In The Bleak Midwinter...

    On the Saturday before Christmas, Andy and I set up a Seven Years War game using our mash-up of Black Powder and Warfare in the Age of Reason. We use the rules from Age of Reason except for the ranges and system for shooting and melee with we rob from Black Powder. Why? Age of Reason has very good points for movement and command-and-control; there is no rolling for double or triple moves or no moves at all. Black Powder has superior "fightin'" rules - simpler, more to the point, and easier to handle. Andy generaled the French while I, in a blaze of arrogance, ran the Prussians. (I hope die Alte Fritz will forgive me my failings as a general.)
     The Prussian side moved onto the table along roads for the most part since the table was considered to be snow-covered. It was a rare winter battle. The French held the town and the Prussians were charged with getting around it. The terrain and the cold did not make that easy. Roads make for fast movement in a non-combat formation while the line formation is better for fighting and shooting, but its slower. Be that as it may, the game was fun and it ended in a draw (although I'd be inclined to give the trophy to the French since they held the town at the end of the game.)
     Now for pictures:

A French infantry brigade with accompanying artillery in the town

French Cavalry - "Horse" and Dragoons.
There is a forest in from of them, the white felt shape. I forgot to bring the trees.

The Prussians advance - an infantry brigade and cavalry on the left flank - hussars and dragoons.

Half of an infantry brigade under my command, marching for the town.

Andy's Prussian Dragoons - Regiment #1
Note the drummer on the far right. As "mounted infantry", dragoons used drums
rather than the bugles of the cavalry. Tradition, I suppose.

Prussian reinforcements - grenadiers this time - in road column while the infantry engages
the French troops in the town. It's very hard to dig troops out of a town.

A French brigade faces the Prussian left flank while more reinforcements march up the road.
The French horse on that flank made short work of the Prussian hussars - not the best troops in the army.

Still the Prussian grenadiers march.
Not exactly the "Potsdam Guard Parade", but it'll do.

Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel leads his brigade toward the town.

Andy is far more organized than I and he has each stand marked with it's unit name or number.

It was not a pleasant time for the Blue Coats in front of the town.

As the cavalry on the Prussian right flank - dragoons and cuirassiers - mix it up with French horse,
the Wild Geese of the Irish brigade advance along the road to the rear of the French lines.

Prussian grenadiers and fusiliers mouse-trap a French regiment of horse.

Cuirassiers vs. "Horse"
The small chits show where the unit started and help when determining breakthroughs.
A stand turned side-ways indicates the regiment is "disordered" which could be a result of
casualties or of terrain.

Another charge - Prussian dragoons vs. French "horse" and dragoons.
A "forlorn hope" at best.

I was not able to get much closer than this to the town walls.

The battle was inconclusive and was declared a draw at curfew, but it was fun. The massed figures always look good and the period is interesting.