Taiping Rebellion - A River Defense

Welcome the Taiping Rebellion in China in the 1850s and 60s!

Background

It has been years since I have put this collection on the table. I'm going to change that going forward and run at least two Taiping Rebellion games a year. This is a 25mm collection mainly comprised of Foundry figures with some Old Glory figures included for variety. 

About half the figures were purchased painted from a good friend, and the rest were bought and painted over the years. I recently added the flags to the Imperial forces (nobody produces them) and they turned out great. I had to design the flags myself or from images on the internet. Then I printed them on my ink-jet printer. A photo below shows the variety of flags and banners. As usual, click on image for bigger views.

River is made of window tinting cut to size. Town buildings are scratch made by Mal Wright for my Boxer collection. Crops are cut out from a door mat and spray painted green. Bridges and Pogoda are aquarium pieces. Normally each unit is 4 stands, but I had to make units 3 stands to allow for maneuvering as I only have an 8' x 5' table. Sigh. I used to have 14' x 5' in my old basement. 

Scenario

This is an early war scenario, around 1854 when the Taiping Rebellion was surging like an unstoppable wave across southern China. The Imperial forces are guarding two bridges and a town that the Taiping need to continue their advance. Although the river is fordable to infantry and cavalry it wouldn't work very well for the supply columns that are following the Taiping.

The battle pits the Imperial Green Banner Army vs Shield Army of the Heavenly Kingdon (Taiping). Taiping are mostly on the left side of the photos prepared to assault the Imperials dug in behind the river. The Taiping mostly have yellow flags trimmed in red. Imperials are to the right in most photos behind the river line. Flags vary for the Imperials.

Victory Points

• 1 for bridge closest to the pagoda. 
• 3 for bridge near the town.
• 5 for town itself. 

Taiping House Rules

We played a Hybrid set of rules I created based on standard Piquet (Hallowed Ground supplement) and Field of Battle impetus. So, most of the game mechanics are Piquet, with impetus usage based on Field of Battle. If you are truly interested in the Taiping rules (Jingals, Tigermen, and Stink Pots, oh my) and Hybrid concept send me an email and I'll send you PDFs. [email protected]

Here are the Buddhist Monks hoping their pagoda isn't burned down by the Taiping. 

Rosters

Here are the two rosters for today's game. You will notice that most Imperial troops are very poor compared to normal Western Drilled troops. 

The Taiping "Guard" are the Veterans of the army and have very high stats compared to the enemy. A Ying is like a Brigade in western terminology.

If you would like copies of the Quick Reference Sheet email me and I'll send you a PDF.

Setup

Here are some photos of the game's setup. Mostly taken from the short end of the table to get the natural light. Taiping on the left and Imperials on the right. This photo was taken when I had each unit at 4 stands instead of 3 I used for the game.

Here you can see the Taiping cavalry Ying at the close edge of the table, supporting the Guard Ying.

Close-up of the Guard Ying near the pagoda. Commanded by Rich.

Two Yings (Left and Center) commanded by Michael.

Imperial positions (dug in) around the Pagoda bridge

This is a great photo showing the main Taiping attack across and around the main town bridge

The battle plan for the Taiping was to force the crossing of the Pagoda Bridge and then wheel down the flank of the Imperial forces, while pinning their forces down at the river edge.

The Battle

The battle started with lots of skirmish action between Jingals (Light and Heavy) and Imperial Tigermen. These are special skirmishers and I have house rules for them. The Jingals can either fight the enemy jingals\tigermen or fire on units to try to disorder them.

Meanwhile the Taiping forces surged forward! Left Ying charges towards the river. Imperial peasants are attempting to hold the far right of the Imperial line. 

The Center Ying now advances to the River. In Piquet, this is a CLASS II river so halt on contact then can move normally after that.

Near my side of the table the Guard Ying advances and throw out their Jingals to take out the enemy skirmishers. Jingals are individual stands.

The situation near the Pagoda Bridge.

Taiping and Imperial Manchu cavalry race to the river to try to get an advantage on the flanks. This upcoming cavalry battle swirled for four Melee Resolution cards. Fighting can be seen in the distsance.

Imperial defenders, with the help of attached Jingals, cause heavy casualties among the Taiping Veterans and disordered a couple units too. The river line appears to be holding. Lone Taiping unit in the middle of the photo has formed in "circle" to fend off the Bannerman cavalry about to cross the river!

Because of my location on the table it was hard for me to get photos of the raging melees at the far end of the table near the town. Many Taiping units were routed, but rallied and came on again against the Imperials. The attack to the right of the bridge (from Imperial view). Mongolian cavalry swinging around to bolster the morale of the Imperials and Peasants. 

Action to the left of the Bridge. One routing Taiping unit heading towards the table edge. The river line is holding so far!

Meanwhile the Taiping Veterans have charged towards the Imperials at the bridge and have used their attached stink pot (single figure stand in the water) to drive the imperials back disordered! This was a huge event as the stink pots are one shot weapon and can only disorder the enemy. A very fortuitus roll and the Imperials are disordered and driven back in disorder. (Green tag on unit)

Here are some photos I was able to take during our lunch break of the battle along the river's edge near the town. Many Taiping units are disordered though. The "heart" on the command stand means they have to check for survival on the next Officer Check card.

At the Pagoda Bridge the Taiping have taken control of the bridge and drive off the Imperials. The situation before the melee.

And after

In the middle the Bannerman cavalry breaks the Taiping Brethren's circle and rout them. The Imperials pull more cavalry across into the center!

Taiping units have driven back the peasants and have made several breaches in the Imperial defense. 

Last photo showing the cavalry across the river for the Imperials which could really ruin the current Taiping advantage. The Pagoda bridge is completely overrun by the Taiping effectively turning their flank, but much further away (and on foot). The Manchu cavalry was eventually routed by the Taiping cavalry near the bridge (somehow missed taking any photos of that melee!).

We had a great time, but as folks were all new to the rules it took longer than I wanted. We stopped and it was still anybody's battle, which surprised me. We will play again soon! 

The Dragon and the Cross

I bought the original MANCHU version of this game with garish map, which you can go look at on BGG.

Here is the revised version with gorgeous map and better-looking counters. I hope to get this on the table in the near future. I clipped all the corners of the counters too. Link to BGG.

 

Taiping To Do List

If you made it this far thank you! Here is what I have left in order to finish the collection. After all are painted, I'll flock all the bases. Players didn't see it as a problem to not have the bases terrain-ed.

Paint the following, but some are optional. The cavalry is on the table right now.

• 1 x Manchu Cavalry (8 figures)
• 1 x Manchu Cavalry (8)
• 1 x Manchu Cavalry (8)
• 1 x Manchu Infantry (12)
• 1 x Manchu Infantry (12)
• 1 x Manchu Infantry (12)
• 1 x Manchu Infantry (12)
• 1 x Manchu Infantry (12)
• 1 x Bannerman Infantry (12)
• 4 x Imperial Mounted Command
• 9 x Imperial Foot Command
• 6 x Imperial Light Jingals 
• 4 x Heavy Jingals
• 1 x Beheading scene
• 1 x French Landing Party (12) Optional
• 1 x European Civilians (24) Optional 
• 1 x Chinese Civilians
• 2 x Hand carts
• 1 x Veteran Taiping or Brethren Muskets\Matchlocks.
• 2 x 8lb Smoothbores
• 6 x EVA Crew
• 1 x EVA Gun
• 10 x Artillery Crew
• 2 x Howitzers

Thanks for taking a look here today! Have a wonderful day.

Eric

Sunrise on Oak Island

SYW Battle and Vauban's Wars Playtest for Historicon

G'day Wargamers! Hope you are doing great! Although the blog has been rather stale lately, I'm gaming all the time. Some miniatures, but mostly Euro games and board wargames. I've played nearly 100 games of these various types this year so far.

SYW Battle

Back in April I ran a somewhat small Seven Years War battle with my new British army getting a chance to fire their muskets for the first time! This is a scenario where the French were caught off-guard near their camp by an Allied Army of British, Hanoverians, and Hessians.

• Rules: Battle Command from Piquet Inc. 
• Figures: 18mm Old Glory, and 18mm Eureka (Grenadiers de France).
• Number of Players: 2 (I was umpire)
• Terrain: Cigar Box mat, homemade trees, flex-terrain roads, and PaperTerrain 10mm buildings.

Normally I give a lot of blow-by-blow action text, but I'm in a rush today so it will be mostly photos. As usual, click on the photos to enlarge and go through the slide show.

SETUP and FORCES

French Left Cavalry wing holding the ground in front of the town and anchored on the hilltop forest

British Infantry Wing (their first time on the table). 

Hessian infantry wing with light guns following the infantry.

Hessian cavalry on the Allied left wing with 12# battery in support.

The entire battlefield from the Allied left wing. French forces are occupying a low ridge line.

French right-wing cavalry deployed on the ridge and anchored by woods.

Love how these British turned out!

Grenadiers de France returning to the field! Will they get their in time?! This was their first time in a battle! These are Eureka figures.

View from the French perspective

Edge view of the two forces.

Allied German cavalry

Vaubanner Flags on these British. British painted by Old Guard painters out of Kiev, Ukraine.

Closer view of the French cavalry wing near the town.

Three new French cavalry that have just been based and flagged! I got a lot of new regiments on the table for the first time.

Swiss in French service.

French view of the British infantry wing. The British guns were surprisingly effective from distance throughout the entire game. 

Hessians

British cavalry covering the flank of the British Grenadiers.

THE BATTLE

The battle started with some long range canon fire, but the English cavalry did a massive charge into the French left wing cavalry

French Light guns in reserve in case the British break through.

Melees on this flank were swirling ordeals. 

No massive routs, but a sway back and forth.

The Hessians advance and drive back the front line of the French defensive positions.

The British march forward slow and methodically.

The Alsace regiment is all that is left in the first line of French infantry. Tan and Brown pipe cleaners indicate UI loses.

The Swiss are driven back by the Hessians. Green cubes indicate disorder.

A view down the line

French and Hessian cavalry clash on the flanks. The French take a beating.

French guns deliver canister fire into the British dragoons, with little visible damage!

The Grenadiers de France rush forward into the gap in the French line.

Grenadiers make life difficult for the British

The British put on a show advancing into the French lines

British guns are silent now as their troops are blocking their view.

British Grenadiers on the right near the town start to make an impact on the French infantry

Despite terrific loses the Hessians push on!

French guns overrun on the British right. More cavalry clashes!

Nearly all troops now are damaged and disordered

Sir! We have no targets! 

British Grenadiers deliver a volley

French Wurtemberg cavalry charge the Hessian Grenadiers!

French Grenadiers hold! Casualties mounting

French volley causes two UI loss to the Hessians

At the time we had to call the game, the game hung in the balance. The French had stabilized their center, but their cavalry wings were taking a beating. We had a great time.

Vauban's Wars Playtest

I'm running a VW game at Historicon this year and I'm using my summer to playtest the game and get a lot of material rebased, created, and situated. Being retired is helping me finish projects that have long been dormant. For instance, I just rebased 25+ regiments of WW1 miniatures and I will be running 3 WW1 games this summer and winter.

I will be doing another Vauban's Wars playtest with mostly new players in June in my final preparation for my Historicon game which is Saturday, July 19th, at 1pm. 

I appreciate Rob and Steve helping with this playtest. Neither had played VW before so this allowed me to get great feedback and a dry run at explaining the rules for a convention game.

• Rules: Vauban's Wars (my ruleset) from Piquet Inc. 
• Figures: 18mm Old Glory and Hallmark guns and sappers.
• Number of Players: 2 (I was umpire)
• Terrain: Cigar Box mat, flex-terrain roads, PaperTerrain 10mm buildings and 15mm fortress. New first parallel earthworks are from Acheson Creations. (only primed for this game)

The initial setup with the first parallel built

View of the fortress with the French garrison worried about their existance

The big open spot in the town is for the church I couldn't fine for days! I put it in a "safe spot"! Hahaha!

I now have crew painted for these fortress guns. They look great.

I think we should keep our heads down!!

Damn! The Allies are coming from every direction!

Second parallel being created. Hanoverian infantry help guard the sappers.

French trench raid kills the sappers despite Hessians helping the besieging security forces.

Hanoverian infantry guard the sappers as they make gun emplacements.

French militia unit is hit by artillery fire! UI lost!

Allies have picked this location for their breaching fire.

This photo shows the progress by the besiegers. Second parallel is completed. Guns moving forward. A third parallel just getting started on the far right near the rightmost bastion.

French move infantry to the covered way to make building the 3rd parallel more challenging

French light infantry leads a trench raid against a siege gun! The Hessians were able to drive the trench raid back.

This siege saw many spies captured and hung, however the spies were successful in destroying food stores and making some of the besieging troops desert. Disease ran rampant in both camps due to a unique event. Heavy rains caused minor havoc, but soon passed. 

At this point the players had to leave, but they gave me fantastic feedback and I'm making great advancements in the terrain and figures since then. Next play test in about 3 weeks!

Cheers! Hope you enjoyed!

Eric