SYW - Playing a test game with the rules of "Field of Battle - 3" - An orgy of photos

Manufacturers:    FrontRank, Crusader, WargamesFoundry and Dreispitz

Scale:   28mm

Hi,

yesterday we played a test game of a SYW battle between Prussians and Austrians to get an idea of the mechanism of the rules of "Field of Battle 3"(FoB3). Franz and I played it with Christopher aka Axebreaker about one and a half year ago.(https://christopher-bunkerhill.blogspot.com/)

The real game will be played on next sunday, July 9th 2023, being six players. We are happy that Christopher aka Axebreaker is also going to join us. There will be about 700 figures on the table. A table that is 4,20m long and 1,20m wide - a size I never got in my mancave before.

The battle concerning this post was played with the same amount of units. Sebastian led the Prussians and I was the commander of the Austrians. Franz was our guide through the rules.

In this system you use card decks for every side. The card decks differ within the quality of the commanders, so a exceptional commander will get better cards than an average commander. You can roll a die for the ability of the commanders and also for the quality of every unit. In case of the commanders Sebastian and I rolled the same quality giving the opponents the same card deck.

Then the opponents roll dice and check the difference of their roll. Each point means one card. These cards are then played one after the other from one player. After having played all cards by the first player the opponent will play all of his cards. The player with the higher roll gets the initiative and may play first or he allows his opponent to play his cards first.

The first two turns only gave us two or three cards. The bad thing for Sebastian was that he already had two cards for infantry fire which were useless as his troops had been out of range twice.

In the third turn we rolled a difference of six cards with me as the winner for initiative. I decided to let Sebastian play his cards first. Sebastian played them all and he got me under heavy pressure. Then it was my turn and I played my six cards. The next dice roll gave us a number of seven cards and again I was the winner concerning the initiative. This time I played all my cards first. This means that I played 13 cards in a row. Sebastian was only able to react for this long time and his troops finally got heavy losses. In his turn he got a card to test his army morale and he lost it because of the heavy losses within his units.

We decided to give this system own house rules by giving one card for every 3 points difference. We also will reshuffle useless cards to the card deck (such as infantry firing cards within the first turn). So the game will be more balanced - that´s just what we guess.

We gave some advantages to the Prussians giving them the ability to fire twice while playing an infantry fire card. A movement card also allowed the Prussians to move and change formation while the Austrians only could move or change formation. 

The pictures below shall give an imagination of how heavy the fighting has been. I added some notes to the single photos to give better explanation of how the game developed.

Comments on the system and also on the photos are very welcome. :)

Cheers

Mike

A view on the battlefield - the Austrians on the right side...

...the Prussians on the left.

The Austrian cavalry concentrated on their right wing in order to defeat the Prussian cavalry that was placed on the left and also on the right wing. My plan was to smash the Prussian cavalry and to get the infantry and artillery in its flank. This picture shows the first movement of the Austrian cavalry.

In the centre the Austrians moved forward. Two of the units were in March column - a mistake I won´t do again next sunday as the Austrians can´t move and change formation within one movement card.

Another brigade of Austrians moving forward. This time all in line.

The left wing of the Austrian order of battle was built only by two infantry brigades with 5 pieces of artillery hoping that they could stop the Prussian cavalry on the right wing.

The Austrians after their first movement.

The Prussians react on the cavalry movement with their artillery with no effect.

The Prussians advance.

The armies getting closer to each other.

The first time I realized that moving Austrians in march column was a fatale error. The Prussians move up in march column, too. But they can change formation within the same movement card and got in line to fire at one of my units. The first casualties of the battle.

The next Prussian unit moving forward in march column and again getting in firing line. My best unit had lost three of its five bases. Normally you are allowed to refire, but not in march column. You have to be in line.

In the background another two Prussian units in march column.

The Prussian cavalry moving up.

The Austrian artillery in the centre taking aim on a Prussian unit - no effect.

The opponents out of firing range.

The Austrian light artillery taking aim on a unit of Prussian Hussars - again no effect.

The battlefield after both opponents first movement. In the background - Franz

Sebastian´s second movement card in row. Now the left march columns come up and turn left to build a firing line. They will shoot my Austrians that are still in march column. This will be deadly fire.

FIRE !!!

The Austrian unit looses 75% of its strength and is on the run.

The last Prussian unit is lining up in front of the Prussian unit that fired against my Bavarian Grenadiers.

The Bavarians left the battle field.

The last Prussian march column is now able to fire into the flank of another Austrian unit.

With great effect. My Austrians almost lost their complete centre within two cards played by Sebastian. I was really shocked. No Austrian advance in march columns. If they all had been in line this desaster wouldn´t had been able.

Another unit running away.

Only the Grenzers withstand the firing of the Prussian Jägers.

The Prussians still advancing...

... destroying the last regular infantry unit of the Austrian centre.

This unit follows the previous unit on the run.

And now another Prussian infantry unit takes aim on Austrian Dragoons.

Again a real massacre - another two bases lost. (one cavalry base normally has two riders)

The next Austrian cavalry unit under fire. This time with no effect.

And the Prussian cavalry comes near but is out of range for a melee.

Left to the centre the Austrians are still out of range and don´t suffer any casualties.

This is the result after Sebastian´s cards - the Austrians already lost 15 bases ...

.. the Prussians only two. But I have to mention that Sebastian got a leadership card that allowed him to try to rally his casualties. Just guess - he rallied both of his lost bases and so his army was as strong as in the battle´s beginning.

The Austrian centre only exists of one small unit of Grenzers...

...and one unit of artillery that wasn´t reloaded.

The Austrians want their revanche as now it´s their turn of playing their cards. An Austrian unit of Dragoons meleeing Prussian Musketiers.

The Prussian infantry is pressed to run away. But the Austrian cavalry also looses one base.

Now the Cuirassiers attack another Prussian infantry unit...

...while a fresh unit of Austrian Hussars crashes into Prussian Bosniaks.

With good effect...

... as the Bosniaks have to make a rout move.

The Austrian infantry on the left flank charges the second brigade of Prussian cavalry and causes heavy losses.

The next card for the Austrians - testing the Army Morale. One of the brigade commanders fails and his brigade will be without its leader. This will have a bad effect on the brigade while testing if the orders given will be executed. 

Another look on the casualties of the Austrians.

But the losses of the Prussians are also of high number.
Now it again has been Sebastian´s turn after me having played 13 cards. He also has to test about his army morale. But his losses give him several mali on the test. He rolls very bad and his Commander in Chief fails the test. This gave the game an immediate end. Due to the heavy losses I thought I could never win this game. It was a hard fight. And a great game.