001 Roliça (French First Position) (17 August 1808)

001 Roliça (French First Position) (17 August 1808)

A Battle Report for Rolica (French First Position)

I have written a lengthy, dramatized account of the battle here: boardgamegeek.com/thread/1826321/bapteme-du-feu-rolica-1808

Final Result:

First Battle of Roliça: Stanislav (FRANCE) 5 Victory Banners vs. 2 Victory Banners Mikkel (BRITAIN)

Second Battle of Roliça: Stanislav (BRITAIN) 2 Victory banners vs. 5 Victory banners Mikkel (FRANCE)

Overall result: 7-7 draw

It was two very exciting iterations of the first scenario of C&C: Napoleonics (though only the one above has been immortalized so far), and we both thoroughly enjoyed it. Somehow, it was also fitting that two seasoned C&C: Ancients generals would end their first conflict in the Napoleonic wars in a draw. Interestingly, both battles featured very different ideas and execution. Whereas the key to my own victory as the French was to exploit the mobility and shock value of my cavalry against the weaker Portuguese elements, Mikkel focused on the Frenchmen’s superior melee capabilities by charging the British centre. In the end of our second battle, I only snatched the necessary 2nd banner for the draw by using my Portuguese troops to seize one of the objective tiles.

All in all, this game is amazing, and the tactical choices and possibilities are incredibly fun and engaging, capturing the historic period in thrilling manner without being overly complex. Needless to say, I can’t wait for more!

I think you are missing a leader, (Trant) with the Portuguese cavalry in your initial set up?

Could anyone help with the following question. In the rulebook it is clearly desribed that units can not move through the river without a bridge or passing. Does it mean that in Rolica scenario left flank of the British forces should stay behind the river? Thanks in advance.

Scenario Special Rule
...
• The entire river is fordable.

www.commandsandcolors.net/napoleonics/th...le-river-stream.html

My gaming buddy Evert knows several CnC games, but not Napoleonics. o introduce him, I thought we'd start at the beginning. I drew the British and felt quietly confident, looking at the relative sizes of the forces.
As I manoeuvred the British left flank across the river, Evert got a good half of the French forces onto their left flank and attacked the Portuguese units.
A continuing sequence of tactic and left flank cards, plus some good dice rolls, saw Evert punish the Portuguese as my lack of right flank cards stopped me responding effectively. The one British line infantry that got into the fray was promptly obliterated by a lucky roll.
My one success was finishing off one French light cavalry as Evert won 5:1. Ouch!

An excellent and exciting scenario, British win 5-2. It would have been closer had not Wellesley drawn two Unit Reforms to rally Crawford and Nightengale. Fane’s British lights were devastating.

I don't know how the French win 54% either. But I have not played this scenario before. Perhaps the French have to crush the Portuguese first which would give them 3-4 of the 5 needed. I don't know.

I pulled up just out of range and started hitting his light INF. I held a Cav Charge and a CAV leader card, which meant I needed to set the CAV up for a breakthrough. After his CAV attack failed due to my tactics cards, I played Cav Charge for good results. At that point I started working my way down the French left with my Portuguese units. I left the square that I was beside and took the left red hex. On the next turn I used the Cav leader tactics card to roll four dice on his leader. I got him to win the game. I had really good tactics cards yet again. British win 5-0. How do the French win this?