All internet images removed from this post, sorry.
Turn 5 (8:08 PM)
There have rumors of heavenly creatures and other untoward
events. But what happens back in 1781 is that the allied assaults are getting
stalled. The British are sending off volley after volley and feeling pretty
cocky at the delays in the allied attack.
Redoubt 9 Lt. Col. McPherson
ORDERS: Continue firing and throwing grenades.
ARGUMENT: The British have +1 on their fire roll.
SUPPORT:
- We've been cutting them down pretty consistently so far and are working into a rhythm now. As patterns are repeated our success should increase.
- The fact that they're closer still, and the fires from the grenades make them easier to see and target.
- The accumulated wounded and grenade explosions increase chaos and confusion among the French making them less agile and easier targets.
Argument strength: average. The French are seasoned professionals although their commanders do appear a bit confused.. But the objective is clear (move up the hill and take the redoubt) so
the confusion does not have a material effect on French movement.
Argument die roll: 1. Argument fails Fire die roll: 4
General de Viomenil
Oh supreme, exalted one! I have placed upon the alter one fat and juicy free range groundhog. I shall roast it in your honor ! Hale to thee !
Order: CHARGE!!!
Argument: this is what we are here for. Effect: The French gain the Parapet.
Amusement value: 2, although this minor deity is tired of all these small animals and desires something with more heft and blood.
Argument strength: impossible. The French cannot make the parapet without first getting through the fraises. This deity appears in a burning bush and speaks in a voice of dread to say that this appears to be an order masquerading as an argument and this deity is not pleased.
ORDERS: Continue firing and throwing grenades.
ARGUMENT: The British have +1 on their fire roll.
SUPPORT:
- We've been cutting them down pretty consistently so far and are working into a rhythm now. As patterns are repeated our success should increase.
- The fact that they're closer still, and the fires from the grenades make them easier to see and target.
- The accumulated wounded and grenade explosions increase chaos and confusion among the French making them less agile and easier targets.
Argument strength: average. The French are seasoned professionals although their commanders do appear a bit confused.. But the objective is clear (move up the hill and take the redoubt) so
the confusion does not have a material effect on French movement.
Argument die roll: 1. Argument fails Fire die roll: 4
General de Viomenil
Oh supreme, exalted one! I have placed upon the alter one fat and juicy free range groundhog. I shall roast it in your honor ! Hale to thee !
Order: CHARGE!!!
Argument: this is what we are here for. Effect: The French gain the Parapet.
Amusement value: 2, although this minor deity is tired of all these small animals and desires something with more heft and blood.
Argument strength: impossible. The French cannot make the parapet without first getting through the fraises. This deity appears in a burning bush and speaks in a voice of dread to say that this appears to be an order masquerading as an argument and this deity is not pleased.
Result of the turn: the French are further shaken and they stop at the fraises.
Redoubt 10 Major Campbell
Order fire
Argument close range gives +1 modifier to fire
They are within 10 yards
Argument strength: average Argument die roll: 5. Argument succeeds.
Fire die roll: 1 modified to 2. Fire has no effect.
Lt. Col. Hamilton
Move: Charge the parapet.
Argument: Enemy suffers a -1 to morale because
1. The imminent loss of their uphill advantage and the protection of their fortifications fills their hearts with dread.
2. Despite their best efforts they’ve done nothing but slow our advance—the realization that they are entirely ineffectual renders them despondent.
3. Our deafening battle cry makes their knees wobble.
Amusement value: 1, although it would be higher if we knew what the deafening battle cry was.
Argument strength: very weak. The fraises have to be cut through and there is no order given in turn 4 or 5 for this action.
Argument die roll: 1. Argument fails
Result of the turn: The Americans mill around at the fraises and calls are made for the sappers to come forward. Major Campbell looks over the parapet and heaps calumny on the Americans. Somehow Campbell knows that the Americans are led by Hamilton and he shouts that this confusion is what you get when a bastard leads your charge rather than a true born gentleman.
(Major Campbell notes that a minor deity (the umpire) is putting
words in his mouth.)
Turn 6 (8:10 PM)
(Blogger notes: I hope we can complete our virtual war before an actual incipient one breaks out.)
(Blogger notes: I hope we can complete our virtual war before an actual incipient one breaks out.)
Redoubt 9: Lt. Col. McPherson
ORDERS: Keep firing and grenading!
ARGUMENT: It takes at least TWO rounds for the French to cut
through the fraises.
SUPPORT:
- We toss incendiary grenades and torches to light the
fraises on fire. They're stout wood and won't lose their strength, but
engineers will have a much harder time chopping through them without getting
horribly burned.
- We focus fire on anyone working to cut through the
fraises, killing or at least distracting them to disrupt their progress.
- We aim our grenade throws just over the fraises to
continually push back any engineers trying to brave the flames.
Argument average: I think it is very unlikely that the
stakes making up the fraises could be set on fire. This means that only two
thirds of the reasons make sense. I wonder how many supporting reasons for an
argument normally make it average but the other two reasons make sense, so
average it is.
Argument die roll: 5, argument succeeds.
Fire die roll: 4, the French are shaken again.
General de Viomenil
The Gods do play with us imperfect mortals. The word has
been received from on high
that another obstacle has been placed before us. The fraise must be Ordered breached before we can reach the Parapet and the promised land!
Therefore oh Monarch Of War, two tender young Turkeys have been slaughtered upon the alter and anointed with Boysenberry jam for the amusement of your tastebuds.
We beseech you to smile fondly upon our simple plans:
Orders: Penetrate the Fraise
Argument:1- The British have used up their ineffective grenades.
2- It is difficult for the British to fire down onto the Fraise without exposing
themselves up on the Parapet.
Result: British receive no fire benefit this turn .
that another obstacle has been placed before us. The fraise must be Ordered breached before we can reach the Parapet and the promised land!
Therefore oh Monarch Of War, two tender young Turkeys have been slaughtered upon the alter and anointed with Boysenberry jam for the amusement of your tastebuds.
We beseech you to smile fondly upon our simple plans:
Orders: Penetrate the Fraise
Argument:1- The British have used up their ineffective grenades.
2- It is difficult for the British to fire down onto the Fraise without exposing
themselves up on the Parapet.
Result: British receive no fire benefit this turn .
Amusement value 3: wild turkeys are delicious. So, I am
assuming that is what this deity is being presented with. Plus take out is
always appreciated. I, for one, am tired of cooking.
Argument average: interesting point about the grenades
but there is no support for it. On the other hand, it makes sense that perhaps
the British are getting a bit anxious.
I take this argument to be that, if the British requested
an increased die roll for firing, that they do not receive it. There is no
statement here that the British firing is completely suppressed only
that there is no benefit. Only the minor deity is allowed
to issue Delphic pronouncements.
No argument die roll as the argument did not apply to
what the British ordered.
Turn results: the French are delayed at the fraises.
They can attempt to cut through on turn 7.
Redoubt 10: Major Campbell
Turn 6 Major Campbell Redoubt 10
orders:Fire!
Argument: close range increases chance of hits, +1 on fire
die roll
- They are close enough to hit with rocks
- they are packed into a deep formation
Argument average.
Argument die roll: 3. The argument fails.
Fire die roll: 1, the British must in fact be shaken.
This deity is amused that the two arguments in fact complemented each other and
came out consistently.
Lt. Col. Hamilton
Move - Cut through the fraises.
Argument - Enemy suffers -1 morale.
- They’ve
been unable to stop our advance despite their best efforts.
- Their
ammo supply is dwindling, having used much of it during the first five
turns.
Amusement value 3: this deity loves research and anything to
distract from riots in the streets and cv-19 is welcomed.
Argument weak: this argument caused me to look up rates
of fire and cartridge box capacities for
revolutionary war troops. What I found applied only to
the American regulars but I assume that it would a also apply to British
regulars. I have attached two pdfs. So, at four rounds of fire per minute, the
British would have exhausted their cartridge boxes (with 25 rounds) in a bit
over six minutes, or three to four turns. On the other hand, why does
the deity have to do the research? A truly strong argument would come with
supporting documentation. Plus, this is a redoubt with ample space for more
ammunition to be stored, although the deity made no attempt to verify this
idea (that is one of the benefits of being a deity). As to the British being
unable to stop the advance, they have certainly already delayed it.
Argument die roll: 6, the argument succeeds and the
British are shaken.
Turn results: the Americans cut through the
fraises but stop just beyond as there was no order to advance once the fraises
were cut through.
The British are further shaken.
Turn 7 (8:12 PM) (Friday June 12, year of the pandemic)
(Blog host apologizes for one day delay posting this. Yesterday was the bi-weekly grocery outing, slept late today. Spelling etc. by participants.)
History trembles at a turning point. The allied advance is
being delayed for so long that it is possible that the redoubts will not be
taken.
Redoubt 9 Lt. Col. McPherson
ORDERS: Moar firing! Moar grenading!
ARGUMENT: The French/Alsatians suffer -1 to morale.
SUPPORT:
- They have been hit. Every. Single. Round. That starts to
get to a footslogger after a while.
(- The first three rounds of hit rolls were all 6s.
These good French Catholic and Alsatian Catholic troops are disturbed by
"666," the number of the beast, being what is driving lead into their
bodies, possibly tainting their very souls!)
- While they are experienced soldiers, the continual delays
and confusion from command are causing them to lose confidence in their
leaders. Veteran soldiers are MORE critical of command mistakes, feeling that
they could have done better, or at least that command should have known better.
- The Hessians in the redoubt taunt the Alsatian
mercenaries under French command, saying that Alsace isn't really part
of Germany, just a token that Germany and France trade between them like a
cheap token. And that hurts. It really hurts. (I can attest to this as someone
with Alsatian family history feeling the pain of writing this argument. But my
loyalty must be to the cause!)
Amusement value: 2. The 666 is a very nice touch.
Argument strength: average
Argument die roll: 4. The argument succeeds.
Fire die roll: 2. The bullets whistle overhead.
General de Viomenil
The French commander - ‘Oh modest, yet supreme monarch of mayhem
accept these humble offerings of a bakers dozen of the finest French Pastries
for your delight.’that my orders may be heeded and the dice will smile upon my
troop’ efforts.
Orders: “once more into the breach “ my
galant men , “fix your courage to the sticking post” , penetrate the Fraise and
gain the Parapet!
Argument: 1-the English see that
the French have not retreated ,rather their overwhelming numbers continue
to increase as they break thru the Fraise.
2- French troops in the rear ranks fire
upon the English exposed upon the Parapet suppressing their fire. Even though
they weren’t ordered to.( See all the illustrations which I and others have
provided)
Results: The English
suffer losses in their numbers ,a reduction in their morale And the
French gain the Parapet.
Amusement value: 2. This deity does love a good French
pastry.
Argument strength: weak. Fire cannot affect troops in a
redoubt. That leaves only one possible result, a reduction in British
morale.
Argument die roll: 3. The argument fails.
Melee die roll: 2. The British are lining the parapet so
the odds start at 2-1 but are shifted to 1-1.
Redoubt 9 Turn Result. The French recoil from the
parapet and lose men and are further shaken.
Redoubt 10 Major Campbell
Orders fire! Aim low!
Argument- Hamilton is grazed by a bullet and knocked cold.
The battalion mills around in confusion and doesn't close with bayonets this
turn
- Hamilton the glory hound is leading from the front
- A young soldier mistakenly cries " the colonel is
killed!" And the troops guard their fallen chief
- The scar resulting from the bloody scalp wound will be
brandished in the future any time he is accused of being a monarchist, usually
to moans of "here comes the scar again". He will always cry "it
was received fighting the minions of King George!”
Amusement value: 3. I love the future hypothetical
scenario. Yet another new Lin Miranda musical.
Argument: weak: the order is to fire low but Hamilton is
supposed to be grazed by a bullet, presumably a graze of his head.
Argument die roll: 6. The argument succeeds.
Fire die roll: 1. The bullets fly all over the place but
affect nothing except Hamilton. This seems apt as the argument was weak but
succeeded. Obviously, the British soldiers failed to follow orders to fire low,
hence Hamilton is grazed.
Lt. Col. Hamilton
Move: Charge up to and over the parapet and, to the extent
possible within the span of this turn, continue he advancing and engage the
enemy positioned at the top in melee
Argument: We have a +1 modifier to our morale because
1 - We have the advantage of processing under cover of
darkness
2 - We have the advantage of silence, which is maintained by
keeping muskets unloaded with the intention of using bayonets once we reach the
top of the parapet
3 - Once the top of the parapet is reached, the troops are emboldened
by the battle cry of Captain Stephen Olney of Rhode Island
Amusement value: 2. The personal battle cry is a nice
touch although why it should matter escapes me.
Argument: very weak. The Americans have suffered from
British fire and are no longer so cocky, Also, I do not see that silence helps
the Americans in lowering British morale now that the British have been
firing for several turns. It might affect British firing but why would it
affect morale?
Argument die roll: 5. The argument fails.
Turn 7 result: the Americans are once again delayed.
Turn 8
(8:14 PM) June 21, in the time of Coronavirus
History trembles at a turning point. The owl of Minerva is
about to fly.
Redoubt 9 Lt. Col. McPherson
ORDERS: Fire! (But hold the grenades. We're getting a bit
close for that sort of thing now.)
ARGUMENT: The British have +1 to their fire roll.
SUPPORT:
- The enemy is moving to point blank range. They should be
very difficult to miss.
- While an argument could clearly be made for a +2 modifier
here, I've made a more modest argument to have a stronger case and better
probability on the success roll.
- We have hit in 6 of 7 rounds. The troops are practiced and
eager to maintain their high average. Live or die, they know the stats will be
what allow them to enjoy glory centuries into the future in the shadowed back
rooms of hobby shops all around the world!
Amusement value: 2. The idea that the British are concerned
about anything other than their own survival strikes me as humorous.
Argument: average.
Argument die roll: 3. Argument fails.
Fire die roll: 3. The French are shaken once again.
General de Viomenil
Just when it feels as if the Gods have abandoned the French
( I think not one dice roll as gone in the French favor) Athena has intervened
on our behalf.
Orders: Storm the Parapet
Result: +1 to Mele , +1 to Morale
Argument: 1-Athena has provided Ambrosia to the French troops.
2- Defenders Stockpile of Grenades has been accidentally ignited
And Explodes.
Orders: Storm the Parapet
Result: +1 to Mele , +1 to Morale
Argument: 1-Athena has provided Ambrosia to the French troops.
2- Defenders Stockpile of Grenades has been accidentally ignited
And Explodes.
Amusement value: 2. If we are going to adopt a particular
set of gods, the Greek ones, with the Illiad as guidance, seem appropriate,
although the Norse gods or Indian gods would also work for me.
I do wonder, however, why Athena favors the allies, i.e.,
why they are like the Greeks in the Illiad.
Argument: very weak especially as it seeks two negative
results to the British.
Argument die roll: 5. Argument fails.
Melee: The odds start at 2-1 and drop to 1-1 because the
British are behind the parapet.
Melee die roll: 2. The French fall back and take losses.
Turn result: The French are repulsed and take losses and are
shaken.
Redoubt 10 Major Campbell
Redoubt 10 Major Campbell
orders: Fire!
argument: close range gives +1 to fire dice
- they are so close even in the dark we can see the whites
of their eyes
- they are packed into a deep assault column
- they are bunched up in the gaps in the fraise
Argument: average.
Argument die roll: 4. Argument succeeds.
Lt. Col. Hamilton
Move: Charge up to and over the parapet and, to the
extent possible within the span of this turn, continue advancing and engage the
enemy positioned at the top in melee.
Argument: Because of the cramped and unsanitary conditions
within redoubt 10, many of the British there begin succumbing to dysentery.
Also, British soldiers within the redoubt are confused by the statement shouted
last turn, “the colonel is killed”; thinking that they’ve struck a decisive
blow by killing their enemy’s leader, they prematurely begin to celebrate,
thereby failing to act in time to repel our bayonet charge. For both of these
reasons, the British take no action this turn.
And for good measure I’ll add a third reason in support of
the argument that the British take no action in turn 8:
The premature celebrations noted previously become so
boisterous that Campbell, who was standing at the edge of the parapet looking
for signs of our advance, is inadvertently bumped by one of his soldiers. This
causes Campbell to tumble over the parapet and roll down the slope of the
redoubt, where he becomes entangled in debris from a destroyed fraise, leaving
his troops without the benefit of a commanding officer by whom orders would be
issued.
Argument: very weak. Dysentery has become so powerful in the
space of two minutes? Also, the troops may well be shitting in their pants
anyway out of fear in being in such a prolonged fire fight. Finally, it seems
unlikely that Campbell has to stand on the parapet to see the advance. The Americans are within
mere feet of the parapet.
Argument die roll: 6. Argument succeeds. There are two
arguments that partially contradict each other. I think they can be reconciled
by not having the British fire because of the lack of command. But it seems
essentially impossible that they would do nothing as the Americans storm the
parapets. In this situation, what orders would there be anyway that need to be
given other than to stand or fall back?
Melee: The odds start at 3-1 and drop to 2-1 because the
British are behind the parapet.
Melee die roll: 1
Melee result: The Americans fall back and take losses.
Turn result: The Americans are repulsed and take losses
although they are not shaken.
Stay tuned for Turn 9… likely in a new post so
readers don’t have to scroll down so far.
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