Replaying the past: 2

Today I am, for the first time, playing the rules written by one of the early doyens of wargaming: Joe Morschauser.

Joe was one of the first proponents of the “base of figures” system, which he referred to as a “tray”. Joe’s rules ignore command elements and other oddments of infantry equipment, so stripping them out of my two tiny forces I had two options for my game.
1. Four trays of three rifles attacking three trays of three rifles, or 2. Treat each rifleman as a tray, with twelve attacking eight. Goven the “bang! – you’re dead” nature of the rules and the limited numbers I decided on option 2.

Basic rules. Dice each turn for which side acts first. Move and fire or fire and move. Infantry move 9” and fire at maximum 15”. To hit roll 4 or 6. Mêlée: troops within 2”. Roll 4 or more kills the enemy.

House rule. Joe does not allow any protection for troops under cover. I decided to reduce the chance of hitting models under cover to 6 only.

And so to the game.
The attacking Vlaamsers split into three groops. Five moved through the woods on the left flank to close assault the farm. Four moved through the woods on the right flank to distract the defenders with an attack over open ground. Three advanced along the hedgerow to engage the defenders with rifle fire.

The defending Wallons placed four men in the farmhouse, two in the stable block and two on sentry duty in the yard.

Turns 1 and 2. The Vlaamsers advanced. At the end of turn 2 the riflemen behind the hedge fired at the nearest sentry, rolling 1,2,4 for one hit. Those advancing on the right flank took out the second sentry with 2,3,5,6.

Returning fire at the enemy behind the hedge the six riflemen in the farmhouse and the stables rolled 2,3,4,4,5,6 for one hit.

Turn 3. The Wallons won the die roll and fired again. Again one 6 was rolled, taking out another enemy. The Vlaamsers continued to advance on both flanks.

Turn 4. The Vlaamsers won the die roll. On the left flank they moved up to the hedge and fired, Only three men could get a line of fire on the front windows of the farmhouse. No kills. The other two men fired at the stable block, and rolled no sixes. The lone soldier at the hedgerow also failed to hit with his shot.

On the right flank the four men fired before moving. No casualties were inflicted. They then moved up to close contact around the barn door and the small windows. Both sides rolled a 4, equalling their mêlée power, so both sides were wiped out.

Turn 5. The Vlaamsers won the toss and fired before closing with the enemy. One hit. Then five men charged the farmhouse. Both sides rolled a 5 for mêlée. Rolling again produced a 5 and a 6. The third roll was 6 for the Wallons and 4 for the Vlaamsers. The Wallons were wiped out and the Vlaamsers took the farm.

So after two battles I have one draw and one Vlaams victory.

What would I change in these rules? 1. Some form of reduction in move distance over obstacles and in difficult ground. 2. As already applied, fire effectiveness reduced for cover. 3. Fire or move rather than fire and move, allowing for supporting fire while comrades advance. 4. Suppression of return fire in case of casualties. 5. Mêlée results dependent on numbers in contact.

Otherwise, well written, easy to play and a believable result.