Black Powder and the Battle of Rossbach.

I know there are a lot of detractors for the Blackpowder wargames rules, and as I have said before, they are like Marmite, but after our very recent refight of the Battle of Rossbach at Colin's house, I'm convinced that they are more good points than bad ones.
 To read an account of the actual re fight I would refer any readers to Colin's Carry on up the Dale blogsite, but certainly during this game, the rules with some amendments taken from the supplement Last Argument of Kings worked really well, even though the French lost on the day.
 It is to the credit of the authors that the rules which on the face of it appear a very generic set, actually in my opinion gave a very good historic feel to the actual refight.
 Classifying the various French commanders as Timid, Insubordinate, Rash and just downright pants certainly added some extra friction to the game.

Dave Jarvis, painter extraordinaire, looking pensive at the start of the game. I put Dave in charge of the French/Imperialist cavalry. Not a good place to be.

                                      The French army strung out along the table.

                         French heavy cavalry attempting to come to the aid of their allies. Their commander was a Timid chap, and managed to lead them ineffectually all the game, before being shot from his horse during a desperate charge against Prussian Grenadiers. The charge failed.I was pretty desperate by then.

  The French Imperialists struggling to cross the battlefield and form a decent battle line.

                                 The Prussian juggernaut pops up at the edge of the table.

  Von Seylditz leading his charge into the Imperial cavalry caught in march formations. Not a recommended position to start the game, but not as decisive as it could have been.

  The Austrian hussars, quite rightly didnt fancy hanging around and attempted to get out of the way.

 Unfortunately it didn't work, and more Prussian Cuirassiers caught up with them, surprisingly the melee didnt prove decisive for the Prussians.

   The Wild Geese, masquerading as Swiss managed to gain the main hill, before being comprehensively beaten in melee by the Prussians, thus ending the game with the loss of four French brigades.