Maurice - The Conclusion

The Infanterie de Provance was standing firm due to fortunate dice rolling and favorable Action Card draws, but this could not last much longer. Soon the laws of probability would snap back like an overstretched rubber band, and my infantry would break. A decision must be made. A bold move. A decisive move! Now was the time to send in the cavalry! 
 

I had wanted to do it earlier, but in the heat of battle, I kept on forgetting to move my commander out of the way (a charge move cannot interpenetrate another unit). Luckily I had finally remembered the previous turn to spur the French C in C’s horse to move him off to the side. 
 

There was a gap in the middle, and my Condé Cavalry were going to fill it! With a raised saber and a cry, they were off! They wheeled and headed straight for the enemy… but didn’t realize that they would clip the Saltzburger regiment on the way in. The intended charge faltered and turned into a normal movement as I had to position my cavalry for the charge next turn. Surprise was lost. What a disappointment!

Michael, seeing my cavalry preparing to enter the fray, decided to make room for them by routing my Infanterie de Provance. He first volleyed and then charged in with the doughty IR2. Each side took some disruptions, but it was too much for the French and they broke. My army morale dropped to two, so I was still the battle, but just barely.
 

 

Noting that the Prussian IR2 were still licking their wounds after the clash with the Provance unit, the French Condé Cavalry charged into them and broke the IR2 with a powerful combat success!

The Prussian IR9 was not going to stand by and let their brothers go unavenged, so they waded into combat. The first round was non-decisive and so the cavalry charged in again. The French cavalry came up short this time and bounced back, which was all that the Prussian infantry needed. With a grim demeanor they raised their muskets and delivered the death blow to the French army. The Condé Cavalry broke and fled the field. Realizing that the day was lost, the C in C ordered the Saltzburgers from the field. The Prussians had broken the will of the enemy, taken the church objective, and won a decisive victory!
 
Michael and I had a great time playing Maurice for the first time. Even with ignoring the advanced rules and playing a mini-scenario, the game captured the feel and flavor of the period. There were twists and turns in the battle. Michael, who is far more knowledgeable than I am on the Seven Years War, was noting all sorts of things happening in the game that were actual occurrences in the battles of the SYW. The stringing out of my infantry mirrored what happened at Leuthen. Also, just like on the table today, the La Marck infantry did not perform very well at the Combat of Mehr. The Fog of War was palpable as was the shifting rise and ebb of each army’s fortunes. What more could you ask for from a rule set? We are both very excited to play a proper full-sized game soon!