Saturday, February 27, 2016

Blucher with The Duc

Game of Blucher with 'The Duc' at chez Steiner.
Darren was keen to try these rules so I set up a French versus Prussian clash circa 1813/14.
Used the 'Scharnhorst' campaign maps to generate the tabletop for which we then diced for sides and as to who was attacker/defender.
Both side had five corps with Prussia fielding 24 units plus four Artillery batteries and France mustering 20 units with five batteries in support.
With Napoleon in charge the French did field a Guard Corps (4 Young Guard and 2 Guard Cavalry) a potent force in itself.
After deployment (using card system) things soon developed in a bloody attritional slog in the center between the Infantry Corps.
On Prussian left a Cavalry engagement saw both sides well depleted.
I had a second Cavalry Corps in reserve which I dispatched to this flank.
The Duc realising that his Light Cavalry Corps on my right was facing 'prepared' Infantry, sent this force through a wooded area in an effort to outflank my line.
Fortunately Blucher was able to re-direct three units of Landwehr foot to counter hemming in this flanking move.
Things got very bloody in the center with some ten or more Brigades (!) being removed and lines thinning on both sides.
At one point the Prussian looked to be dire straits with their reserves committed but the French too were gravely weakened with both sides Artillery mostly spent.
Things turned quickly on Prussian favour when my Reserve Cavalry dispatched the weakened French mounted troops allowing me to threaten an objective in the town area.
As we called a halt to proceedings after 20 plus turns the battle was now going Prussias way as with 8 Units destroyed and all their Artillery retired the French were close to breaking (10 unit morale).
The Prussian were hurt but with 7 Units destroyed they were still shy of collapse (12 unit morale).

We both enjoyed the game and once again the Blucher rules delivered a fun, plausible game.
I love the MO system which means you need to prioritize your actions each turn and the attritional nature of combat seems very much in keeping with the bloody encounter of 1813/14.
Everything just works and gels together so well.




















The dead piles



  

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