Beating the Austrians: Part I

[Blathergut]

At first glance, the Austrians seem to have a significant advantage in points. For the same amount of frontage, they are 54 points cheaper than the French (or 42 points cheaper if the one French unit classed as average veteran were to be average drilled instead).

[Blathergut]

It gets worse for the French when we compare medium range fire. While they seem to have greater fire power, because they are shooting at large targets, the French actually only have 2 extra dice compared to the Austrians. So much for superior reformed medium range shooting!

[Blathergut]

But the saving grace for the French is that the Austrians will have to split their fire between French units. The left French unit at worst will suffer a halt. The other two at worst a halt and one level cohesion drop if all shots hit. Meanwhile, French fire concentrates to try and manage 4 hits and a retire.

[Blathergut]

Finally, if there is a small artillery unit to each side, even splitting those dice, will add 4 dice to each Austrian target.

[Scrumpy]

The trick to beating any defender must be the ability to mass troops on one flank before he/she can get troops redeployed to face the attack.

[Blathergut]

It would seem so. I have tried centre assaults but the smwarmy Austrians come around my flanks before I get through. Dead. is smart enough to refuse the flank I hit on while his smwarms crank around on me. It's usually a pretty close run, more often than not lately, ending with the French collapsing from the smwarms.

[Scrumpy]

Maybe try having a small command either flank marching or off table reserve. I know ond player who maximises the roads to allow for quick movement from whichever flank he chooses to assault from. Makes the defender have to commit some troops to cover either flank till the enemy arrive.

[hazelbark]

The French theoretically want to use their speed to concetrate on one side as well.

The other piece here is where the mounted comes in. They can more rapidly threaten one side or prevent the wheel on the refused flank from occuring so quickly. The other piece I've found is the large units when they go leave a far bigger gap that is material in game terms for exploiting.

[Blathergut]

...large units when they go leave a far bigger gap that is material in game terms for exploiting...

Now that is true. Once they do go they leave a big hole.

[deadtorius]

The secret there is to take a large unit in on a small unit frontage. That eliminates the overlapping fire as the froggies have to shoot one on one. Give the cavalry an artillery attachment and they can shoot back against the infantry. Also don't forget that somewhere in that picture will be a small artillery unit for Austria that will be further back or up in line with the troops, shooting at the Frenchies to try and cause a disruption.

This is how I have sucessfully hampered French shooting and disrupted French units allowing for a nice charge that will likely succeed.