Intermission

Phil and I are all set for tomorrow's concluding moves in the Wars of the French Revolution game we started two weeks ago. Sadly, now I have studied the table more closely, it looks a very tall order for the Allied army to pull off a win. It would be more a case of the French loosing it than of the Allies winning I feel, but we shall see. As I am off to Scotland on Tuesday, I may not have time to Blog the game tomorrow so here are a few images showing what I think will be the important positions as the game develops ~

On the Allied right the cavalry is on the verge of breaking, with only one Regiment unshaken. The Hanoverian infantry will be forced into square if that happens, leaving the French to bring up their supporting guns and infantry to break the Allied right. I will need to Rally off a casualty here straight away to have any chance.

One French Battalion is already moving forward. I need my skirmishers to hold them up from the cover of the woods if they can.

In the Allied centre the 42nd Foot are holding the town for now, but my reserves are already committed, so if they break or are forced back my centre is broken.

The 42nd has some skirmishers to its left front who may hold up the enemy for a move or two with good dice. We treat the skirmishers in this game as Small Units, independent of the main Battalion. Not strictly cosher for Black Powder but it gives an added dimension to the game we feel.

The Royal Artillery 9lbers are giving staunch support to my left and centre, doing great execution! The French Lights are already Shaken, maybe one more dose of canister will see them off? Even so, there are a lot of Frenchies still moving forward.

On the Allied left the position is more stable I feel. The Lowenstein Chasseurs are holding their own while a Battalion of British regulars has plugged a worrying gap in the line. Reserves here though are thin on the ground, so these men must hold at all costs.

As I said, a lot of Frenchies still moving forward.

We shall see what the dice gods have in store for us tomorrow! In the meantime, you may remember that I talked abut dressing the town for different periods to make it a more generic and therefore useful piece, so here are a few shots to illustrate hopefully my meaning. Firstly, a pump and trough added between the houses with some figures going about their business. The barrels suggest the building might be an inn ~

Secondly, a couple are leaving church, after a quiet moment of prayer perhaps?

Two gentlemen are on their way into town, discussing the affairs of the day I expect. I've added a box of apples in front of the stables as a treat for the horses!

I hope that gives an idea of what I meant by 'dressing' the town for different periods. I also have a carriage and pair underway to add to the period feel from the SYW to the Wars of the French Revolution. I have other ideas for the look of the town in 1914 and 1940 which we shall have to wait and see. For now though, Toodle Pip!