Sharp Practice Napoleonics

With Scrivs back from the Colonies and itching for some gaming I decided it might be time to see if Sharp Practice was worth another look. I'd struggled to wrap my head around it before, but clearly plenty of people love it and I've since played lots of CoC and love that...
I was hoping that maybe a game with Scrivs - who has a knack for explaining and remembering rules would unlock Sharp Practice for me.

We both picked the basic Peninsular forces from the book and then I was able to add another unit of regulars and a Sergeant. Scrivs added more Conscripts to his force. We were just playing the basic scenario from the book.

Scrivs had laid out a very lovely table - but had left some clear lines of sight - explaining that having space to form lines and blaze away was good for the game, rather than crowding the tabletop as one would for a more traditional skirmish game.

First card out was my skirmishers and unlike with CoC I didn't see much point to holding back, so on they came, behind a hill, just in case.

Some French Voltigeurs also appeared.

My line soon deployed and began blazing away at the advancing skirmishers. I was fortunate and struck the accompanying officer and killed him stone dead!

My skirmishers pushed up to threaten the French left flank.

The leaderless voltiguers milled about a bit.

The thin red line looked on.

Whilst the Captain led a column forward.

Still lurking on my right.

The French responded to the skirmisher threat and lined the river bank.

Whilst their line advanced.

To be met with fire.

Relentlessly they paddled across the stream.

A replacement officer was sent toward the Voltigeurs.

And he told them to cuddle up to the cows.

Splash, splash, splash.

Firing broke out, but annoying patches of smoke obscured the British view.

Allowing the French to close, drums beating the pas-de-charge.

Behind French lines the British lights managed to chase off their opponents.

In desperation the French charged home!

Only to discover the British were quite up for a fight! Driven back with bloody losses French morale tumbled and we called it over.

That was a good fun game. It feels like games would benefit from a different scenario, or - like CoC from being part of a campaign. 

Having Scrivs able to explain things helped clear up some of the things I'd struggled with before (even if he was a bit rusty) and the table looked splendid with brightly painted forces and Scrivs' excellent terrain.

I am now eyeing the plastic pile and thinking about adding some more Naps to the painting queue.

Warhammer 8th Edition Ogres against Wood Elves

 Around once more to Stephen's Palais des Jeux for a game of Warhammer, greatest of all the games.

We went for 2400 points this time as it allows more toys and 8th edition copes with bigger points games better than some previous editions.

I have had several games, some alcohol (both big AND clever) and multiple sleeps since playing so I can't really remember much detail. But there is eye candy.

The big lads decided, as they are wont to do, to just head full pelt towards the Tree Huggers.

They'd bought their pet giant with them. So the elves shot him. A lot.

Classic Old models of at lest three different generations graced the Wood Elf side

I took yetis. I don't know why I persist with them - they are, too all intents and purposes hopeless.

There was a Big Unit of Dryads.

Mournfang to the face was a bit like putting them into a wood chipper. Not helped by the nearby scenic item casting a spell that made them worse.

The Ironguts gave the Wood Elf infantry a proper shoeing.

These big tree hings are like Ogres. And when your Wood mage gets his spells off they are in fact *much* better than Ogres.

The giant, despite being full of arrers gamely hunted for the treeman.

While the Leadbelchers left their cosy tower to try and help in the middle.

Big trees>Ogres (and captured their banner)

The Mournfangs failed a test for being shot at and almost fled the board. But came back behind some archers, who, fortunately were wearing suitably woodland brown tights.

The cavalry arrived!

So the leadbelchers shot them and they left again.

Ironguts>Big Trees.

Finally, with the Ogres being steadily whittled by bowfire the Treeman decided to deal with the remaining Mournfang.

One mighty Whack! later and the forest would remain safe from Ogres for the time being.

A good fun game and a solid victory for the Wood Elves.

They're annoying to play against and kick out a *huge* amount of fire. But are mostly rubbish in combat if you get there.