Let’s Play: Sharp Practice – The American War Of Independence
May 27, 2018 by dignity
We're back for another great game of Sharp Practice with Rich from Too Fat Lardies.
In this scenario, Justin is playing as the American rebels holding on to a cache of guns at a nearby farmhouse which is about to be raided by the incoming British forces, commanded by Rich.
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Which has been your favourite Sharp Practice scenario so far?
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One of my favorite historical periods, as my screen name probably indicates! 😀
Can’t wait to watch this video in full!
Great game!
Should try Sharp Practice with my Blood and Plunder pirates
What a fantastic game! I haven’t played this game this year I must dig out my rules again.
Remember that in this period Light and Grenadier Companies were more often formed together in larger combined Battalions to maximise their ‘shock’ effect rather than using them on the flanks of the battalion companies of their Regiments . . Nice to see the rules allowing them to be ‘Formed’ units rather than just making them ‘Skirmishers’.
Well, @firelock22 – as I’m certain you know, these British line regiments of the American Revolution period (I would not presume to talk about later periods like Napoleonics or earlier Seven Years War) were built of ten companies, eight line companies and one light infantry and one grenadier. Minus sergeants, corporals, orderlies, and “pay men” (non-existent men not in the company, but whose pay was nevertheless collected to supposedly be part of a company fund to help with expense of belts, cartridge boxes, etc) … something like a standing strength of 53 muskets.
But as you say, and I totally agree, colonels and brigadiers would often strip out the grenadiers and light infantry from 4, 8, or 10 battalions to form temporary battlegroups of light infantry for vanguard, scouting, meeting engagements, or grenadiers for heavy shock assault.
Brigadier General Simon Fraser, a Scotsman and one of Johnny Burgoyne’s better generals from the 1777 New York campaign, commanded Burgoyne’s Advance Corps. He was a prime example of this as his light infantry and grenadiers engaged forces of General Francis and Warner covering the retreat of St. Clair out of Fort Ticonderoga oat the Battle of Hubbardton, July 7, 1777 …
I only bring it up because it is a prime battlefield example of the practice you bring up in your post. 😀
https://www.beastsofwar.com/featured/saratoga-campaign-american-revolution-opening-battles/
Very well put Oriskany yes. And the pay issue always surprises people we talk to, especially one of the worlds 1st Company Pensions (Chelsea Hospital)!
When playing Black Powder we usually also allow Battalions of ‘Hatmen’ (Centre companies) to use Skirmish rules, essentially replicating the Battalions from Ireland who were trained in Howe’s Light infantry tactics (Basically looser files and open or extended order operations though still firing in pairs). When we drill these in 1:1 scale many other period groups are surprised how FAST you can move into a new position to deliver fire or move OUT of a dangerous area.. no Prussian stepping automatons here!
Great to see any AWI gaming on here, though I’m looking forward to next years release of Rebels and Patriots by Osprey for a smaller scale skirmish game.. though i will of course be doing that in 6mm as im a lunatic. . .
Looks like a good game. Are the rules the same for napoleonic setting?
Yep! Different unit profiles for each setting, but the main rules are the same. They’re great, probably my favorite game now.
This kind of action looks a lot like Lexington or Concord, with the Crown pushing to take Patriot arsenals. Liberty or Death! 🙂
Another amazing video. Love seeing Sharp Practice played and Rich is an awesome guy to have in studio.
This was brilliant 😀 .I’m off to look for more Sharp Practice Let’s Plays.
Such a good game and such a good rule set. I really need to scrape pennies together to buy this ruleset… and the CoC rule set… but then my collection would look incomplete without What a Tanker… Curses!!!
P.S. Rich, can you be my honourary uncle figure?
Wow. What an amazing game. And what a comeback by the Brits. I thought them gone for sure after the first turns. And then nearly an even more amazing come back from the Patriots. Really got story telling in this fight.
Also as always great to see Sharpes and Rich again on BoW 😀
British units historically always had a resilience (borne through the whip and lash as much as from discipline and training) that would really bear out on the battlefield that the American Patriots, militia and Continental regulars alike, and national patriotism aside, just could never match.
Every time i watch one of the Sharp Practice Lets Play’s I grow more and more interested in this period. What scale miniatures are they using 20mm, 18mm? Also could anyone recommend a particular brand thats fairly affordable.
Honestly, I’ve had great experience with 20mm lines from Zvezda, although I don’t know what scale they were paying with in this video (I’m assuming 28mm)
https://www.beastsofwar.com/featured/saratoga-campaign-american-revolution-second-battle-freemans-farm/
In 28mm I would look at Front Rank which are about £1.25 a figure. For 15/18mm Blue Moon do a large range who are available through Old Glory
They’re using Perry Miniatures Metals. 28mm.
I recommend Perry Miniatures Plastics for an affordable force. Add a Cannon, some skirmishers and cavalry and you’re good to go.
Here’s my recommendation for a good sized force.
Patriot
Leader Status III
Three Groups of 8 Continental Line
Leader Status II
Three Groups of 8 State Line Troops
Leader Status I
Two Group of 6 Frontiersmen Skirmishers
Leader Status I
Light Cannon
Crown
Leader Status III
Two Groups of 8 Grenadiers
One Group of 6 Light Infantry Skirmishers
Leader Status II
Two Groups of 8 Grenadiers
Leader Status I
One Group of 12 Indians
Moveable Deployment Point
So Two Boxes of Infantry for each side plus a Cannon and a handful of extra skirmisher for the Patriots and two packs of Indians for the Crown.
That’s just my rough recommendation.
Thanks, BoW, for Let’s Play. Great way to showcase and demo a game. Been meaning to ask — who makes the dice tower you use? Thanks.
I think TFL recently released a new AWI supplement for Sharp practice
They certainly did. It’s called “The Swamp Fox” based on the Southern Theatre of the War.
I’m very excited to give it a go I just need a few more bits and pieces
a great video guys love the cotton wool trick will have to get one of those dice towers to save some arguments ? Ha.
What a nail biter! Now to finish off my confederates ever so slowly
Rich always does well on camera,adding the fluffy stuff helps these games loads. I could listen all day. I love the named characters in these games too. Ive been painting some napoleonic british for a while to give this a go. Hopefully ill have them finished soon!
Superb battle guys, and what a fantastic looking game, very smooth running and fast paced, love it..
That was a fantastic game. I definitely need to be picking this rules set up.
A beast of a game, SP2 is crackingly good and the AWI a wonderful period for this level of game….more please!