AWI Sharp Practice campaign I’ll Take Manhattan (updated 20 12 21)

[Tactical Painter]

As enjoyable as it is to do all the painting and terrain making,  nothing beats getting it all on the table and playing a game. My regular opponent Dave has created a campaign for Sharp Practice loosely set during the 1776 New York campaign. It takes place over five tables and we played the first game this week. I’m controlling the rebels while Dave takes the British.

Sharp Practice games always unfold with a good narrative and that makes it a lot easier to work it into a game report and I enjoyed putting this together. You can find the full game report here https://thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2021/10/ill-take-manhattan-campaign-scenario-1.html

The Tactical Painter - painting miniature armies for battles on the table top.
http://www.thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/

[willz]

Nice looking game and beautiful figures.

[Darkest Star Games]

This sounds like an excellent little campaign.  I really like that your opponent had the sense to turn around rather than press of a bloodier outcome, keeping forces available for the next battle.  A recent opponent of mine did not do such a thing and is currently suffering for it.

Side note: Also, I saw a house recently up in Idaho that was built in the 1850’s which has the same sort of roof as your cabin.  That is, overlapping rough-cut planks rather than shingle or shake type roofing.  Very interesting to me as I work in architecture, had a nice chat with the curator on old ways of weather proofing.  Seems pine sap and pitch was heavily used but usually had to be renewed after a hot summer, which actually helped dictate the size of dwellings in that area.  Makes me wonder if there were similar issues “back east”, but I would figure the advanced state of development allowed for more advanced products (like actual tar and slate) to be used instead.

"I saw this in a cartoon once, but I'm pretty sure I can do it..."

[Tactical Painter]

Darkest Star Games wrote:

This sounds like an excellent little campaign. I really like that your opponent had the sense to turn around rather than press of a bloodier outcome, keeping forces available for the next battle. A recent opponent of mine did not do such a thing and is currently suffering for it. Side note: Also, I saw a house recently up in Idaho that was built in the 1850’s which has the same sort of roof as your cabin. That is, overlapping rough-cut planks rather than shingle or shake type roofing. Very interesting to me as I work in architecture, had a nice chat with the curator on old ways of weather proofing. Seems pine sap and pitch was heavily used but usually had to be renewed after a hot summer, which actually helped dictate the size of dwellings in that area. Makes me wonder if there were similar issues “back east”, but I would figure the advanced state of development allowed for more advanced products (like actual tar and slate) to be used instead.

Thanks, I like the way a campaign focuses your attention beyond the current game and to think about force preservation for the games ahead. It adds an extra layer to the decision making.

Interesting about the house and roofing, that makes sense. All my other houses for the period have slate/shingle roofs but I thought I’d add something different to the mix, particularly if we play an earlier period like FIW. I guess it’s safe to assume there would be a mix of older and newer building types to be seen, even in the East, if not I’ll have to plead ignorance 🙄

The Tactical Painter - painting miniature armies for battles on the table top.
http://www.thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/

[kyoteblue]

Following!!

[Tactical Painter]

This is the second game in the campaign, Engagement 2: Miller’s Crossing. The British suffered an embarrassing defeat in the first game and they were keen to take their revenge on the rebels and restore British prestige. Could the Americans repeat their performance and drive back the British again? The full AAR is here:

https://thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2021/11/ill-take-manhattan-campaign-engagement.html

The Tactical Painter - painting miniature armies for battles on the table top.
http://www.thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/

[vtsaogames]

Sounds like the Yanks need to lick their wounds for a while. Great looking game, thanks.

It's never too late to have a happy childhood

[Darkest Star Games]

A bit of a drub indeed.  Those losses will hurt later.

"I saw this in a cartoon once, but I'm pretty sure I can do it..."

[Tactical Painter]

The campaign rolls on and we reach the third scenario. Honours may be even with a victory apiece, but the rebels have taking many more casualties than the British. Will they be crushed by a superior force or find a way to hold off the redcoats? The full AAR is here: http://thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2021/11/ill-take-manhattan-campaign-engagement_15.html

The Tactical Painter - painting miniature armies for battles on the table top.
http://www.thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/

[Darkest Star Games]

That really was a bit of a surprise!  As Hannibal often said to his A-Team: “I love it when a plan comes together”.

"I saw this in a cartoon once, but I'm pretty sure I can do it..."

[Tactical Painter]

Darkest Star Games wrote:

That really was a bit of a surprise! As Hannibal often said to his A-Team: “I love it when a plan comes together”.

Indeed, that definitely exceeded my expectations and it was great to see it work. After the last game I wondered if the Americans could continue given the casualties and we discussed whether the campaign needed tweaking. In the end we decided to see how this game played out. I think it’s still going to be tough for the rebels but I’m enjoying the challenge.

The Tactical Painter - painting miniature armies for battles on the table top.
http://www.thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/

[Tactical Painter]

After the surprising rebel victory in the last game the British are looking for revenge. They are out to rescue a loyalist prisoner and in the process seek a scenario victory that keeps their hopes of a campaign victory alive. They have the better force but that hasn’t always played in their favour. The full AAR is here:

http://thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2021/11/ill-take-manhattan-campaign-engagement_21.html

The Tactical Painter - painting miniature armies for battles on the table top.
http://www.thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/

[polymathsw]

Amazing photos, figures and terrain, thanks for sharing. It looks like a lot of fun!

[Darkest Star Games]

Yup, that’ s going to hurt in the morning… Quite the one sided victory.   Here’s to hoping the rebels can pull out an overall win!

"I saw this in a cartoon once, but I'm pretty sure I can do it..."

[willz]

More wonderful AWI eye candy.

[Tactical Painter]

The final instalment in the campaign. The more we use the Sharp Practice rules the more we make better use of them and the more I like them. Some lovely drill book musketry from Dave’s British in this one, pity I was on the receiving end! It’s a shame to see the campaign come to an end, hopefully we’ll be able to get back to some more in 2022. The full AAR is here https://thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2021/12/ill-take-manhattan-engagement-5-last.html

 

The Tactical Painter - painting miniature armies for battles on the table top.
http://www.thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/

[Darkest Star Games]

That was a great campaign, even though the freedom fighters lost (I’m just a little biased, teehee).  It really is fantastic when a game feels “right” for the period being played.  I’d really like to see a line of redcoats blasting away at a big French column to see how it handles.

"I saw this in a cartoon once, but I'm pretty sure I can do it..."

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