The Prussian Heyday Round 6

[awesum4]

We have now all played each of the opposing players once. The final round is the battle of Sedan.

For this round each of the French players may nominate two players they wish to play. You can either nominate here or by PM. I will allocate first choices in the order I recieve them. I will nominate second choices for those who failed to get their first choice. Then I will randomly allocate any remaining opponents.

Once I have the opponents sorted I will start the round.

[Linkinbrick]

In that case, I challenge SMJohnso77 and Gribol.

[awesum4]

For the battle of Sedan we will stick to the Prussian player (first named) setting up the challenge. password 1870

Doyley50 plays W_Michael

Gribol plays Ciberpencho

Ironclad plays awesum4

PeterthePainter plays Dilly

SMJohnso77 plays LinkinBrick

[gribol]

The battle awaits!

[Linkinbrick]

My French have bested SMJohnso77's Prussians at Sedan.

Facing superior artillery and being aware of enemy reinforcements underway, the French decided on Captain Haddock style of defense.

I wasn't very optimistic about my chances at first, but swiftly moving into chassepot range proved an effective tactic. The Prussians gave me much trouble at Givenne, but with my troops guarding the north, which wasn't threatened, moving in that direction from turn one, I was ultimately able to stand my ground there, and perhaps even gain a few percent. The rest of the western front quickly began looking quite decent, and ended up going decidedly in my favour, to the point that units from there ended up reinforcing Givenne, which saved me there. In the east and south the fights were a little more perilous, but the dice fell in favour. Which is how ultimately we ended up at 61 to 37.

GG.

[awesum4]

The French have thrown the perfideous Prussians led by Ironclad back from the crucial city of Sedan, beating them with minimal casualties (40% to 5%)
Rather than wait like trapped rats in a sewer pipe we determined to die as gloriously as weasels in a chicken coop and attacked on all fronts, destroying their foot and cavalry with devastating musketry followed by cavalry flank charges, their puny guns were run down by our magnificent cavalry.
Their final reinforcement weren't close enough to even fire their artillery when the rest of the army broke and ran.

Although the scenario initially appears to favour the French enduring long-range fire until the Prussian reinforcements have arrive and the Prussians launch an assault, after playing the game against several opponents I have found a French advance from the start is a much better idea. Ironclad played staunchly till the end but was overwhelmed from early on.

[gribol]

The Prussians in their unstoppable march occupy Sedan, taking the entire French army prisoner!
The Prussian army began the siege methodically, conducting continuous artillery fire on French positions, causing considerable damage.
After the initial softening of the position, the infantry started the assault. The French launched a powerful counterattack, achieving several local successes, but Prussian discipline and Prussian artillery allowed us to achieve a final, albeit bloody, victory.

Thank you for the exciting gameplay.

[PeterThePainter]

The French have surrendered at Sedan. The Prussians were winning 29 -46 at the time but beginning to doubt that they had the resources to clear the French out of Sedan as casualties were mounting.

The French cavalry made a break out to the North East of Givenne and despite being shot up by the infantry of the Guard's Division superior numbers overwhelmed the accompanying Prussian cavalry. Some French units pursued off the battlefield so the Emperor may have made it to Paris (or perhaps Chislehurst!). Although the Prussians managed to cross the bridge to the east of Wadelincourt I do not feel they had victory in the bag and the French lines were holding elsewhere.

Well played to Dilly.

Peter.

[Doyley50]

Sedan has fallen and the French army has capitulated. The Prussians, wary of the superior French musketry, relied on Krupp's finest to wear down the enemy infantry until they were sufficiently weakened for the Prussian infantry to mount their assault.
Good game thanks Will.

[awesum4]

So that concludes this tournament with a massive Prussian victory with 17 wins and 1 draw against the French 12 wins and 1 draw.

Thanks to all who have participated.

I'm taking a break for 7 weeks as I go overseas for a month in 2 weeks time. Will think about the next tournament I enjoy playing against the different people and having something with a bit more meaning than the usual random battle.
\
Andre

[w_michael]

Thank you Andre for organizing and running this tournament. It opened my eyes to the flexibility for Pike & Shot to stray outside of the Renaissance period for which it was attended.

[Doyley50]

Thanks for your efforts in organising the always entertaining tournaments. Hope you have a great break!

[gribol]

Thank you all very much for an engaging tournament. I look forward to the next one!

[ciberpencho]

Thank you very much to all.
It was my first tournament and I enjoyed it a lot. Until the next campaign!