Thursday, August 05, 2021

Hochkirk 1758 - Field of Battle 3 game played

Played the Hochkirk scenario today with Stephen using the ever excellent FOB system.

One additional change I made was to restrict visibility to 16" on first turn to account for early morning historical assault.

Game played out as expected with sheer weight of Austrian numbers a telling factor (34 units vs 20) as they appeared from the wooded ridge lines. 

Prussian lost their Garde Grenadiers very early on after some appalling dice rolls and half of Hochkirk fell soon after.

But the decisive area of battle was on Prussian right were the attacking Austrian columns of McDonnell and Loudon crushed the Prussians in short order.

This was due to an initiative of 8 cards (by far the largest we saw all day as mostly 2-3) with Austrians getting into position on a Move card with multiple moves then getting a run of 3 Melee cards (interspersed with Leadership and re-loads) that saw them munch through the opposing Prussian Infantry before Prussians could react with anything but desultory volleys.

Also on this wing the Austrian artillery was deadly taking out an infantry and a hussar unit.

This collapse used up  over half the Prussian morale of itself and further losses saw them dwindle to zero morale (from starting 30). 

The Austrians did suffer several losses (about 20 in total from 42 at start) but gained several (5) from enemy.

When Army Morale card appeared I conceded as line contracting and defeat inevitable.

One other notable event was my losing Frederick to dreaded 1 on a D12 after he Rallied a Routing unit of Musketeers !

Scenario not very balanced I suspect (not many historical scenarios are) but was still a fun game with FOB3 whose changes we both agreed are simply making a great game just that bit slicker.



The ill-fated Prussian right wing under Anhalt-Dessau







Hochkirk defended by Keiths command







Central cavalry reserve under Zieten which saw no action







Command of Forcade support Hochkirk (the soon to be destroyed Garde Grenadiers just visible over the rooftops









Austrians of McDonnell and Loudon attack Prussian right








As those of Forgach and Sincere approach the center






Command of Weise support across river






Prussian right wing has disintegrated with cavalry under Seydlitz shoring up gap






Austrian commands of Colleredo and Arenberg have appeared on Prussian left






Hochkirk has fallen and Austrians pushing forward in numbers







Prussian perimeter contracting








At the end with Austrians pushing beyond Hochkirk and pressuring Prussian left





2 comments:

  1. Excellent. FoB3 does seem to have improved on an almost perfect thing...

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    1. The new optional Pursuit rules are about the only change I dont like in FOB3, but easy to not use or stick with V2 system. Otherwise it is more of the same but just that wee bit better :-)

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