Wednesday, December 19, 2012

It Truly Is The End Times: Sylvain Attacked - 6mm Battle of Corunna

The French advancing down the ridge towards the British lines near Corunna.
As many of you know, according to a bunch of ancient Mayan guys (whose claim to fame seems to be designing the heaviest desktop calendar in history and their unquenchable appetite for human hearts) we're apparently mere hours away from snuffing it. I have to say that I've been a little skeptical of this prediction for a variety of reasons, a few being: it's not even the end of the tax year, the NHL is still in lockout, George R.R. Martin has not finished the Game of Thrones series... and we've not even started the Painting Challenge!

But my conviction regarding the safety of the human race was severely shaken the other week when during a game an omen appeared before my very eyes. The unthinkable happened. 

Sylvain attacked.

For those who do not know Sylvain you have to realize that this man is the master of caution, moderation and consideration. To his credit he is as tenacious as a tick when on the defensive - notoriously difficult to dislodge and fights like a outraged French waiter when pressed. But he is not the poster child for the 'Attaque a Outrance'. 

The table at the beginning of the game, before deployment.
But that night the world wobbled on its axis as Sylvain ordered the 'attaque'. As background I put on a 'Fast Play Grande Armee' game which focused on the British rearguard on the outskirts of Corunna, 1809. Stacy took the British and Peter and Sylvain commanded the French. It was a fairly close-run affair for the majority of the game but then, all in one turn, the French were either pushed back in combat or where falling back from bad command rolls. 

My storm-swept craft paper 'River del Burgo'
Ships ferrying the British off the Spanish mainland.
The seemingly solid British line.

The British still occupy the villages, push back the French and the battle hangs in the balance.
At this point Peter lost his bottle and wanted to throw in the towel (to his credit most of us were nodding in agreement at this point), but Sylvain quietly chirped-in, saying, 'No, we have a fresh reserve.  We will attack.' The room went silent and in the back of my mind I was wondering when I had last called my mother and if we had any prayer beads in the house.

British reinforcements arrive in an attempt to stem the tide.
So Sylvain duely launched his attack, the dice were cast and just like the Seventh Seal, Stacy's British broke and a fatal hole was punched in their lines. We called it at that point as it was late and some of us were thinking we needed to get home to arrange our private affairs.

Sylvain's French (top right) break through the British lines!
So, forget the black holes, alien landing sites and rogue asteroids. Sylvain has determined our fate. If you have anything on your bucket list you want to get sorted before the 21st you best get to it...

21 comments:

  1. Curt

    I hadn't relaized that this was a sign of the apocalypse! However, I was happy to be proven wrong on this one. It was a nail biter with a lot of back and forth.

    And yes I was prepared to use my 3 healthy cavalry brigades to cover the retreat, given that my supporting infantry and gunners were no more. The alternative on my flank looked to be a frontal charge on red coats with artillery support, and Sylvain was pushed back to where he started on the far right.

    Anyway it was a damn good game and we won.

    Cheers
    PD

    ReplyDelete
  2. As you know I have a very active imagination...

    Yes, it was a great game and it was nice to get the 6mm stuff out for a run on the table.

    I certainly sympathized with your position on the left flank. The British reinforcements were coming up and your divisions were getting pretty ragged in the assault. Nonetheless, once the British Guards were send packing you could tell it was really starting to spiral for the Sons of Albion.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, a warped mind is a terrible thing to waste...

      Delete
    2. Indeed. One must make hay when one can...

      Delete
  3. British guards sent packing...?

    Quelle horreur!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't feel too sorry as I believe they chewed through three French infantry brigades before they were fought-out.

      Delete
  4. Very nice looking troops and battle. Must admit I have never tried 6mm, looks way too small and fiddly to paint!

    But you can obviously take part in great scales of battle...

    You have been churning out the posts recently Curt, I can't keep up!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks a bunch Scott. Yes, 6mm is a creature onto itself. You have to take on a different mindset in working on it as its all about mass and grand scale. I think you'd quite like the terrain aspect of it as you can do some very sweeping projects in this scale.

      I'm rying to get some of my own posts out before I get swamped with everyone else's work!

      Delete
  5. “…he is as tenacious as a tick when on the defensive - notoriously difficult to dislodge and fights like a outraged French waiter when pressed. But he is not the poster child for the 'Attaque a Outrance’ ”. Ah ... formidable et merveilleux!

    What a great, fun post – just as our wonderful hobby should be! It goes without saying that the figures and the game itself looks terrific. Not a bad way to sign out before Armageddon!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks very much Sidney! I guess we dodged the bullet. Maybe Sylvain had another game that I did not know about where he went back to his old habits. :)

      Delete
  6. Shocking stuff! Your 6mm stuff looks as great as our 28mm.

    Well, with the Apocalypse here, I'd better use my single day of painting well!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, I dunno, your 28mm collection is pretty darn sweet...

      Delete
  7. Nice report, I would find the 6 mm a challenge though.

    John

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Na, I think you'd get used to it quite quickly John.

      Delete
  8. A great report Curt, and very funny too!. I think we need to match up Sylvain with our very own hedgehugger Fran. This is how Fran wins some of our battles, he's given the attacking force with at least 20-25% more troops and flatly refuses to attack!. So I get bored attack with the crap I've been given to defend the hill and strangly enough get my arse kicked for it!!!
    Looking forward to the challenge, just gotta get my finger out and start painting now!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I did not know that Fran was a shy flower on the games table. Hmm, I'll have to remember that next time I'm out in your parts.

      Delete
  9. Nice report and wonderful minis!
    Phil.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Phil, coming from you that's a real compliment.

      Delete
  10. Great report of what sounds like an enjoyable and intriguing game Curt. You are certainly ending the year (and it all in this case) with a *bang* in terms of posts; great stuff!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for your comment! As long as you're not a spam droid I'll have it up on the blog soon. :)