Why does it always suck? Part 3

On to the final report of the last game - 1809 Austria/France.

The shredding of the Austrian right flank begins.  Genl. Caudill's French close on Genl. Shockey's Austrians.

Huh?  What?  After marching off the center ridge, the bulk of the Austrian army stops, turns around and marches back up the ridge.

Meanwhile, the French continue to pound the Austrian right flank.

Genl. "Speed Bump" Shockey's Hungarians, stiffened by artillery form square and prepare for cavalry.

Left to right:  "Speed Bump" Shockey, "Woodland" Mumby, "Let it be noted that I wasn't here when this plan was made" Miller.

The final throes of Speed Bump's command.

There's fewer of Speed Bump's command than there were just a while ago...

Anyway - that's the game!  The French were outnumbered by about 30% - the Austrians started with 20 army morale points and the French started with 13 army morale points.  At the end of the game, the Austrians were at 0 and failed army morale, while the French still had around 10 army morale points.  The Austrians fought the bulk of the battle with a badly outnumbered right flank and the mass of the army effectively sat out the battle on the ridge...then off the ridge....then back on the ridge.  The Austrian left flank cavalry brigade looked to be in a threatening position, but the timely arrival of French forces staved off their assault.   Another crushing French victory!

Meanwhile - my current project is a pretty massive terrain effort.  More of that later.

Why does it always suck? - Part Two

The French left flank and Bavarian Center

The White Horde (WH) lurches forward off of the central ridge

The French flanking force prepares to crush the WH's right flank.  Bits of the WH can be seen at the top of the photo.

Form Square!  French battalion forms square due to a threat from....

These guys!  Austrian cavalry brigade thunders toward the hanging French right flank.  The two French infantry squares can be seen in the distance.

A close up of the two French squares.

What will happen?   At this point, the French appear poised to do some damage to the Austrian right, while the Austrians are beginning to muddle forward toward the French right.  Stay tuned - more photos to follow!

Why does it always suck?

This blog title comes directly from Eric Miller in last night's game, as he watched the Austrian army that he was part of get thrashed by an outnumbered French army (1809).  Eric seems to have been on a losing run, and has seen his share of difficulties in getting his commands into action and successful.  In last night's game, Eric commanded the Austrian cavalry on their left flank.  Everything was going well, (on that flank) as his cavalry bore down on two lone French infantry battalions that had hurriedly deployed into square.  At about that time, a mixed Command Group of one each cavalry/artillery/infantry units appeared to his left flank, arriving onto the battlefield late in the battle.  After taking fire, getting meleed, and seeing the sweeping Austrian attack blunted....Eric said "Why does it always suck?".

On to the battle report!

The center of the Austrian army, deployed on a Class II ridge

 French right/center - Bavarians in the woods in the center of the photo

 Closeup of the Austrian artillery on the ridge in the center of the Austrian army

Austrian cavalry brigade on the Austrian left flank

The Austrians outnumbered the French by 30% at the start of the game, and had a significant Army Morale Point advantage (20 to 13).

More to follow.