From: Roberto Chiavini Subject: Another review Denain 1712 (Vae Victis) The people at Vae Victis turn again to the system I speak not particularly well a couple of years ago here on Grognard with my Fontenoy review. But this time they have done a better job (not fantastic, but solid). For the start, the battle situation is a better one to play, as the French is on the offensive and must take Denain and a couple of bridges from the hand of Eugene army. Play is mostly the same than for Fontenoy, with a few interesting variant, however. First of all, this time you use a 10 sided die for resolving fire combat and the usual Fontenoy CRT with a 6 sided die for shock combat. This CRT takes in account with a single die roll differences in morale between the opposing armies and the terrain there the battle is fought. Other new rules are the ones for achieving a breach inside the fortifications (the battlefield is totally covered by such defenses), for combat over bridges and so on. Play is regulated by alternate activation of leaders (both players roll a d10, with the French adding 1 and winning ties: the higher die roll move and have combat with the units of one leaders - two leaders simultaneously for the French is the modified roll is twice higher than the opponent), while there are also simple (but effective) rules for disorganization (simply a prelude to rout, without other combat or movement penalty for the disorganized unit) and rout. Interesting is the rule for retreating through enemy ZOCs, that may force a unit to lose steps (most units have 2 or 3 steps), to disorganize and/or rout. Victory is based on the elimination of enemy units, but mostly depends on territorial control of the two bridges and the city of Denain (4 hexes). The rules tend to favor the French, who has more units and a better initiative, but he has to attack and take his risks to gain at least Denain and one of the two bridges. Bar these, he probably cannot achieve a total victory, but at most a marginal victory or more probably a draw (like in the game I have played). All in all, a definite improvment over the disastrous Fontenoy, worth of your consideration and a few replays. I rate the game 6 1/2 in a 1-10 scale.