Germantown, 1777 MEGAGAME Special Rules, Setup, and Practice Game Pictures!

 Work continues apace on the Germantown MEGAGAME project!  Having set up the table to find out how the scale looked and worked, it's time to put pen to paper and figure out how to recreate this epic battle on the tabletop.

The battlefield.  Roads are marked with masking tape (for now) until I gather up some felt.  Road to the far right is Germantown Road, the middle road is Limekiln Pike, and the road coming in from the far left is Old York Road.

Yesterday after work, I took to setting up the table on a hex mat to see how it looked and "felt" using about 200 yards per hex.  As it turns out, this scale worked remarkably well and in the practice game I played "felt" right.

I thought at length about some special rules and extra considerations for gaming Germantown.  So in my opinion, no game of this battle would be complete without the following at least:

The fog.  The fog wreaked havoc on the execution of Washington's plan and for at least the first 4 turns, there will be fog rules in effect (more on this below).

Sluggish British Divisions.  The British, if not for their advanced picketts and light detachments warning them with fire, would have been doomed and caught unawares by Washington's attack.  The main body of the British force was encamped south of Germantown proper on higher elevation.  It took some time to rouse them from their camps, form up, and march off.

Victory Conditions and endgame.  Clear winner required.

Command rules and exceptions.  The light detachments are FAR forward of the main body and they do not have command stands with them.  Many rules require units to be in command or suffer penalties.  In this case, these units were hand-picked and their officers and NCOs were experienced fighters who demonstrated initiative and tenacity.

Reinforcement schedule and American column arrival.  The Americans are all over the place trying to execute an overly complicated plan.  While the arrivals will not be random, staggering the arrivals for the formations so the battle makes sense is at least important.  Everyone arriving at the same moment is not historically what happened.  Staggering column arrivals also adds an element of uncertainty and tension.

Special Rules for Germantown (assuming we play Fields of Honor AWI rules - but these special rules are probably easily ported over to other systems)

1. The Fog.  The following rules for fog are in effect until after turn 5. 

No artillery may fire until after turn 5.

Columns only move 2 hexes on roads.  Columns on roads do NOT get an extra hex of movement.

2. Sluggish British Divisions.  

No British main body units (left division, center division, right division) may move or do anything except change formation until Turn 4.  Leaders may move normally.

3. Victory Conditions and Endgame.  The Americans must capture the Market Square and must have a unit on any of the hills south of Germantown NLT turn 20. 

4. Reinforcement Schedule and American Arrival.  No American units start on the table.

Turn 1.  Sullivan and Greene arrive on the battlefield all units in column on their respective roads.  Washington and Knox's artillery arrive with one of them.

Turn 2.  Armstrong arrives with his militia brigades.

Turn 3. Smallwood's militia brigade arrives.

Turn 8.  Stirling arrives with his column.  British and Hessian Grenadiers arrive on the battlefield.

*note - from my playtest of the first 8 to 10 turns last night, this arrival schedule made most sense given that the East-West axis is a bit constricted.  Smallwood and Armstrong would have arrived a wee bit earlier, and if playing on a 6 x 6 table that would make sense.  Also playing it this way saw the action unfold almost exactly as the real battle unfolded.

Some special sneak-preview pictures from the test battle!  Just a taste of the action to come!

Sullivan's column marches down Germantown Road in the early morning fog!

The British advanced picketts are waiting for them!

Just like in the real battle, Green and Sullivan's columns drove the light units back, with both falling back towards the Chew House.

Lieutenant Colonel Musgrave with elements of the picketts at the Chew House!

British columns from the Right Division forming up to move out!  You can just make out the Continentals and retreating lights in the top of the picture.

Naturlich, the Hessians are already formed up and awaiting the enemy!  

Fighting breaks out at the Chew House as Sullivan's columns deploy to lay siege to the building!  Stick to the plan, men!

Heavy fighting as Greene's Division deploys to destroy the lights - they just wont die!  Washington is impatiently following the column as well.

British right division about to make contact with Greene's regiments.

I'll leave you all with a teaser of some of the pictures of the overall fighting, once the Divisions made contact.  it was NOT pretty for either side, I'll say that, but pretty historically accurate I should add.  Enjoy and stay tuned! 

 I'll post some pictures in the coming days of the custom QRS and unit labels I made which are a bit more streamlined from the original FOH game but will greatly aid play.

You will enjoy these pictures regardless of whether you're a Tory, a Patriot, a Lobsterback, or a "damned rebel"!  

Sullivan's men bear down on the British center Division!

Lord Howe in the center watching the battle unfold.  Their sanctimonious German allies watching them march disapprovingly!  

Greene's men about to make contact with the British right division.

Queen's Rangers tangling with Smallwood's Militia