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Jonathan

Black Powder Game for a Friends Send Off

Preamble: In 2021, we had a friend who was relocating from the East Coast of Canada back to the UK. So I hosted a four player game of Warlord Games "Black Powder". Featuring multiple brigades. The game started around 5:00 PM. Objective (Obj.): Uncontested possession of the farm house in the center field by 9:00PM. Or Massed Prussian forces arrive on a table edge close to the Obj at 9:30PM, regardless of who's turn it is at that time. The British Seize Initiative

A Coy. 95th Rifles scramble to the high ground on the left flank, to take up position as skirmishers. The French form up in the "same old style" at their end of the field. They are reconnoitering a rather nasty brigade of French Light Cavalry.
A Coy. 95th Rifles scramble to the high ground on the left flank, to take up position as skirmishers. The French form up in the "same old style" at their end of the field. They are reconnoitering a rather nasty brigade of French Light Cavalry.


B Coy. 95th Rifles rushes to the farmhouse Obj. to take up their harassing position to oppose the oncoming French Infantry Brigades.
B Coy. 95th Rifles rushes to the farmhouse Obj. to take up their harassing position to oppose the oncoming French Infantry Brigades.
The French Commander, not wanting to waste time, sent the left-most French Brigade in column towards the Obj. and are joined by the French Imperial Guard, Grenadiers and Chasseurs aux Pied. The French Light Cavalry waits to see if there is gap to be exploited when the British respond.
The French Commander, not wanting to waste time, sent the left-most French Brigade in column towards the Obj. and are joined by the French Imperial Guard, Grenadiers and Chasseurs aux Pied. The French Light Cavalry waits to see if there is gap to be exploited when the British respond.

The French Press On....

The French press their attack with all the "elan" they can muster, one of the Old Guard units, takes a supporting position behind their brothers.
The French press their attack with all the "elan" they can muster, one of the Old Guard units, takes a supporting position behind their brothers.
The British Footguards and Hanoverians move to contest the Obj. B Coy. 95th Rifles, despite being in range of the Old Guard, remain concealed and hold their fire.
The British Footguards and Hanoverians move to contest the Obj. B Coy. 95th Rifles, despite being in range of the Old Guard, remain concealed and hold their fire.
The first French units, press on into the Obj, only to find that they, nor their British attackers can easily attack one another over the high walls.
The first French units, press on into the Obj, only to find that they, nor their British attackers can easily attack one another over the high walls.
The French Commander, sensing that the British have concentrated too much on the Obj, decides to move his Light Brigade along the farthest board edge, hoping to send an attack into a gap in the rear of the British line. When they cross the line of fire of the up to now hidden B. Coy 95th, they are fired upon. This caused them some disorder in their ranks.
The French Commander, sensing that the British have concentrated too much on the Obj, decides to move his Light Brigade along the farthest board edge, hoping to send an attack into a gap in the rear of the British line. When they cross the line of fire of the up to now hidden B. Coy 95th, they are fired upon. This caused them some disorder in their ranks.

Later that Evening: The British do "British Things"

Surprising no one, the King's German Legion and Allied Brunswickers sharply form defensive squares, thus trapping the French cavalry at the long end of their valley. The limited fire of the 95th, combined with the limited fire provided by the squares lesser frontage, still proves too much for the Cavalry to bear.
Surprising no one, the King's German Legion and Allied Brunswickers sharply form defensive squares, thus trapping the French cavalry at the long end of their valley. The limited fire of the 95th, combined with the limited fire provided by the squares lesser frontage, still proves too much for the Cavalry to bear.

Due to our collective banter, good cheer, libations and learning of rules. It was hardly an efficient or tactically shrewd use of our armies. The British infantry brigades stubbornly contest the Obj. for longer than the French would have liked. As a result, the alarm went off and the dreaded Prussians arrived, just in the nick of time.....

The Arrival of Prussian Infantry and Cavalry, forces some French units to panic, and orders given are misinterpreted, creating some chaos amongst the Old Guards supporting Brigade.
The Arrival of Prussian Infantry and Cavalry, forces some French units to panic, and orders given are misinterpreted, creating some chaos amongst the Old Guards supporting Brigade.

The French manage to correct their initial error, but the Prussians are close and are many.
The French manage to correct their initial error, but the Prussians are close and are many.


The mass of Prussians are proving too much for the French supporting brigades to repel.
The mass of Prussians are proving too much for the French supporting brigades to repel.


The French left flank dissolves entirely, and leaves the area, exposing the Old Guard to certain defeat.
The French left flank dissolves entirely, and leaves the area, exposing the Old Guard to certain defeat.

Result: The battle ended around 10:30-11:00PM local time. It was a dramatic French loss with relatively minimal losses on the British side. The French "needed more infantry" was the tactically brilliant observation at the end of the game. Our good friend "Oli" flew back to Blighty the following morning. End Notes: If you have read this far and enjoyed, I thank you for your time and patience. This was one of the last big Black Powder games myself and friend "Stu" hosted for a few other buddies in 2021, we had a follow up game in 2022 with some of the same faces. In 2023, my life changed dramatically, as I found out my first kid was on the way and we haven't done one since. Stu was a good friend, a dedicated geek to all things French, Austrian, Prussian Napoleonic. Despite being a born British citizen, he was "anything but the Brits" when it came to his books, models and interests. Which suited me fine as I am the opposite. So we made natural team mates and adversaries. Stu sadly passed away last spring. I have been considering making a post about him here, as he was an avid "toy soldier" enthusiast, just at a smaller scale than the norm. He was a good friend. We have resolved that when we get a game together in the future, it will be in his honour, and both generals will carry his name and have an appropriate representative model. Regardless of time period or faction.

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Chris Bartlett
Chris Bartlett
Oct 20, 2025

What a great memory of your friend.

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