Introduction
A few weeks ago, I did an AAR of the battle of Austerlitz, fought using the ‘historical deployment’ option of this game. As the exclusive rules make clear, the battle actually may have taken place a day earlier than it did historically, with Napoleon holding the Pratzen Heights on November 30 but declining battle, telling his Marshals that though he could defeat the Allied army from that position it would only be an ‘ordinary’ victory rather than the needed spectacular victory. I thought it might be interesting to find out what would have happened had he not declined battle:
Initial Deployment:
Allied army is set-up in accordance with exclusive rules; of the French army only the I corps has a designated starting position and the III corps is delayed until turn 6. The rest of the army is placed where the French player wishes between 05xx and 15xx, and chooses the following:
(they also get to hold the “Sun of Austerlitz” card)
Turn 1: December 1, Morning (Allied morale 8, French morale 8)
Weather = Fog
The Allies start the (early) battle by advancing on the French positions, with the majority of their troops using the road along the top of the map. 1/4 and 2/4 corps also both enter play, along that same road: 1/4 through Raussenitz and 2/4 into Austerlitz: it looks as if the Allies are going to through the brunt of their weight against the northern portion of the French line!
(random event = “Vive L’Empereur!” French may rally broken units, or spend 1 morale point without paying cost)
Galvanised by their cries of Vive L’Empereur, the entire French army advances eastwards, under the cover of the fog, to meet the advancing Allies. The I corps races to catch up with the main portion of the army
situation at end of turn 1:
Turn 2: December 1, Mid-day (Allied morale 8, French morale 8)
Weather = clear
(random event = “The Friction of War”. Associated roll = Allies receive a free cadre unit, which is placed just outside Austerlitz)
Now that the weather has cleared a bit, the Allies continue to advance on the French positions, in preparation for the first clash of the battle. AG cavalry corps and 1 corps both move to east of the French Res/L cavalry and 1AG moves into Krzenowitz, as the rest of their forces move along their respective roads. Finally, GD arrives in play through Raussentiz.
Res/L counter-charges AG cavalry corps, but are forced to rout 5 hexes (-1 French morale), with the AG cavalry giving chase.
1AG (in Krzenowitz) attacks GR just outside it, but are themselves routed 3 hexes (-1 Allied morale), with GR advancing after combat.
(random event = “Intelligence Gathering”. No effect as not using Fog of War)
The French forces take this opportunity to re-deploy their line, with the three corps south of the Littawa River all moving northwards in preparation to cross the same (placing the IV/2 on an ice hex). North of the river, the IV corps also drops back to the north of the Pratzen Heights, and the I corps continues to advance along the road. Finally, Res/L moves into The Stanton.
situation at end of turn 2:
Turn 3: December 1, Afternoon (Allied morale 7, French morale 7)
Weather = clear
(random event = “But you can wait another quarter of an hour, and it will be time enough then!” Allies immediately spend 1 morale point to enable their units to enter EZOCs)
The Allies continue their advance on the French positions, with AG cavalry corps and 1 corps moving to the north-west and north, respectively, of French IV corps. AG and 1AG both move east of GR in Krzenowitz and 3 corps and 2/4 corps move, respectively, north and north-east of V corps. Meanwhile, all other Allied units continue their westward march along their respective roads, with 5 cavalry corps entering along the road through Austerlitz. The ice under IV/2 remains strong enough to support their weight.
AG cavalry corps and 1 corps combine to attack IV corps, forcing that unit to rout 5 hexes (-1 French morale) through Pratzen. AG cavalry corps follows the retreat path, and 1 corps also advances after combat. 3 corps and 2/4 corps combine to attack V corps, but both are themselves routed: 3 corps 4 hexes (-1 Allied morale) and 2/4 corps only a single hex. V corps also advances after combat. Finally, AG and 1AG combine to attack GR in Krzenowitz, with all sides remaining engaged.
(random event = “My Eagles Soar!” French player may spend 1 morale point without paying its cost)
IV/2 moves to the south of Krzenowitz, clearing a route for the Imperial Guard and Res/H cavalry corps to move onto the ice near that location. I corps continues along the road, with Res/L remaining in The Stanton and no other French corps is able to (or wanting to!) also move. Despite some ominous creaking and groaning (a roll of 2), the ice under the Imperial Guard remains firm, as does that under the Res/H cavalry corps.
V corps attacks the (routed) 2/4 corps, forcing them to withdraw (again) but declining to advance after combat. GR uses the free morale point to commit their reserves against AG, forcing the defenders to withdraw and also declining the advance after combat option. Finally, IV/2 attacks 1AG but are themselves forced to withdraw, with 1AG advancing after combat.
situation at end of turn 3:
Turn 4: December 1, Evening (Allied morale 5, French morale 6)
Weather = fog
(random event = “We Exist in Gloomy Apathy” Allied units may not enter EZOCs; those already their must remain in place)
The dank and gloomy weather obviously mirrors the mood of the Allied soldiers, who close on the French positions but refuse to come into contact with the same. 5 cavalry corps moves north of AG corps and the 2/4 corps remains in place to their north. 1/4 moves north-west, allowing 2 corps to move to their south along the road. 1 corps moves north-east, to the south of 2 corps. GD and 3 corps continue to move along the road, with the cadre remaining in place and AG cavalry corps moves north into Stare Vinobrady. The ice under the French Res/H remains firm (despite having 1AG projecting a zone of control onto it), but that under the Imperial Guard begins to break up, forcing that unit to rout a single hex (roll of 3, -1 for elite status).
The fog actually works in 1AG favour, allowing them to make a selective attack (and to commit their reserves against, for -1 Allied morale) against GR in Krzenowitz. However, the committal of reserves simple means they remain engaged instead of having to withdraw.
(random event = French player decides to play Sun of Austerlitz card, choosing to cancel fog effects AND giving his units +1 Movement)
Unlike the Allied army, the fog does not deter the French forces! V corps moves south-west onto the Pratzen Heights, with IV corps, Res/L and I corps moving, respectively, south-west, north and north-east of Russian AG cavalry corps in Stare Vinobrady. The ice under Res/H remains firm.
AG cavalry corps counter-charges Res/L, but are forced to withdraw south-east. This is a hazardous retreat, which they fail and so break instead (-1 Allied morale, +1 French morale). Res/L ‘takes ground’.
GR, IV/2 and Res/H all combine to attack 1AG south of Krzenowitz, breaking that unit outright (-1 Allied morale, +1 French morale) and Res/H advancing after combat (off the ice).
situation at end of turn 4:
Turn 5: December 1, Night (Allied morale 2, French morale 8)
Weather = n/a
(random event = “Conflicting Orders”. French player chooses Russian 1 corps as being unable to move)
Under cover of night, the Allied army continues to (attempt to) outflank the French positions, moving around the north of their forces: all units that are able to do so continue to move (slowly) westwards, with 5 cavalry corps and AG heading to the road north of their initial positions.
1AG rallies (returns to play) in Raussenitz but AG cavalry corps is eliminated for good. Next, the Allies gain a single morale point fro rest (+1 Allied morale).
(random event = “According to plan”. Reshuffle cards)
Of the French forces, only the IV/2 corps, Res/H cavalry corps and IG opt to move, with both IV/2 and IG moving north while Res/H moves north-east.
The French then drive the Allied morale down by two (-2 Allied morale) as they occupy the two Allied objectives of Krzenowitz and Stare Vinobrady, then gain a single morale point from rest (+1 French morale).
situation at end of turn 5:
Advance to day 2: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/article/3982922
Last edited on 2010-02-07 12:30:37 CST (Total Number of Edits: 2)
Posted Sun Sep 27, 2009 2:07 pm