Tuesday 16 February 2021

First game of DBN

 Its been a while since I have had a game and this is partly because I only have access to a kitchen table which for some reason my wife wants to use for eating meals.

So in the last few weeks I have been looking at alternatives for quick set up and play games that can be played in a small space. 

I have been looking at Neil Thomas One Hour Wargame rules and DBN.  I have decided to first give DBN a go and this has been influenced by what Lee has been doing on his blog http://napoleonictherapy.blogspot.com/?m=1

So I dug out my old Napoleonic 15/18mm armies and picked enough figures for two 12 point armies.  I spent sometime refurbishing the figures which included new flags, rebasing and a two coats of gloss varnish.

For terrain I kept it simple using one of my old mdf boards with some hills made by cutting up another board. I dug around in the shed to find some trees and a building. The roads were made in the mid 70s out of plasticard.

This morning I had a first game of DBN with my son Max.  I am sure I got a lot of things wrong but the game was fast paced and completed in just about an hour. Max won.


The initial set up. This is an 1809 encounter with the Austrians, commanded by me, attacking. I pushed forward my central Infantry supported by artillery on the hill. I also launched my cavalry in an attack on my right flank however one of my light cavalry brigades is hit by French artillery fire.


My left is anchored by two brigades of militia infantry.


A brigade of French Light Infantry is deployed in the small village of Schwartzdorf. My artillery opens up a desultory fire on the village. 


The Austrian Columns close with village as the French advance to turn my flank.


The cavalry battle on my right is in decisive and my hoped for breakthrough as stopped in its tracks.


I do however manage to get one heavy cavalry brigade to threaten the French centre. 


The French respond and move up a light cavalry brigade and although I get a charge in it is easily beaten back.


With the Austrian attacks failing and with casualties mounting the French launch their wheeling movement on the Austrian attack on Schwarzberhdorf.


In the resultant firefight the French prove to superior to my poor Austrians and the battle is over.

Max enjoyed the game and says he will play again. Well at least it kept him off his Xbox for a while.






12 comments:

EB said...

That looks like fun, Mark. I very much like the way you've based the armies. What frontage are the bases please?

Iain

Mark Dudley said...

Hi Iain

Infantry and Cavalry are on 40 by 30mm and artillery are on 40 by 40mm.

Mark

Rob said...

Interesting, I've played plenty of DBx games but not DBN, although I do have the rules. I felt the rules had gone overboard on factors and special circumstances so never tried them, maybe I should! Perhaps I'll await you verdict on them vs the One Hour Wargame.

Mark Dudley said...

Hi Rob

I have never played a DBx game before. Whilst there are few special factors/ rules these cover very specific circumstances. The game is fun to play and not too taxing. It was good to get my son involved as well.

I know I got a few things wrong but the videos on youtube are a great help.

I am also thinking of using my classic Napoleonics for DBN as a change from Charge.

Stryker said...

Looks like fun Mark, maybe this could finally be a use for my own old 15mm armies! Would it work solo?

Mark Dudley said...

I think they would work well for solo play as they use command points to activate units/formations so this limits a players choices. There are a few example solo games on the dbn wargaming channel on youtube you can check out.

I am sure the rules will work with Hinton Hunt figures as well.

Norm said...

Thanks, enjoyed the post, there seems quite a current interest in DBN, I have started to watch the author’s videos.

Mark Dudley said...

Hi Norm

I suggest that small easy games to set up and play solo are all that most of us can achieve at the moment. DBN fits the bill

The author's videos are very helpful and certainly make more sense now that I have played my first game.

Aly Morrison said...

A great looking game Mark...

The 15 mils look good with their shiny coats...
I never thought of using DBN with my shiny collection... it would work well for solo play .

All the best. Aly

Mark Dudley said...

Hi Aly

I am going to have a game of DBN using my classic Napoleonics next.

Vintage Wargaming said...

Mark

I have played DBN twice, with people who know the rules inside out - important for me as I find picking up rules very difficult. I based last year’s Rose Napoleonics project with the idea of using them for DBN as I thought the stylised poses would work very well. Of course I haven’t got round to using them but I could if I wanted to...

James Fisher said...

Marvellous looking game Mark. You have beautiful figures in 15/18 mm too.
SWMBO wanting to eat? The cheek of it. Some people want everything!!
Regards, James