One last crack

And thus ends our grand Napoleonic campaign. For now. 

The Fizzer at Granja de la Abundancia (scenario from the Vol. 1 Albion Triumphant).

Both the French (Dallas & I) and British (Paul & Lee) would have to march onto the table to begin the battle. Off course, things started well with the majority staff ratings of 7 immediately causing difficulty! 

Very little movement... or no French infantry willing to arrive for a couple of turns!

But, troops do eventually start to arrive. Mon dieu! What are the British doing... their march flanks are exposed. Huzzah! Charge! Luckily Lee knows how to roll saves. What should have been a brigade broken remains in the fight.

The damage is done though. The French pincer starts to close and more British break. 

With that - victory for the French.

Bit of a tough one all round and many lessons learning from all I feel. Staff ratings of 7 certainly made for a different game...

5 from 5 for the French. I've been on the French side 4 times.... not that I'm insinuating anything :-)

Batailles magnifiques et superbes miniatures.

The obligatory pre-game drinks....

Lee étant un coq

I didn't really capture the right photos to outline this as a proper AAR, so just enjoy the pretty pictures of some amazing miniatures.....

Unfortunately a read of the rulebook the following identified the "Free Move" rule. Whoops... would have a made a difference.

I think we were also too used to the regular large movements we had been getting in the last few games.... but of course staff ratings were 8 or 9 then!

The British really couldn't combine and make their firepower work. It allowed the French to again break them apart piecemeal.

All good fun, but time for a break from Napoleonics. Let's see what next week brings!

Thanks for reading. 

The Only Way To Game

This is the only way to game....

Shots of rum and glasses of red wine preceding the start of our latest Napoleonics game.

Rather appropriate based on some pre-gaming day talk...

It's becoming a bit of a habit.... and just because you need something to listen to whilst reading this :-)

Anyway onto the game report. To mix things up, the French would be advancing lengthways towards the British who were tasked with holding a crossroad. One British Brigade would already be at the crossroads, whilst the rest would move up from reserve.

The 95th Rifles had the rather risky task of skirmishing well ahead of the British line to try and slow the French advance. The forces line up....

French forces

British forces

And with that, it was game on. The French Infantry Brigades advanced at the double ignoring the Rifles. They would be left for the French Old Guard.

Things are going well.... until the first "blunder" that is. One of the French Cav units gets a little carried away and ends up charging the British Cav. They off course oblige with a counter-charge.

 And end up breaking through into more of French Cav. Things are not looking good!

At least the French Infantry are starting to get stuck in now... no mucking about. Straight into combat.

The Old Guard arrive to start dealing with the 95th.

And British Cav charge! Leaving the French Cav somewhat ineffective for the rest of the game.

At least the French right is doing some real work...

 The French left on the other hand... well, they're getting a bit of a pasting.

The battles ebb and flow... more British reinforcements arrive (KGL disguised as Russian infantry).

More French columns hit home. The Old Guard should make short work of the 95th right...? Right!?! Nope.

The French left starts to crumble...

But the British left crumbles first.

And with that, the British concede. The retreat is called leaving the French with the crossroads. A very narrow win.

Some early blunders by the French commanders and a rather unusually high proportion of 6's by the British kept the game close.... On review, not sure there is much the French could do different.

Great game and great company. As always.

Roll on next Friday.