Battle of San Millán-Osma 8 June 1813

Saturday afternoon at the Abyss, a 10 turn game of General d'Armee 2 played out in just under 5 hours.

The game was put on by John (john de terre neuve - check his blog) and Graham. Details of the scenario from John are found below.

Anglo-Portuguese (Attackers): Played by William and Michel. French (Defenders): Commanded by Myriam and myself. John and Graham were the Gamemasters. 

View of the table after Turn 4 arrival of Montfort's Brigade is the corner.

The layout of the terrain naturally split the battlefield into two distinct flanks, which worked out perfectly. A huge thanks to our game masters, John and Graham, who each took charge of a flank. Their expert guidance kept the game flowing without any noticeable delays or controversies. Both William and Myriam were complete newcomers playing their first game of GdA2. This was my third match, the last taking place over a year ago.

Stolen directly from John notes, " The Battle of San Millán-Osma  8 June 1813 was a sharp Allied advance-guard action fought during the campaign leading directly to the decisive Battle of Battle of Vitoria. It took place in northern Spain around the villages of San Millán and Osma as the army of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington pushed eastward against the retreating French under Honoré Charles Reille and Bertrand Clausel.

Map stolen from the GMs files

Wellington’s army was advancing in several columns through difficult mountainous terrain in an attempt to outflank the French and cut their communications. On 18 June, Allied forces struck two separated French positions:

At San Millán, the Light Division under Charles Alten attacked elements of Clausel’s corps. The British light infantry and riflemen aggressively pushed the French out of the village after hard fighting in narrow streets and broken ground. The French withdrew after suffering significant casualties and confusion.

At Osma, to the northeast, part of Thomas Graham’s column engaged French troops covering the road network. Fighting here was less intense but added pressure on the French flank and rear. "

Pinoteau's Brigade trying to blunt the Allied Advance

View of the Allied forces bearing down on Espejo

William ponders his next move. Graham looks on.

Michel ignores the ref's advice and prepares to throw red dice.

SAGA - Greek tragedy.

Last night the Montréal Historical Wargaming Club held a monthly Saga/Age of Magic night at the Abyss. From the Age of Hannibal I choose Epirus as the city option for my Warband. I was faced with a Spartan warband from the Age of Alexander. In the words of my opponent we had a great lil brawl. Quick and brutal. At the end of the 4th round, Sparta had three saga dice remaining. Since I choose Pyrrhus I, king of Epirus as a legendary Warlord, I would still generate between four and six.

28mm SAGA Age of Invasions - Romans

The next Saga night in Montreal is Jan 22nd at the Abyss and one of the themes is Age of Invasions. These troops were painted by Garry of the Scarlet Lancer Painting Service late in 2024. They have yet to surface on the tabletop. When I asked him to paint the figures I ensured that the units had enough figures to be included in either a Lion Rampant  or Dragon Rampant game (12 figure units vs 8 figure for Saga). 

Mounted General

12 Mounted Warriors

12 Man Levy Archers

12 Man Levy Javelin Unit, 2 units of Warriors (12 figures available for each)

Some Late Roman Artilley I painted years ago

In the box I stll have two more units to paint. one unit of Levy Slingers and one unit of Archers. I suspect these will be good candidates for the current Analogure Hobbies Painting Challenge.

Clash of Spears/ SAGA Age of Alexander Later Macedonian or Helenistic Greek Warband

 Yesterday afternoon I went to the Abyss to play my second game of Clash of Spears. The dice gods were not with me and my opponent and his Carthagians suffered a major victory at the hands of my dice. 

Luis and our armies early in the game.

However since I had to pop open the Warband it seemed appropiate to record it on my blog.

The overhead view after the carnage. I had lost half my figures, including two complete units. Luis might  have lost 3 Figures by this point in the game.

The three circular command units on my side were from the rebasing of my WRG Greeks for ADLG.

Command Elements

10 Warriors - Pike, LTS shield - Unarmored

6 Javelin men with Shield

Ranks of Armoured Pike, LTS with Shield - 16 figures in total

Greek Light Cavalry - Shield no armour - 8 figures

Archers - Should be w/o shield - 8 Figures

SAGA General on Foot with Four Hearth Guard

There is a lot going on with this warband, I have another 10 Cavalry figures and 8 foot figures to paint,  in addition to a War Elephant and the Goddess Athenia, with some other pieces and figures. This was an excellent deal when I acquired the figures early last spring. Glad to finally have them out of their box.

Montreal Saga Grande Mélee 2025

 Yesterday, our local group had our annual Saga tournament. Our local local pool was joined players  from both the Quebec City and Ottawa-Gatineau area. Two of our local players had to withdraw earlier in the week for personal reasons. In all we had seven active tables, 

The tournament was in three rounds with massacre points accumulated to provide a final point tally,  Each round for each table produced a winner and a loser. Twenty scoring points was available for each matched pair, based upon your overall difference in massacre points. I suffered a serious loss (19 to 1), a victory (14 to 6) and a final defeat (11 to 9).

As well as honour and bragging rights we were fighting for trophies this day.

Last place and best painted army voted by participants and staff

The top three point scorers, Gold, Silver and Bronze

The schedule for the day

9:00 Ouverture des portes

9:30 – 12:00 Ronde 1 (Terre sacrée/Sacred Ground)

I was defeated this round by the winner of both this and last year's tournament. I couldn't roll a save if my life depended upon it. I faced Karl and his Burgundians.

13:00 – 15:30 Ronde 2 (Brandissez vos bannières!Raise the Banners)

This photo was taken before we had completed our initial setup. Alex had only placed his Warlord and 3 points of his Free Companies. I as second player finished my setup. Overall, the dice gods give and the dice gods take away. Alex had the same problem with his saving throws that I had suffered in my first game. My sole win of the day.

15:45 – 18:15 Ronde 3 (Le combat des chefs/Clash of Warlords)

The final round of the day is Clash of Warlords. Again this photo was taken before our deployment was completed. I had yet to place my Mounted Warriors. This was a very close game. Gavin with his Scots won with 22 massacre points versus the 20 points I accumulated again him. At end of the match I was still able to roll two Saga dice, while Gavin could manage three 

Clash of Spears - October 5th

Yesterday was my intro to  Clash of Spears. Although I had supported the game through Kickstarter it was the first time I played. Six players spent an enjoyable afternoon. Three newbies were each paired with a veteran player. 

Numidian won against the newbie Ligurian tribe.

Carthaginians beat a newbie with the Romans

I bested a Gaelic warband. It was very much a learning game and my opponent was an understanding teacher. I definitely look forward to playing again. With time to read the rules with a better understanding of the game mechanisms.

 

WIP - Numidian Field Force - New Directions Part 2

 My 2nd unit of Cavalry nears a state of readiness required for the Clash of Spears day taking place at the Abyss on October 5th. A photo of the figures drying under a lamp. The plastic Victrix figures were glued into Wargames Atlantic, recessed 50mm oval bases. White glue and Krautcover Scenics Soil of Sparta were used as a filler.  

Rebased Numidian Cavalry

Really like the look of the Soil of Sparta from
Krautcover Scenics

SAGA Night - WOTR in Action

Last night was the monthly SAGA night held at the Abyss by Saga Montreal and the Club de jeux de figurines historiques de Montréal Historical Wargaming Club. We had a small turnout last night with just three tables in play. A bloody affair was fought between the Age of Chivalry Flemish and the WOTR  Lancastrian English under the flag of the perfidious Earl of Northumberland, The scenario was Raise the Scared Banners. I will admit that the dice gods were definitely in my favour, consistently scoring 60-70% possible hits or when required saves when rolling. The Flemish ranks were greatly reduced, verses the loss of a Warrior, 2 Levy Archers, and 4 mounted Hearth Guard figures on the side of the English. We had raised our banner on three of the five objectives. 

Canon at the centre of the line. Warlord with Warriors standing nearby to absorb losses suffered by their leader.

The Fleming levy pike men advancing on the centre objective.

The War Wagon providing covering fire as well as its special abilities on the Flemish left wing.

End of turn 5, my warlord has taken the central objective. The 24 Flemish pike are reduced to two units. One of two figures hiding behind the war wagon. Four Figures to its front. Two loss Saga Dice.

End of turn 5, my left flank showing the advance by two levy archer units. In the back third of the table 2 Flemish Archers remain in control of their objective. Alas they do not generate any Saga Dice. 

On my right wing my unit of foot Hearth Guard remain in firm control of their objective, supported by the remains of the Mounted Hearth Guard unit. My mounted unit primarily was responsible for the destruction of the two Flemish Pike units as well as the 3 of the enemies mounted Hearth Guard which came charging off the hill in turn 4. Turn 5 the survivors were unable to destroy my field piece.