A First DBR Came

by Mike Estey


We held our first DBR game on October 26. There was a little over 400 AP on each side This worked out to about 30-40 stands of infantry and 15-20 stands of cavalry. The commands were as follows:

Spanish:

Unit: Type: Number:Cost:Total:
Sub-general Ln(S) 1 35 35
Gente d'armas Ln(S) 2 1530
Caballos ligeros Ln(F) 611 66
Hersuletiers LH(I) 24 8
-- -Total: 139


Unit: Type: Number:Cost:Total:
Sub-general Ln(S) 1 35 35
Caballos ligeros Ln(F) 511 55
Hersuletiers LH(I) 24 8
- - Total: 98


Unit: Type: Number:Cost:Total:
CinC Ln(S) 13535
- LH(I) 248
Tercio Foot Pk(O) 16464
- Sh(I) 16464
Skirmishers Sk(S) 248
- - Total: 179
- - Grand Army Total 416




Dutch

Unit: Type: Number:Cost:Total:
Sub-general Ln(O) 1 3232
Reiters Pi(I) 6848
Dutch Levies Sh(I) 64 24
-- -Total: 104


Unit: Type: Number:Cost:Total:
Sub-general Ln(O) 1 3232
Reiters Pi(I) 6848
Carabins Lh(I) 3412
Dutch Levies Sh(I) 64 24
-- -Total: 116


Unit: Type: Number:Cost:Total:
CinC Ln(O) 1 3232
Artillery Art(S) 22550
Landsknechts Pk(O) 16464
- Sk(O) 4312
Earthwork F 6424
-- -Total: 182
- - Grand Army Total 416


Map of Opening Positions

Spanish were the attackers played by David Lynch on the left and myself on the right. The Dutch were played by Jeff Bissiri on the Dutch right and Dan Gunther on the Dutch left. The original Spanish plan was to march move the right cavalry wing around the woods and catch the Dutch flank. This was apparently the Dutch plan as well. Control of the infantry in the center was shared between David Lynch and myself.

We started out by rolling the whole line forward, but ran a bit short of pips later on, and so concentrated most of the movement on the cavalry wings. The Dutch held their center and advanced their Cavalry wings to meet ours. Pistol fire from the Dutch Reiters had little effect before the cavalry melees began. Other shooting also had little effect (including fire from the Dutch "Great Gonnes"). The one exception to this was the shot on the Dutch right flank which mowed down 3 Spanish Ln(F) in a single turn!

In the cavalry melees, the Pi(I) proved unable to stand up to lancers since they got a -1 if they tie or are less, and lancers destroy pistols if they outscore them. The Dutch general on their right covered himself in glory, however, as he held off four elements of Spanish lancers. The wily Dutch had an ambush of LH(I) hidden in the woods on the Spanish right. These eliminated an element of Spanish LH, but had little other effect due to being launched late in the game and some bad Dutch/good Spanish dice.

The game ended with the Spanish left wing being beaten, and both of the Dutch cavalry wings being beaten. No generals were killed despite both Spanish and Dutch general having overlaps and flanks against them.

*Notes: The artillery cost 50 AP and only achieved one flee result and one recoil result.

*Generals are TOUGH.

*Pi(I) can not duke it out with any lancers on an even footing. Perhaps they would have had more success by interspersing with shot and disordering the lancers with their firepower.


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© Copyright 1996 by Terry Gore

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