We ran this game Thursday evening at Historicon., and had a fun time with it. The players were:
FRENCH
GABRIEL as Marmont
ROGER as Ney
CHRISTOPHER as Souham
ALLIES
TIM as York
JEROME as Langeron
DAN as St. Priest
BARRY as Sacken
Having played it out at the convention with three players, I would modify my scenario for Mockern for Field of Battle by making the following adjustments:
1) completely omitting Sacken's Russian Corps from the game
Reasoning: too many troops for the table size for optimal game, arriving too late for a three players game, and Sacken took little part historically anyway.
2) allowing 8th and 15th Divisions of Langeron's command to enter on the first Allied MOVE card, with the rest (22nd Division plus Corps Artillery Reserve) entering on the second allied MOVE card
Reasoning: need to reduce overcrowding and speed up the pace of the game in FoB terms
3) allowing St Priest's Corps Cavalry to arrive on the first Allied MOVE card, his 17th Infantry Division on the second allied MOVE card, and the rest of the corps on the third Allied MOVE card.
Reasoning: same as #2 above.
4) only allowing Souham's 8th Infantry Division as French reinforcements, entering on the second French MOVE card. Thus, the French 11th Infantry Division, Beurmann's Light Cavalry Brigade, and Souham's Reserve Artillery will play no part in the battle.
These changes would also reduce the French to 39 units, and their Morale points to 67; on the allied side their units would drop to 59, and their Morale points to 67. Finally, the game would play better (faster) with TWO players each for Marmont and York.
Peter
FRENCH
GABRIEL as Marmont
ROGER as Ney
CHRISTOPHER as Souham
ALLIES
TIM as York
JEROME as Langeron
DAN as St. Priest
BARRY as Sacken
The far right flank, with one unit of Marmont's Corps deployed beyond the Elbe.
The Prussian far right flank at deployment - the Advanced Guard in the lead, supported by 2 Prussian "Brigades".
The Bulk of Marmont's Corps - attacking all that artillery will be bloody!
The rest of York's Prussians.
Marmont does have some Cavalry in support as well.
Dombrowski's Polish Division (I used my 4 units pf Vistula Legion troops, painted for Borodino last year).
Fournier's Light cavalry on the French far right flank (part of Souham's Corps).
Langeron's lead troops started on the table, with many more to come later...
Another view of the initial Prussian deployment.
A close up view of the Vistula Legion troops....
and of the Dragoons supporting Marmont.
long view of the table from the French right, with "Czar" Barry reviewing the latest briefings.
Long view of the table from the opposite side (French left).
Whoah! Where did all those Ruskis come from?
The large Front Rank figures are Barry's.
The French reserves and reinforcements move up in support.
The initial Prussian cavalry charge takes out a French battery, but at considerable cost!
Close up of the action as NJ Tim C's (not to be confused with London Tim C!) Prussians close with the French defenders.
French light cavalry charge, trying to slow up the advance of St. Priest's supporting Russian corps.
View of the center, where Langeron's powerful Reserve Artillery has formed a Grand Battery!
Souham's French Corps has arrived in force.
Overview of the Battlefield during the middle game...with some liquid courage on the table!
More cavalry melee on the far French right..
Yorks' Prussians rupture Marmont's center.
Russian Grand Battery, about to pound Dombrowski's Poles.
Souham's defensive position, prompting St. Priest (Dan) to declare "There's no way I'm attacking into THAT!"
The rocks indicate French Morale points to be lost if the terrain is seized by the Allies.
View of the center of the battlefield, in the vicinity of Breitenfield and Lindenthal.
Another view of the battle in the later stages.
The French units in greatcoats are representing the Marine Artillery battalions of Marmont's Corps.
York continues to press on with his attack, despite having had the leading Landwehr infantry units very roughly handled.
Marmont prepares a last counter attack.
French Dragoons catch the Prussian Grenadiers in the flank... or do they?
A great hand descends from the autumn skies, and sweeps the Dragoons from the field!
Russian cavalry and cossacks cover the advance of the Grand Battery.
Charge of the French Hussars in the center.
Prussian artillery limbers to close the range, as most of Marmont's Corps is out of action.
Russian Cavalry try to eliminate a pesky French Horse Artillery battery...
and succeed, finally opening the way for the rest of Langeron's Corps to advance in the center
Not much infantry of any value left in Morand's Corps by this point!
The French still hold Wahren... barely!
"Tactical Advantage - try to remember to *use* it!"
Measuring a parting shot by the Russian Corps Artillery Reserve.
If my recollection serves me correctly,. near the end of the game, there was a point where the Allies were running very low on Morale points. If the French could have inflicted sufficient losses upon them, and the Allies then turned the Army morale card, there was a chance for a French victory. That didn't happen, and it was clear that the Prussians would sweep their half of the battlefield clear, and thus the French began withdrawing.
1) completely omitting Sacken's Russian Corps from the game
Reasoning: too many troops for the table size for optimal game, arriving too late for a three players game, and Sacken took little part historically anyway.
2) allowing 8th and 15th Divisions of Langeron's command to enter on the first Allied MOVE card, with the rest (22nd Division plus Corps Artillery Reserve) entering on the second allied MOVE card
Reasoning: need to reduce overcrowding and speed up the pace of the game in FoB terms
3) allowing St Priest's Corps Cavalry to arrive on the first Allied MOVE card, his 17th Infantry Division on the second allied MOVE card, and the rest of the corps on the third Allied MOVE card.
Reasoning: same as #2 above.
4) only allowing Souham's 8th Infantry Division as French reinforcements, entering on the second French MOVE card. Thus, the French 11th Infantry Division, Beurmann's Light Cavalry Brigade, and Souham's Reserve Artillery will play no part in the battle.
These changes would also reduce the French to 39 units, and their Morale points to 67; on the allied side their units would drop to 59, and their Morale points to 67. Finally, the game would play better (faster) with TWO players each for Marmont and York.
Peter
Great report; that is a busy table.
ReplyDeleteAny impressions of the convention in general?
I thoroughly enjoyed Historicon. The drive to Fredericksburg is longer but do-able as long as you time your transit of the Baltimore/DC area well - no problems last year of this year that way. There were a lot of very visually striking games this year, more so than for the past several years. The main gaming hall is very noisy, but improved from last year. The AC dealt with 100 degree temps and very high humidity with no difficulty - far superior to the Host in that regard. The convention center is in the middle of a major retail shopping and chain dining destination. I'll be posting mpre over te next few weeks. Go if you can!
DeleteI like the God's hand! A great AAR
ReplyDeleteRegards
Rafa
Thanks Rafa! As you know, I adapted your scenario as the basis for the game. :-)
DeleteBrilliant Peter, so you got all tge Prussians finished on time!
ReplyDeleteYep; have some additional OG Prussian commanders to paint, and I have another couple of infantry units that are 75% done but weren't needed for the games I ran. Of course, while I was there I bought some Perry figures to add an Uhlan regiment and a second Hussar regiment to my Prussian forces. After that and a few canon models, I think I am done with der Preussicshes!
DeleteLooks like everyone had fun. I heard a bit about Dresden via Roger a day or two ago. I will be doubling up my Prussians finishing the second Reserve Regiment and some cavalry, eventually getting some Landwehr as well. After the dreaded Hanoverians,are completed of course!
ReplyDeleteWe had a good time with Mockern. Between your doubling and my Prussian expansion (nearing completion), Barry's in process Calpe Prussian "brigade", we should have more than enough to do Ligny (and the Placenoit front at Waterloo) in 1815. :-)
DeleteGreat looking game and AAR sounds like all your hard work paid of
ReplyDeleteThanks, Gary. It played out pretty well; I'd make a few tweaks as in the report above to make it even better, but I think it went well overall.
DeleteTerrific stuff, and a great AAR. It looks very well organised, and just the sort of game I enjoy being involved in. Hopefully it was as rewarding for yourself as an organiser.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy running games, and this one was fun to run.
DeleteA fine looking battle overall, and played down to a decisive result, too!
ReplyDeleteThanks! The result was pretty much evident by end of the action.
DeleteVery Great Job! After Maloyaro, another great chance to refight for the bicentenary!
ReplyDeleteWe're going to re-play it at our club in Rome. Please, how wide was your table?
Thanks, Auguste!
DeleteThe table was 6 feet wide (just under 2m) by 10 feet long (just over 3m). See the map in the scenario post - each large box is a foot, each small box is 3".
Great stuff Peter. It played basically to history with the French putting up a strong defence, but eventually being overwhelmed by the numbers against them. That Russian grand battery, ouch! I bet Barry loved the sight of it though!
ReplyDeleteExactly, James. It pretty much played out as it did historically, with more than adequate sturm und angst!
Delete