Game: Brandywine

Thread: Re: Time !

gittes — 2008-12-02T18:04:28+00:00

Campaign can take upwards of four hours, although the last time I played it it only took just over three.

Thread: Time !

Bask — 2008-12-02T15:19:53+00:00

Hello,

May I ask how long shall I count for playing the campaign ? And the others scenarios ?

Thanks

Bask

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521tiger — 2008-05-03T00:19:01+00:00

GMT - BOAR-Series - Tactic Cards from C3I #18

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gittes — 2008-04-04T23:39:31+00:00

I keep my counters in a tray.

Thread: Re: The Bloodiest Day of the Revolution

gittes — 2008-01-18T06:18:16+00:00

I honestly can't recall chit losses, but to my knowledge each SP in the game represents around 100 men, with morale modifiers being the measure of their skill in battle.

Thread: Re: Best Game by Miklos

bentlarsen — 2008-01-08T21:57:07+00:00

papahoth wrote:
Not saying much. Has he ever done a real good game?

Better yet, have you?

Thread: Re: The Bloodiest Day of the Revolution

bentlarsen — 2008-01-08T00:05:04+00:00

Paul, can you translate the numbers into step/counter loses? In game terms, how many units were captured or eliminated?

Thread: Re: Best Game by Miklos

papahoth — 2007-09-27T19:15:21+00:00

Not saying much. Has he ever done a real good game?

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Xookliba — 2007-08-31T12:11:55+00:00

Howe's flank attack scenario (cyberboard)

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Xookliba — 2007-08-31T12:10:30+00:00

Randy Mauldin's excellent cyberboard gamebox, full battle scenario

Thread: The Bloodiest Day of the Revolution

gittes — 2007-08-21T18:18:40+00:00

I’m recalling some classic sessions I had back in my infancy of wargaming. This was my first session of a hex and counter game. I had bought this game in May 2005 for 20 dollars, and after a small session to figure out the rules, I played this in its entirety. My recollection of details is a little off, but I still recall all of the big events.

Maxwell’s Stand: The day began in bloody earnest as Grant led his forces in a drive upon Maxwell’s detachment. The fight, intended as a holding action, became a small and bloody affair. The Americans lost their artillery, but at high cost to Grant. By the time Knyphausen and the Hessians had arrived, Maxwell had fallen back, claiming a hard won victory. Grant was unable to purse.

Testing the Fords: Grant set up his artillery opposite Chad’s Ford, and a grand dual of rifles and guns began, with neither side gaining an advantage. Knyphausen led a personal drive upon Brinton’s Ford. The attack was a bloody failure. At this point British losses stood at around 700 to the American’s 500. Moral was still high among both sides, as Howe pushed his men without a break, and drove into Washington’s flank…

Flank Attack: The first British forces arrived. Just east of Brinton’s Ford a defensive line was set up. Howe only sent holding forces to Brinton’s Ford, while his main column divided into two paths just west of Birmingham Hill. On the extreme northerly route, Howe’s veterans had to waste time brushing aside cavalry under Pulaski, while in the center General Alexander awaited the lobster backs with a line of artillery and Continentals.

Double Pincer: Howe’s attacks crash forward all along the American flank, and despite some desperate battles, he could not gain an advantage. At this point Knyphausen surged forward at Brinton’s Ford, and Chad’s Ford, as both had been weakened to meet Howe’s attack. Brinton’s Ford is gained with ease, while Chad’s Ford is taken by the King’s Own. Even as Howe is pushing back his lines, Washington sends all of his reserves under Wayne to protect Proctor’s battery. Grant, with the King’s Own and two other royal regiments in support, makes his attack. Wayne dies, but the hill is held. In a counterattack Grant is captured, and his men driven across Brandywine Creek.

Washington’s army, on the brink of disintegration, retires to field. Howe has gained a Pyrrhic victory.

Losses:
British: 1,300 British, 400 Hessians, 100 artillery personnel, General Grant.
American: 1,700 infantry, 200 cavalry, 300 artillery personnel, General Wayne.

British MVP: King’s Own for carrying out successful attacks throughout the battle.
American MVP: Count Pulaski for his heroic stand before Howe’s veterans.

Conclusion: There really weren’t too many heroic moments, just a lot of blood and back and forth fighting. It was a savage session, and so exciting that I’ll never forget my first true attempt at wargaming outside of the gamesmaster series.

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duckweed — 2007-03-26T04:21:26+00:00

Captured and Eliminated units boxes (standard for all games in this series).

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duckweed — 2007-03-26T04:15:21+00:00

Chad's Ford- a zoomed out look at the action.

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WatchmanX2000 — 2007-01-18T01:15:02+00:00

Game in Progress in War Room at 2005 Origins

Thread: Knyphausen’s Folly

gittes — 2007-01-09T15:14:00+00:00

I recently played a game of Brandywine as the Americans. The results were surprising.

Drive on Chad’s Ford: The early hours opened with Knyphausen’s feint. While the British forced Maxwell’s command towards Chad’s Ford and inflicted 100 losses on Parker’s infantry (one of the better American units) Knyphausen generally failed to inflict significant losses and American artillery and rifle fire from across Brandywine Creek kept the British off balance.

Struggle for Brinton’s Ford: By 11:00 a.m. Knyphausen, reinforced by Charles Grey’s column, became aggressive and tried to push through Brinton’s Ford, Chad’s Ford and Chad’s Ferry. To meet these attacks several leading American commanders took the field as the artillery formed up. The hapless John Sullivan moved to hold Brinton’s Ford with mostly Maryland boys. Other units arrived as Greene relieved forces along Brandywine Creek. The battle became a seesaw affair with neither side suffering heavy losses at first. Twice only Sullivan and the New York Artillery A were the only ones holding the ford. By 2:00 p.m. Sullivan lay dead, the artillery had lost half its' number and the 2nd Maryland was captured. Yet other events determined that victory was not to be won here.

Knyphausen’s Main Push: Massed artillery managed to keep the British away from Chad’s Ford although Anthony Wayne, commanding the defense, was nearly driven off. The story at Chad’s Ferry became different as attacks by British and Hessian troops under Knyphausen’s personal command failed, mostly from the murderous rifle fire of the Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment and Doyle’s regiment. Around noon the King’s Own Regiment was captured entire, by 2:00 p.m. Carl von Donop’s Hessians were eliminated. Combined with other losses, Knyphausen had squander 1,600 men in fruitless attacks. William Howe’s flanking column only just arrived as Knyphausen’s attack fell apart. No doubt Sir William withdrew as the he spied Knyphausen’s men in flight.

Conclusion: With the battle of Brandywine as a disaster, Howe would have doubtlessly relieved Knyphausen and possibly ended the campaign. If so the defeat at Saratoga and the entry of France might have caused Britain to abandon the war in America and concentrate on the French. Howe, while flawed, was no fool and might have realized the stakes and tried again for Philadelphia.

Losses:
British: 1,000 British, 600 Hessians.
American: 200 infantry, 100 artillery personel, General Sullivan.

British MVP: 8th Regiment (Caused high American losses at Brinton’s Ford)
American MVP: Tie between Doyle and the Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment

Own Observations: Although the British failed miserably, their aggressive attacks kept me pinned. I had only two columns of sub par infantry I could throw against Howe’s flank attack. As such a British attack everywhere on the map around turn nine, while late in the game, might prove irresistible.

Thread: Re: Best Game by Miklos

gittes — 2007-01-08T03:46:17+00:00

The scenario covering the initial British attack is very good as an icebreaker to the rules and the game. However if I wanted to convice a wargamer that Brandywine is worth the effort, the flank attack does the trick

I've only played the two scenarios once. The main game is of course the meat of this entry and something I always look forward to playing(I see a session report coming soon).

I read your comments on Guilford and very much agree.

Thread: Re: Best Game by Miklos

Desaix — 2007-01-08T00:15:21+00:00

I am just starting playing this game...
What is your opinion on the different scenarios?

Desaix

Thread: Re: Best Game by Miklos

gittes — 2007-01-05T17:29:26+00:00

For a more complete review of game play within the series check out the user review for Saratoga.

Thread: Best Game by Miklos

gittes — 2007-01-03T15:59:03+00:00

Brandywine recreates one of the biggest battles of the Revolutionary War, Washington’s attempt to halt William Howe at the gates of Philadelphia. Being one of the biggest battles, it lends itself well to a one volume edition. It also allows players to engage a set piece battle in the European tradition with numerous terrain features.

Gameplay (26 out of 30): The rules and game system flow easily and a game, if played by exprienced players, can go by quickly. Like its predecessor Saratoga, Brandywine uses tactics chits (basically rock, paper, scissors) to gain certain advantages. In addition a unit’s quality also aids the die roll of combat. While colorful, the scale of Brandywine means that fighting can often get bogged down in chits and computations, although without these the game is just another in a series of counter pushing. The British flank attack (Howe’s main thrust) is so large that it is an exciting event to me. I get a gaming rush.

Components (10 out of 10): The counters look good; the map is the best in the series, being clear and beautiful.

Originality (4 out of 5): Brandywine follows the Saratoga system, but it is a battle radically different from Saratoga. Saratoga is more of a small battle, a skirmish that got carried away. Brandywine is a grand engagement, with grand maneuvers and large assaults. GMT did right by choosing a battle so different from Saratoga as the second in the series.

Historical Quality (4 out of 5): I’m not an expert on the battle of Brandywine but the game simulates the fight well. I especially like the rules for Washington giving no bonus in combat, but being a great boon to morale. My only complaint is that the British flank attack, by coming so late and against an American with foresight, rarely achieves the smashing success Howe gained.

Overall (44 out of 50): Brandywine’s combination of large forces and superb components with a proven gaming system make it my favorite of GMT’s Revolutionary War series.

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duckweed — 2005-08-15T18:28:10+00:00

A closeup of the fighting around Birmingham Meeting House, game turn 8. Cornwallis himself, leading the German Jaegers (riflemen) and dragoons, has set the Americans to running.

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duckweed — 2005-08-15T18:28:09+00:00

The situation at Brinton's Ford, game turn 6. The numerous U.S. artillery on the bluffs are keeping the redcoats in a contant state of disruption. Nevertheless, four British infantry units manage to cross the ford and begin forcing their way out of the be

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duckweed — 2005-08-15T18:28:08+00:00

Howe's flank attack! Like a stream roller, Howe arrives on the scene, and you can bet he's gonna go straight for that meeting house! By turn 8, the redcoat dragoons and rifles have driven the U.S. units from the meeting house.

Thread: Re:Optimal choice of Tactical Chits

olivier6 — 2004-08-04T16:19:56+00:00

Assuming both player use the minimax optimal strategy shown above, it is possible to calculate directly the probabilty of each outcome.

1. No leader present on both sides

33.3% +1 drm
33.3% no drm
33.3% -1 drm

2. Both players have a leader and an open flank

6.1% +2 drm
26.3% +1 drm
35.4% no rm
26.3% -1 drm
6.1% -2 drm

3. Both players have a leader and no open flank

2.5% +2 drm
18.5% +1 drm
58.0% no rm
18.5% -1 drm
2.5% -2 drm

4. Only one player has a leader and an open flank

12.5% +2 drm
37.5% +1 drm
37.5% no drm
12.5% -1 drm

5. Only one player has a leader but no open flank

7.3% +2 drm
23.6% +1 drm
42.0% no drm
27.1% -1 drm

Thread: Optimal choice of Tactical Chits

olivier6 — 2004-08-04T16:13:14+00:00

In GMT Brandywine and Saratoga, player simultaneously pick Tactical chits to solve combat situations. The comparison of the chits gives a drm which is applied to the combat.

I assuming no player wishes to retreat (i.e. they place no value on the No Combat result) and that both player are risk neutral (i.e. the utility derived from a certain drm is proportional to the drm). The risk neutrality is necessary for the calculation, but it is usually a pretty good approximation.

Per the minimax theorem, there is an optimal choice of tactical chit, which is the following:

1. No leader present on both sides

pick at random 33.3% of the time Skirmish, 33.3% of the time Echelon, 33.3% of the time Stand

2. Both players have a leader and an open flank

Pick 20% Skirmish 15% Echelon 17.5% Stand, 10% Frontal Assault 10% Commit Reserve 12.5% Turn Flank, 15% Refuse Flank

3. Both players have a leader and no open flank

11.1% Skirmish 44.4% Echelon 11.1% Stand, 22.2% Frontal Assault 11.1% Commit Reserve

4. Only one player has a leader and an open flank

50% Frontal Assault 50% Turn Flank

his unhappy leaderless opponent picks 25% Echelon et 75% Stand

5. Only one player has a leader but no open flank

11.1% Skirmish 55.5% Echelon 33.3% Frontal Assault

his leaderless opponent 22.2% Skirmish, 44.4% Echelon, 33.3% Stand

Note that in cases 4 and 5 the optimal strategy is not unique for the player with a leader.