Forager- Napoleonic Skirmish. Imperial Russian Jagers vs. Polish Voltigeurs

I finally got the chance to play a small scale Napoleonic skirmish game using the Forager rules from Stand To Games.  I have not had much time for painting lately, so I do not have 2 forces painted up and read to play.  So instead of using the figures and characters that I bought with the game, I created my own characters and used a set of paper miniatures I purchased on line.  I think that game went pretty well, and playing with the paper minis worked just fine.  I liked the simplicity of the rules and the flavor of the different traits, also we liked how deadly hand to hand is compared to shooting.  That just seemed right for the era.  My one criticism is that the equipment that you can buy for characters seems to be gimmicky, with many items giving a one time benefit like ignoring the first hit of the game. I can see, though, how items of equipment might play a role in certain scenarios though. 

Here are some pictures along with a brief report of the game.

1812 Russia
Polish Voltigeurs are tasked with escorting a wagon load of supplies to troops pressuring the Russian flank near the Utitsa woods.

 Russian Jagers attempt to hold the woods and prevent the supplies from breaking through.

 The Jagers move into position in the trees.

The Polish move forward, clearing the path for the wagon.

The Polish soldier in the vanguard hides behind a wall as the Russian Feldfebel uses the wall for cover, then advances into the woods.

Russian Jagers begin firing on the advancing Polish soldiers.  At first the gunfire is largely ineffectual, however, as the two sides get closer the shooting becomes more accurate.

The Russian NCO decides that he advanced too far towards the enemy.  He takes fire from many sides and is distracted as one musket ball passes between his legs.

The Polish make a bold charge to engage the Russians in hand to hand combat.

Not all of them make it, however, as the Jagers fire at the charging Polish soldiers.

The Russian Officer charges in to help the beleaguered (and still distracted) NCO.

A vicious melee breaks out, with soldiers wielding sabers or muskets with bayonet in a frenzied dance through the woods.  The Russian Officer, confident to the end, takes a nasty cut to the leg.  Even as he struggles to stand, a Polish soldier bowls him over and quickly dispatches him.

The Russian Feldfebel , still distracted and fatigued, barely puts up a defense as a heavy saber wielded by the Polish Officer cuts him down.

The wagon continues on through the woods as the Polish clear out the opposition.

A Russian soldier stands his ground and struggles to reload his musket while out numbered and perhaps outclassed by the Polish.  He is charged, first by a soldier, and then by the Polish Officer.  The Officer pulls out a pistol as he rushes in and takes the poor Russian down with a single shot.  Dazed, outnumbered and leaderless, the Russians withdraw from the field.  The Polish are victorious!

 

A Scooby-Doo adventure using Pulp Alley rules.

I recently played a Scooby-Doo themed game of Pulp Alley with my 13 year old son and my 7 year old daughter.  The rules only needed a little customization to be accessible for the kids and to fit the style of the show.  It was a blast, and the kids absolutely loved it!