Saturday, August 9, 2025

Marengo 2025 Again Part Two

We pick up the game at the start of the Austrian 1230 turn.

The Austrians waste no time in launching an attack on Chambarlhac's Division
as well as a spoiling attack on the French heavy cavalry.

The attacks were very successful, and the Austrian cavalry seeks out fresh targets.

Without giving the French time to recover the Austrian cavalry again attack.

It looks dire, but Murat saves the day.
Around this stage both sides have exhausted all their free-rolls.

It is 1330.
The Austrians have an overwhelming amount of cavalry and run down Napoleon.
His horse is shot out from under him, but he struggled free, 
grabbed a riderless horse, remounted and will return to action...

Murat saves the day again!

After routing one unit of Austrian cavalry, he hits another.

And another, until the French cavalry are exhausted
and dissipated due to winner's losses.
Murat then joins his final brigade of cavalry that has just arrived.

The Austrian artillery has blasted the French defenders of Marengo into oblivion,
but there is still a battery to overcome. 
At Castel Ceriolo one half of the place has been vacated due to excessive French losses.

Murat has joined his final brigade of cavalry that has just arrived.
Monnier's Division has arrived and started to deploy along with the Guard
and Marmont has now got the reserve artillery in position.
Victor remains at the crossroads near Marengo. 

Play will resume with the Austrian 1430 turn (and Napoleon's return).


Thursday, August 7, 2025

Carthaginians versus Republican Romans

An historical match of my Carthaginians and Karl's Romans.

The Romans were out scouted and found on a field of battle 
featuring some difficult terrain on the flanks.

The Carthaginians advance.

Skirmishers start to face off while the Carthaginians try to sweep round the Roman left.

The two armies are closing in...

Contact!
The Carthaginian Spanish and Gallic mercenaries defeat their opponents.

But the Romans strike back to devastating effect!

The Carthaginians start to crumble,
even though they have now flanked the Romans.

Defeat 

Next time they will bring the elephants!


Le Havre

Another week another new boardgame to try.  This one is a competitive but not confrontational trading game.  Beautiful graphics, plays quickly and presents some challenges that require planning and patience.

The boat is just a cute add-on to hold the tokens.
Richard identified this site for such things:

The value of buildings collected and cash in hand determine the winner.



Saturday, August 2, 2025

La Belle Epoque all over again

It has been a while since we played this, but we picked it up quickly enough to have an enjoyable game.  Richard was England, Russell France, Jeff Russia and I was the Central Empires.

At the end of Turn 3 the Central Powers were in the lead, but by Turn 6 it was France.  The game ended on turn seven with a very close result.


England and France tied for first place with 125 points, but England was placed first based on prestige.  Central Powers was third with 121 and then Russia with 118.