Annual Wargaming Trip - Day 5 (the last one.....)

And so the dawn broke on our final half day of escape from reality and after our usual cooked breakfast, we adjourned to the "shed" to be introduced to Mark's wonderful mini game based around his collection of Perry Retreat from Moscow figures. This took the form of all the players being on the same side against a mechanic based on the Pony Wars rules. Mark functioned as umpire/game master, activating and fighting the Russians who appeared on the table based on trigger points reached by (but unknown to) the French.

Each of the rest of us commanded one unit of the retreating French. Paul had the cavalry, Chris, Barry, John and I had a unit of infantry each and Rick, with his usual flair, commanded the sleigh mounted cavalry unit!

We basically had to move from one edge of the table to the other, exiting over a bridge at the far end. En route, we passed a couple of villages, some woods and an Orthodox church. We were expecting to locate a cache of food at some point on our march but instead found l'Empereur and a small escort of La Garde waiting for us in the first village. The pesky Russians appeared at random based on cards Mark drew and all they basically did was head straight for the Emperor, attacking anyone who got in their way!

The game lasted a couple of hours and was a close run thing at several points. Paul managed to lose the French cavalry and Ricks sleighs were a bit shaky by the end of things, but the infantry were pretty staunch and we got Napoleon safely to the bridge!

Great fun and a nice simple way to end the week, one unit each and all on the same side meant we were happy and relaxed for the drive back to Auckland!

Here are my photos of the game

 The French revving their engines on the start line........

 Paul's cavalry detachment lead the way

 Rick's sleigh unit heads off to engage the first Russians to appear

 And Paul skirts the village in case it contains any "baddies"...but as usual, the PBI had to walk up the road to see what happened!

Quelle Surprise - c'est L'empereur et sa Garde

 Meanwhile, Rick moves around a unit of pike armed peasant militia to give them a volley en passant

Napoleon moves off with the Guard to the fore

More Russians appear and converge on the Emperors position

The cavalry charge a Russian unit while the sleighs  fly past to their rear

 Cossacks heading towards Napoleon are confronted by John and Barry's infantry units

 OH BUGGER! Russian artillery appears directly in line with Napoleons sleigh and score a hit!

But Barry's infantry assault them from the flank and put the gunners to flight

 Rick's sleighs have reached the river and engage a Russian infantry square

 A general view of the game at the half way point - another Russian gun has appeared plus a regiment of regular cavalry to add to the many infantry units

The Guard clear a path for the emperors sleigh

 French units create a "tunnel" for the emperor to move along - Russian units are on each side, baying for blood and vengeance

 The final act - the Russian peasants adjacent to the bridge charged the guard and nearly broke through to kill Napoleon!

 Rick had moved half his sleighs to the "safe" side of the bridge as they were in a pretty bad way after charging the length of the table, blazing away at every Russian unit they encountered

 The last roll of the dice for the Russian - but this time, the guard did not "recule"!

And the way was opened for the emperor to retire safely across the river and continue his ignominious journey westwards!