As Evert and I are work our way through the Austrian expansion we come to this little battle. Evert plays French first and, unusually, the two sides start in range of each other. So he played a "Fire and Hold" card and got some lucky, lucky dice that caused casualties across the Austrian right and centre, with one Austrian Line heading for the exit. In response, I damaged one of the French Light cavalry on the right.

Evert moved forward (apart from retreating the crippled cavalry) and finished off the battered Austrian artillery and Line Infantry in the centre to take the score to 0:2.

Pushing my infantry forward on my left, I took out the other French Light cavalry - 1:2. But the French advance on the left removed another Austrian Line - 1:3.

A final French push in the centre eliminated one of those Austrian Line units damaged at the start of the fight to win 1:4.

That was just nine turns and took under half an hour. The damage was done on the first turn, though. With plenty of time available, we re-started the scenario with me taking the French.

I didn't have quite as good a start as Evert, but a French attack in the centre damaged two Austrian Line infantry, forcing them to the back of the board. Where they were soon joined by the Light Grenzers from the Austrian right.

I got the French cavalry into the action on my right, only for them to be almost completely destroyed by the Austrian infantry, Evert taking the first victory banner - 0:1.

I advanced the main surviving French force left and centre towards the hills while what was left of the French cavalry took out an Austrian Line unit on my right - 1:1.

Fighting in the centre saw the Austrian Grenadiers take out French Light infantry while French Line on the left finished off the Grenzers - 2:2.

Those pesky Grenadiers removed a second Light infantry - 2:3. I threw French infantry across the hills, but to no avail as the Grenadiers closed in and, with a lucky throw of the dice, took out the French artillery. That's 2:4 and a win for Evert's Austrians. This time, the scenario took twice as long: 18 turns and nearly an hour.

The overall score is 3:8 to Evert, which is pretty conclusive!

We've now played the first five scenarios of this expansion, Evert winning three to my two. However, of the 10 games we've played (two for each scenario), I've only won three! The Austrians are doing better than me, having won four out of 10.

I’ve also posted this report (with pictures!) on my BGG blog: boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/162880/double-skirmish-at-mariazell

Extremely close, and Austrians are lucky to take it 4-3. Initial melees break up and each side regroups. Came down to a do-or-die roll.

Not sure how the Austrians win this. We started all the French units one hex towards their baseline and withdrew the Austrian artillery unit behind the town as suggested elsewhere, and the French still won 4-0 and 4-2 (one banner was a leader loss). On the plus side, both games took less than one hour in total so we could move on to another battle in the same afternoon.

Wow, the French light are up against it in a hurry. I played the French and lost 4-2, the cav on the right had smashed one massed battalion and had the other down to 1 block at games end. On the left, had taken the hill, but Grenadiers rudely obliterated what took it. In all, could not get flags to make Austrians run, and had to whittle them down and lost attrition battle. Good fun none the less!

Pulled off a win with the Austrians in Mariazell, but we played with a modification I had seen recommended elsewhere - the Austrian artillery is moved one hex back, still adjacent to the town.

The French moved on the left, causing the Grenzers heavy casualties and forcing them back to the hills. After that it was a shoving match in the center between French and Austrian infantry. The French light were driven back, but the French line managed to reach the hills by taking ground after assaulting the Grenzers a second time. Luckily the Austrian infantry line was able to repulse them with heavy casualties shortly thereafter. Meanwhile, around the town, the Austrian infantry slowly pushed back the French cavalry, eventually scaring them into retreating to their baseline by the end of the battle.

The problem with this scenario is the close setup. So the player, who goes first, have an advantage and with good cards a big advantage

Therefore the setup should have at least 1 or 2 row(s) more between the armies.

After 7-8 played games and all won by French I really will start playing/testing this scenario with Austrian going first.

Well, I have solo-played this one as my first Austrian scenario, and I was very delighted with it. It ended up 4-1 for French, but gee, I really thought, that Austrians will win this one, as there were so many French single units.. twice single infantry unit (one with leader), solo LC with leadear, two LC with leader. Apart from crazily great Leadership (2x LC with 2 and 1 block and full moved LN with leader) - destroyed 3 infantry units and full strength artillery. Awesome scenario!
I am looking forward to other scenarios

even with a good start the Austrians seem to struggle in this one. Just not fast enough to chase down the French.