I play the Austrians first and I'm not feeling confident as the stats say this scenario is 83% a French win.
Both sides manoeuvred initially, with the Austrian infantry forming a rough line across the woods and hills. The French right attacked, pushing back the outnumbered Austrians. I shifted reinforcements across from the centre to change the numbers in my favour ("La Grande Manoeuvre" does its stuff). The French force promptly tore the Austrian infantry apart: two Line disintegrated and Gen Vukassowich went with them. First blood to Evert (playing "Elan" probably helped) and the score is 0:3.
After some exchanges of fire in the centre, the French pressed forward on the right again and eliminated another two Austrian Line. That's 0:5 now.
With very few Austrians left in front of them, the French right surged forward (Evert had his own "La Grande Manoeuvre" and lined up four units on the edge of the board). They marched off for an overwhelming victory: 0:8
Wow! That was painful. But can I do anything like that when it's my turn as the French? Though it was four weeks before we were able to play the re-match.
My French attacked on the right, too, first blood being an Austrian Line that fell to the French Cuirassiers. The French right pressed the attack, but ran out of steam once the Austrians retreated. (To put it another way, I ran out of right flank cards.)
French attacks in the centre and left pushed the Austrians back. I used the left flank Cuirassiers to put an Austrian Line on the hills into Battalion Mass (the Austrian equivalent of square) so that the muskets could finish them off. And that's 2:0.
Then an Austrian Light cavalry attacked the French Cuirassiers on the left. And eliminated one of them! Lucky, lucky Evert takes the score to 2:1.
Exchanges around Kraxenhöfen (left of centre) saw the Austrians lose a Line infantry, then the French and then the Austrians again (4:2). Only for the Austrian Light cavalry, running riot on the left, to do for a second French Cuirassier! That's 4:3 and the French have a fight on their hands.
The surviving French Cuirassier promptly took care of both Austrian Light cavalry. 6:3 feels more comfortable and the French were able to renew their attack on the right, pushing the Austrians back.
The French lost a Light infantry on the right (6:4) before removing a Line infantry and General Bieber for the win, 8:4.
Phew! Another French victory, but a much tougher (and longer) fight this time. However, overall victory goes to Evert with the aggregate score 8:12.
I’ve also posted this report on my BGG blog (with pictures!):
www.boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/175642
