Back in December you may remember we put on a game for Fran, his final game before the git moves back to Ireland. Fran had the choice of game and chose a Seven Years War game using Age of Reason rules. You can see the batrep
here.
Well, it seems we were a tad premature about Fran's last game, we have infact sneaked in another game before he buggers off!
Reject Richard suggested after the Battle of Leignitz game that we play it again on the same table using the same armies BUT using Koenig Krieg rules. Lee has already done a report on the game
here.
So the game was afoot...............................
We had exactly the same people at the game, apart from our former Cavalry commander Tamsin
Richard and Postie both umpired the game, as Postie hadn't reffed the rules before.
Fran and the Austrians like in the last game had to set up first. their set up was very similar to the last game, with a few differences. The main one being their Croats, were no longer in 1 brigade. they were split and each acted independently. Which as we later found out was a right pain in the butt!
Fran also placed 2 units of Hussars on his right flank, while the rest went on the open left.
We the Prussians decided to have our main attack on our left, matching 4 ubits of Horse against Fran's Hussar's, including the Prussian Guard, (the 2nd unit in the line above)
The plan was very similar to the last game, Surg would attack the right side of the hill, in more of a holding attack, while my main attack would be on the left of the hill.
Prussian Cuirassiers
As we were outmatched in Horse, we decided to fight a defensively. Instead of going out all guns blazing, we'd form a diagonal line and force them to come to us.
Dave and John massed Horse
and Smithy's infantry.
Fran attached an artillery piece to a Croat unit, a very wise move!!
The Austrian defence. The unit on the left was our main target.
The 3rd Prussian infantry brigade.
Would perform a holding action next to the woods.
We matched the Austrian Croats and placed our Jagers to contest the woods.
After the 1st move
John's Horse can be seen in the background, while Lee's Hussars set up next to the trees.
Fran's well placed skirmishers, kept up a steady fire in our flank. So although I didn't want to I had to turn a regt of Cuirasseirs and charge the edge of the wood.
Things were going well, Lee had all his Cavalry waiting in line, It was going to be difficult for them to attack us without leaving a flank open somewhere.
Fran's Croats didn't stay around for the charge and buggerd off, I changed formation into column, so I could gain back some control next turn.
BUT....
Now here's where I need to tell you a little about the rules. Each turn you have to throw for iniurtiative, if you win, you may chose to either move a brigade or pass that movement onto your opponent.
Now this was extremely important, as we kept losing the throws, so the Austrians basically moved and fired when they wanted to and forced us to move and fire when they wanted us to.
This was extremely frustrating as you can imagine!!!
Here's where Surj lost the plot and turned a Fusilier unit into the flank of the Croat unit in the woods??
Now I can understand why Surj did it, but for Gods sake the Austrians were only a move away from his now open flank!!!!!!!
We placed 2 units of Dragoons out in the open, to try and force the Austrians to attack them and hopefully damage them for the coming rounds of melee. The melee ensued the dice didn't go our way. But then we found out that the winner of a melee only loses 1 figure, while we lose the difference. The Dragoons failed their morale and ran off table, never to be seen again!
Things were going a little better over on the left flank, I moved two units up the hill and gave fire, before the Austrians could do so, as in the rules the Prussians can move and fire in the same turn.
The Austrians only need to lose 2 more figures and they'll flee.
The Guard Cuirassiers charged in, but had already taken heavy casualties due to that bloody Croats unit and the attached artillery!!!
John's victorious Cuirassiers turn and face the Prussian Horse.
What a mess!
My Hussars also charge as does Dave's Dragoons, who started the game at the other end of the table, but as they were in column and more than 15 inches from any enemy they could move 3 actions in 1 turn! Didn't know that one either at the start of the game!
Fir some reason Surj halted
But I had a lucky die throw, I threw 3 dice and got 3 6's and Fran's heavy gun was no more!
Dave took a chance as it was the last move of the turn and moved a unit across the front
of Lee's Hussar, he was hoping to win the next first turn and charge the Cuirassiers.
But for a change we won the 1st turn
So Lee very eagerly charged, straight into Dave's flank!
Now it was our turn again for dodgy dice, my Guard Curiasseirs were wiped out,
(Frederick would turn over in his grave)
This now allowed Fran to charge both his units at my Hussars
Damn it!
Lee sent Dave's Curiassiers packing and followed up, he hit another unit, but then threw bad in the melee, forcing him back through our other Hussars unit.
We were wavering....
then it was announced that we'd reached enough casualties to test for army morale.
Richard said Don't throw a 6....
And you know what I threw!
So that was the end of the game. I've gotta say I really enjoyed the game, the rules were very good, even better than I remembered, we last played these around 20 years ago??
The main thing I like is that you're kinda forced to play to the period, rather than the usual set of generic rules with bits and bobs added to them to make them fit.
I shall look forward to playing these again!
