Rivoli 1797

[StuccoFresco]

Mission is to resist the Austrian offensive against Rivoli, protecting the siege of Mantova. As per briefing, Austrian troops have a better shooting than ours, that are however better in melee. The battlefield is complicated, but we have a strong defensive positions on a line of hills in front of the town of Rivoli.

I decide to hold the main line until a counterattack is possible, while I direct several demi-brigades (roughly half of Massena's division) on the right, through Incanale and behind the hills, to try a flanking attack on the Austrians.



Turn 4: the Austrians are sending many cavalry units toward my left flank, so I have to move several demi-brigades there to guard it, trying to use some patch of rough ground to my advantage. Massena's half-division is steadily moving behind the hills.

[StuccoFresco]

In Turn 5 my plans shatter: Quasdonovitch's Column has had the same idea of marching behind the hills... I will retreat toward Incasale and form a second line of defenses there. Fortunately Massena's troops retreat in good order without disorganizing. Austrian cavalry reach Ceredello.



Turn 7: my retreat on the right ends abruptly as the Austrians reach shooting distance and promptly disorganize one of my demi-brigades. Quasdonovitch's troops are high-quality and that flank will probably be lost, quickly. On the extreme left, two Austrian hussars rout some Chasseurs a Cheval, chasing them off; good, that was the plan. My infantry faces the third unit of Austrians, shooting it and preventing further advances while a third demi-brigade shoots the pursuing hussars in the back. I hope they will chase the Chasseurs till the end of the battle.

[StuccoFresco]

With my right flank already "lost", more Austrian troops (Luisignan's Column) appear on my left flank. I doubt this battle can be drawn, much less won. Too many austrian troops. In the center, the smart Austrians use their shooting superiority AND light artillery to turn my troops on the hills into chunky salsa, so I say "fuck this" and charge forward. They'll probably shoot me to pieces before contact.



Turn 10: as predicted, right flank has collapsed and several demi-brigades that attacked in the center has been routed by Austrian fire before making contact. Austrian cavalry on my right flank has been defeated, now my troops are waiting for Luisignan's attack. Of course he has light artillery with him so my strong defensive position is useless and I'll have to attack him instead. Victor's and Rey's divisions have arrived, very slowly marching toward the battlefield. Maybe they will stop the rout on the right flank before Quasdonovitch turns on my center.

Center is collapsing too, the attack on Luisignan's will fail, and reinforcements are so slow they may not even reach combat before the end of the battle.

[StuccoFresco]

By Turn 13 almost every unit is either routing or close to do it. Reinforcements are still too far, Austrians are everywhere. If you hoped on doing better when you reached melee, forget it: Austrian units can hold their own quite well and you will rarely win a melee in any significant matter. Some Austrian units are even outright better than yours in melee, and their light troops are impervious to your cavalry, which is in fact completely useless since the enemy is too numerous to hope in a flanking move.

Battle ended in Turn 14 with 48% French unit routed against 16% Austrian ones.

I don't think this battle can really be won by the French:

- Too many Austrian units. Probably close to twice your numbers.

- Your cavalry is absolutely useless save for baiting the Austrian hussars into a charge.

- Austrian units are much stronger in the shooting phase, so your strong defensive position is useless. Neither fortification nor higher position will protect your troops from the Austrian bullet onslaught. In addition to be simply superior with their muskets, Austrians also have light artillery that will absolutely shred you in mid-range.

- Even if you charge down the hills, you probably won't win the melee since the enemy will disorganize you with shooting long before you make contact. When you finally do, you'll find your presumed melee superiority isn't enough to reliably win any combat whatsoever.

- Austrians will appear on your left and right flank too, so if you go all out in the center, they will flank you before you can win there.

- Your reinforcements will not arrive in time, don't count on them.

The only way to maybe force a draw could be to abandon your positions and retreat to Rivoli itself. MAYBE the Austrians will take too long to reach you, and the reinforcements will actually be useful by appearing in time for the final showdown. I don't think there is a way to win in an open battle, has anyone pulled this off?

[Athos1660]

(...)

Happy to see some P&S action !

That was a nice try however

If I were you, I wouldn’t give up and I'd make a second attempt, maybe :

1) Staying protected behind your fortifications / on the hill.
Behind light fortifications, defenders get 34% cover, protection vs flank/rear attacks and +100 PdA in melee.
As for the other units (the unprotected ones), the height (+100) give them +100 PdA in melee.

2) Protecting your left flank with a few demi-brigades and cavalry while remaining on top of the hill to get the height advantage.

3) Postponing your flanking by Massena’s troops till the enemy reach the foot of the hill, leaving/hiding them just in front of Incanale in the meantime. Let them come.

To sum it up, let the enemy come closer. You are the defender.
My 2 cent.
But the young French Republic and General Bonaparte count on you

Have fun.

[Athos1660]

(delete)

[StuccoFresco]

1- I did for a couple turns but the Austrians will never charge uphill: they will stay in the plains and shoot you to piecies with their superior shooting proficiency and artillery. Staying there is just a slower way to lose.

2- I did, and the left flank collapsed as soon as Luisignan's troops arrive in shooting range, for the same reasons: you can't stay in your defensive positions or he'll shoot you down, and as soon as you move forward he'll shoot you and then defeat you in melee.

3- Probably the only option there, but Quasdonovitch's troops are both stronger and as numerous as Massena's, so sooner or later he'll breach the flank. Notice how despite me holding his troops back for several turns, Victor's and Rey's reinforcements didn't arrive in time to seal the breach...

[SnuggleBunnies]

Hmm, I've played and won as both sides in MP, but haven't played it in SP, where undoubtedly the AI units are given qualitative advantages

[Cronos09]

I played this SP scenario and won it, defeating the main Austrian forces with impacts from the front and from the flanks:


At the beginning of the battle I moved my initial reserves to my right and my left replacing light demi-brigades in the center with the line ones (they were moved to my left):


After the Austrians approached at the shot distance I moved the troops forward, trying to use the Foot Impact ability of the French line infantry in melee. The Astrian cavalry against my left was blocked with my demi-brigades and was shot. Quosdanovich's column on my right was stopped by one light demi-brigade which held out in melee for some turns till the end of the battle. By the 9th turn almost half of the main Astrian column was defeated. The remaining units were flanked. I did not see any problems in winning the scenario.

[StuccoFresco]

Did you fought it at Hard difficulty?

[Athos1660]

@Cronos09 : Congrats

Did you fought it at Hard difficulty?

I am not mistaken, in scenarios, the number of AI units is fixed whatever the difficulty. And the only difference lies in the fact that the lowest and the highest levels ('Captain' and 'Captain General') have a slight effect on the quality of the units. And dice are dice... Nothing major.

[Cronos09]

Did you fought it at Hard difficulty?

Yes, as it's designed by Odenathus. But in this scenario Easy, Normal and Hard difficulty levels are equal. I'm going to play it at Very Hard level to feel the difference.
Thanks, Athos.

Upd 24.03.2020
I played this scenario at the level of Captain General. The result is the same. I almost did not see the difference, except that I had to charge only Disrupted enemy units. Perhaps the author of the scenario wanted to initially set the level of difficulty Very Hard (Captain General).