EPIC05 Raab (14 June 1809)
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Historical Background
Archduke John made a fateful decision after his sharp defeat at the Piave River. He unwisely split his army into detachments to defend the southern approaches to the Austrian Empire. Jerome and Marmont took full advantage and mauled or destroyed several of them. Reuniting his depleted army, John took up a strong defensive position along the Pancza Stream. Eugene arrived early in the morning on the 14th and deployed his French and Italian forces in a position to be able to attack or defend.
About 12 noon, he realized that the Austrians were not intending to attack and ordered his army forward. Eugene’s plan was to turn the Austrian left flank with his cavalry, while in the center, Serra’s division was ordered to take the strong Kis-Megyer Farm position, supported by Durutte. Serra, however, could not make any headway against the farm and it was Durutte and Severoli, to his left, that were less heavily engaged that gained the other side of the Pancza Stream first. Durutte’s attempt to take the farm also failed, along with Severoli’s attempt to secure the village of Szabathegy. While Durutte and Severoli were falling back to regroup, Montbrum and Guedin’s cavalry were finding it very difficult to cross the stream. The French horse artillery finally was brought forward, which allowed the French cavalry to make it across. Once across the French cavalry destroyed the Austrian horse and turned to attack the Austrian center. About this same time, Eugene sent forward Pacthod’s reserve Division, and along with Serra managed to force the Austrians back onto the heights. With the loss of his cavalry and the French now pushing his center, John was left with little choice but to retreat.
Marziani quickly organized a rear guard and managed to delay the French advance, allowing the majority of the Austrian army to escape.
The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. Can you change history?
Set-Up Order
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| 14 | 14 | 2 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Battle Notes
Austrian Army
• Commander: Archduke John
• 4 Command Cards
• 2 Tactician Cards
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| 9 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
French Army
• Commander: Eugene
• 5 Command Cards
• 3 Tactician Cards
• Move First 
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| 15 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 7 |
Victory
17 Banners
Special Rules
• The Austrians gain 1 Temporary Victory Banner at the start of the turn, for each battlefield section without a French unit across the Pancza Stream. The Austrians start with 3 Victory Banners.
• The French are racing against time. The Austrians may take 1 Victory Banner and only draw one card instead of two when playing a Scout Command card.
• The two farm hexes of Kis-Megyer form a Temporary Group Victory Banner worth 3 banners for the French at the start of the turn.
• The two town hexes of Szabathegy form a Temporary Group Victory Banner worth 3 banners for the French at the start of the turn.
• The Pancza Stream stops movement for Infantry and Cavalry and is impassable for Artillery. The stream does not have any into or out battle reduction for Infantry. The stream does not have any into battle reduction for Cavalry. The stream will break a cavalry charge and a Cavalry unit is –2 dice battling out. The stream does not have any into battle reduction for Artillery. There are no movement or battle restrictions at the ford or bridge hexes.
Tags: Banners: 17, Army: Austrian, Army: French, Special Rule: Temporary VB (Turn Start), Special Rule: Temporary Group VB (Turn Start), Special Rule: Epic, Expansion 6
Does that mean that fords / bridges over the Pancza are treated as open terrain?
I understand it as it follows :
The rule :
"The Pancza Stream stops movement for Infantry and Cavalry and is impassable for Artillery. The stream does not have any into or out battle reduction for Infantry. The stream does not have any into battle reduction for Cavalry. The stream will break a cavalry charge and a Cavalry unit is –2 dice battling out. The stream does not have any into battle reduction for Artillery. There are no movement or battle restrictions at the ford or bridge hexes."
When the Cavalry unit is battling out or in, it doesn't get the Cavalry Charge bonus (except at the fords).
What does this exactly mean? That the cavalry charge combat bonus is lost?
If so, is the bonus cancelled if the cavalry unit is attacking from a stream hex, or into a stream hex, or in both cases?
Also, is the Pancza stream considered a river for square purposes, i.e. can a unit in a Pancza stream hex form square?
Craterus wrote: Do you think Austrians win a victory banner for each battlefild free from french units EACH TURN, or just the first ? I mean: is it acumulative? Thank you
Quick answer - Just the first; it is not accumulative.
The definition of Temporary Victory Banner means that the beneficiary gains the banner at the start of their turn but lose it immediately if the condition is not met. There is no repeat gain, just a continued right to hold the banner as long as the condition is met.
Definitions of the full set of special banners are given in the rules to Expansion #6 (Epic).
