This review first appeared in IPW, the newsletter for all discount games
club members. Contact colin@allusedgames.demon.co.uk for details.

Lobositz & Prague (GDW)

These two boxed games were part of the GDW series 120. That meant that
they had a quad sized map, 120 unit counters, short playing time, and
were simple enough for beginners. The series produced some real gems,
amongst which I would rank these two titles.

Both these battles are from the Seven Years War and the games use the
same system. Lobositz was fought when the Prussians, led by Frederick
the Great, turned from their siege of the Saxon Army in Pirna, to attack
a superior Austrian force sent to lift the seige. The resulting victory
led to the surrender of 17,000 Saxons, together with 80 guns, who were
then forced to fight in Prussia's Army!

The following year saw the Prussians drive the Austrians from a strong
position on the Moidau, back into Prague, which was then itself
beseiged. A game turn commences with the movement phase. All
units,except those that are routed, use their movement points to move
across the map in the traditional wargame manner. There are some
restrictions on movement at the start of each game, in both instances on
Austrian units.

The rally phase follows dunng which a player rolls a die for each routed
unit. If the result is equal to, or less than, the units current morale
factor, the unit is considered in good order again. Units that fail move
towards the nearest friendly map edge and continue to do so each turn
until either recovering or leaving the map. Any good order units they
pass through on their way also rout and require rallying. Remember, the
map is only small, and also, after taking losses some units morale
factors are very low indeed. Consequently many units can be lost in this
way.

Offensive, and then defensive fire, a reversal of the usual wargame
sequence of play. However, it's only the phasing player's units that
have not actually moved this turn that get to fire. A player simply adds
the factors firing and cross references the correct column with a die
roll. Cavalry units can only melee not fire, whilst artillery have a
four hex range but require line of sight. Infantry must be adjacent to
their target to fire. Die modifiers apply for both the defenders terrain
and the type of unit being fired on. Artillery combat factors are
modified by range. Results are given as the number of defending strength
points lost. A unit's current strength is shown by a game marker under
the unit.

Both games are unusual in the way melee combat is resolved. First both
attacking and then defending units must pass a morale check. Those that
fail lose a strength point and rout. If infantry are attacked by cavalry
a die mod applies. When both the attacker and defender pass each player
rolls a die and adds his combat factors and the average morale for the
units involved. The player with the higher result is the winner, with
the loser routing. In the case of a draw both sides lose a combat point
and resolve again until a victor is detemmined. The defender's terrain
may serve to modify his units' morale factor. In melee between cavalry
units the heavier cavalry (lower movement factor) have the advantage by
increased morale.

Victory at Lobositz is won by holding geographical locations at games
end or the Prussian may attempt the impossible by trying to ensure there
are no Austrians on the map at games end. This game favours the Austrian
but the Prussians can win and is the side best taken by the most
expenenced player. In the Prague game the Prussian side is favoured with
their objective being the conquest of the four Austrian map entry hexes.

Of the two, Lobositz is the one to own, though Prague is a fine game
too. I'd like to have seen this system applied to other battles from
this age. The system results in the right historic feel but achieves
this in a simple and subtle way.

Alan Sharif