Five Kilometres from Leipzig - solo rules for black powder skirmish actions

Five Kilometers From Leipzig (FKFL) is a set of solo miniatures rules for black powder skirmish actions roughly covering the period  1700 to 1870. It is written by Ivan Sorensen of Nordic Weasel Games and available as a pdf from Wargame Vault.

You have a squad of 6 men that skirmish against  military forces, guerrillas, outlaws or native warbands. The starting Stats are Speed 4", Shoot +0, Toughness 3 but this can  increase through campaigning. 

When a figure is active they may take a Movement Action and a Combat Action.

Movement Actions can be Move or Reload. Combat Actions can be Dash, Reload, Brawl, Bandage or Shoot. 

The opposition depends  on which campaign you are fighting. For example if you were fighting the Peninsular War (1807–1814)  as the French then you could be facing either a military force and/or guerrillas. For the French and Indian Wars then you could be facing either a military force,  guerrillas or native warbands. Finally as the French for the Franco-Prussian War then you would face just a military force.

Enemy type, number and deployment are all table generated as is the Mission

The Enemy can basically either shoot, reload or move towards near opponent in that order. In all cases they should keep to cover.

Each Mission earns several Victory Points per turn. At the end of each game turn roll 2D6. If the roll is equal or below the number of Victory Points earned so far, the Enemy withdraws and you win the mission.

You might notice that I use multi-based troops for the 1st game - just imagine each base is 1 figure. I also use 15mm figures because I don't have any 25mm figures

For the first game set during the Peninsular War I commanded a French squad. 

My opponents were 7 British infantry (Speed 4", Shoot +0, Toughness 3)

The mission was to capture and hold the centre of the table for 2 VPs per turn

The British deployed in 2 ranks. 

Both sides are armed with Smoothbore Muskets

The French advance

 The British advance

 The French advance

 The British open fire 

 The French reach the centre so can start collecting 2 VPs per turn

All of the British open fire 

 Everyone is firing!

  A firefight ensues killing 2 British and 3 French

This forces the British to take a morale check

Although I was down  to 3 men the British had 3 men Scared so they could not advance. The VP stood at 4 and I rolled a Double 1 so victory to me   

All the figures are by Campaign Game Miniatures.

For the second game I commanded an Abenaki warband during the French and Indian Wars.

Their opponents were 4 veteran settlers (Guerrillas) (Speed 5", Shoot +1, Toughness 4). 

The mission was Drive Off where 2 VPs are earnt every time an Enemy Flees or is Knocked Out.

As the enemy were outnumbered I set them up in a cabin. Both sides are armed with Smoothbore Muskets

 Basically the Abenaki snook up on the settlers

Both sides open fire

After 1 round of firing 1 settler was dead, 1 has fled as a result of that and another was Stunned

 After another round of firing the  same settler was Stunned

 One Abenaki goes for the outflank

Before he can get to the cabin one Abenaki gets shot, one settler gets shot and the other one flees as a result of the death. Game over

All of the figures are by Peter Pig

This isn't a bad set of rules. Very simple but they get the toys on the table. The Decision Tree could possibly do with expanding to include Close Combat but it works well enough. I certainly enjoyed both games and not just because I won both of them! 

This is Rangers of Shadow Deep without the fantasy. In fact I imagine it is possible to play RoSD scenarios with these rules.

Napoleonic Liberdy: The raid on Rider au bord de la mer

Owain put on an excellent 28mm Napoleonic skirmish game set in south-western France in 1814. We used Liberdy , our home-grown skirmish rules.

Capt Pickleton and his troops engage the troops of Capt Escargot and Lt Picard

British forces

Captain Pickleton, a Sergeant and 4 Line Privates
Ensign Fotheringay and 5 Line Privates
Sgt Smollett and 5 Line Privates
Sgt Obediah and 4 Riflemen

Objectives
1. Capture the docks intact
2. Capture the town magistrate and the port official
3. Stop any French troops escaping via the docks

Just another day in the sleep port of Rider au bord de la mer

French forces

Capitaine Escargot and 5 Légère
Sgt Chef  Grenouille and 5 Légère
Lieutenant Picard and 5 Ligne
Lieutenant Roquefort and 5 dismounted Dragoons

2 Supply wagons

Objectives
1.Get the supplies to the docks
2. Hold up the British as long as possible
3.Take as many boats as possible to hinder the British

 French troops under Lt Picard await the arrival of the supply wagons

and the same from a different angle

Capt Escargot sprints his troops into the town

Capt Pickleton and Ens Fotheringay rush to the docks

Capt Pickleton engages Lt Picard in a scrimmage

Capt Escargot takes up a position to aid Lt Picard

The supply wagons arrive escorted by Lt Roquefort's Dragoons

and the same from a different angle

British riflemen take up positions in the churchyard whilst Sgt Smollett's troops engage Sgt Chef  Grenouille's Legere in the middle distance.

Ens Fotheringay sees his men fall in a withering hail of bullets from Capt. Escargot's troops

Sgt Obediah's Riflemen advance to help Ens Fotheringay

Sgt Smollett's depleted troops follow up the Riflemen but Lt Roquefort's Dragoons can be seen across the town square

Capt. Pickleton's troops start to lose the firefight

The good townsfolk of Rider are not overly concerned by the action developing

With the help of the Riflemen, Capt Pickleton charges the boat whilst the Dragoons try to intervene

Sgt Smollett and Sgt Obediah push their troops towards the boat

As his men are shot down Capt Pickleton attempts to avenge Ens Fotheringay's death

Capt Escargot backed up by Sgt Grenouille engage the surviving Riflemen

Capt Pickleton forces his way onto the boat closely followed by Sgt Smollett

"The blood fell from the decks, like a river it did run"

Lt Picard deals a mortal wound to Capt Pickleton who falls next to Ens Fotheringay

Sgt Grenouille arrives to seal the fate of the British forces

A cracking game that was in the balance to the last. As with every game of Liberdy there is barely a man standing and bodies litter the streets. Objectives be damned, kill the opposition then sort it out.

And for those thinking of paying Rider au bord de la mer a visit - it is quite a pleasant place

The town square

The Port master

The smithy

Supplies for the Inn

All good Bonapartists

But every town has it's dodgy characters

Thanks to Owain for putting on the game and to Cameron, Dave Mike,Paul, Rodge and Shaun for playing.

A special mention must go to Paul for his outstanding shooting skills

The rules can be found here