The good thing about solo gaming is that the game can go on for a long time if you have a space dedicated to it and your table can remain undisturbed for some days. A move or two one day and a move another and so on.
Red’s flankers went for the bridge, the two infantry regiments having a “frame gun” each with them. They were accompanied by a medium cavalry regiment. The heavy cavalry regiment was ordered to stand fast by the commanding general. His idea being to use them as reserve, one packing a heavy punch. On the hill a Red regiment occupied the farm at the bottom and began to loophole the buildings. The artillery battery was drawn up to cover the river bank opposite. The other three regiments - a raw one between 2 trained disposed itself outside the village of Brauvogn on the slopes of the Brauberg overlooking the farm.
On the Blue side, two regiments of horse were riding hell for leather for the bridge followed, panting, by two infantry regiments and a battery of guns (one model) in limber straining to keep up. It was nail biting to see who would reach the bridge first. The rest of the Blue force moved forward on a wide front.
Two regiments of Scots mercenaries moved into the farm buildings ‘complex’ at the foot of the Brauberg. The shot went into the buildings and loopholed them to command the ford of the river Brau that was almost opposite. The main Blue force pushed forward 3 foot regiments and a gun to the ford and straight away came under fire from a battery just outside Brauvogn at least two contours higher up. A Red sniper was lurking in the farmyard but his classification was in doubt for several moves as he repeatedly failed to hit his chosen target.
Blue’s first cavalry regiment thundered onto the bridge. The mounted arquebusiers followed up. They were stopped in their tracks by the two foot regiments and their frame guns and also a squadron of cavalry that eventually drove them back, meleed and beat them and caused the arquebusiers to turn and beat a retreat right off the board. After some volleys from two flanking Blue foot regiments there were not many of these brave horsemen left, but they had done their job.
At the ford a Blue cannon unlimbered and did manage to do some damage to Reds opposing infantry and definitely caused Red’s general to draw back his reserve of heavy cavalry.
The ford was discovered to be wide enough for two foot regiments in column abreast. As Blue’s brave infantry plunged into the water they were assailed by musketry from the farm and a dropping fire from the cannon on the Brauberg.
Blue’s Whitecoats stood in the ford and were charged by Red’s Scots mercenaries. Whitecoats were worn down and worn down but it was not until the last move of the game that the shattered remnants withdrew.
Every move Red’s sniper fired and regularly missed and the frame gun too did not manage to do any execution until late on. However, the battery on the Brauberg continued to cause attrition in Blue’s regiment at the ford. The Scots fired a volley and went to push of pike with the White regiment. Blue brought up a regiment of cavalry to try to force the ford but the persistent cannon on the hill shot away the front of their column until they were forced back.
At move 12 Red’s sniper actually killed an opponent! On Blue’s right the gunners who had deserted their gun earlier screwed up their courage and returned, only to be set upon by cavalry enemies and run again!
The game ended on move 15 with Blue stalled all along the river line and having to push two foot regiments to his right in defence of that flank against marauding cavalry. So Red won in effect.
This game that began solo became a live opponent game as my friend Alasdair Jamison came for his yearly visit and took over Red generalship as it stood. He has played The Boyne several times from Blue’s side and enjoyed switching roles to defend the hill (Brauberg) and village (Brauvogn). You have a go - Rick Priestly’s rules are excellent and you’ll enjoy using them.
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