Levy in the forward position of the Jarl's ship, and gains the deck. 

It leaves my Jarls' four Warriors (left) what they got themselves into...

Meanwhile my opponent brings his ship along mine (about center). My bowmen only score a handful of successes while his take 9 of my12! Fortunately, I used my Battleboard to exhaust his Levy 

Then my ally brings his Knarr into the fight. He sends his 8-man Hirdmen against a 4-man Danish Axe Hirdmen. Looks good, except in the fight, the two groups destroy each other! What had looked like our advantage just soured.

The fight on the Longships of the rival Jarls. went back and forth. First our Hirdmen cleaved through two complete Levy units without a loss! Then the enemy Knarr crashed alongside and quickly changed things. His Hirdmen attacked our Jarl. He fought off the attack but used all of his Hirdmen to soak off the numerous hits, although he was driven back to his ship.  But the enemy had one more Hirdmen unit and they followed him and then finished off our Jarl! Well at least he has Valhalla!

There lies our brave Jarl...

We have played a lot of Saga, but this was certainly a enjoyable and different take on a great game system

Battle on the Monongahela, Part III, the Final Phase

Two hours have now passed after the initial contact, and Braddock's Army is in serious trouble. Only a portion of the "Hat Men" that marched forward earlier, remain; while another portion is routing back the way they came. The Grenadiers are no more and the Colonials have only four men of the Virginians still standing around their colors. Natives are moving along the Column towards the vulnerable Wagon Train and supplies. The end seems in sight.

The "Hat Men" finally hit their wall. taking more casualties and they rout!On the left, British Flankers again fire ineffectively...On the right, Natives age closing in on a large group of Flankers...Back on the left, Natives are closing in for the kill...And on the right, Natives moving on the Flankers...On the right, two consecutive Native volleys wipe out a large group of Flankers, eight Englishmen gone...The time now runs out for the Mounted Virginians (center), as all four remaining are downed...And then...Braddock (center) is brought down! It will take a little while for the news to filter down. Colonel Washington in Blue at center, is again very lucky as bullets whiz by...A A close up of the General's demise. Washington again in blue...On the left, three of five Flankers are shot down...More Flankers fall on the left as the outlying guard groups are all but gone...

In the center, a group of Canadiens, not fearing any response, race across the bloody open ground that used to contain Braddock's Vanguard...

On the left, British Flankers are so unsettled that they launch a volley into the empty woods to their front, and bring down one of their own (friendly fire brought on by Random Event Card)...

On the right, numerous Native bands close for the kill. Hooray no British casualties this turn... although thats probably because the French forces didn't shoot this round!

The last British Flankers all become casualties to a very accurate Native volley...

While just to the west of that, Natives bring down Colonials, Englishmen, and the only Native Scout with the English!

On a Random Event Card bringing the turn to very quick end, French Regulars just miss Washington (left center) yet again, but inflict thee more casualties on the Routed "Hat Men"inc their color stand (to the right of Washington)...

At what used to be the head of Braddock's Column, French Regulars, Canadians and Natives are snapping at the British heels...

Both the 44th and 48th are Recoil as casualties begin to mount. One of the Colonial Companies has started to deploy in among the trees to the right of the road (right center), but a large band of Natives ((left center) are closing on the tail...

Two more Royal Artillerist are dropped (center) along with another sailor (just above)...

The 44th,  closest to bottom of photo, has actually lost two deserters along with others shot. The 48th gets off its first volley, missing everything including some of their own Flankers to their front (center right). Unfortunately for them, they suffer three more dead and Colonel Hackett (center)as well. (Historically his son was then shot dead, falling across his father's dead body)...

View from the other side...

At the Tail, time runs out for the Royal Navy. Natives surround them, and take them captive (center)...not good for those sailors...

As the 44th and 48th reposition themselves for maximum firepower (ha), Natives drop several Flankers (lower center; there are some left) but cause the remainder to Recoil...

French Regulars recover lost British standards (center) while the three Sailors (just above) are being lead off to torture and death...

At the Tail, Natives are closing in on the NY Independent Co forming half of the Rear Guard...

On the other Flank, British fire away while the Natives position themselves...

The 44th has been forced to Recoil...

And the NY Co of the Rear Guard foolish forgets to take cover and are s blasted away!!!

All along the southern Flank, the Natives are blazing away, causing many casualties...

With the Rear Guard gone on the southern edge of the road, the Natives close in for the kill...

The first of Braddock's men begin to reach the banks of the Monongahela and hopefully safety...

Its no better on the northern edge, as the 48th is Recoiled as well, but not before they dropped two Natives!

Now, according to all historical evidence and accounts, the battle didn't last beyond 3 1/2 to 4 hours. In the game as well, its just a matter of inflicting more casualties, so here it stops. With the tweaks to the Ruleset, Muskets and Tomahawks, this recreation was almost spot on. The French lost a total of 26 casualties (26 x 4=104) as opposed to about 43-96 historically. British losses in the game total 353 figs (4x353=1412) compared to 907-1100+

A view of most of the casualties from the game with French, Canadian, and Native at bottom...

It was, both historically and in the game, a one-sided victory for the French. At the same time, it was a joy to recreate on the table.