Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.
Returning from a week of work, with a thirst to match that of a herd of dehydrated camels, I arrive at my customary perch at the bar, all set to ease the strain on the seam of my purse, fair bulging with the rewards from my toils.
But hark! What is this unholy din that assails my poor ears. This is not the jovial banter of friend and foe alike that once sallied back and forth across the room; and around the tables, like cavalry around a square.
Listen to the walls, can you still hear the murmurings of Paul Harris, Neil Henderson, or the ravings of the mad Vice-Roi, Eugene himself with his 600 room, multi-story campaign tent with rotating gun turret and devilishly cunning cream pie flinger[?]
It grows harder to hear now, but if you listen very carefully, yuo may just catch it above this frighful din.
And what is this noise of which I speak? It is none other than the bleating of the sheeple; a defeated sheeple. Where is the spirit that enabled Wellington to hold his line together long enough to allow the Prussians to arrive and share in the victory?
There are only two certainties in life. You will pay taxes and you will die. Not a long list by any stretch of the imagination; and clearly contains no <i><font color="yellow">'You will be defeated each time you play the Allies at BGW'</font id="yellow"></i> clause.
For all else, I recommend following the philosophy of Peter O'Toole in the (second best line of the) movie when T.E Lawrence declares <i><font color="yellow">'Nothing is written!'</font id="yellow"></i>
To every strategy there must be an effective counter. It may not be pretty, it may not be Napoleonic, but it will be effective.
Turn 10 vs. the up-tempo French assault
<u>Allies</u>
Infantry: 12,650
Cavalry: 4,225
Artillery: 47
<u>French</u>
Infantry: 14,775
Cavalry: 3,800
Artillery: 106 (that's <i>one hundred and six</i> and rising [:0])
Prussians - enjoying a leisurely luncheon at Wavre [:D]
Employing similar tactics for the Allies against Theron Lambert, I got tonked right off the field; so no strategy is perfect, it depends on execution and exploitation of every one of your opponent's errors.
Finding the appropriate tactics to nullify this French strategy has been an interesting challenge. That said, my preference remains to play the games, employing units in a somewhat more historic format than stacking skirmishers to the maximum capacity of a hex to gain as many shots as possible.
For those who do not like (or want) the challenge of overcoming this manoeuvre, I recommend more care when selecting an opponent. There are still those out there for whom the accuracy of the simulation of period tactics is more important than the outcome of the game.
Now then barkeep, help ease the burden of my weighty purse, by exchanging a small portion of its contents, for a barrel of your finest ale. And Barrett, ny good man, when I start a-sluring and a-dribbling, please knock me down with your Friday night drinking bucket, lest I reveal the means with which to stone-wall your assault.
Cheers
GdD Eason
Comte de quelque chose
Duc à l'orange
VII Corps
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