306 Clash At Pordenone (15 April 1809)

306 Clash At Pordenone (15 April 1809)

Ok, after a few games with this scenario, what is my mind about it

I think, it´s one of these scenarios, in which the first turn (commandcard & dice) can already decide the game.

Therefore, a Setup with at least one row distance more between the armies, would help

Having played twice this today, I think it is pretty balanced scenario. Sure, dice and cards could make a big difference. Even turning the tide of battle (few times ).

Played this one with wife, after successful start and destroying 1/2 of French cavalry. After some bad dice on both sides, very aggressive French managed to win 5-4 (by finishing GRZ on their base line). But they were just lucky once or twice. I think French were supposed to lose at least 5-3.

Evert and I have now reached this scenario. Evert takes the French first and his infantry moved into the village, while I worked some of my cavalry into the centre. The first casualty was the French Horse artillery, which fell to Austrian horsemen (it's 1:0 to me).

Evert responded by flinging his cavalry at the remainder of mine on his left, taking out the Austrian Horse artillery, damaging one cavalry and killing General Frimont. Now it's 1:2.

I sent my cavalry into the village to mix it with the French infantry that wasn't inside buildings. The only result was to chase unattached General Seras off the battlefield. I occupied one bit of the village, while Evert ground down the remaining two cavalry on his left: 2:4. (I just had no cards I could use on my right!)

However, the French cavalry was then stuck while I continued to attack in the centre, my Lancers eventually eliminating a French Line. But I had to vacate the village hex, so that's still 2:4.

My cavalry retired from the town, but my Grenzers on the right finished off a French Line that the cavalry had put into square. 3:4

But then Evert was finally able to get the French cavalry back into the action and some lucky, lucky dice took out my Foot artillery to win 3:5.

That was 22 turns in just over an hour and a good win for the French. Can I do better in the re-match? Watch this space...

I've also posted this report on my BGG blog (with pictures): boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/163505

Time for the re-match between Evert and me an it's my turn as French commander. Initial moves were tentative until I played a "Bayonet Charge" to get a couple of the French infantry into bits of the village while the other two took out the Grenzers right of centre. That makes the score 1:0 to me.

Evert used a "Counter-attack" to come right back at me, taking a village hex. I re-took it straight away. A "Fire and Hold" caused casualties to my infantry. Evert threw some of the Austrian cavalry into the centre to finish off a damaged French Line infantry - 1:1.

I took out one of the cavalry and chased the other out of the village - 2:1. And then my cavalry eliminated the Austrian Lancers centre-left to make it 3:1.

Evert attacked again in the centre, clearing French infantry out of the uppermost village hex - General Seras fleeing to a different building - 3:2. We then started a cavalry fight left and centre where a French Light cavalry and the Horse artillery fell to the Austrians. Suddenly, it's 3:4!

The cavalry battle continued on my left, where I eliminated first one and then a second Austrian cavalry for the win, 5:4. Just over an hour's play for 22 turns - the same as the first game.

So that's two wins for the French (against the odds, as the stats here have the Austrians winning two-thirds of the time), but Evert did better than me with the Austrians and gets the overall win - 8:9.

I’ve also posted this report on my BGG blog (with pictures!): boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/163860