The Battle for Cleves. 1805 (Napoleon Total War)

I played a game of Napoleon Total War the other day, which was perhaps the most engaging battle I've played in a long time. i was so excited i decided to post it here for your viewing pleasures.

Now a quick aside. I'm running "Darthmod" which adds effects and makes the AI more difficult and a number of additional "realism" things.   I'm playing the campaign on Hard. which is the highest difficulty you can get without adding artificial bonuses to the enemy like additional health etc. Also, i'd like to apologize in advance for the large pictures, its the only way that i could get it for you to see them well enough.

To set the scene...

I'm playing as Prussia,  and I've only recently allied with the Coalition, and taken my first territories and begun technological expansion.  I'm massing troops in the Cleves-Mark, preparing for an invasion of the Batavian Republic, things are going well,  the Batavians suspected nothing and in fact were very friendly with us. (part of my deception campaign).    

But shockingly, the Dutch allied with Napoleon, and a titanic host of Batavian Troops crossed the border in to the Cleves-Mark.  I scramble soldiers all across Prussia, but it is no use,  my army of understrength veterans and town garrisons must hold off two grand armies of the Dutch!

Here you can see, the Order of Battle,  The Dutch have some 7000 fresh, inexperienced troops to my 5000 tired and blooded soldiers. 

 A View from the Garrison forces defenses, The Dismounted Dragoons were the Town HQ.  The culmination of the defense would be the church and the apartments around the cannons. 

The campaign army, marches in from the extreme left of the Dutch armies flank, some 5 minutes march from the city.  A desperate rearguard cavalry action is utilized to ensure the infantry and cannon make it to the city. 

Hoping to use their numbers against them, I deploy the Campaign army onto "Bulwark Hill"  to force the Dutch to flood in between and around the two defense centers. 

The Dutch send their first waves down the slope at us.

The Dutch Cavalry are the first to hit the forward trenches. 

The Boys on Bulwark Hill, see off several regiments of the Dutch Line. But the Garrison in the city is in serious danger of being drowned by Batavian regulars. 

The mines in the road detonate in the middle of a Batavian militia regiment, but still the horde of Dutch press forward. 

 a view from the cannonade into the smoke of the forward line

Prussian regulars hold desperately against the Dutch in the forward line

The forward line falters, and the Bulwark Hill defense moves down from the hill to sweep into the Dutch flank in the city to hopefully save the garrison there. 

The Garrison holds off against thousands of Dutch...

The Campaign army blitz across the field to relieve the pressure on the Garrison forces

The Dutch troops turn to face the more potent threat, and the battle turns into a desperate running fight from east to west as I push the Dutch out of my town. 

You can see the extent of how far the first onslaught pushed in before we ripped them out of the city. 

The Garrison HQ is attacked by nearly 300 Dutch Line Infantry, but the 90 some odd Dragoons hold firm and the Dutch are found wanting. 

A spot of good luck as several regiments rally and return to the fight

The cannonade, just before the campaign army arrives to reinforce them. 

the smoke clears as the first dutch wave is seen off. Prussia still holds the town!

I move my campaign army into the town into defense positions, and to mop up the remaining Dutch.

The resistance is still quite stiff in some places. 

To my horror, the Dutch reinforcement column arrives. nearly another 1500 fresh Dutch soldiers. 

As I reform into new defense lines, the Dutch cannons break open the skies with fire and smoke. a vast bombardment precedes the final Dutch assault...

The defense this time is more flexible, several regiments are to initiate a running skirmish line, leading dutch regiments into centers of defense where (hopefully) they will be destroyed. 

*note- there is only 15 minutes left in the hour long clock till I claim victory through attrition. 

A more complete view of the defenses.

The forward line, draws dutch militia into additional Prussian regiments.

A view from Bulwark Hill out towards the city, as the Dutch close for the final assault.

Dutch Militia fight with entrenched Prussians

HERE THEY COME !!!!

Fighting engulfs both sides of town

Swirling melee's begin all across the line

Overwhelming musket fire take their toll on the beleaguered defenders routing many regiments.  

The Dragoons still hold firm in the smoke and blood. as the timer begins to run down.

I've held for just under an hour at this point in the engagement. 

After an hour of holding against all odds. victory, (albeit a close one.) is Prussia's!

The final casualties.

Dutch-  4219

Prussians- 3521

I have only 1400 men to stop an army of 3000. Hopefully the reinforcements are able to get here soon...

Hope you enjoyed this,  if you liked it enough i'd be happy to do more of it.

-Your Favorite Madman-

Black Templar Chapter Serf

Hello everyone.
The local gaming group is holding a bit of a campaign that i'm participating in, with a Black Templar's army, as a change of pace from my chaos troops.  Anyway, i'm using the unpainted Equinox Protectorate guys from the Pilgrims of Rust that i've never gotten around to finishing, and turned them into some Serf's to supplement the Marines in the field.

Very simple, but i think it will look good on the whole, as it will contrast from the Black Templars' themselves who are heavily ornamented.


-You Favorite Madman-

Rise of The Master of Sorrow: (Part 2)

With the Skaven bloodied,  The armies of the Legion marched into the Valley of the Sundered Helm to meet the rest of the rat's force and destroy it in a pitched battle.

New Regimental Historica's
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Knights of the Murdered Innocent- Led by Sevastian Klakk, the Knights are known and reviled for their heinous usage of children and the infirm as sacrifice to the gods of chaos, for they are not fit to live in a world of the strong and mighty.  Curiously, they often offer quarter to combatants that are mortally wounded or are captured fighting.

Chariot of the Eye- The rider of the Chariot of the eye is not known, for he does not speak, and remains quiet and still when not storming towards the lines of the enemy on his cart pulled by beasts from the blackest pits of the Realm of Chaos.

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Again !    Forward AGAIN  YOU SPINELESS MAGGOTS !!!!    Screamed Renga to his men, as they charged once more into the lines of the Skaven.  for hours the mighty hosts had bludgeoned one another across the misty valley.  Thousands of tribesmen and clanrats lay dead or dying across the field. The time had come now to end this once and for all.  The center of the valley was dominated by the great shattered temple to Tzeentch, known as "Sundered Helm".  From which determined enemy resistance presented itself.  Seeking to obliterate the source of this resistance and possibly break the spirit of the Skaven host.

The whistle of the poisoned mortar shells sailed overheard as they ran, the clattering of armor and the rhythmic warchant of his elite knights beat into his head, focusing him for the fight to come.  Moments later, The Men of Sorrow's Gait, slammed into a seething wall of rats, ripping into the clanrats, carving great gouts of blood and gore into the air.  The Knights of the Murdered Innocent, and the Chariot of the Eye sweep around the columns of the great temple to his left, driving through the smoke and mist of the battlefield.  Then, just as his men had almost reached the rats in front of them, they parted to reveal stark silhouettes in the mist.

"no..." he said to himself.   "no sane man would dare to pledge themselves with the Skaven"

"Men of Tzeentch's Ire!   Deliver their fate!"  Screamed the azure clad Chaos Warriors before them, hitting into Renga's men with a crash of sparks, and splintering of shields. Left and right the men of the north tore into one another, cutting each other to bloody ribbons. When Renga saw him. The leader of the regiment.



Ducking under, a heavy blow which he countered with a stab through the midriff. Renga bellowed a throaty challange to the man. "I Will show you a changing of ways! When my sword rips into your gullet!"   When a cool voice entered into his mind with a polite chuckle. "Your brash humor amuses me Renga.  We shall meet in the way of the my ancestors."    

A tingle entered his body,  he blinked,  his mind felt heavy.  when he opened his eyes, they were within the Temple of the Sundered Helm,  their warriors arrayed around them, the blue balefires of the temple lit through impossibly complex sorcery.  "So it begins that the great scheme is given to start".

Shaking the feeling of magical lethargy off, Renga bellowed and ran at the Warrior Mage.  As he moved his blade to pierce the mans chestplate, he blinked away.
"the hell...!? "   Renga gasped, as a hammer blow hit him in the back of the helmet, sending him stumbling forward.  He quickly wheeled round and struck, the warrior sent the blow aside and sent one of his own towards Renga. Which skidded off his armor with a hiss.    Renga sent a mighty kick into the side of mans knee, buckling his stance, leaving him open for Renga to deliver a dagger blow to the warriors groin. A screech not unlike that of a predatory bird echoed around the arena, and the man regained his footing and sent a flurry of blows down of Renga's body.  




*****

Sevastian Klakk and his men galloped past the warpflame of the Skaven teams, and through the poison clouds of the mortar teams, cleaving slabs of flesh from the maintenance crews and adjuncts running through the Skaven rear. As he had just decapitated a Skaven message runner, he looked up through the haze of battle and saw a great towering figure. wrapped in a thick coat.  

"Curious..." thought Klakk. trotting forward.   A cloaked, man, stood, surrounded by piles of tomes and ritually killed skaven, he was chanting something unintelligible.  

"Who are you ?  Why are you not in the main line?!"  yelled Klakk over the chanting.

The chanting stops.  A thunderous laugh rattles through the air.  The man turns, and pang of terror enters Klakks body as he sees the man's face a twisted combination of Skaven and Human.

"Filth!"  Screamed Klakk driving his sword into the wizard.  Who burst forth into billow of magic flame.  

A quiet whisper entered his mind.   "Thus the scheme shall unfold"....

*****


Renga picked himself up,  he was bleeding badly and he had pains across his body.  The Master of the Legion threw himself at his foe. Shortsword in hand the blades of the two combatants grinded against one another, as Renga and the Champion sought to overpower one another.  Then a flicker in the balefire caught Renga's eye. The strength of Champions' block weakened.  He dropped his blade, and took a step back.

"The Eye of The Gods are on your Master of Sorrow"  he spoke.

after a quiet pause of confusion. Renga spoke.

"Then I offer your soul to the master of this place..."  gasped Renga, through spat of blood in his mouth. As he raised his blade above his head.

That's when he felt it, the electric energy of the gods, gazing down and a Dark Fury entered into his limbs, renewing his spirit as he drove the blade into the skull of Champion, with a definite finality.   The Sons of Tzeentch's Ire, faded like wraiths, in the balefire of the temple.  Renga and his men were left atop the Sundered Helm, gazing across the field, just in time to watch Iglak and Sevastian overrun the Skaven line.

A group of Tribesmen marched past, the champion called up to him  "A wonderful victory my lord ! "  

" Indeed, it was well fought.   But i fear now that more is at work to this campaign than i had thought Innman...."

to be continued....

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Renga gained the "Dark Fury"  (+1 Attack)  trait for his killing of The Champion of the Sons of Tzeentch's Ire.


hope you enjoyed this rather long winded tale of the 2nd Battle in our campaign.  The opponent was of course JD with his Skaven w/ WoC allies.  

Battle was 1000 points with moderate allowances for fluff.  

As always let me know your thoughts for what you might like to see us do in the campaign, if you have a cool idea for terrain, or just what sort of content you'd really love to see more.

Thanks for reading !

-Your Favorite Madman-