The Challenge 2016 Results

Woot!

I got third place.

It was a smaller pool this year, quite a few players have changed rules systems or were busy, but we still got a good competition running.

It's finally time for me to retire my 30 Years Germans, I've been using them at quite a few comps and they are getting a bit boring.

The players were

Challenge 2015

The Challenge is right around the corner.

Kevin has chosen an interesting period

Period details and permitted lists

The Age of Montecuccoli and Turenne - Post TYW (ie 1648) until the retirement of the former and the death of the latter both in 1675. 

Later Imperial Spanish

Early Louis XIV French

Early Restoration Portuguese

Later Dutch (Requirement for Poor horse is removed))

Hapsburg Austrian Imperial

Later German States

Later Spanish

Later Restoration Portuguese

Later Louis XIV French

New Model Army

Scots Covenanter

Confederate Irish

ECW Parliamentarian (no Eastern Association horse allowed)

Restoration British

Covenanting Rebels

Later Swedish

Later Danish

Later Russian

Later Polish & Lithuanian

Hungarian Kurac Rebellion

Later Ottoman Turkish

Cossack

Tatar

Later Venetian Colonial

Savoyard

6 Battle foot bases (not Dragoons or LF) must be taken for each Medium or Heavy artillery base fielded.

This theme should allow TYW troops to be used as sensible morphs, as well as the frilly cuff Louis XIV figures.

I've gone for Later Russians, not sure if's its a good idea as this is the runners and riders

The Challenge 2013

So,

last weekend I went to The Challenge for a bit of FoGR action.

It was another themed comp (the best type), this was the theme, any list from Wars of Religion between 1618-1649.

The runners and riders was a bit of a surprise, early Swedes, Germans comprised the bulk of the armies with two Imperial Spanish and one 30 Years War French.

I ended up on 4th place, 2 points behind 3rd.  :-)

Soo close, better luck next time.

I brought my 30 Years War Germans out again, always good fun.

My army was

6 x Kurrassiers (Armoured superior pistol pistol)
3 x Pike & Shot units
2 x Light Horse with Carbine
2 x Dragoon units
2 x Artillery, 1 x 2, 1 x 3

Notes from the comp

Artillery in threes are not worth it.  One hit and you have to take a test.

6 horse is good, need to have some Heavy Armour as well.  I ran up against a few HA units and got beat as I was down a factor.

Things to note for next time.

I do love FoGR, it works for me.

Challenge @ Ascot

Just got back from the Challenge Field of Glory competition at Ascott. I managed to get nine games over three days (four practice and five comp games) and ended up with two wins, two loses and a draw.

Opponents

Rnd 1 Timurids , result Win
Rnd 2 Hun Chinese, result Lose
Rnd 3 Santa Maria de Hermandid. Draw. It wasn't for lack of trying, both of us just couldn't break each other.
Rnd 4 Arab Conquest, result Lose
Rnd 5 Ottoman Turks, result Win

I am pretty happy with the results. I lost against the Hun Chinese and Arab Conquest due to the mass of supported foot who I could not break. In the end, I got pushed to the end of the table and got crushed. As a skirmisher army, they were my worst nightmare. Time to rethink all of the light foot, they worked well, but I think that four battle groups of them was a bit too much. Maybe got for just a couple and have more real troops.

The comp was nice and relaxed with a pint of beer for 2 quid, so, you have to be happy with that.

I'll be back next year.