AARs - post here all after battle comments and replay files

The video seems to confirm my recollection of the events, though obviously from the higher ground you had a better understanding of things beyond the confines of the ravine.  You can see my first two battalions emerge from the ravine and begin to move towards the right flank of the French infantry your brigade were engaging.  However, i was having trouble getting them to move forwards and I still had two battalions I couldn't see somewhere in the tree's that I was trying to extricate and bring up.  Looking at the video it doesn't look like my leading battalion got close enough to assist your infantry before the French broke and ran back in to the woods.  But I was trying to persuade my leading battalion to at least engage them and hopefully attack their flank.

What I wasn't aware of at the time was that your battery on the heights was engaging French infantry to the west, I actually assumed it was supporting your infantry.  The French to the west were beyond the ridge and invisible to me.

We had our little exchange about the French battery, and I explained my orders.  But from where I was standing I couldn't see beyond the tree's and so I couldn't see the French battery you were referring to, and even looking at the video I'm still not sure which direction they were deployed.  They may have been firing at Martin's troops deployed along the Siappe to Rheims highway on the other side of the ravine. In which case, I was at that point behind their flank, and possibly their rear, however, I couldn't even see them in the game.  In any case, there was no evidence that I could see of incoming artillery fire, so I concluded that even if the battery did exist it wasn't a threat to my brigade at that point.

I was however aware of my orders to attack them from the wooded ravine, and so you can see me try to complete the rout of the French infantry in the ravine by sending two battalions in with the bayonet to clear them out.  Both battalions broke and fell back in disorder, and at that point I decided to try and renew my march eastwards by avoiding the French infantry and going around the head of the ravine.

Unfortunately by the time I had chivied my reluctant ducklings around to the point where they could finally begin moving east, the path had been blocked by French skirmishers and nothing I could do would persuade  my grenadiers to either fire on them or attack them with cold steel, and I was still trying to get past them when the game ended.

As you say in the video, I was aware that you had been successful in passing your infantry (Kamenski's Brigade I think) through the wooded ravine further north and I could see them emerge from the northern edge.  Which was what I was trying to get my troops to do, but it seems your men were more determined than mine, because i don't think they were grenadiers,  My attempts had already failed and would continue to do so until the game ended.

The real tragedy this video points out all too clearly, is that while Miko was bravely assaulting two battalions with a brigade, a battery and cavalry, I was defending against 6 French, mad dog, battalions with my lone brigade. There was no justice on the field that day.

Kevin, can you check the map we fought on Monday night please? I think there could be a break in the road that's highlighted. I started a little west of the eyeball and ordered my brigades to march via road to Setz but they all began going west the long way around. Thanks.

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php/22426/RoadBreak.jpg

No break, it was reversed road colors. Fixed, thanks.

I didn't see any floating trees on the map last night either. Did you apply the fix?

No. I didn't see any floating vegetation either, but I did see submerged troops occasionally.

Those submerged troops were Phil's.  They actually did find quicksand.  

It's easier to sneak up and capture the guns if they don't see you coming.

Slideshow of the action at Villa Fouca (fought 30-07-2017). I played as Col. von Lowe commanding a brigade of KGL.

https://s1133.photobucket.com/user/Saddle-tank/slideshow/SoW%20-%20Waterloo

Very nice pictures that show off the new map. I guess all the picture taking explains how your riflemen got ridden down by those hussars. The whiff of court martial is in the air.

I think we need to inform those Frenchies that hiding hussars behind trees is damn unsporting and tell them to pack it in and play fair.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTWuJOVQhrU - the general walking over the ground - at the beginning of our first battle on Monday.

I'm curious how you'll handle the completely mental combat in the city... perhaps just not upload that chaos? 

I'm curious how you'll handle the completely mental combat in the city... perhaps just not upload that chaos?

I've been recording all the battles we play but don't have the time to process the videos. What I'm aiming for is to make highlights movies rather than upload the whole battle.
This one wasn't too exciting from my perspective but I can upload the whole thing on request.

I might upload some more bits from this battle for yours/Kevin assessment. I think there was an issue with infantry avoiding one of the bridges (they preferred narrow path right next to the bridge). Artillery not shooting. Cavalry walking perpendicularly across the bridge... and nice Blue carpet made of Phil's Legere

Did you record the one we fought on the Meckel map where you sent me off over the river around the flank with a cavalry brigade? I am curious to see what you saw of my attack on the enemy's guns and cavalry.

Did you record the one we fought on the Meckel map where you sent me off over the river around the flank with a cavalry brigade? I am curious to see what you saw of my attack on the enemy's guns and cavalry.

I think I did - I'll check it today. As far as I can remember I couldn't see much of your initial action as I was standing on the lower ground.

The first part of the battle on Meckel map:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MxkJHQA1yk

Thank you all for your participation in this thread about battle reports and discussions afterwards with lovely missunderstanding of orders and different views of the battlefield.

Didz I loved your cinematical atmospheric diary of what occured on your flank as F.
Very interesting also to see Mikos videos also about the " French ghost battery" that not all saw and the thing with the massed french cav in the ravine that Miko didnt see at all.

Only trouble that would be nice in after battle reports is if players would use the same name as seen on the battlemaps like Didz is not David sometimes since then it´s hard to follow the action good.

It´s quite entertaining and love to be a part of a battle together with you guys soon

Yesterday’s battle was fun

Definitely a Kevin-designed special. Incredibly bloody with more horses crammed into the smallest real estate than I thought possible

French scenario 91 for those of you with the KS Mod map handy. I was CinC. Phil  was von Neubronn, Digby served as Dupas and Grog led as Lamarque.

Phil feinted in one direction then the other (due to not listening to my irders the first time) and held Austrian attention on our right (mostly due to his elegant clothing .. as we saw in multiple intercepted Austrian communiques) whilst Digby  lent a hand with artillery but keeping his division in reserve. All this to the west of the major ridgeline.  Grog meanwhile made haste on the eastern side of the ridgeline to flank the Austrians unseen.

Once Grog crossed (at Budwitz) he and Digby jointly crushed the Austrian right flank, driving it into Wronczyn thence to the objective. As their attack commenced then Phil shifted towards the river, further on the Austrian left. The goal was to hit the final objective from 2 directions. The Austrians could not hold to such pressure on 2 sides.

It was pretty cool seeing the 2 divisions converge on the Austrian flank. One from the front and one from the rear.

Then again, this is Kevin we are talking about in terms of scenario design ... thus more to the story

Lo and behold the more Austrians we shattered the more appeared. After the battle we found the Austrians had an elaborate tunnel system constructed. Including stables and pasture space for about 5000 horses. At least 2 entire divisions remained underground until called up. We found the tunnel exit near an outhouse astride the main building at the objective of Lowins

The objective Lowins looked like Times Square during New Years Eve. Packed crowds. Difficult to draw my sabre without bumping into someone. This woul have been a beautiful target for Digbys artillery had his gunners remembered to bring gunpowder but apparently they forgot. More likely is that Kevin, knowing at some point we would be playing this scenario, altered the terrain line of sight at the likely battery positions we would use.

As for me as CinC it is really important to ride from flank to flank to see the field and thus I chose to NOT take a cavalry escort with me ... and to think of the 2 Austrian batteries I could have overrun had I chose to take a brigade Oh well. I could really concentrate on the ebb and flow of overall battle. It allowed me the time to send a few extra mesages to my commanders purely for situational awareness purposes so they knew what the oher divisions were doing. It also allowed for faster reaction as things changed.

I still like to take a brigade with me however. Gives me something to charge with :-)

All in all a fun way to spend a Weds afternoon away from work. Thanks guys!

Yes, a great fight. Even without Kevin present his sadistic scenario design shone through. We were able to unanimously call it a victory however because no-one was there to contradict us.

This sounds like a fantasy report to me. Knowing the participants all too well, plus having it on very good authority that the battle was yet another tragic lose for the French, I have tallied it so.

How was Kevin allowed to post here? Who’s turn is it to watch him? C’mon guys, without proper adult supervision he is liable to say ANYTHING.

Today we witnessed the AI turn to an extremely agressive defensive posture, literally pushing thru seams between 2 of our 4 divisions and chopping us to pieces. Normally one can expect some passivity, in the sense that a static defense gets set up to some extent, but there was nothing “static” about this French defense. 4 divisions, 7 total players and we got demolished. As CinC I humbly offer my sword to ... anyone lol

At least my division took the full brunt of 3 enemy divisions on the chin and went down fighting in grand style, lasting all of 15 minutes, unlike my other compatriots who were all off poncing about the far corners of the map! Who made up that battle plan...? Shameful!

P.S.

I don't think anyone wants the -4 Cursed Sword of Leadership.

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php/22426/Image2.jpg

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php/22426/Image3.jpg

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php/22426/Image4.jpg

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php/22426/Image5.jpg

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php/22426/Image6.jpg

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php/22426/Image7.jpg

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php/22426/Image8.jpg

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php/22426/Image9.jpg

I think there's plenty of blame to share around, Pat.  My own contribution was less than stellar.  Sadly, I am well used to this state of affairs however, and found it fun.

It's also nice to play a game where the AI can gain such a resounding victory.

Was the AI scripted for this one, Kevin?

Martin (J)