Heliopolis, the first try

This was our first try of the Heliopolis scenario.  We didn't finish the game as we're still not very familiar with the rules but it was a decent test.

Set up initially uses blinds to hide deployment from the enemy.  If the units move they are revealed.  Also, enemy units within 12" of a friendly unit are revealed at the start of your turn.

The French deployed with their cavalry in the centre and advanced towards the forward Ottoman units.

Here, the French are attempting to flank the Janissary trench line, while the Ottoman cavalry launch spoiling attacks.  The Janissaries are losing the resulting firefight.

Two units of Mamelukes gang up on the French dragoons and a unit of Delis charge the flanking infantry. 

French skirmishes and attached artillery firepower breaks the end of the Janissary line.  The Dragoons are thrown back however, and the French infantry hastily form a prepared defence under pressure from the Mamelukes.    

The French infantry on their left storm the trench line and overrun the guns but the village is still help by a garrison of Janissaries.  The unit on the French far left flank held against a Mameluke attack but was forced into a prepared defence.  Another unit of Janissaries charged out of the palm groves and will soon destroy a French demi-brigade in close fighting.  They then pursued the fleeing fusiliers off the southern table edge into Cairo, from where they can raise the Fellahin in revolt.

The French and Ottoman cavalry clash on the right of the field near the ruined mosque.  The Hussars and Chasseurs send some Turkish horsemen packing but the Guides and Dromedaries cannot hold onto their flank.

Lacking infantry support and with the French forming prepared defences the Ottoman horsemen pulled back to regroup with a line of fresh reserves that had come up from the main army.

With time running out and the French heavily on the defensive we called it a day and headed home.

Here are a few bases I knocked up to give the battlefield a bit of ancient character.   They are meant to signify the Roman and Hellenistic ruins that dotted the area.

Not a bad first test.  It remains to be seen if the french can successfully advance in the face so so many sabre wielding horsemen but the rules seem to work well.  We may eventually need to add some house-rules for the "carré d’Egypte." but I think we should persevere with the rules as written for a bit longer. 

The Ottomans finally make it onto the table!

After many years and many false starts my 15mm Ottomans have finally got into action! The dastardly French infidels had invaded Egypt and need seeing off. 

The Ottomans were mine and the lovely French provided by my club mate Tony. We used Sam Mustafa's Blucher rules for the game.  These are grand tactical level, with units representing something from a battalion to a brigade.   This was just a pick up learning game, so the scenario was very basic.

There was some glory for both sides. The Sipahis caught a French unit moving in the open and damaged but didn't break it. So they fell back and the following Janissaries closed in on what was left.

The Janissaries broke the Frenchmen and pursued them impetuously.

A French counterattack then threw back half their number, while the supporting Arnauts skirmished with some French light infantry over the village.

On the other flank Ottoman and French cavalry clashed with mixed honours. First more regular imperial Sipahis sent the French dragoons reeling back.

But French counter attacks sent half of them back alongside their armoured supports.  Reserves seem to be very important in this game.

So far we have enjoyed the rules but will now be re-reading to find what we played wrong.