Eric and I gathered for a game of Sharp Practice 2 the other night. While our normal group numbers were of course down because of the holidays we thought we’d get in a game. We continue getting more into the rules and was now just our 3rd game. Overall I think we’re really really enjoying these rules. Every battle has been interesting and pitched.
In this scenario, the French aided by their Indian allies needed to escort a wagon across the table. We expect an attack probably from one of the flanks but that’s about it.
My 60 pt force includes a cannon, a doctor, 2 groups of Indians and 3 groups of French Regulars with a musician. We rolled and received all of 1 turn of movement so we were pretty bunched up on the table edge.
Meanwhile our 60 pts of British foes, included 2 groups of Scots, 2 groups of essentially rabble, (but cheap rabble!) and then 2 groups of British regulars.
And lo the enemy did appear with Scots in the lead. Our Indian friends went for the fence line in the field and the French regulars started their march to form line of battle on the left flank. We pulled the wagon up next to the house to away the results of combat.
The Scot let fly their opening volley which thankfully did little to shake the resolve of the first group of French regulars. We set up on cannon and let fly to good effect.
The French continued to march into line when a very generous series of times through the card deck to activate. We had a couple of times where it seemed like it was about a 3:1 activation advantage for the French before the tiffin card would come out and end the turn. This allowed us to plink away at the Scots taking down their numbers and also causing them to fall back.
Meanwhile on the right flank the Indians were blazing away at the British regulars. Sadly we needed to get engaged in fist to cuffs after all those tomahawks are what makes it all work!
Battle line formed, we left fire and with that the Scots turned and ran for the safety of the church behind them joining up with some of the Brit rabble.
Seeing the line move up, the Brit regulars on our right flank likewise gave ground. Ian got control of his Indians, stopping their shooting and jumped the fence to start to move up.
Then with my regulars I did the slow, load, walk up, present, fire! Putting a hit here and there onto those at the wall. Meanwhile Eric’s overall leader was giving quite the pep talk to the Scots who over the course of several turns lost all their shock points.
The Indians decided one more volley before pressing the attack home… which would cause them to basically not move the rest of the game because their leader could no longer get them under control to stop firing and move up to attack in fist to cuffs.
The Brit regulars move into the courtyard joining their friends, the French regulars move up and take the Brit deployment point at which point the force moral for the Brits was down to 5.
The game was pretty much complete with a French victory. The Scots had one flukey result where they through the ‘random events’ table decided to rush the French line and present the cold steal … not such a good idea for them.
Anyway, a very fun evening was had on Thanksgiving eve.
Looks like a fun game. I’ve got to give those rules a try sometime soon.
We’ve been playing a few games of Sharps Practice 2 since May of this year. Usually AWI or pennisula. I have some Foundry ACW figures I hope to paint up someday for a skirmish or three, but it had to be put on hold for a while.