Battle 11-24-06

Army Galleries Home Prussia Great Britain Ireland France United States Mars	The Retreat from Neu Fredericksburg An After action report Graf Helmut Bruck was Prussia's Consul to the frontier settlement called Neu Fredericksburg by its Prussian masters but possessed of a far older and more difficult to pronounce Martian name. The "was" hit home to him yet again as he finished making sure all sensitive documents that might be captured by John Carter's advancing horde were either destroyed or on the Luft Kutter preparing to take off in moments with him and his staff aboard. He was troubled because his wife and children had yet to be located and prepared for the emergency evacuation of all Prussian civilians from the town. There were other civilians still out there as well and he had given the military commander orders to round them up and escort them to the flat roof of the building across the street where they could be taken away in one of the Luft Kutters flying in and out of the town evacuating all Prussian citizens. Captain Schutzen, of the Jagers, had brought the news that the Consul's wife had been located as well as several other small groups of civilians and military escorts were moving them towards the evacuation point. Which was a good things as the pickets on the edge of town had just been pulled in reporting large numbers of Martian troops mere moments away from the center of town. The Consulate had been fortified as best it could and boasted a strong force to defend it. A platoon of regular infantry with two of the Klank automata, supported by a squad of Jagers as well as the Naval contingent in the Luft defense tower with its Krupp gun and some sailors manning a gatling gun in the compound. It should be more than enough to hold off the barbarians headed this way. There were also several of the floating Luftkannoneboots in the vicinity that could be called upon to assist in the defense. The Game Rampant Colonialism were the rules we used. We have modified them a bit for our purposes. Each player was given a small group of figures to run. Each player was responsible for escorting his charges to the evacuation point and getting them on a Luft Kutter and safely away. Their duty was complicated a bit by the presence of the children and at the start of each turn every player had to check to see if their charges behaved. One D6 for each civilian in the escorted party. If a single one was rolled the escort unit could fire, but not move that turn due to some kind of drama. If more ones were rolled it meant that at least one of the children got loose and ran off in a random direction with one of the adult civilians in close pursuit. This caused a lot of hair pulling as the players tried to keep their little bands heading towards the rescue point. More than once a young lad broke loose and headed right towards the trouble, no doubt wanting a better look at the real war. The Martians came on the board in waves. As units were defeated by the Prussians more would come in at tables edge until all civilians were lifted off. After that the Prussians would have to defeat any remaining Martian troops and evacuate the remaining military personnel. The Martians also had a chance for artillery or air cars to show up each turn. Unknown to the players: The Martians would not fire at the civilians, especially the children and would not fire at units where civilians blocked the line of sight. If the Martians made contact with civilians they would capture them and hold them hostage. Dramatis Personae Grafin Bruck, her children and their governess, escorted by Ludwig Schliesse and the household footmen Madeline Von Stuck, the Consul’s mistress, her son Oswald, and her bodyguards led by Herr Grau Mimi Braun, schoolmistress and several schoolchildren escorted by Lt. Schutzenfurst and men of the 2 nd Jager Group attached to the consulate’s protection force. Helga and Olga St. Pauli, workers in one of the local businesses in the company of unnamed members of the Prussian Luftmarine Photos of the battle: The Consulate part of town at the start of the game showing the starting points of the players and the Prussian fortifications. The first wave of Martians firing on the Jagers. The St. Pauli sisters and their escort made good time and were the first to arrive at the Luftkutters mooring point. Herr Grau and his men form a protective line in front of Fraulien Von Stuck. Grafin Bruck and her children rush through the town. The forward Prussian barricade took the brunt of the Martian fire. Prussian troops take inspiration from the St Pauli sisters. The first pair of Martian aircars appear. They were dealt with fairly quickly by the Air defense tower and its heavy guns. Grafin Bruck and her children make their way through the chaos of the town. Her sturdy footmen holding their own under the Martian advance. The Naval squad and its gatling and one of the two Klanks defending the compound. Two Luftkorvettes take on the second wave of Martian aircars. The St Pauli sisters make it to safety and the Heroic Captain takes advantage of a photo opportunity. More Martians pour into town. The Luftkorvettes take heavy fire from the ground and aircars. Fraulien Von Stuck is almost to the evacuation building. The Martians bring a cannon to town. Heavy fire brings down the Luftkorvette. The commander of the escape Kutter with only the St. Pauli sisters aboard failed his moral check at this time and took off. There would be several turns of delay before another evacuation Kutter would arrive for the rest of the civilians. Fraulien Von Stuck's ward Oswald makes a break to get a better look at all the excitement. Another one of the children this time from the school, decides to take an unapproved field trip. He is captured by a Martian who leaps forward to save him from being killed in a crossfire. One of the defenders, already frustrated by the "herding kittens" part of his duty attempts an incredible shot at the kidnapper, missing the shot horribly and killing the boy. I hope he like his new job on Venus. The Martians take the forward barricade and bring heavy fire into the compound. Two Tharks charge the gatling crew while the Red Men take down one of the Klanks. At this point the second rescue Kutter arrived and the remainder of the civilians were swept off to safety. The Prussian took heavy casualties but managed to repel the remaining Martian. This was a very fun game to run and everyone involved had a good time.

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The Retreat from Neu Fredericksburg

An After action report

Graf Helmut Bruck was Prussia's Consul to the frontier settlement called Neu Fredericksburg by its Prussian masters but possessed of a far older and more difficult to pronounce Martian name. The "was" hit home to him yet again as he finished making sure all sensitive documents that might be captured by John Carter's advancing horde were either destroyed or on the Luft Kutter preparing to take off in moments with him and his staff aboard. He was troubled because his wife and children had yet to be located and prepared for the emergency evacuation of all Prussian civilians from the town. There were other civilians still out there as well and he had given the military commander orders to round them up and escort them to the flat roof of the building across the street where they could be taken away in one of the Luft Kutters flying in and out of the town evacuating all Prussian citizens.

Captain Schutzen, of the Jagers, had brought the news that the Consul's wife had been located as well as several other small groups of civilians and military escorts were moving them towards the evacuation point. Which was a good things as the pickets on the edge of town had just been pulled in reporting large numbers of Martian troops mere moments away from the center of town. The Consulate had been fortified as best it could and boasted a strong force to defend it. A platoon of regular infantry with two of the Klank automata, supported by a squad of Jagers as well as the Naval contingent in the Luft defense tower with its Krupp gun and some sailors manning a gatling gun in the compound. It should be more than enough to hold off the barbarians headed this way. There were also several of the floating Luftkannoneboots in the vicinity that could be called upon to assist in the defense.

The Game

Rampant Colonialism were the rules we used. We have modified them a bit for our purposes. Each player was given a small group of figures to run. Each player was responsible for escorting his charges to the evacuation point and getting them on a Luft Kutter and safely away. Their duty was complicated a bit by the presence of the children and at the start of each turn every player had to check to see if their charges behaved. One D6 for each civilian in the escorted party. If a single one was rolled the escort unit could fire, but not move that turn due to some kind of drama. If more ones were rolled it meant that at least one of the children got loose and ran off in a random direction with one of the adult civilians in close pursuit. This caused a lot of hair pulling as the players tried to keep their little bands heading towards the rescue point. More than once a young lad broke loose and headed right towards the trouble, no doubt wanting a better look at the real war.

The Martians came on the board in waves. As units were defeated by the Prussians more would come in at tables edge until all civilians were lifted off. After that the Prussians would have to defeat any remaining Martian troops and evacuate the remaining military personnel. The Martians also had a chance for artillery or air cars to show up each turn.

Unknown to the players: The Martians would not fire at the civilians, especially the children and would not fire at units where civilians blocked the line of sight. If the Martians made contact with civilians they would capture them and hold them hostage.

Dramatis Personae

Grafin Bruck, her children and their governess, escorted by Ludwig Schliesse and the household footmen

Madeline Von Stuck, the Consul’s mistress, her son Oswald, and her bodyguards led by Herr Grau

Mimi Braun, schoolmistress and several schoolchildren escorted by Lt. Schutzenfurst and men of the 2 nd Jager Group attached to the consulate’s protection force.

Helga and Olga St. Pauli, workers in one of the local businesses in the company of unnamed members of the
Prussian Luftmarine

Photos of the battle:

The Consulate part of town at the start of the game showing the starting points of the players and the Prussian fortifications.

The first wave of Martians firing on the Jagers.

The St. Pauli sisters and their escort made good time and were the first to arrive at the Luftkutters mooring point.

Herr Grau and his men form a protective line in front of Fraulien Von Stuck.

Grafin Bruck and her children rush through the town.

The forward Prussian barricade took the brunt of the Martian fire.

Prussian troops take inspiration from the St Pauli sisters.

The first pair of Martian aircars appear. They were dealt with fairly quickly by the Air defense tower and its heavy guns.

Grafin Bruck and her children make their way through the chaos of the town. Her sturdy footmen holding their own under the Martian advance.

The Naval squad and its gatling and one of the two Klanks defending the compound.

Two Luftkorvettes take on the second wave of Martian aircars.

The St Pauli sisters make it to safety and the Heroic Captain takes advantage of a photo opportunity.

More Martians pour into town. The Luftkorvettes take heavy fire from the ground and aircars.

Fraulien Von Stuck is almost to the evacuation building.

The Martians bring a cannon to town.

Heavy fire brings down the Luftkorvette. The commander of the escape Kutter with only the St. Pauli sisters aboard failed his moral check at this time and took off. There would be several turns of delay before another evacuation Kutter would arrive for the rest of the civilians.

Fraulien Von Stuck's ward Oswald makes a break to get a better look at all the excitement.

Another one of the children this time from the school, decides to take an unapproved field trip. He is captured by a Martian who leaps forward to save him from being killed in a crossfire. One of the defenders, already frustrated by the "herding kittens" part of his duty attempts an incredible shot at the kidnapper, missing the shot horribly and killing the boy. I hope he like his new job on Venus.

The Martians take the forward barricade and bring heavy fire into the compound.

Two Tharks charge the gatling crew while the Red Men take down one of the Klanks.

At this point the second rescue Kutter arrived and the remainder of the civilians were swept off to safety. The Prussian took heavy casualties but managed to repel the remaining Martian. This was a very fun game to run and everyone involved had a good time.