Posted from BGG user Jockus!
Vincent has inspired me to post my own AAR. Please give me feedback on the length of this AAR (Too much or not enough?)
Plans:
In a sleepy hamlet called Krzenowitz, two miles west of Austerlitz, just after midnight on 2 December, 1805, General Weyrother describes his Disposition and attack plan for the Coalition. (randomly chosen plan)
“Napoleon is clearly retreating. Now is the time to attack him, before he falls back on Vienna. Scouts have discovered that the lower Goldbach is weakly-held, so an attack on his right flank should force him to retreat away from his lines of communication with Vienna. A retreat into Bohemia would separate him from his supply lines. With this in mind, First Column will attack Sokolnitz, while Second Column attacks Telnitz. The Advance Guard of the First Column will exploitation the breakthrough, once the Goldbach is forced at either point. The day’s goal is Turas.
Meanwhile, Third Column will protect the Pratzen Heights. Fourth Column shall protect a line from the villages of Pratzen to Blasowitz. These two columns can move forward to the Goldbach near Kolbenitz, depending upon the French deployment. Fifth Column shall provide cavalry support near Blasowitz. The Advance Guard of the Army shall protect the Goldbach Heights and the Post House. The Guard shall remain in reserve near Blasowitz. These forces will move to take the Santon, if the situation warrants it.”
Tsar Alexander: “Very well, General Weyrother. We are done retreating. Kutuzov, you may leave. I’ll let you know if I need anything from you. We shall strike the French hard, just like in Italy; strike him down with the bayonet, the Russian way. Napoleon is as good as defeated already.”
“Fifth Corp shall operate with First Corp. Fifth Corp shall attack to take the Goldbach Heights, while the First, on the right flank, shall take the Posoritz Post House. This will be our main attack. The Grenadier Division shall take Blasowitz, while the Reserve Cavalry protects the flank of the First Corp. The Imperial Guard will deploy near Blasowitz as a reserve. These three corps can provide support either to the main attack north or an attack later on the Coalition center.
The Fourth Corp shall assault the village of Pratzen. Once the town is secured, Saint Hilaire’s Division shall hold the village and provide support to Vandamme’s assault south to the Pratzen Heights. The Corp’s 4th cavalry division shall also support this attack. The Third Corp shall defend the lower Goldbach as they arrive.”
Napoleon is not worried about being cut off from Vienna temporarily. “Berthier, I will purposely present a tempting target for the Coalition with my weakly-held right flank and my feigned withdrawal to bring the Coalition into a battle. They demand Belgium! HA! Enough of chasing Kutuzov! The majority of my Grande Army shall destroy the northern half of the Coalition Army and later, I will turn upon the Coalition attack columns.”
Snow is falling and Davout will likely be delayed. (battle variant randomly drawn)
First, my house rules.
1. No coalition foot artillery units can combine fire with another artillery unit. Exceptions are the actual Coalition artillery companies, the 15-strength units. Horse artillery is not subject to this rule. My basis is to prevent Coalition “grand artillery batteries” with regimental guns.
2. Tactical cards are drawn randomly, one per turn and use/lose for that turn.
3. No Coalition “Light” units will receive the -1 DRM when firing. Both the Grenzers and the Jaegars were trained as line infantry at this point in time. The French were clearly superior in this aspect of warfare, even beyond Friedland. The Russians chose their ground at Eylau specifically to factor out the French skirmisher advantage.