Playtest Eastern Front Napoleonic Game

Cracking wee game tonight at Steve’s. Still trialing the WIP rules and this week we added some event cards.

I would be defending with 2 Divisions of Russians and a Division of Prussians supported by a regiment of Guard Currassier and a Brigade of Hussars.

Steve was attacking with 2 Division of French and a Division of Italian foot supported by a Currassier Brigade and a Light Cavalry Brigade. Table 8 x 6, I had a village at either end to anchor my line, Steve had already deployed everything and rolled for Artillery ammo with most batteries having around 8 shots.

As Steve pressed forward with his Italians he also started to shift some of his central French foot to support them., I was going to have to slow the Italians down if I was to have a chance of holding my right.

Fortunately my artillery and the regiment holding the farm were breaking up the attacking Italians pretty convincingly. Early doors and the first regiment of Italians is in real trouble and sent packing.

The French and Italians press on, the Italian artillery focusing on the Prussian regiment holding the farm but Steve is unable to inflict enough casualties to winkle the Prussians out

In the centre I move my guard currasier forward and Steve responds by pushing one regiment of currasier to cover the flank of his infantry.

On the right the light cavalry brigade advance towards the Prussians , again covering the flank o the infantry.

In the centre I charge my currassier at Steve's who counter charge and a desperate melee ensues.

Steve has the better of the cavalry melee but being guard my guys pass their morale and keep fighting.

On my right Steve has his French brigade across the river and forming to support he Italians push forward. However the ineffective light gun is in the way and holds him up a little.

In the centre the Russian Guard have broken the French heavies and the French foot quickly form square.

A charge by the second regiment of French Heavies breaks my already mauled Guard cavalry but they have stopped the French advancing for some time and the French heavies are depleted enough to weight up whether to press on or not.

On my right the light cavalry brigades clash. 

Both sides throw one regiment in with another in support.

Honours are even and the melee continues.

On my left the French foot have charged in on the Russians.

They also get a regiment into my troops in the left hand village and the fighting here is particularly desperate.

The Russians take heavy casualties but the French cant prize them out.

One regiment of French are pushed back but the fight for the village ebbs and flows. The French have 5 Regiments against my four but have been unable to get enough in to use their slight superiority and the Brigade int he centre has not moved at all so is unable to threaten my centre and draw of troops.

Steve throws another regiment of French into the fight for the village as do I and casualties mount on both sides with no break to the deadlock.

Eventually it is the French that break off and are forced back. They are retreating not routed but it will eb four or five moves before they can reform and charge back into the combat, the left flank is now looking secure.

On the right my light cavalry charge a regiment of Italians hoping to further disrupt their advance here.

I have forced one regiment of French to retreat but was unable to follow up and had to settle for charging the next one after I had reformed. I have slightly better quality which is showing.

The Italians have seen off my cavalry charge, we didnt quite make it so they volleyed my cavalry. but their lead elements continue to be disrupted by musketry and artillery and fail to make any headway.

The Italians are forced back and the French artillery are out of Ammo, the French supports are not in a a position to attack without their Italian allies. My cavalry has pulled back after badly mauling the French. They are not really in a a position to attack again on the right without several moves to reform and re-order. The right is now fairly safe.

Steve still has an untouched division of French in the Centre but so do I.

Unable to make headway with the two flank attacks Steve concedes this one and we call it a night.

Very happy with the game mechanics and the random cards add a bit of something to the game too.

I would go as far as to say the first Corps level Napoleonic rules I have ever really enjoyed and felt able to work with. A bigger table with more figures for the next one I hope.

Thanks for stopping by.