The first thing that must be done on a MOVE card is to move any routing units. All units that are routing move a full normal move segment (8" for infantry), plus an additional D6 inches. Routers stop at the table edge. If they have to move again on another MOVE card, they are removed from play (no additional Morale points are lost, however).
GM Kottulinsky gets one move segment, no fancy stuff.
He uses this to exchange the damaged unit on the front line with a fresh one from the rear. Note that units my freely interpenetrate without penalty, but may only interpenetrate or be interpenetrated once per MOVE card, and may not do so and charge into melee.
GM Michalowich gets 3 segments with decidedly fancy pants.
The unloaded and Disordered battery limbers, moves to the rear 4" (half speed for Disordered units), and then unlimbers. A fresh Austrian battalion moves to the front and fires D12+1)at the French column on the slope, inflicting a loss of 2 UI
GM Soudain gets 1 move segment The now familiar Austrian Minuet ensues, exchanging unloaded and/or damaged front line units for fresh ones from behind.
A little mood music - Beethoven's Minuet in G, performed by Liberace (!) and company
This D12+1 roll inflicts 1 UI loss on the French.
GM Croll gets 1 segment.
More exchange of lines followed by firing, this time routing the target with a loss of 3 UI!
"You've been Kaiser-licked!"
GM Wetzel gets a Double Magic Move!
A lot going on here! the unloaded and heavily damaged battery limbers and moves to the rear, while four battalions do some fancy footwork to move to the front.
First the skirmishing Legere fire at the advancing Austrians in line, inflicting 1 UI, but not driving them off. The line then returns fire, scoring 2 hits and causing Disorder. The second Austrian line also fires at the Legere, and scores 4 more hits. With simultaneous fire, the totals are cumulative, and thus the Leger are driven back 6" in Disorder. Tjhey are not routed as the 2 UI/Even were not inflicted on a single roll.
Situation in the Gap after all of that is resolved.
GM Colloredo hasn't needed to use his LD until now, and his rating was indeterminate; with a D20 roll of 17 and an Abysmal Army command rating, he gets an LD10, the best possible for an army with an Abysmal command rating.
His Grenadier brigade gets a Double Magic Move!
Some ersatz Grenadiers move up and encounter opportunity fire from the French column; the Grenadiers suffer 3 UI loss and rout back 10".
A plucky Grenadier unit moves right up to the somewhat stunned Chassuers, forms square, and blasts away at point blank range (D12+1), inflicting 2 UI on the cavalry, who hold.
As I have in the past, I think that squares are treated pretty generously with just a Down 1 for shooting and UP 1 as a target. I have changed these a bit for my own version in the past, and likely will do so again.
GM Kalnassy is struggling to keep the Uhlans in his command radius (LD x 2 in inches, here that's 20"). The brigade gets 1 segment.
The Uhlans move up to protect the extreme Southern flank.
The next card is Army Morale. As the Austrians have at least one unit routed or destroyed, it costs them 1 impetus to turn the car.
The leaders of every campaign group that has been shot at (even to no effect at all) or engaged in melee must check; on a D12 roll of "1", they are lost, and the entire Command is thrown into Disorder. There are a few close calls, but no officers are lost. The Leader check markers are removed as the testy are passed. This (and first fire) are obviously things that could easily be tracked on the OOB for those who dislike markers on the table.
The next initative will be a single impetus for both sides. Will Massena chose to go 1st or second this time?
With the special Artillery target rule, it would be easy to make squares UP 2 as a target for Artillery (only), which is probably right. I am OK with Down 1 for shooting for Squares and Columns, but would probably restore the UP 1 as a target for Columns from Infantry fire. We'll see.
Very enjoyable again Peter. Speaking of squares, it did seem a risky move for the grenadiers to get up into the face of the cavalry and then form square. Is that generally a difficult thing to do, or was it because the Chasseurs were stunned?
In order to do that they had to have at least 12 impetus "won even"... and also no units that could fire them as they attempted their bopld maneuver. Because of the nature of Field of Battle, one has to accept that things may not have occurred *exactly* as they seem. It may have been that the infantry formed square, knowing their flank was open and their cavalry was out numbered 2:1, and then the Chassuers, scouting ahead, reached a small dip in the ground and to their surprise discovered the Grenadier square there, whereupon the Grenadiers unleashed a well loaded and well aimed volley, emptying many saddles!
Fair enough. Not something that could be done on a whim, and they are Grenadiers! Definitely worth another battle honour if they get out of this one on the winning side.
Although Liberace predated Elton John by decades in his over the top costumes, for all his camp he really was both an amazingly competent pianist, and a consummate showman. He always seemed to be enjoying the heck out of whatever he was doing on stage!
What a great looking battle!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Michael. Some of the Austrians are 40 year old Minifigs!
DeleteGreat stuff once more. I too amend Squares (and Attack Columns) with Down 2 for shooting. Just 'feels' and plays better
ReplyDeleteWith the special Artillery target rule, it would be easy to make squares UP 2 as a target for Artillery (only), which is probably right. I am OK with Down 1 for shooting for Squares and Columns, but would probably restore the UP 1 as a target for Columns from Infantry fire. We'll see.
DeleteExcellent report. I agree about amending the square rule. It's a very dense stationary target.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the next episode.
Definite minor house rule prospect!
DeleteCan't give the Austrians more time to restore their lines; Massena needs to grab the initiative and attack, attack, attack!! :)
ReplyDeleteNo argument there, but the impetus and cards may decide otherwise!
DeleteVery enjoyable again Peter. Speaking of squares, it did seem a risky move for the grenadiers to get up into the face of the cavalry and then form square. Is that generally a difficult thing to do, or was it because the Chasseurs were stunned?
ReplyDeleteIn order to do that they had to have at least 12 impetus "won even"... and also no units that could fire them as they attempted their bopld maneuver. Because of the nature of Field of Battle, one has to accept that things may not have occurred *exactly* as they seem. It may have been that the infantry formed square, knowing their flank was open and their cavalry was out numbered 2:1, and then the Chassuers, scouting ahead, reached a small dip in the ground and to their surprise discovered the Grenadier square there, whereupon the Grenadiers unleashed a well loaded and well aimed volley, emptying many saddles!
DeleteFair enough. Not something that could be done on a whim, and they are Grenadiers! Definitely worth another battle honour if they get out of this one on the winning side.
DeleteIndeed! Thanks, Lawrence.
DeleteNice to see an Austrian comeback of sorts!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
The Kaiserlicks are far from licked yet!
DeleteLove the Liberace clip. My mom and grandmom watched him every Sunday evening.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Liberace predated Elton John by decades in his over the top costumes, for all his camp he really was both an amazingly competent pianist, and a consummate showman. He always seemed to be enjoying the heck out of whatever he was doing on stage!
Delete