ESR First Playtest

After a couple of weeks of reading and re-reading the 'Et Sans Resultat' ruleset (ESR from now on!), we found the time to set the table up and go for a beginner scenario which is included in the rulebook itself. I took command of an Austrian corps while my pal Dave took charge of a French one.

It took some time to get used to the mechanics to be honest but this is normal, coming from so many years of Age of Eagles. ESR uses a command system which is entirely absent from AoE and this of itself was already a radical shift for us.  Some aspects of the rules are not entirely clear (although it has to be said that one cannot expect all on-table situations to be entirely covered by any set of rules) and we decided to post a couple of queries on the ESR Yahoo Group there and then during the gaming session itself.  Much to our amazement and surprise, the author David M Entseness replied straight away, even though it must have been the crack of dawn in the US, and voila' - our problems were sorted out ! How better can a gamer's life get? Thanks Dave!

Overall the rules play discreetly well and I am sure once they are gotten used to, the QRS should be enough to see players through most situations. We'll go through a few more small actions just to get to grips with the finer detail and then hopefully move on to larger multiplayer encounters.

All in good time........

Enter 'Et Sans Resultat !'

You just got to love that courier when he delivers the goodies!

Going through recent (and not so recent) reviews on the net, I was intrigued by comments and opinions on the 'Et Sans Resultat!' ruleset (ESR in brief) issued by the Wargaming Company of the US and distributed in Europe by Magister Militum of the UK. Aimed at larger unit formation actions in the vein of 'Age of Eagles', this ruleset seemed right up our street so my pal Dave and myself got us each a copy of the Complete Player's Guide plus an 1809 scenario book to see what we can come up with on table. 

The ESR books have arrived today and my first impression is that they are very professionally presented with loads of illustrations and examples - let's hope they work fine and leave little room for interpretation.  Dying to try them out and hope to give further impressions and maybe an AAR shortly. 

In the meantime would love to hear from anyone who has already given them a shot.

Watch this space !

ESR Complete Player's Guide plus 1809 scenario book

Ostrolenka 1807 - A solo effort in 6mm

Having finally set up a decent table in my basement, I decided to try my hand at a solo game.  I used to do a lot of solo gaming in my younger days, mainly because I was under the impression that I was the only nerdy gamer on the island! When I finally discovered the horizon was a bit wider than that, I didn't need to go solo any more.  As anyone who's been to Malta will tell you, distances here are miniscule and although the gaming fraternity is not numerous at all, if you want a game you're only fifteen or twenty minutes away from - not just one - but ALL your opponents. So solo didn't make too much sense any more.  

Now, however, what with all the spanners that life sometimes throws in your works, it's not always possible to meet up. So I thought of setting up a scenario on my table and enjoy a solo game which I could continue at leisure whenever I had some time available. I went for Ostrolenka, an 1807 clash between the French and the Russians a few days after Eylau. The scenario can be found at https://napoleonicscenarios.weebly.com/uploads/2/3/7/7/2377799/ostrolenka_1807.pdf 

It's a relatively small encounter where a Russian force caught a smaller French force unawares at the Polish village of Ostrolenka on the River Narew. The French command, however, soon got wind of the Russian attack and immediately despatched reinforcements to shore up the garrison.  Likewise, the Russians had their own forces converging on the field, giving rise to a short but escalating action. 

All figures are H&R 6mm; rules are Age of Eagles with some house modifications. 

Initial dispositions at 10.30 am, showing the French garrison in and around Ostrolenka with the Russians approaching in the distance.  Note how the town straddles both banks of the River Narew.

Although heavily outnumbered, the French send their light cavalry forward to harass the advancing columns.  On their part, the Russians make for the high ground overlooking the town.

The Russians have reached the foot of the hill and deploy to form a solid front.  Meanwhile to their rear but on the opposite bank, the first French elements approach (upper right)

French dragoons gallop to the rescue !

The first Russian reinforcements arrive on table in Move 3. It is now noon.

Russian dragoons advance on the French lights in a bid to scare them off.

The French light cavalry prudently retire while the Russians occupy the heights in force. On right, the first French cavalry elements approach town. At this point I should mention that the two ponds and the river are frozen over and impassable to cavalry and artillery who can only cross by bridge.

It is soon becoming a race for both sides to rush reinforcements to the front. Oudinot and Suchet's divisions appear behind the town on Move 5 while in the distance more Russian reinforcements pour onto the field. In the centre the lead dragoon elements reach the bridge over the Narew.

The Russian artillery on the hill makes its presence felt as it bombards the approaching French. Meanwhile at upper right, French and Russian artillery trade salvos from across the river while Russian infantry and cavalry reinforcements stream from the rear.

The Russian position on the sand hills overlooking Ostrolenka dishes out a severe artillery bombardment........

......which for the moment the French can only face and absorb defiantly.

It is now 14.30 and despite the intense bombardment, the French have succeeded in getting their cavalry across and put their infantry in a position to assault the Russians on the hill. To the rear, a Russian brigade attempts to cross the Narew to engage the French on the other bank.

As if the artillery wasn't enough of a headache, Oudinot now has to face the threat of Russian hussars too!

Faced with limited options, the French throw caution to the wind and surge up the hill in the face of a muderous hail of canister. The odds are decidedly grim.

A bird's eye view of the french attack and the whole field. Attacking uphill, disordered and having suffered multiple casualties from canister, the French fight the Russians with a -5 deficit......

.....but the dice gods recognise valour when they see it and smile in their favour! (Hint : Green for Russian, blue for French)

Faced with the ferocity of the French infantry, the Russians are forced to withdraw, scrambling to save their precious artillery from the onslaught.

They are quick to react, however, with hussars charging in on the left........

......infantry engaging in the centre.......

.....and heavy dragoons smashing into the French infantry on the right.

The Russians get their own back, routing the first French brigade and rushing headlong into the flank of a second.

In no time at all the hill is bereft of French and all their hard-gotten gains have vanished.

Not one to give up so easily, Savary - the French commander - orders his infantry forward on the left whilst in the centre squares are formed to counter the cavalry threat. Along the bank of the Narew, French cavalry engage the enemy infantry.

French infantry to the assault of the disordered Russian hussars

Massed squares in the centre and cavalry charging in the background.

This second wave of attacks succeed in pushing back both Russian wings. In foreground, French infantry storm back up the hill in a breakthrough charge, having broken the Russian hussars earlier in the move.

Russian infantry at bay

It is now 16.00 and the final move. Having won the initiative, the French press on with their attack and engage the retreating Russian hussars once more.  The Russian cavalry break and retreat again.

Meanwhile, the French dragoons see action at last, outflanking and engaging their Russian counterparts

The defenders are caught in a vice grip, cavalry on one side, infantry on the other. The Russian centre doesn't stand a chance and the entire front line melts away to the rear.

In a final act of desperation, Essen, the Russian commander orders his cossacks forward.  Usually reluctant to engage formed enemy cavalry, the irregulars take up the challenge and hit the dragoons squarely in the flank.

But even the outflanking advantage is not enough and the cossacks are repulsed by the disciplined French cavalry.

The French remain masters of the hill.....

.....while the Russians are forced to retire from the field at day's end.

I feel this is a very difficult scenario for the Russians to win because although they have inital superiority, the French soon build up a formidable force once their reinforcements arrive. It should also be said that the Russians did experience some abysmal dierolls but all in all the balance tips in favour of the French the more time passes. Would love to hear from anyone who managed a Russian victory.........

Caldiero 1805 - Finale

It is now 15.00 hours and as seen in the last post the French lost their cavalry on their left flank and had to take emergency measures to prevent the Austrians from pouring into the breach.  As a result the French line took on an L-shape with precious resources withdrawn from the front line to form the new front.

The Austrians abandon their makeshift defences in the centre and stage their counter offensive

Charge! Elite Austrian grenadiers descend the Colognola Heights and engage their French counterparts

The French grenadiers suffer casualties and are forced to retreat disordered (indicated by the round marker behind the unit at centre right). The Austrians advance into the gap left by the retreating French.

The French gain some respite on their right when a dragoon brigade (on left) crushes the Austrian uhlans facing them. The advancing Austrian infantry now face a new threat!

Situation at 15.30 from behind the French left showing clearly the French line at right angles.  In foreground three brigades defend against marauding Austrian horse (off camera) while in the centre the ranks are dressed as much as possible against the approaching infantry assault.

In an attempt to wrongfoot the Austrians, Massena launches a preemptive strike with one of his few remaining fresh brigades. The advancing grenadiers are sent reeling behind their comrades but there are just too many whitecoats at this point.......

Charles knows that in order to complete his enveloping maneuvre on both flanks, Gambion must be taken.  He orders an all out assault but after heavy street fighting his troops are repulsed.

Meanwhile in the centre the Austrian advance continuous at a slow but relentless pace. The French are faced with a unit to their front and another pouring fire into their flank and have no choice but to retreat with losses.

Unchallenged, Austrian heavy cavalry advance ominously towards the junction in the French line.  Shorn of cavalry and artillery in the area, the French cannot counter the threat.

Luck is not with the French as the Austrians gain the initiative this move. As a result, the Austrian dragoons continue with their advance and smash into the flank of the outermost French unit.

At the other end of the table, a second consecutive attempt is made to take Gambion. Failure will bring about a lot of displeasure from the Archduke !

Hordes of Austrians in the centre

Success at Gambion as the French are finally ejected from the village. Conscious of the Archduke's stern gaze in his direction, the victorious brigade commander heaves a huge sigh of relief!

The heavy dragoons crush the outflanked French infantry and contiune in an uncontrolled charge against a second unit which is also put to flight.

The dragoons have cleared the centre of French infantry and the mounting casualties push the French beyond the 30% limit.  At this juncture the game is technically over according to the scenario conditions but we decided to end the move anyway.

In an attempt to buy some time and badly-needed respite, the last of the French cavalry is hurled against the advancing Austrians

Similarly, elite grenadiers attempt to scare off the victorious Austrian dragoons.  In the second edition of Age of Eagles it is possible for infantry to engage disordered cavalry in melee.

The closing situation at 16.30. At extreme left Gambion is in Austrian hands while in the centre the French are in full retreat with their cavalry trying desperately to stem the white tide. At right Austrian infantry has advanced past San Zeno and bear down on the French left with cavalry in support.

So at this point we decided to call a halt, given that the 30% casualty threshold had been surpassed by the French.  Even though it was still 16.30 game time with plenty of daylight left, we assumed that the French would have broken off contact and retired from the field whilst the Austrians would have probably been reluctant to pursue given the overall strategic situation post-Austerlitz. All in all Caldiero is a furious affair with around thirty thousand men on each side, although it needs to be said that the Austrians are superior in numbers. We thouroughly enjoyed the game and would recommend the scenario to anyone interested in giving it a go.