Note Vassal module, art and rules are all playtest quality and under revision.

Picking up from our early session where I watched. I decide to continue play solo today.

On Battles does have a dense rulebook, and there are a number of little things as a novice I’d like to see in it and in the setup charts for the game. But we can chat about all those once we get thru a session and see how this puppy really plays.

If you recall at the end of the first turn, a disastrous impetuous cavalry charge was chased off and in fact rendered combat dysfunctional some dragoons from 2^nd Brigade. You can see them below left, sulking and licking their wounds.

At the top of the 0920 turn on the hot coast of Portugal, fresh troops have marched inland to support Wellesley. Similarly Junot is trying to gather his forces as 2^nd Division arrives for him. Unlike Junot we will take our time and prepare to bring a weight of force to bear I hope.

After conducting turn end rally functions, the French win initiative but let the Allies go first. This might provide some level of guessing for the Brits as to Junots intentions. Though the game Victory conditions mandate capture of the Hill south of Vimeiro and the village basically.

Ferguson and his troops march to the heights near Fontanell, and deploy with the intent of marching in line down to link up with Nightingall as needed, or to threaten the flank of the French.

After the Allies move, the two sides have a fire phase. Only the French hit. Scoring a 96 on the to hit forcing a morale check -10. This disorders the 2 companies of the 97^th Foot sitting in the shade of the woods on the facing slope of the hillside. Under that fire 1^st Brigade all gloriously in column step off towards the hill is perfect time, to the drum and fife. 2^nd Division brings its arty up on the flank and also deploys to begin shooting at the British hiding on the hillside. Part of 2^nd Bde 2^nd Div. part off to invest Toledo. Charlot leads this effort and takes his 3/92 Line with him.

More soon.