From: Markus Stumptner Subject: [Consim-l] Friedland (Eagles of the Empire) replay Played the GamesUSA Friedland game last night, using John Mundie's refit to the 3.0 rules that came out with Preussisch-Eylau (Avalanche), and the system was enormously enjoyable as always. John's refit worked very well. My opponent hadn't even heard of that series before last week, and I think it's safe to say I gained a new adherent for the system; he was truly enthusiastic about it after the game. We played scenario 2, Lannes' Holding Action, using the historical (3-rated) Bennigsen performance. 2/3:00: The Russians ponderously move into position near Heinrichsdorf and through the Sortlack woods. No combat yet except some limited bombardment in the dark. 4:00 The Saxon cavalry charges the 2nd Division, but is repulsed. It is then taken under fire by the 2nd Division's artillery and suffers some losses. The Russians occupy Heinrichsdorf after it has been abandoned by the French Grenadiers. 5:00 Bagration is Out of Command, but this has no effect as there are no Russian activations. The French try to get Nansouty in position for a charge, which is difficult due to the increasingly constricted French position in the south. Grouchy is positioned north of Posthenen. 6:00 The Saxon infantry marches up to take up the defense of Posthennen, while Lannes consolidates the left further, pulling the 2nd Brigade off the Heinrichsdorf hill. 7th Division artillery begins bombarding the 3rd Brigade on the hill north of Posthenen. On the French right, Nansouty charges the 2nd Division but to little effect. the 2nd Division takes the woods before Posthenen pushing the Grenadiers out. However, the 6th Division is repulsed in attacking the last French position in the Sortlack woods. 7:00 Bagration again misses his Initiative dieroll, seriously curtailing Russian activities in the south. (That the Russian player missed his chance to move Bagration back into command after he sorted out the command situation in the Sortlack woods was probably the key event of the game.) The French move Beaumont north to help shore up the line, and none too soon, as the Russians guns finally leave their mark on the 3rd Brigade, which will require a hasty retreat on the next turn (assuming that Lannes gets the first move). The 8th Division moves up, but does not assault yet. This proves a mistake as Grouchy's cavalry charges it, causes two step losses, and sends its remains reeling back into the protection of Docturow's cavalry. 08:00 Lannes gains the initiative and pulls the damaged 3rd Brigade off the hill, essentially ensuring its escape. Another blow to the hopes for a Russian victory, especially since the 2nd Division, facing the Saxons (stronger than itself) in Posthenen, must now also deal with the spearhead of VIII Corps and the second Grenadier division coming up on its left threatening to outflank it. So a loss of Posthenen is unlikely, and the 1st Grenadier division can be pulled out of the line, most likely preventing the loss-based victory condition from occurring. As we had started late, we stopped at this point (we'd played for about 2 hours and had 2 turns left). I had been a bit afraid that the 3.0 refit would make the 1st Grenadier Division's dispersed brigades too vulnerable, but it didn't come out that way in this game; they do start out in good defensive locations and the command system keeps the Russians to a proper slow pace, so that reinforcements can come up. Mark of a good game: I'm raring to go and try the scenario again. Markus Last 3 games played: Malaya/Burma, Friedrich, Friedland --------------- http://www.dbai.tuwien.ac.at/user/mst/games/ --------------- "Bakayaro! Bakayaro!" ("Stupid Bastards! Stupid Bastards!") -- Admiral Aritomo Goto's last words to his staff, October 11, 1942 _______________________________________________ Consim-l mailing list Consim-l@mailman.halisp.net http://mailman.halisp.net/mailman/listinfo/consim-l