French Indian War campaign end and game report

I have decided to bring my French Indian War to a close. I was going to set up another game, but looking at the campaign map after 7 games the attacking British forces were no closer to taking the French town. The games themselves were 4 French victories and 3 British victories. With winter coming the British decided to call it a day for this season and started to retire back to their bases.

While the campaign has provided a background narrative to the games. It just hasn't been one that has added that extra interest to the games for me. I was thinking about what I would do differently when setting up another campaign. Here are some initial thoughts:

• I should have had a set number of turns by which time the fortified town needed to be taken.
• The map had too many options and should have been kept simple with two linear paths, one north and one south of the river. The prize would still be the town, but taking the fort on the south bank would provide additional troops for the British. The choice would have been: taking extra turns to capture the south fort with the opportunity of adding troops, or focus on the taking the town.
• Both sides would have to commit to dividing their forces north and south of the river at the start of the campaign.
• Use random event cards to mix up the games. For example, addition Indian allies, units getting bogged down, etc.

Campaign map

Having decided to end the campaign and with the tabletop ready for a game. I though it would be interesting to replay scenario 20, a fighting retreat, from One-Hour Wargames (OHW). I had played out a really enjoyable game using Napoleonic armies a week ago.

I decided to play the game with 9 attacking units and 6 defending units. The attacking British lined up 4 columns of 3 units and rolled dice for the each one. The lowest scoring column was removed.

Dicing for the British force. One column would be removed.

Dicing for the French force. One column would be removed.

The defending French lined up 3 columns of 3 units and rolled dice for the each one. The lowest scoring column was removed.

6 defending French units

9 attacking British units

The game lasts 15 turns and the side in control of the hill on the northern baseline wins.

French units retire quickly across the river.

French units retiring on the eastern bridge are taking more time.

Disaster the French artillery get bogged and fail to make it across the bridge before British forces arrive.

The British made short work of the unsupported artillery.

Remaining British forces arrive

The first British units cross at the bridge, but were quickly dealt with. 

More British units push across the western bridge while their artillery began to find their targets. 

French units begin to retire out of artillery range.

British units are slow to follow up the retiring French

Casualties are starting to mount on both sides. The frontiersmen were putting up a very effective defence from the far woods. 

British units finally start to organise an assault on the French second line of defence.

More units join the attack. 

British light infantry move through woods to flank the French defensive line.

French defence finally ends on turn 11.

I should have retired the French earlier as soon as the British artillery fired. Artillery in the rules must remain in place once they shoot. The delay meant they took more punishment from some accurate artillery shooting than necessary.