It turns out one of my new gaming group, Tom, is familiar with Memoir '44 and wanted to have a go at one of the more involved C&C games. I suggested Napoleonics and we met up last week to start at the beginning. It was great to be playing with the physical game again (but this does mean I don't have the screen captures to give a turn-by-turn account).
Tom chose to play French first - they may be heavily outnumbered but they're in a good defensive position. His first moves were to move the Light cavalry out to the sides and advance Light infantry left (French left) of centre. The Allies countered by advancing the Portuguese on the right flank: the Light cavalry under General Trant thumped their French counterparts while the Light infantry damaged their opposite numbers.
The French artillery forced one British Line infantry to retreat, but Gen Wellesley led the rest of the Allied Line on the right half of the battlefield to engage the French on the hills. (I do like an opportune "Bayonet Charge".) The Allied infantry finished off the battered French Light infantry and took out a Line unit, Gen Delaborde retreating to the safety of the Light cavalry. However, the Portuguese cavalry harried the French horsemen who retired to the hill at the rear. (The score is 2:0 to the Allies.)
On the Allied left, Gen Fergusson advanced to the river with a Line infantry. The French Light cavalry promptly trotted across, but the infantry formed square to hold them off.
The fighting continued on the (Allied) centre-right, with another French Line unit falling, but the Allies losing both a British unit and a Portuguese one. (3:2) Despite attacking uphill, the Portuguese cavalry completed their demolition of their French counterparts, taking Gen Delaborde into the bargain. (That's 5:2 and a decisive win for the Allies.)
Switching sides for the re-match, I was - as usual - struck by how different the battlefield looks from the other side (something you don't get with Vassal).
The Allies advanced in the centre and their left with just the Portuguese cavalry moving forward on the right. The French stayed on the central hills, the artillery taking the odd pot-shot at the British infantry.
Working their way through and between the woods, Gen Wellesley led three Line infantry units towards the French forces. The French didn't fancy standing around to be peppered by the Brits' superior musketry, so the two Line infantry in front of the advancing enemy came off the hills to engage them in melee. The resulting fight saw one British unit eliminated, Wellesley retiring to the artillery behind, and another badly damaged. (That's 1:0 to the French.)
While the fighting continued in the centre, Portuguese units advanced on the (Allied) right while Gen Fergusson's left-flank infantry started crossing the river and the British Light infantry moved up to engage the French Light infantry on that end of the hills. French Line infantry moved onto the hills next to the Lights and, together, they blew away the British Light infantry. (2:0)
The French Light cavalry engaged the Portuguese horsemen under Gen Trant and, this time, the victory was to the French sabres, Trant falling with his men. (4:0)
And the French Line in the centre destroyed another British Line. (5:0 and it's all over.)
I was helped this time by some friendly dice (4 dice, 4 hits to wipe out the Portuguese cavalry and then getting the Leader roll as well). So we re-set the board and Tom had another go as the Allies.
This time, the Allies advanced on both flanks, not in the centre. In particular, the British Heavy cavalry got into the action. Advancing across the river, they gave the French Light cavalry a bloody nose and then settled onto the hills to avoid the muskets of the French infantry. (And gain a banner on the following turn for holding the objective: 0:1 to the Allies.)
Meanwhile, on the Allied right, Gen Trant brought the Portuguese cavalry to the hills on the edge of battlefield where they engaged the French Light cavalry. The French came off better in the initial exchange, though Portuguese Line and Light infantry were moving up to support the cavalry.
General Delaborde led Line and Light infantry left off the central hills to take on the Portuguese. The Portuguese won the cavalry fight (1:2), but the remaining horsemen were promptly gunned down by the French infantry, Trant again falling with his men. (3:2)
Supported by the muskets of the Light infantry, the French Line under Delaborde eliminated the Portuguese Line that had advanced with the cavalry. (4:2) And then both charged the retreating Portuguese Light infantry, taking them out as well. (5:2)
Well, something of a baptism of fire for Tom, but he was getting to grips with Napoleonic tactics (and strategy) by the end. And he clearly enjoyed the experience enough that we've pencilled in another game next time he's available.
Pevans
