[Strv102r]

Game turn 10:

First is the protestant center that continues envelopment with the three one hex HI. One is met with defensive fire and end up morale broken. But the others press a close combat from the flank and rear against the FB catholic HI that is destroyed. The HI units inside the barrier are FS and will  become FB if the cross the barrier which is not wanted, but in this case they decide to risk it and go after the retreating Catholics so they advance and in the case of the ones to the right take some relatively ineffective fire.

Next is the catholic center, one 2 hex HI remaining, tries to change order to rally to reform and then withdraw. Nope! They fire instead with some effect but the return fire is more effective so they end up moral shaken.  Indeed a bad  development. They are engaged by enemy HI to the front while they more enemy HI is closing from the flank.

After that the protestant right. They go after the catholic guns and capture them all. Now they need reforming to continue, and they are vulnerable to the catholic right wings cavalry that is approaching.

The catholic right... What to do? Recapture the guns? The battle is lost and both the center and the left wing are lost. The two HI units continue to retreat and the cavalry deploys to protect the withdrawal of the right flank.



The destruction of the last HI of the Catholic center seems certain. Even if he manages to change orders and reform he will take fire and be flanked by the approaching 1-hexers.  It might be just as well to call it a day. The center and the left are destroyed. Tilly has fallen. As has Lindelo. The emperor needs quite a spin doctor to make this look like a victory...

This was great fun! I enjoyed it immensely. It appears to be well balanced with the possibility to experience radical  swings in the fortunes of war.

[Strv102r]

En reklampaus.

[Strv102r]

Andra omgåmgen i Wimpfen 1622.



The starting positions.

Game turn 1:

First out is the catholic center that starts to turn left towards the protestant right in order to outflank the pike wagon barrier. The artillery engages the protestant artillery but the fire is ineffective.

Second out is the protestant right. It attacks the catholic left. The result is not that impressing. Part of the catholic left is forced back or retreated but half of the protestant right is repulsed.

Third out is the catholic right that starts an advance along the hill to avoid FH by descending to the lower ground and then climb up into contact as well.

Fourth out is the catholic left. They change orders to charge and the second line counterattacks. Only one unit succeeds, the other two retreat with broken morale.

Fifth is the protestant center that mainly just waits. The HI infantry on the left moves up behind the LI. It fires the remaining artillery and manages to get an FH on the HI that Tilly is with.

Last is the protestant left that is content with waiting.

[Strv102r]

Game turn 2:

First is the catholic left that rallies. Lindelo moves to the MB units to assist.

Second the protestant right that also rallies.

Third the catholic center. The advance to the left continues.

Next the catholic right that attacks the LI in the protestant left. These are eliminated or retreated and MB broken.

The protestant left cavalry counterattacks and destroys a catholic cavalry unit.

Finally the protestant center that fires guns on the catholic centers HI and causes a casualty due to FB status.

[Strv102r]

Game turn 3:

First is the catholic center that changes to rally to be able to reform and proceed.

Second the catholic right that presses the attack but only succeeds partly.
Third is the protestant center that fires ineffective artillery.

Fourth is the protestant left that rallies but succeeds in a close combat on the left.

Fifth is the catholic left that rallies.

Last is the protestant right that rallies. The adjacent catholic cavalry from the center is destroyed.

[Strv102r]

Game turn 4:

First is the catholic right changes orders to rally.

Second is the protestant center that fires their guns ineffectively.

Third is the catholic left  that rallies and moves out of they for the approaching catholic center

Fourth is the protestant right that continues to rally.

Fifth is the catholic center that changes order to make ready and advances.

Last is the catholic left that rallies.

[Strv102r]

Game turn 5:

First out is the catholic center. They change orders to charge and advance on the protestant cavalry. The cavalry withdraw by reaction movement however. Discretion is evidently the better part of valour...

Second is the protestant center. Firing their guns. Ineffectively this time as well.

Third out is the catholic left that rallies some more. Soon ready...

Fourth is the protestant left that also rallies, as does the catholic right, and the protestant right.



Comment:
Both the catholic right and left wings are ready for action while the center would need to reform before renewed contact.

[Strv102r]

Game turn 6:

First is the catholic center that tries to change orders to make ready, but fails. So the advance continues. The protestant cavalry sees the level of disorder in the advancing enemy and decides to stay put and fire. They do cause casualties, among them Mortaigne, the wing leader. The enemy's advancing fire also inflict losses but the protestants hold.

Second is the protestant center that fires their guns once again. This time with effect due to the good grazing shots offered by the catholic HI units.

Third is the catholic right that goes to make ready and prepares for the attack on the pike wagon barrier.

Fourth is the protestant right that now must decide if to withdraw, to avoid the catholic cavalry on their right flank, or to charge to try to decide the battle by destroying the HI in front of them that are FB. The catholic wants to preempt with his left, but cannot since they are rallying. The protestant goes for it! CHARGE!  And he successfully changes orders. It feels like the battle depends on two die rolls... But God is a good catholic and both HI units repulses the charges.  The protestant right is now very vulnerable to the catholic lefts cavalry.

Fifth is the catholic left that changes order to make ready and advances into a good position that allows a flanking attack on the protestant right.

Finally the protestant left that also goes to make ready.

[Strv102r]

Game turn 7:

First is the catholic center that rallies. A colonel (oberst) takes command of the wing. The guns try to suppress the protestant guns that fire grazing fire but fail.

Next is the protestant right. The catholics do not want them to withdraw from their exposed positions and attempt a preemption with their left wing. And they succeed! The catholics smash into the protestant flank after having changed to charge order and destroy two units.  Lindelo attempts a continuation, and succeeds! Baden-Durlach fails to preempt. With two units the attack is continued and another protestant unit is destroyed. Baden-Durlach falls...

Next would have been the protestant right but it is leaderless and will not be activated. Instead it is the catholic right that shifts to charge orders and attack. They are pretty successful and break into the barrier in two places. The cavalry on the far right has less success but still manage to press the protestants back. Continuation fails however.

The protestant left changes to rally.

The protestant center fights back against the enemy HI. They inflict heavy casualties by fire but the flanking close combat to evict the left incursion, and has splendid odds to destroy the catholic unit, fails and the wing commander Helmsatt falls.

Then the powder wagon explodes... WHOOM!!



All protestant HI inside the barrier become FS and many MS as well, but the unit that failed the counterattack becomes MB.

[Strv102r]

Game turn 8:

First the catholic that gives and takes in the fight along the barrier. Some LI is destroyed but casualties start to wear down the HI as well.

Second is the protestant right that changes orders to rally and withdraws the remaining two units, now under command of Goldstein.

Third out is the catholic left that changes orders to rally.

Next the protestant center that fires guns with good effect on the centers nicely lined up grazing target. Badens protestant HI throws Bauers mauled catholic HI out of the barrier.

After that the catholic center that continues to rally. The guns fail to suppress the tough protestant gunners.

Finally the protestant right that also rallies.

[Strv102r]

Game turn 9:

The catholic right tries to switch to rally but fails. It fires rather ineffectively and cannot move much since almost every unit is FB.

The protestant center prepares for a new counterattack on the left. The guns fire effectively and keep the catholic center pinned.

The catholic left moves up for a final attack on the remnants of the protestant right.

The protestant right rallies.

The catholic center reforms and moves up in the center.

The protestant left reforms.

[Strv102r]

Game turn 10:

The catholic right changes orders successfully and rallies/reforms.

The protestant center fires and reforms. Nothing spectacular.

The catholic left tries to change orders to make ready but fails.
 
The protestant right tries to change to receive charge and succeeds.

The catholic center again fails to change from rally to make ready. Some movement and gunfire.

The protestant left reforms.

[Strv102r]

GT 11 is more or less a repetition of game turn 10.

Game turn 12:

The protestant center fires and the catholic HI unit Bauer is close to destruction.

The catholic left charges the protestant right and while one attack fails badly, the other one eliminates a unit and Goldstein.

The protestant left changes orders to receive charge.

The catholic center still cannot change orders from rally.

The catholic right changes orders to make ready and prepares to renew its attack through the barrier.

[Strv102r]

Game turn 13:

The catholic left starts to rally.

The protestant center is destroying Bauers HI totally with fire but it does not fold. A counterattack on the left against the HI with Cordoba fails despite good chances to destroy the enemy.

Next is the catholic right under make ready orders. They mainly reform after the protestant attacks.

Thereafter the protestant and right  left that both wait. The Rheingraf has assumed command of what is left of the right and retreats slightly.

The catholic center fails again to go into charge orders!

[Strv102r]

Game turn 14:

The protestant fire finally causes Bauers HI to dissolve totally. The guns also tear up Tillys HI again.

The catholic left charges again and thanks to the flight of Bauer the Spanish HI unit now can get into the fray and attack Badens flank and Cordoba charges his frontal opponent again. Both have good chances, especially against Baden, but both are repulsed. The cavalry on the flank presses the protestants back again.

The protestant right waits while the left tries to change to rally, fail.

The catholic center fails once more to change into charge order. The heavy protestant guns are finally silenced however.


 
It feels like the catholics will not have time to win this one this time even if the odds are in their favour. Since the catholic right need a few turns of reforming/rallying before charging again it would be up to the center the last game turn. Just to see if Tilly would get his act together and order a charge the die is rolled for a change of orders attempt in GT 15. A 9... Again...

The game ends now this time. The battle is not decided yet, but if the end of the game at GT 15 simulates sunset and darkness ending the battle the protestants might be able to slip away which would mean a tactical win for the catholics but an operational victory for the protestants since they still have an army to do something with.
Luck or fate, make your choice, decided this one I suspect since the catholic center was hardly involved in the fighting due to leadership issues (poor die rolls).  The scenario is more balanced than one might think when you set it up. The catholics are stronger but a combination of less than perfect choises and bad luck will ruin your day just the same.