I like fairly small games that will play in a couple of hours and I don’t want to paint 20 battalions per side etc, so small armies on small tables suit me.
Yesterday I ran the ’Attack on Bühl’, somewhat fictitious. My 4x4 gave the French attackers two areas of interest. The village of Bühl to their left and the Austrian guns on their right. The infantry brigade would deal with the village and the cavalry brigade would deal with the guns.
Had I played this on a bigger table, say a 6 foot table, the assault on the village would no doubt have been the centre and I would have had the opportunity to create a left wing, but I am okay in such a wing just being imagined.
I typically find that these small force set-ups do take on a life of their own, giving a very pleasurable two hours of play with some nice figures and terrain … what’s not to like!
Although one might assume the village was the main event (well it was in terms of victory) it was actually the French right that brought nuance and twists to the game.
The Austrians had posted a hussar unit to protect the guns. The French had a hussar regiment (out in front) and a cuirassier regiment supporting. THe Austrian Hussars made a first strike against the French hussars, forcing them back. Then came more of a swirling cavalry battle, which saw the Austrian hussars fall back ‘with some enthusiasm’!.
The Austrian guns now looked exposed …. Worse, a random even had put them low on ammo, so they could not fire with more than one die. However, that one die was rolling hot and combined with post fire tests etc etc, the French cavalry became increasingly hesitant and in the end, the guns were not harmed.
The moment had been saved at Bühl. The first French assault had been repulsed, but the second cleared the village and the Austrians were in no fit state to retake it ….. so that was that as they say.
A good Sunday afternoon game, a handy collectable size, very playable, gamed to a conclusion and fine for the dining room / kitchen setting.
