Piquet: Cartouche - SYW Austrians vs Prussian - another 'blast from the past' game

Seven Years War game today with Stephen, with his Austrians versus my Prussians using original Piquet with Cartouche II supplement.
Another rule set we used to play a lot but have neglected for 15+ years !!
We gave Austrians 20 units and Prussians 16 (for no reason other than it feels right and was what we always done) and pre-rolled the units stats and Strategm card additions to Sequence Decks.
Must say this was a good deal of fun in itself.
I ended up with all Average Officers but some good Eager and Determined units with couple of extra cards into deck (Missile Re-Load, Melee Resolution and Officer Check) along with 34 Morale Chips.
Stephen had 42 Morale and a couple of extra cards including a Poor Subordinate and a Brilliant Subordinate card.
We used alternate Impetus dice system of opposed D12s (ie both roll D12 and you get what ever you roll as Impetus points) as bit more interactive than standard D20 system.
Game was simply deploy and test the rules.
Not anywhere near as slick as Field Of Battle but with some nice touches that we both liked (the Tactical and Cavalry Morale challenges) and a nice feel to the game.
We both liked that you tend to concentrate on a specific area of tabletop rather than generally advance/engage.
Took a bit of getting used to some of the systems not helped by lack of recent play and that we were flitting between original set and Cartouche supplement.
Main downside was probably the amount of unit markers required for the various outcomes/situations, such as Loss markers, Unformed, Disordered, Routed, Blown, Out Of Command, Officer Risk.
Austrian Artillery had a couple of devastating opening volleys causing 5 Stand losses on 1 Prussian Brigade, who then promptly lost their Officer putting Brigade out of command !
Thankfully the replacement turned out to be Skilled (2 x Brilliant Subordinate cards added to deck).
Shooting was generally pretty good as defender always rolls a D6 no matter their quality (in contrast to FOB)
As per FOB it can be difficult to Rally especially near enemy even with better quality units as having to beat a D8 (as per FOB).
The use of Impetus is very different as everything costs in PK in contrast to just Card Turns in FOB.
Of course I had one of my usual horror rolling sessions with the best unit on the table, namely the Prussian Garde Du Korps Cuirassier, who were beaten in Melee (despite initiating melee and being D12 +2 vs D12) and then were subjected to Tactical Morale Challenge.
Stephen rolled a 7 on his D8 but I managed to roll 1 on a D20 +5 !!!!!
This saw Garde Rout and then fail to Rally and then of course a Cavalry Move Card appeared to they left the table.
Such tales of woe are my wont..............................

We called game early but Prussians had lost 30 Morale to Austrian 21 (several spent inflicting Morale Challenges as opposed to losses inflicted however).

Overall a nice fun game and actually as good as old memories said it was.
We both agreed we would happily play Piquet again but whether we will within next 15yrs is another matter !
Personally I prefer FOB as a somewhat easier and more dynamic system, but original does have its attractions for smaller engagements.
Found it very interesting reading Piquet, the Cartouche supplement, then Command Piquet and lastly FOB, as one can see the steady progression/evolution of a very good rule set into a great rule set.
When I read the design notes of Bob Jones (Piquet author) and Brent Oman (Command Piquet and FOB) they do sit very well with my outlook of narrative game style and level of rules complexity and level of historical flavour/simulation.

Roll on FOB 3....................................................................................







The table (from one of Season Of Battle cards) from Austrian edge.
Also note new 'cheap as chips' (ie under £18 from Amazon including P&P) fleece I was trying out as portable option for club games. I added a few 'marks' but otherwise as is.

Initial set up. Note hill has come out from cover :-)

Prussian right wing Cavalry Brigade (including ill-fated Garde)

Grenzers manage to  'sneak' into town after double Move with Heroic Moment (yes folks he is demon/lucky with cards as well !!)

Prussian left wing Cavalry

Austrian Central Command with nasty Heavy Guns in support

Central Prussian Command with lots of losses and under pressure

I have managed to mostly Reassert Command but losses remain.

These two opposing Infantry Brigades did not engage (just not enough Impetus to go around) nor did Cavalry, although I was poised to charge in as we finished.