Slitherine

Borsook and I are starting another campaign game, with the 1.06 patch applied. Same options as before (fog, weather and fixed end date). This time, Borsook will play the Coalition and I will try the French.

Turn one, and the French are on the move! The French launched a vigorous assault on the Austrian forces near Munich, and destroyed a light infantry corps, and a line infantry.

Meanwhile, a naval battle near Trafalgar is shaping out to be a one-sided affair. The French opened the combat, and did not fare well in the exchanges.

Austrian forces withdrew during their phase of the first turn, and have formed a line in front of Vienna. The French moved up, maintaining a cohesive front, and focused their attention upon the Austrian heavy cavalry, which was destroyed.

Last turn, a light infantry near Stuttgart was moved up to the front, as well as a line infantry from Batavia. These new arrivals have been integrated into le Grande Armee, and will form a part of the French reserve.

The British have decimated the French fleet at Trafalgar, only two squadrons of French ships remain. These converged upon the group of British ships shielding HMS Victory. Although the Victory was heavily damaged (one step remaining to the group), Admiral Nelson survived

The following SIX screen shots cover the period from November 10, 1805 to February 18, 1806, and show the progress of the Battle for Vienna.

Overall, the battle unfolded fairly predicatably. The two big surprises to me, for my first time playing as the French, was how well the Austrian militia defend in the rough terrain south of Vienna, and how precious horses are to France. I did a poor job of protecting my heavy cavalry when it exploited a breach in the Austrian line, and lost it! Replacing it has cost me ALL of my stockpile of horses.

Currently, there is a convoy enroute from South America, with a large number of horses on board. But, after Trafalgar, I only have a single frigate and a Batavian ship of the line to protect it. Good luck with that!

The Russians did not seem to provide much support to the Austrians, which based upon my experience, is a wise choice on Borsook's part. He is probably building them up, and researching like crazy, so that the Russians will be a potent force in later turns. It is, indeed, a long game.

With Vienna having now fallen to the French on the February 18, 1806 turn, I have sent a polite note to the Russians, asking them to vacate Prague and Buda. Le Grande Armee is even willing to help them pack, and make the move east