A 'throw-down' Napoleon's Battles match-up

 The aim was to get 8-12 players into action in a 15mm Napoleon's Battles tabletop battle.

The actual numbers of players to arrive would determine the troops on the table.

We ended up starting with 9

setting up troops

I was able to take on troops painted and prepared by Nate, and we got to be on the same side and actually work towards a goal together.  Something new, since we are often having to teach from opposing sides.

board laying out the troops available and
the ones selected and a time-track

We gathered at the University of Victoria on Nov 24, I had the added job to deliver special performance attire for my youngest son, who is now a student at UVic.

my youngest son did not take on any command when we were
arranging troops ... he did come in on turn 5

the whole French force (seen from the right flank)
Bavarian in the foreground
then French Heavy Cavalry
French Corps with Baden troops
French Corps with Wurttemberg troops

Russians on their left

Russians and Prussians in the center

Prussians on the right

it took a couple of turns to get out from the restricted
area that the French were forced to deploy from
though we managed to do three turns in 45 mins

combat was more of a 'hold back' as the French right and
center were taunting the Russians to come out into open ground

Then my son came back the the game room and decided to jump in - now there were 5 commands on each side.

table action became hot and heavy
-seen here-
Russio-Prussian forces moving during turn 5

turn 5 became pivotal as there were firefights and melees across the line

turn 6 was massive on the French left (where Nate and I were)

while over on the French right a stalemate had developed

the aftermath of a huge light cavalry strike
3 artillery batteries destroyed two formations
of Infantry routed along with the gun crews
the entire Prussian corps on the flank was either
routing or disordered

seen in the foreground here are the horses
of France, now disordered and damaged (though only
from slowing down to brutally saber and rout
the Prussians)
in the mid section are the location of the three batteries
that were destroyed in the charge

It was so nice to finally have a charge work for me.  The mixed corps are often a challenge to operate in the battlefield environment and I have been premature in my operations in the past.  Not so this time.

Patience worked and the wounded formations of troops were no match for the charging horsemen.

more of the players Russio-Prussian forces

view at the end, on the French left
a marginal French victory

view thru the center and French right
center was a marginal allied victory
far right was a draw

Russio-Prussians managed to also wreck three
French batteries and rout/disperse the Bavarian corps

The overall victory might go to the French, given that the French side still had three of the five unused re-roll markers and the Russian Pavlov grenadiers had been routed.

Great game everyone!