402 Saalfeld (10 October 1806)

Got smoked as the Prussians 7-1. The French cavalry got loose on the Prussian left flank, killing everything including a leader. Prussians never stood a chance as they had bad cards as well.

Vittoria Francese 7-3. I prussiani iniziano la battaglia cercando di sloggiare i leggeri francesi che si trovano a Beulwitz mentre al contrario l'ala destra francese riceve l'ordine di rinforzare il paese di Garnsdorf e le colline adiacenti. Visto che nel centro la situazione sembra stabile Lannes da' l'ordine di Grande Manovra e avvicina le sue unita' ai piedi delle colline di Sandberg occupandole in seguito con facilita'. A questo punto le cose si mettono male per i prussiani anche se Ferdinando con i suoi cavalleggeri interviene e riesce ad ottenere qualche successo sulla sua ala sinistra. La battaglia termina con la piena occupazione del Sandberg.

Prussians won 7-4 due to cautious French player and good use of the iron will token allowing a devastating counter in the central area around Crosten.

Played this twice. I was Prussian first and thought all I could do was go down fighting. When I played the French I didn't draw a single centre card, and with my cavalry unable to get moving I got tied up in squares and lost command cards, and ended up with a very hard to achieve loss. There is life in this scenario, I can assure you.

Much trading of volleys in the center. Ferdinand made a valiant attack on Vedel, ultimately crushing the French right flank. The Sandberg was well defended by the Prussians, at one point nearly vacant of troops, but a timely Grand Manoeuvre allowed them to reinforce and counterattack Claparede's forces. But Lannes had a G. Manoeuver as well and ordered Reille to advance, followed by a Bayonet Charge. This sealed the French victory 8-4.

Evert took the French for our first game and advanced in the centre to take the villages there, while I advanced on the flanks, putting troops on the Sandberg. Skirmishing followed, both sides taking casualties. Battle was properly joined with a Prussian attack centre-right, which was beaten back by the French, destroying Prussian Horse artillery and the Light cavalry commanded by Ferdinand, who made his escape. That makes the score 0:2 to Evert's French.

In response, the Prussian troops on the Sandberg eliminated a French Line infantry - 1:2. The French continued to attack centre-right and took out the Prussian Line to which Ferdinand had retreated. The Prince did not survive this attack, so that's 1:4.

Things got worse for the Prussians as the French attack went on, eliminating two Prussian Light infantry - one in the centre, one on the left. This takes the score to 1:6, so Evert just needs one more banner for a French victory.

However, the Prussians got lucky when General Vedel led his infantry to take out a Prussian square: sharp shooting took out the general! The French cavalry having retired, the Prussians were able to come out of square and finish off Vedel's erstwhile command. At the same time, Gen Ruhle threw the French out of Aue am Berg village (left of centre). (3:6)

Evert used a "Grande Manoeuvre" card to take all three hexes of the Sandberg - that'll be 3 more banners at the start of his next turn. However, a Prussian attack in the centre removed a French Light infantry to make the final score 5:7.

I finished much relieved by that fight-back, but it was a solid win for Evert's French. The game lasted 25 turns and took just under 90 minutes.

I’ve also posted this report on my BGG blog (with pictures!): boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/183963

Evert's and my return match and my turn to play the French. Evert was not happy with my first move: the Light infantry in Beulwitz village opened up and took out the Austrian Line infantry that was in range (5 dice, 4 hits). And the score is 1:0 to my French.

A "Grande Manoeuvre" let Evert re-organise the Prussians, shifting troops to the centre from the right (his left) and fully occupying the Sandberg.

Despite the few Prussian troops on the right, Evert threw his Light cavalry at the French Light infantry. They formed square and I sent my cavalry (with Gen Treillard) after their opposite numbers. It helped that the French cavalry is four blocks and the Prussians only three and I had an extra attack die (I'd played "Leadership"). That's 2:0.

The French continued to press on the right and Treillard's cavalry (down to 2 blocks) went after another Prussian Light cavalry (reduced to 1 block). However, the French cavalry came off worse! The score's 2:1, but the General survived.

French Light infantry in the centre finished off a Prussian Line to make it 3:1. And then a "Bayonet Charge" started a full-blooded French assault on the Sandberg. The Prussian Horse artillery was the first casualty (4:1) followed by a Line infantry (on the Prussian turn!) - 5:1.

After rallying, the Prussian cavalry attacked on the right again, eventually removing Gen Vedel's infantry (despite their square) to make it 5:2. Ignoring this, the French continued to attack left of centre, muskets removing a Light infantry from the Sandberg and forcing Gen Ruhle to flee the battlefield: 6:2 and one to go.

A further Prussian attack in the centre eliminated first a French Line and then a Light infantry (6:4). However, the Light cavalry on the right made a bold attack on the French artillery (just 1 block left in each unit, but it's still a gamble) and fell to the guns: 7:4. (I had a unit on the Sandberg, too, which would have gained another banner the following turn.)

Another fight-back from the Prussians, but it was a solid win for the French again. This time the game took one turn longer (26) and lasted just under 90 minutes. And I take the overall win with the aggregate score 12:11.

I’ve also posted this report on my BGG blog (with pictures!): boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/183952