Hi all...
I am delighted to give along a short skirmish scenario. As I do not own Donnybrook by now I would be delighted
a) about feedback
b) to get an adaption to the correct rules.
Cheers
The Conspiracy of Ballincollig Castle
A Williamite Wars Skirmish
Setting the Scene
In the midst of besieging a Jacobite-held city, four offices of the Williamte Brigades have discovered a conspiracy against William II of Orange. Not knowing who to trust inside the camp, they make a brave sally to take control of the ruined Castle of Ballincollig where they may discuss the matter privately. However the abandoned castle belongs to Corks City Fortifications and the Jacobites intend to take it back and repair it forthwith.
Its tea time
During the afternoon time Captain o´Conolley and his three companions, Leutnant Maloney, Leutnant Ryan and Leutnant Correy always share a cup of tea to be reminded of their old homes back in England and will remain there for an hour.
Objectives Williamite
The Williamites wish to achieve the following:
- Enjoy their afternoon tea
- Discuss the conspiracy
- Hold the bastion for one hour
- All four officers survive and escape
The Jacobites wish to achieve the following:
- Retake the bastion within an hour
Opposing Forces
Williamites
The officers
O´Conolley, Maloney, Ryan are all veteran soldiers. They are armed with muskets and swords.
Correy – experienced soldier, armed with musket and sword
Jacobites
The forward detachment
Initially the Jacobites send a forward detachment to the old castle to retake it into the defence lines and to prepare it for a possible counterattack.
1 Sergeant – average quality, armed with half-pike and a sword
4 Soldiers – average quality, armed with muskets and sword
16 Soldiers – poor quality, armed with swords
The reinforcement
Attracted by the noise created a troop of soldiers from the garrison approaches.
1 Captain – average quality, armed with pistol and sword
1 Sergeant – good quality , armed with a half pike and a sword
16 Soldiers – average quality, armed with muskets and sword
Jacobite assault force
Drums announce the impending arrival of a full company. This wave of attackers marks the end of the hour, where the officers may escape back to their own lines with honour.
Special rules
Arms / Reloading
The recent battles of the siege of Cork City left Ballincollig Castle with a number of dead from both sides along with their arms and ammunition.
The officers may gather the arms and ammunition without much effort, but not all may be unusable. Roll D6 to discover how many weapons and how much ammunition is available.
D6 / Muskets / Ammunition
1 / 7 / 4 Reloads / Poor quality
2 / 8 / 5 Reloads / Poor quality
3 / 9 / 6 Reloads / Normal quality
4 / 10 / 7 Reloads / Normal quality
5 / 11 / 8 Reloads / Good quality
6 / 12 / 9 Reloads / Good quality
Ballincollig Castle
The castle itself is a ruin for a couple of hundred years. As Cork City is surrounded by swamps and not partly drained by then the breach happens to be outward facing of the castle and does not impact the Williamites defence, but provides a good escape route for the four officers.
A cup of Tea
The most important time of the day is tea time. To enjoy their fare of tea each officer will require a relatively uninterrupted 10 Minutes, though this can reasonably be spread across the entire hour.
Revealing the conspiracy
To unwrap the conspiracy fully , the officers must be in close proximity for 20 Minutes. This can be split up between combats, but the matter can´t be adequately discussed while under fire.
Raising a flag
O´Conolley has packed the company flag into his bag and sets it up at the beginning of the affair. For honour, this flag must not be left behind – but retrieving it will entail significant personal danger as the brave officer must leap to the parapet – where he will gain no benefit from the fortifications.
Terrain
- The distance from the castle to Cork City outer defence ring is about 500 yards
- Between Castle and Cork City ring you have swamp filled fields which hinder movement, also a small creek is running along down to the River Lee (River Lee is off the board). You will find here and there some dry spots with some trees, but not too many.
- Ballincollig Castle is quite a ruin with only one main tower being in the center surrounded by a couple of walls which still outline former rooms or similar.
Other special rules
- For time keeping a matchlock musket will take about a minute to fire and fully reload
Points and to determine who wins
Williamites
+1 Point for each officer enjoying their cup of tea
+1 Point for retrieving the flag
+1 Point to solve the conspiracy
+1 Point for every officer that escapes after at least one of the three above mentioned circumstances have been met.
Jacobites
+1 Point for capturing the flag
+1 Point for each officer killed
+1 Point for capturing the castle before the hour is over.
Whoever has the most points after the hour wins this scenario.