It's been a while since we tried Maurice, what with all the FoB recently.
So, with Pete coming over to try out some more historical wargaming, it was time to give it another spin.
As usual - a great game where resources have to carefully managed and husbanded. Do I rally? Do I charge? Can I afford to move those reserves to the left - all the while, while morale is whittled down.
The late C17th troops were still at hand, so a relatively simple task to get them on the table.
Use of the 'That's Not on the Map' card, early on.
Disruption markers clearly brought to the battlefield by unscrupulous private contractors - known as 'Disruption Cabbages' during this game due to their particularly 'to scale' resemblance of said vegetable. Who said there was no comedy in these games?
Allied troops await the French attack. They have more elite units, but if the Allies can out maneuver or use cards judiciously...
The French cavalry is forced across the hill.
Cavalry clash on the French left.
Allies reach the cover of teh fields, and manage to hold through timely rallies.
Elite French cavalry takes a chance and charges home, but falters badly against lucky Allied muskets.
An allied unit pushed into the fray through use of a timely 'confusion' card. It doesn't last long.
Cavalry of both sides surges across the battlefield (I even remembered the 2BW rule this time).
And rolling 4 sixes together always helps!!!
The Allies begin to outnumber isolated pockets of French troops.
...and the French morale is eventually broken.
Another great game of Maurice and a nice contrast to other rules.
"Disruption Cabbages?" That is a good one! One of the fellas I game Fire and Fury with uses tufts of lichen glued onto a small, flat disc to represent unit status. Each is painted either yellow (worn) or red (spent). Since each marker resembles a small bush, we refer to a unit not fresh as "bushed."
ReplyDeleteGame looks great and you are making me want to give Maurice another go!
Thanks Jonathan.
DeleteI should admit that we also used the term 'death cabbages'. I just thought it was too radical for the blog :) ...one step at a time...
Splendid figures for an intense and beautiful looking game!
ReplyDeleteThanks Phil. I need to do some maps too, and break up the pics.
DeleteAnother epic clash, Darren! Looks great. Use of disruption cabbages is noted :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Steve. As noted above 'death cabbages' also used. That was almost the blogpost title 'Maurice and the Cabbages of Death'...hmmm, maybe I should've gone with that .
DeleteGreat stuff - use of vegetables on the battlefield does not count as one of your five a day however.
ReplyDeleteYeah Jack, good point. I don't recommend eating cotton puff balls, though they do look tasty. Not that I tried...erm...really...
DeleteWe must give Maurice an outing
ReplyDeleteYes. There is a nice campaign mechanism in the back, and the 100 point restriction probably helps for something like an AWI campaign - Saratoga or similar - something with limited forces and poor logistics.
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