(Big Game) Ramillies: The Final "Set-Up" Photographs [Pre-Game 2] Post #2

My infantry boys, finally based, make it to the table-top - the 'L' shaped block of 24 infantry figures (see below, please note the six spare figures from my Warlord Games Infantry of the Sun King became turned into Grenadiers figures [there were plenty of spare heads - thank you Warlord] that represented a "Combined Grenadier" unit for the French Army - a bit of formation colour):

My first unit of (French) horse were reunited with their riders (see below: literally glued into their saddles on the day of the battle, varnish only just dried and cured - this unit has a 'Yellow' bugler ) :

My last unit contribution was another (French) cavalry unit (see below: as per the previous unit the riders being finally finished in the early hours of the morn of the battle, they have a Red bugler - somewhere else was a General figure but I forgot to take a keepsake photograph of that one):

At this point I found out that I had furnished troops for the enemy as I was moved over to the British side. Interesting as my perspective in battle did a 180 degree turn about. In my heart (and backed up by a cool logical mind) I knew they (the French) had to attack and press home an initial slim advantage on the Cavalry part of the battlefield [the French right wing and visa versa the British left wing]. The British Generals all agreed and we expected a furious and bloody cavalry battle that would be "fed into" (see below - part of the fearsome French right wing cavalry):

The French cavalry looked "wall-to-wall" comprising the finest French Guard Regiments. The only comforting though was that we (the British) had more cut-and-thrust blade cavalry than the French. The French persisted in the antiquated pistol tactic of circling round firing their firearm just outside of effective range. Most of the British on the other hand preferred to get "stuck in" with a cold steel charge (see below):

An early British objective would be the extreme hamlet (fortified village) garrisoned by French Dragoons. An Allied foot regiment had been brought up for a "quick assault" in a 'beggar me or bust' first turn attack, before the French had time to reinforce it (see below):

Ramillies itself was heavily defended (see below, we knew we would have to take it to win the battle):

Against Ramillies a fearsome weight of English and Dutch cannon were laid (see below, it was also decided before the game to relocate another four guns to this sector, particularly as we were playing restricted ammunition [randomly rolled] house rule):

A final shot of the table before the first shot was fired (see below, note that there are many more generals than before lurking off table this time - nine all told with a couple of visitors who popped in to "just see it"):

Prepare yourself for a Malburian feast!