407 Altenzaun (26 October 1806)

407 Altenzaun (26 October 1806)

I was the French. I was able to pull off a win but it was very close, a 5-4 French victory. I got one Cav. off the board, and took out 3 units and a leader. I fantastic Cav. charge that did little damage set me up for failure, but slowly I got a few kills. The final victory came in an Art. attack that destroyed the unit and then killed the leader. It was a close one. My opponent had a scout card, and if I had not won on my turn, he would have just by playing the scout card (his only one of the game).

French win 5-4. In spite of drawing three Scout cards, Yorck lost due to an early cavalry charge by the French which crushed an artillery unit and captured two leaders alone in their hexes. The game ended with a French line unit exiting the map on a Grande Manoeuver card. The scenario is VERY card dependent, but it was exciting.

Vittoria Prussiana 5-3. Mentre i prussiani sistemano le loro unità nel centro, la cavalleria francese riceve l'ordine di caricare. Riescono ad eliminare un'artiglieria costringendo i resti dell'altra a rifugiarsi a Osterholz. I prussiani non si perdono d'animo e i loro leggeri costringono al ritiro la cavalleria francese. Inoltre uno dei battaglioni leggeri prussiani occupa indisturbato Altenzaun. Con la cavalleria francese fuori gioco i francesi premono sulle ali. Ware riceve pochi ordini e a causa delle paludi non combina un granchè. Leval riesce ad arrivare ai piedi delle colline ma i prussiani resistono e respingono i francesi. Un ordine di Scout dà infine la vittoria ai prussiani.

Vittoria Prussiana 5-3. Mentre i prussiani sistemano le loro unità nel centro, la cavalleria francese riceve l'ordine di caricare. Riescono ad eliminare un'artiglieria costringendo i resti dell'altra a rifugiarsi a Osterholz. I prussiani non si perdono d'animo e i loro leggeri costringono al ritiro la cavalleria francese. Inoltre uno dei battaglioni leggeri prussiani occupa indisturbato Altenzaun. Con la cavalleria francese fuori gioco i francesi premono sulle ali. Ware riceve pochi ordini e a causa delle paludi non combina un granchè. Leval riesce ad arrivare ai piedi delle colline ma i prussiani resistono e respingono i francesi. Un ordine di Scout dà infine la vittoria ai prussiani.

Playing the Prussians, my first move was to get both Prussian artillery on the hills centre-right. Evert tried to infiltrate a French Light cavalry round the marshes, but Light infantry in the woods chased it off (an echo of the historical battle). French infantry then started across the marshes and the cavalry moved into the woods. Where the Prussian Light infantry finished it off. That's 1:0 to my Prussians.

However, the French infantry emerged from the marsh to eliminate the Prussian Lights, so it's 1:1, General Bila making his escape.

I regrouped the Prussians on the left onto the hills while the combined artillery finished demolishing the French cavalry on the right. (2:1)

Moving out of the woods on the left, the French infantry inflicted damage on the Prussians on the hills. I used a "Force March" to advance all the Prussian infantry, one of them swinging round to attack a French Line in the rear and eliminate them. (3:1)

Evert played "Give Them the Cold Steel" to remove that bold Prussian unit - 3:2 - only for the Prussian muskets on the hills to take out another French Line. (4:2)

The French cavalry (well, the two units still around) attacked in the centre with Light infantry moving up centre-right and the troops on the left pushing forward again. One Prussian Light infantry formed square in the face of the cavalry, but the other stood its ground for minimal damage.

Time for a "Bombard" card from me and the artillery took out a French Light infantry on the right. That's 5:2 and a Prussian win.

The Prussians clearly have a decent defensive position, which defeated the French attempt to outflank them on the left. The Prussian artillery was effective - and I had some good luck in taking out half the French cavalry. There are still French troops stuck at the back of the board, too. And how many "Scout" cards did I have? Nary the one!

That was just 15 turns and only lasted 45 minutes. The return match is to come and I'm hoping I get the "Grande Manoeuvre" again.

I’ve also posted this report on my BGG blog (with pictures!):
boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/185349