New Empire

OUR group of four boardgamers has got together again for another round of Philip Sabin's Empire.

The four are myself, my regular wargaming opponent ('Reg'), security consultant Richard Johnson and Andy, a serving officer in Britain's armed forces.

Here are the standings after six playthroughs (four points for a win, three for coming second, etc).

ANDY

Game One: 4pts (Macedonians)
Game Two: 3.5pts (Persians/Parthians)
Game Three: 3pts (Romans)
Game Four: 2.5pts (Carthaginians)

Game Five: 2pts (Romans)

Game Six: 4pts (Persians)
Total: 19pts

ME

Game One: 3pts (Carthaginians)
Game Two: 3.5pts (Romans)
Game Three: 4pts (Persians)
Game Four: 1pt (Macedonians)

Game Five: 4pts (Persians/Parthians)

Game Six: 2pts (Carthaginians)
Total: 17.5pts

'REG'
Game One: 1pt (Persians/Parthians)
Game Two: 2pts (Carthaginians)
Game Three: 1pt (Macedonians)
Game Four: 4pts (Romans)

Game Five: 3pts (Carthaginians)

Game Six: 1pt (Macedonians)
Total: 12pts

RICHARD JOHNSON
Game One: 2pts (Romans)
Game Two: 1pt (Macedonians)
Game Three: 2pts (Carthaginians)
Game Four: 2.5pts (Persians/Parthians)

Game Five: 1pt (Macedonians)

Game Six: 3pts (Romans)
Total: 11.5pts

SCORES BY PEOPLES
Persians/Parthians: 19pts

Romans: 17.5pts
Carthaginians: 14.5pts
Macedonians: 9pts

Here is the starting position in 350 BC

We will draw for peoples, but with the proviso no one can have a people he had in the last two games.

Top Read

EDITH Durham's High Albania is a riveting account of months of travel through remote parts of the Balkans in 1908.

Her book is apparently still regarded as an authoritative source for understanding old customs of the remoter mountainous regions.

A fascinating insight into a disappeared world

These customs included blood feuds, which were frequently a deadly business but had 'honourable' rules, one of which was that shooting was not allowed when a household was entertaining guests.

Accordingly Edith felt safe one evening in a village where, unable to stay with the local priest, who was away, she and her companions were invited to overnight with a family currently involved in a major blood feud over a broken engagement.

"The young man who had invited us had shot a man of the girl's family, and cleansed it [his honour]; now the family of the slain man hungered for the blood of him or his.

"He looked on the situation with grim satisfaction, for he knew he had acted righteously.

"I lay and listened to the tale while three men, intent on feeding us sumptuously, slaughtered a kid on a hurdle by the doorstep, and were busy cleaning and quartering it.

"Just as they were bloody to the elbows - dan! rang a rifle and phew-ew sang a bullet close over our heads from behind the corner of the wall.

"Down fell the flaying-knives; the three snatched Martinis [rifles] that hung handy from the stone brackets by the door, and dashed off in hot pursuit.

"A yell of laughter followed at once. A neighbour with a strong sense of humour had fired, just for a joke, to make them jump!"

There is much more of this, and I found the book so entertaining that I sped through the almost-200 pages on a recent 10-day holiday, leaving me with nothing to read for the rest of the trip!

Summing Up My Allied Playthrough Of Cacabelos In 3D

I ADMIT I was lucky - astoundingly lucky at times - with my dice-throwing, but even before that happened I felt a French victory was unlikely: the scenario seems just too tough for the AI.

My score against the AI is now 6-2, or 6-3 if you include the scenario that I started a unit short.

At this stage first-time through I was drawing 5-5, having played one scenario twice, but if the replay is excluded I was losing 4-5.

Cacabelos In 3D - Turn Eight

Map

Situation after seven turns

My activation dice land 3, 3, 1. I reroll them all, getting 6, 4, 2, which means that by changing wildcard 6 into 3 I can activate all my troops.

I start in area 4, where my infantry attack the French commander. The two dice are increased thanks to support from General Edward Paget, but I roll three 1s. General Paget moves around the right of the infantry and attacks his opposite number, rolling an ineffective 3, 2.

In area 2 my infantry also shoot at General Colbert-Chabanais, rolling 5, 1, killing the French general.

That ensures victory as the one remaining French unit cannot possibly exit the bottom of the table by the end of turn 10.

Cacabelos In 3D - Turn Seven

Map

Situation after six turns

My activation dice land 6, 3, 1. I reroll 3 and 1, getting 5, 4. I change wildcard 6 into 2.

In area 2 my two-strength infantry shoot at the French one-strength infantry, rolling 6, 4, 4, eliminating the enemy unit.

In area 4 my infantry advance diagonally left and shoot at the one-strength French cavalry, the three dice decreased for firing after moving, but increased thanks to support from General Edward Paget. I roll 6, 4, 2, eliminating the enemy unit.

The French are on the brink of defeat

The AI's activation dice land 6, 6, 4, 3. Wildcard 6s are rerolled, but become an unhelpful 5, 3.

Only General Colbert-Chabanais can be activated, and he desperately leaves the shelter of trees beside Cacabelos to charge my three-strength infantry. A commander, presumably with his escort, counts as a one-strength cavalry, so the general gets four dice, but decreased for attacking from a river hex. The dice land 6, 2, 2, eliminating a base.

If I can kill the French commander, I win as the remaining French cavalry unit is too far back to possibly exit the battlefield at the bottom of the map before the end of turn 10

Cacabelos In 3D - Turn Six

Map

Situation after five turns

My activation dice land 4, 3, 3. I reroll a 3, but it does not change.

General Edward Paget advances diagonally right so he can support my infantry in area 4 as they shoot at the French left-flank infantry, the four dice increased thanks to the commander's presence. I roll 6, 6, 4, 1, 1, easily eliminating the enemy one-strength unit.

The French are now outnumbered in terms of bases and units

The AI's activation dice land 5, 5, 5, 4. Two 5s are rerolled, but become 6, 5.

Only General Colbert-Chabanais can be activated, and he moves into the trees beside Cacabelos and the one-strength French cavalry.

The next turn could see an early Allied victory, unless the French right-flank cavalry get a move on

Cacabelos In 3D - Halfway Verdict

Map

Situation after five turns

I will be extremely disappointed if I allow any French unit to come even close to exiting the battlefield at the bottom of the map (I lose if an enemy unit does achieve this).

Here is how things stood after five turns in my first playthrough

I was doing well then, too, but there was danger in the form of the French left-flank cavalry fording the River Cúa.

Cacabelos In 3D - Turn Five

Map

Situation after four turns

My activation dice land 4, 2, 1. I reroll 1 and get 3, meaning I can again activate my whole army.

I start in area 3, where my artillery shoot along the right diagonal at the French extreme-left infantry. The three dice are increased thanks to support from General Edward Paget, landing 5, 5, 4, 3, destroying the enemy unit's one surviving base. The general falls back so he is slightly behind the artillery and the Allied one-strength infantry.

In area 4 my three-strength infantry shoot at the dangerous French cavalry, the three dice landing 6, 6, 4, reducing the enemy unit to one base, which has to fall back a hex. My one-strength infantry advance and shoot at the French left-flank infantry, the two dice reduced for firing after moving, but I roll 6, eliminating a base.

I leave my units in area 2 where they are.

Unless the French right-flank cavalry can work wonders, the AI is lost

The AI's activation dice land 6, 6, 5, 5. The wildcard 6s and a 5 are rerolled, becoming 6, 6, 2.

In area 2 the one-strength infantry advance and shoot at my left-flank infantry, the two dice decreased for firing after moving. The die lands 6, causing my unit to lose a base.

In area 5 the French infantry shoot at my one-strength infantry, the two dice increased thanks to support from General Colbert-Chabonais. The result is 6, 6, 4, easily eliminating my depleted unit. The general remains in the trees.

The battle has become very bloodthirsty

Cacabelos In 3D - Turn Four

Map

Situation after three turns

My activation dice land 5, 4, 2. I reroll 5, and get a 3, meaning all my units can be activated.

I start in area 4 with the two-strength infantry, who fire at the French cavalry directly ahead. The two dice are increased thanks to support from General Edward Paget, and I roll an amazing 6, 6, 5, eliminating the enemy unit. My three-strength infantry shoot at the French cavalry to their front, the three dice increased thanks to the commander, and again I come up lucky, rolling 6, 5, 5, 1, eliminating another enemy unit.

General Paget moves in front of the artillery, who do not have a target in line-of-sight, so he can support the infantry in area 2 as they shoot at the French right-flank infantry. The four dice are increased thanks to the commander's presence, and I roll 6, 6, 4, 4, 1. That destroys two bases, and forces the surviving base to fall back two hexes. My cavalry, no longer able to charge the same infantry unit, fall back a hex to be out of range of the French infantry if they advance in the next half-turn.

This is probably the best half-turn I have had in Battles Of Napoleonic Europe, especially when you consider both the eliminated units were cavalry, which are much more likely than infantry to get past my men and exit at the bottom of the map - the happening I have to prevent to win the scenario

The AI's activation dice land 6, 6, 5, 4. Wildcard 6s are rerolled, becoming 5, 3.

In area 3 the cavalry leave the shelter of Cacabelos and advance two hexes.

There are no French units in area 4, but in area 5 the two-strength infantry shoot at my two-strength infantry. The three dice are increased thanks to support from General Colbert-Chabanais, landing 5, 4, 2, 2, eliminating a base and forcing my surviving base to withdraw a hex. The one-strength French infantry enter the river hex and want to shoot at my three-strength infantry, but their two dice are cancelled by having to fire after moving and by being in a river hex.

The battle is certainly not over, but the Allied cause is surely in the ascendancy

Cacabelos In 3D - Turn Three

Map

Situation after two turns

My activation dice land 5, 5, 4. I reroll the 5s, getting 6, 3. By turning wildcard 6 into a 2, I can activate all my men.

I start in area 3, where my artillery have a straight diagonal line-of-sight to the French left flank infantry. The three dice, increased thanks to support from General Edward Paget, land 6, 5, 4, 2, destroying two bases and forcing the surviving base back a hex. The general moves right a hex so he can support both my infantry units in area 4. The forward infantry shoot at the French cavalry to their front. The three dice are increased thanks to the Allied commander's presence, the result being 4, 4, 1, 1, sending the cavalry fleeing two hexes.

I make no other moves, satisfied that the French are a long way from getting a unit off the bottom of the battlefield

The AI's activation dice landed 5, 5, 4, 1. A 5 is rerolled, becoming a 2.

In area 1 the infantry advance a hex and shoot at my artillery, the three dice decreased for firing after moving. The dice land 4, 1, forcing my unit back a hex. The cavalry advance two hexes, finishing directly behind the infantry unit that has just fired at my artillery.

There are no French in area 2, but in area 4 both cavalry units advance two hexes.

In area 5 the two-strength infantry leave the trees, shooting at my furthest-forward infantry. The three dice are decreased for firing after moving, but land 5, 3, causing my unit to lose a base. The one-strength French infantry also advance a hex. General Colbert-Chabanais moves into the nearby copse, putting him next to three French units.

The French are close to fording the river

Cacabelos In 3D - Turn Two

Map

Situation after turn one

My activation dice land 5, 5, 1. I have no troops in either area 5 or 1, so I reroll all three dice, getting 5, 4, 3.

In area 4 the rearward infantry shoot at the French infantry in front of Cacabelos, the four dice increased thanks to support from General Edward Paget. I roll 6, 5, 4, 4, 1, eliminating the two-strength enemy unit. My other infantry in area 4 shoot at the two-strength French in the trees, the four dice increased thanks to General Paget, but decreased due to the target being in cover. I roll 4, 4, 3, 2, but only one of the retreat dice is enforced as the unit is then supported by the French commander, General Colbert-Chabanais. General Paget moves two hexes to the left to support the artillery in area 3 when they shoot at the French infantry directly in front of them. The three dice are increased thanks to the general, and increased by two more thanks to firing at short range. The dice land 6, 6, 6, 4, 4, 4, eliminating the enemy unit.

A good half-turn for the Anglo-Portuguese

The AI's activation dice land 5, 4, 4 2. A 4 is rerolled, becoming a 3.

There are no French in area 2, and in area 3 the cavalry choose to remain in Cacabelos.

In area 4 the forward cavalry move through two copses to emerge on beside of the river, opposite my area-4 infantry. The rearward cavalry are held back.

In area 5 the three-strength infantry advance and shoot at my right-flank infantry, the four dice reduced for firing after moving. They land 4, 2, 1, forcing my unit to withdraw a hex. The two-strength French infantry advance into the trees. General Colbert-Chabanais advances diagonally right a hex to be adjacent to two friendly units.

The strong French left has begun its expected attack

Cacabelos In 3D - Turn One

Map

Situation at the start, looking from behind the Allied lines

My activation dice land 5, 5, 2. Since I have no troops in area 5, I reroll the 5s, getting a pair of wildcard 6s, which I turn into 4 and 3, meaning I can activate all my troops.

I start in area 3 where unfortunately my artillery have no target as guns can only fire along a straight line of hexes, either directly to their front or diagonally. My infantry in area 3, however, fire at the French in Cacabelos. The four dice are decreased for firing from a river hex and for the target being in cover, but increased thanks to support from General Edward Paget. I roll 5, 2, 2, causing the French unit to lose a base. The general moves two hexes to his right, so he can support my units in area four.

In area 4 the forward infantry fire at the French nearest them in the trees. The four dice are decreased for the target being in cover, but increased thanks to the commander's presence. The dice land 6, 3, 2, 1, making the French unit lose a base.

In area 2 I pull the cavalry back a hex to ensure no French infantry can shoot at them this turn.

The AI's activation dice land 6, 6, 2, 1. The 6s are rerolled, becoming 6 and 3.

In area 1 the infantry leave the trees by advancing a hex, but the cavalry remain where they are.

In area 2 the infantry leave the trees to advance diagonally right and shoot at my men in the river hex. The four dice are decreased for firing after moving, but land 6, 6, 5, eliminating my unit.

In area 3 the two-strength infantry in Cacabelos advance and shoot at my artillery, the two dice decreased for firing after moving. The result is a miserable 1. The cavalry in area 3 replace the infantry in Cacabelos.

A good start for the French

Battle Of Cacabelos In 3D

THE ninth scenario in Mike Lambo's Battles Of Napoleonic Europe is Cacabelos, fought from the Allied side.

A rearguard, commanded by General Edward Paget, younger brother of the Lord Henry Paget who commanded at Sahagún, has to prevent the French from pursuing Sir John Moore's main army, which is retreating towards the port of Coruña (Corunna).

Map

Battlefield in 3D, using Hexon II hexes from Nottinghamshire-based Kallistra, with added terrain features

In addition to General Paget, the human receives four units of infantry, one of cavalry and one of artillery

The AI receives General Auguste de Colbert-Chabanais, five units of infantry and four of cavalry 

To win I have to prevent any French unit exiting the bottom of the map during the 10 turns of the battle.

I set up first, with my units starting within the map's dashed red lines.

I have placed all units within areas 2-4, although this means two units start in river hexes

I chose a similar setup on my first playthrough, albeit with the cavalry on the right flank rather than the left

I won that playthrough with turns to spare, but I summed it up thus:

That may make it seem like the battle was rather one-sided, although it most definitely did not feel that way to as I played it.
My refight was not so dissimilar to the real battle in 1809, even down to the French commander, General Colbert-Chabanais, being killed by infantry fire.
I have to admit I was at least a tad fortunate with the way the dice landed, especially towards the end when the French attack faltered as they seemed to lose heart.

This refight of the scenario, which as usual I will write up as it goes along, may show whether I really was lucky.

But first the AI decides on its setup, using dice.

The AI has plumped for a strong centre and left, with General Colbert-Chabanais on the extreme left of the French setup

This contrasts markedly with the first playthrough, when the AI went for a strong right, which is where the general also chose to be

Mountain Retreat

SPENT 10 days recently in Bad Bertrich, a town in the Eifel mountains about halfway between Luxembourg and Frankfurt am Main.

The area is largely volcanic and forested, making for great walking

Roman bathing houses were built in the 300s, their presence confirmed by the discovery in 1858 of a statue dedicated to the hunting goddess Diana (and copied for this roundabout centrepiece)

Today Bad Bertrich lives largely on its reputation for having uniquely favourable spa waters

Of rather more interest to me is the area's connection to Prussia, this Bismarck Tower being one of almost 250 dedicated to the Iron Chancellor across German-speaking lands

Summing Up My French Playthrough Of Sahagún In 3D

IT is very satisfying to win a scenario in Mike Lambo's Battles Of Napoleonic Europe, especially after losing that scenario first-time through.

I felt my plan of targeting the British force's relatively weak right wing, followed by the all-cavalry centre, and finally the artillery, was a sound one.

The battle seemed to swing back and forth, albeit within a small range, but then my French definitely gained the upper hand.

However, the last enemy unit ensconcing itself in the town, which in turn was partly protected by a river, nearly gained the AI enough time to score what had by then become an improbable victory. 

Nevertheless, I did manage to win, just before time ran out.

My score against the AI is now 5-2, or 5-3 if you include the scenario where I started a unit short.

At this stage first-time through I was losing 4-5, having played one scenario twice, but if the replay is excluded I was losing 3-5.

Sahagún In 3D - French Playthrough: Turn 10

Map

Situation after nine turns

My activation dice land 6, 3, 2. I reroll 2, but it becomes another 3.

I change wildcard 6 into a 5, and use my cavalry in area 5 to attack the British artillery, the three dice increased thanks to support from General Debelle, but decreased for attacking from a river hex and for the target enjoying cover. I roll 6, 5, scoring the two hits necessary to eliminate the last enemy unit and so win the battle.

Sahagún In 3D - French Playthrough: Turn Nine

Map

Situation after eight turns

My activation dice land 6, 4, 3, meaning that, with the aid of wildcard 6, I can activate all my men.

I start by sending General Debelle diagonally forward two hexes to the right, and then move the cavalry units in area 3 towards Sahagún.

Finally my two-strength cavalry on the outskirts of the town attack the artillery, the three dice decreased for being in a river hex and for the target being among buildings, but increased thanks to support from the French commander. The dice land 3, 2 - no effect.

The AI's activation dice land 3, 2, 2, 1. A 2 is rerolled, but becomes a useless (for the AI) 6, meaning the artillery cannot be activated.

All hangs on the last turn