Marengo 1800 redux, BBB AAR

The long postponed second test of my Marengo scenario was done last evening. Bill played First Consul Bonaparte aided by Ken as Victor. I took on the role of the Austrian Melas, trying to defeat the French who have got between him and Austria. The rules were Bloody Big Battles, as usual. The French deployed first and the Austrians moved first. 

On to the second turn (of 9):

                                  

    

                                   

                                  

                                  

And turn 3:

                                 

                                 

                                 

Turn 4:

                                 

                                 

                                 

Turn 5:

                                 

                                 

                                 

And we broke for dinner, afterward returning for turn 6.

                                 

                                 

                                 

                                 

                                 

                                 

On the French half of turn 6, Desaix arrived with reinforcements.

                                 

                                 

Ken had a real problem on this turn. All of his units were disrupted by the various assaults up and down his line around Marengo. All failed to rally and his flanks were both compromised. Turn 7 looks to be a hard one for the French.

                                 

                                 

                                 

                                 

                                 

                                 

That was a close call, since if Bonaparte was hit the Austrians gain a victory point.

Turn 8:

                                 

                                 

                                 

On turn 9 O. Rivaud again made a disciplined fighting withdrawal (rolling another 6 to make his escape).

                                 

We had taken 4 hours and 21 minutes to play 8 and a half turns, about 30 minutes per turn. I find Napoleonic games take longer in BBB because musket fire doesn’t stop many assaults, so we have a lot more assaults to resolve along with the small arms fire.

The French had 1 point for holding the crossroads near the east edge of the table while the Austrians had 1 for taking Marengo. The French held the village until the 7^th turn. I think if they had given it up a turn or two earlier they would have taken fewer losses and been better placed for a strong late game counterattack. I tried for a game winning point by causing twice as many bases removed but didn’t get there. Bonaparte had a close call but it was not to be.

French losses were 15 stands of infantry knocked out with 5 run off, 3 stands of cavalry gone with 2 run off, and Lannes and Victor both hors de combat for a total of 27 bases. Austrian losses were 10 stands of infantry KO’d and 1 run away, 4 stands of Cavalry KO’d and 2 run away for a total of 17 bases. I needed to wipe out 7 more bases for that extra point and was nowhere near getting it. A sanguinary tie was the result. I thought the game was cracking fun.

I think the scenario is solid enough for me to pass it on to Chris Pringle (BBB designer) and have it posted on the Yahoo group in a bit. I look forward to feedback from other gamers to this draft scenario.

Game trivia: Lannes was sabered and out of action for three weeks. Victor was badly stunned but was only out of action for a day. This was via our house rules and the dice were kind to the French. The Consular Guard cavalry and infantry were both scattered in this game. Both times we have played Kellermann’s brigade is gone long before the late game. Next time I play French I’ll keep it in a bandbox – until I can’t stand it anymore and order a charge. 

Our next game will be in two weeks. We’ll see if it will be another BBB game or perhaps a game of Muskets and Tomahawks.