Monday 4 February 2019

(Big Game) Ramillies "The Heart of the Matter" [Game 3] Post #5

The repetitive sequence of combat continues. The French second line of cavalry finds itself embroiled in sprawling melees (see below, a wave of double-lined French hits a single wave of Dutch):


The captured town on the extreme left of the Allied line is a painful proposition for the French Dragoons who are trading their lives with Dutch infantry. It has already cost the French a stand of cavalry who ventured too neat the place (see below, the protected status of the town gives the defenders good cover and a saving throw - already costing the French a stand of Dragoons):


The Dutch again bested the "double-ranted" French trading their lives dearly to stem the desperate French counter-attack  (see below, the Dutch are shattered, but have shattered one in return and disorganized yet another - a small factor in favour of the Allies):


Part one of the juggernaut, another Dutch convincing win (see below, the French are in despair):


A second round of combat decimates the French and a virtually untouched Allied force of cavalry will be in hot pursuit next round of a routing enemy (see below): 


Alas (statistics) and fortune reverse on the other combat as the French are (uncharacteristically) victorious in an equally decisive manner (see below, taking 50% casualties this Allied block of cavalry will be routing and in turn vigorously pursued by Frenchman with their "tail-up"):


Meanwhile the Allied artillery pound away at Ramillies, their ammunition is running low but they are now reinforced by a the second contingent of Allied artillery with fresh stacks of black "cannon balls" (we have added an advanced logistic feature to the rule system - limited artillery ammunition. The French C-in-C had suffered too much at the hands of the Allied artillery in the last game and decided to do something about it. In his favour it seemed a good historical call): 


Ramillies was approaching its ruin and the infantry seemed to be getting restless to get "stuck in". Yet more cavalry was being sent in the meat grinder of a battle on the "cavalry wing" from both sides.

Note: This is where we are departing from the historical narrative as Marlborough was the general who had the 'touch of genius' to commit his cavalry to one wing with a cunning "secret move". Here, both commanders can allowed do so.

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