Space 1889: Battle for the Trading Outpost- Part 2

A roar of aerial and ironclad artillery signalled the commencement of the French attack upon the Martian Trading Outpost, and the dying on both sides began.

Somewhat unimaginatively, the French attack focused on the Martian Legions on the plains, and attriting the Red Legion holding the outpost, before unleashing the Guards to steal all the wine. Of course, the French could bombard the place to oblivion at leisure but that was the way of the hated Prussians or scorned Belgians, and General Escargot was under orders to capture the location for French use. 

And so the Martian sepoys were thrown in to lead the attack while the regulars stayed back to provide covering fire (a very Earthman approach, a cynic might suggest)

Martian view of the French left flank attack

Focusing fire on the left flank with Le Epee supporting, the French advanced steadily with aerial fires sweeping away the Martian artillery quickly (some good rolling for hits, AND some bad rolling for pin checks!). One unit of sepoy infantry made an early dash to secure the ruins (and the cover they invited).  Centrally the clanker landcruisers focused on counter battery fire, the sharpshooters sniped and the Grenadiers sipped champagne and patiently waited their turn. 

"These snazzy rouge pantalons make us invincibles Mon Ami!"

Far out of the right wing, the Martian Gashants advanced and General Escargot deployed his own cavalry Regiment to counter (yes that is indeed 52 gashant models on the table at the same time, for which we claim a Guiness World Record - prove us otherwise!)

"Mon Dieu! Ennemie Cavalrie!"

Meanwhile the Legionaries advanced into a firing positions and nobody really cared what they thought of things. It is the way of things in the Legion.

Back on the left flank crossfire whittled down the Martian Black legion, but Le Epee's fire - pinpoint at the start of the battle, rapidly became ineffective and a Hill Martian sharpshooter unit took the sepoys under fire, bogging down their advance. 

Spying his chance for gloire, Prince Imperial Louis-Napoléon (on secondment to the training cadre in Ideaus Fons) took command of the closest Sepoy unit - storming the hill, throwing back the Hill Martians and blasting them with panache and a dash of fusilade! For his actions that day he was subsequently gazetted with the award of the Légion d'honneur. Bravo!

"Avant! Hommes en avant!"

The French Cavalerie had fully deployed by now and a standoff had evolved with both forces just outside of charge range (and looking magnificent, naturellemont!)

And when the dance had became tiresome and the fromage was all gone, the hooves of giant desert lizard creatures was defeaning as both mounted formations committed to the charge!

First up, the French Cuirassiers crashed into the lead Martian cavalry...

...and instead of the newly painted Frenchies dying to a man in the great wargaming tradition, they saw off their opponents and sent them packing with heavy losses while only taking a single casualty themselves!

And then the err.. other 'French' and Martian units collided and the French elan and strength of mounted arms was repeated!

As this second Martian unit fell back, the Cuirassiers added insult to injury by slamming into their flank

And as the dust cleared, the Martian Cavalry force was looking rather battered

A fresh Martian unit charged into the upstart Cuirassiers, who rose to the challenge yet again!

Having beaten back this third unit, and with fresh reinforcements from the Sepoy gashant squadron coming up, the Martian Cavalry Legion attempted to retire. Most of it was chased down and destroyed in detail.

Naturally, the French began considering a garlic jus to serve with the roasted carcasses, but perhaps a simple White Wine Sauce would be most appropriate...

The Final Insult: The Martian Cavalry Commander, resplendent
 in his fine armour, is slain by the jubilant Cuirassier commander

With that action done, it was time to embrace the spirit of "L'audace, encore l'audace, toujours l'audace!" and commit my Guards Battalion to the assault! Rolling to unpin the only Guard unit sporting a pin marker - snake eyes, and it routed off the table to investigate rumours that the Mess tent had opened early for pre dinner drinks.  Perhaps more pummelling of the defenders was the better part of valour...

Nevertheless, French had the momentum on both flanks though the Martians had some untouched Defenders that needed routing out at the tip of the bayonet. It would be bloody work. Of course the French could stand off and pound the settlement to destruction but that would somewhat sour the views of the very Martians that they sought as allies. Time to encircle, besiege, and offer terms from a position of strength while saving precious French lives.

VP tally 

The French had captured the Ruins (1), had Prince Louis engage in Close Combat and survive (1), and destroyed 3 legions (9) for 11 points. Meanwhile the Martians retained control of the Trading Post (5) and had eliminated one French unit (the Guards unit that routed, to the chagrin of all) for a total of 6.  A Victory for France!

And so, my French Army was most reluctantly not returned back into their usual place of honour in Gav's figure cabinet, but placed into a new figure case bought just for them for long term storage. Rest and recover well mes hommes!

la Fin!

Epilogue: With a grand total of 52 Gashants on the table, Gav has proclaimed that this game was the winner of the World Record number of Gashants simultaneously fielded in a Space 1889 wargame. Post your accolades or provide evidence to the contrary! 

Space 1889: Battle for the Trading Outpost - Part 1

The prosperous Trading Outpost near Niliacus, complete with Liftwood supplies

It was with excitement and melancholy that Gav and I setup for our Space 1889 game this morning. Excited because EVERYTHING was going onto the table, including my brand new unit of French Cuirassiers on Gashants! A chance to get all of the last 4 years of building my French Armee de'Mars onto the table!

Mars pour le Francias!    

But also melancholy because this would be out last game for a number of years because I am moving overseas. Even in the wargaming community, Space 1889 is a rare 'niche within a niche' and finding a fellow geek only 15mins drive away who you can have a disturbingly informed conversation about the relative merits of 'Martian tack vs European tack' on Gashant models is rather special and rare!  Anyway, on with the game...

A Martian Artillery Battery - ready to defend!

After recent victories on the pains of Xanthe, French confidence and ambition was high. With conditions set and flanks secured through diplomacy (and slightly shadier means), the invigorated French army attempting to forcibly annex the outlying trading posts of the trading city state of Niliacus. 

Located on a nexus of four wet canals, Niliacus offers a strategic access into Mare Acidalium, and a clear demonstration of strength would likely swag its ruler, Prince Dardag, to follow the example of Ideaus Fons and enter into an alliance with France. If this also granted access to the Driftwood plantations around Chryse and helped curb American ambitions from Thymiamata then all the better.

Rarely on Mars have Europeans mounted a Brigade level offensive operations, but that was exactly the plan here: 

- on the Left flank the French Sponsored Sepoys of Ideaus Fons (2 units of Regular Infantry), supported with a mitralleuse (poorly trained), and 2 units of Hill Martian sharpshooters

- on the right flank the légion étrangère (2 units of Regulars) with an attached unit of sharpshooters

- in the centre the Attack column comprised of 3 units of Grenadier Guards (Regular infantry with Fierce and Elite) and an attached company of sharpshooters. Closely supported by Ironclad Squadron with one Heavy land cruiser with Cannon and two Light land cruisers fitted with mitralleuse.

- In reserve, the Cavalerie Brigade, comprising French Curassiers, Lancers (models borrowed from the British garrison but most definitely French!) and Sepoy Cavalry, all mounted on Gashants

- in support, the French aerial gunship 'Le Epee' armed with a cannon

In total this was 19 units - about 3 times the size of a regular TMWWBK game

The Martian 'Red Legion' - gallant defenders of the Trading Outpost against the Earthmen!

The Martian defenders were arrayed in 4 Legions - the Red Legion in the Outpost, and a Legion on each flank on the plains. The Outpost itself offered the benefit of heavy cover at long range (including obscuring targets) but only light cover at short range where targets could be seen better

The Martians also had a supporting Gashant Cavalry Legion of 3 units, which was both impressive and imposing on the table!

Victory Points would be awarded as follows, with subtle difference between armies

French

• Capture the Trading Outpost 5 VPs
• Capture the Ruins 1 VP
• Eliminate Martian forces 1 VP per 2 units
• Break Enemy Formations 3 VP per Legion
• Have Prince Imperial Louis-Napoléon enter Combat and survive 1 VP (rumours of his demise in Zululand were greatly exaggerated!)

Martian

• Hold the Trading Outpost 5 VPs
• Hold the Ruins 1VP
• Break French Forces 1 VP per unit
• Break French Formations 3 VP per Battalion
• Prince Imperial Louis-Napoléon falls in Combat 1 VP

The Martian 'Black Legion' on the Martian right Flank

Rules:

We used our usual adjustments to the rules, including the 'bag pull' method for random unit activations.

- the French Cuirassiers we treated as standard Regular Cavalry but their armour gave them the equivalent of light cover: that is, requiring 3 hits per casualty vice the usual 2.

- For simplicity, Le Epee got to move automatically but had to roll to activate her cannon armament, which fired as a standard cannon. (We still havent gotten around to making some specific damage tables and effects for Airships and walker Land Cruisers)

To suite the larger game size, we broke the Armies down into Commands of 2-3 units, all of which would be available for activation when their time came. To reflect better command and control, Martian Commanders could activate 2 units for each activation while French Commanders could activate 3. Units still had to individually dice for activation success when activated.

- for simplicity, the Commanding Officers of each unit group didn't really have an active role/impact or have individual skills, but that would be a nice addition for next time. The scale and scope of the game, with only 1 player per side, didnt permit it in this case

With the formations set and his orders given, General de Brigade Claude Escargot looked out one last time across the plan and signalled his men to begin the attack...

Space 1889: Grey Lady Down - Rescuing Airship Leland!

Back to Mars today, hosted by club mate Gav and with fellow Space 1889 aficionado Charles. Highly unusually for us, we kept the game size way down at 24 points, and played a modified scenario from TMWWBK rulebook. 

Using our modified rules tweaks listed here (but forgetting to use the Bolt Action dice drawing technique) I played a French force comprising:

- French Garde Grenadiers (12 man Regular Infantry) with Elite and Fierce (8 points)

- French Foreign Legionnaires (12 man Regular Infantry), with Fierce (7 points)

- 2 Skirmisher Squads (6 man/half strength Regular Infantry) (3 points each)

- Aerial vehicle crew (6 man/half strength Regular Infantry) (3 points)

The Leyand was cleverly constructed using card by Andrew P - all the fittings are magnetised

The aerial transport ship Leland had emergency landed on the Xanthe plain while transporting French supplies to Idaeus Fons. The local manager of the owning company, Dubauve and Gallais, had great influence with the local magistrate and was able to solicit military assistance for its recovery. Locally stationed legionaries had linked up with the crew, and now waited for a rescue column to arrive- led by the newly arrived Garde Grenadiers on their first foray out of the city! 

Against them, 4 mixed Martian companies (*8 units of Cutters and Shooters) advanced, seeking to forcibly claim the weapons and technology of the Earthmen.

The superior French rifles kept a number of Martian units pinned down and whittling them away slowly.  I managed to get my relief column into range and the volleys crashed out with regularity.

The Martians got some luck when their musketry took down a couple of the Airship's crew, pinning the unit. It failed to rally and the sailors fell back, abandoning the ship and their advantageous firing position. The race for the ship was on!

...and won by the Garde, who surged forward and began to pour the fire on. The Martians lost momentum and their casualties began to tell, falling backwards with a couple of units dispersing under fire.

The sound of rifle fire died away as the Martians melted back into the hinterland to lick their wounds

I thought I would be overwhelmed quickly, but lacking good leadership the Martians failed many of their activation rolls. In contrast, I didn't fail a single one all game and the Garde never rolled less than 11 !  That made it a rather one sided affair, though the Legionairres almost failed a pin check after taking a single casualty at a critical time and that would have really turned the game around.

My Armée d'Mars in all its Glory! (minus the Cavalry WIP on my desk)

Thanks to Gav and Charles for another fun game and the chance to get our figs out onto the table! Naturally we dreamed big plans for our next armies (my French army is now getting waaaay too big....said nobody ever!)

Space 1889: The Men Who Would Be Warlords of Mars

Above the Liftwood groves, an Aphid class gunboat flies under French colours as Épée 

A well overdue return to some Space 1889 gaming today, with the specific intent to trying to nail down our rules modifications to The Men Who Would Be Kings. We feel they are..okay...but probably the best fit of anything we've found thus far. Regardless, we got to push some models around and thats always fun!

A French expedition from Ideus Fons defends a central position, with Cloudship Épée in overwatch position

Some rules changes we played with included Bolt Action style of pulling chits, to keep the game fully interactive and generate drama and tension with 'who goes next', which can at times be critical (and was!)

Épée (by Oshiro Models) with a crew of Armoured Sailors (by Ironclad Miniatures)

Additionally, for narrative reasons we played:

- a unit that rolls boxcars on an activation may take an extra action immediately (but must declare both at the start)

- a unit that rolls boxcars on Disciple check a takes an immediate free action (heroic reaction to taking fire!)

Units - we have trialled a few options and recommend Space 1889 units under TMWWBK as:

• European trained Canal Martians as Regular Infantry with Obsolete Rifles
• Canal Martian Shooters as Irregular Infantry
• Can Martian Choppers as Tribal Infantry
• Tharks as Tribal Cavalry

Tharks!!!! (Bronze Age Miniatures)

A unit of Tirailleurs Martiens (RAFM models) prepares to defend their position against advancing Martian Cutters

Canal Martians advance from cover (Bronze Age miniatures)

Give them a taste of St-Etienne steel, mes Amis!

Aerial gunnery takes advancing Martians under fire

New Units:

Shield Gunners as an additions to a Canal Martian Shooter unit. A Shield Gunner takes an additional hit to kill (eg 2 at close range, 3 at long range, 4 at long range and in cover!), and all shield gunners in a unit must be taken down before. A Shooter unit can add 2-3 max at a cost of 1-2 points, adding some much needed resilience against modern European musketry

Cloudship is still in development. We used the Aphid as a Regular Cavalry unit for activation and movement. It carries a half unit (6 men) of riflemen which have to activate separately, and a crewed weapon which also activates separately.  The Cloudship (in this case a poorly armed Scout class type) is operating at low altitude and can be taken under fire by all units as usual. 

Each hit is randomly allocated as:

• 1-2 Crewed Weapon Crew (4 total)
• 3-4 Upper Deck Crew (6 total)
• 5-6 Hull hit (6 total)
• Weapon fire is reduced proportionally with hits. The cloudship crashes if reduced to zero hull points.

Tharks crash into the Legionaries, devastating the unit

Would love to hear other people's experiences and suggestion for TMWWBK, or other rules sets they use for Space 1889 ground actions.

Sergent Pierre Reno, veteran of the Third Thark Suppression Campaign, revenges his comrades upon the last Thark