The first game was a recreation of one of Frederick the Great's victories. The layout was beautiful and there were lots of figures on the table. I ended up with the Prussian right flank. Generally, I don't like a game set up in which the player's first action is largely predetermined. I had a brigade of cavalry and nowhere to take them but to charge straight into battle against superior numbers and while being surrounded. With some timely luck, I managed to win some encounters before being forced back across the river.
My infantry battle was the exact opposite. Despite working with an advantage in numbers, I could not roll well enough to seriously hurt the opposing Austrians.
The rules were essentially Fire and Fury but modified for 18th century warfare. I found them to be a bit slow in a convention setting.
After that, it was on to Dux.
This was a lot of fun with the Saxons on both flanks eventually taking out their opposing Britons while having the center completely collapse.
The third session was me running Big Chain of Command. I learned a few things from running it:
- Despite encouraging people to move their figures, players tend to be conservative and stay in cover.
- In a convention setting, play across the table rather than along it even if the probe scenario is fun. The Russian players did eventually make a go of it and nearly won but then they were spent as a force.
- While the patrol phase is the coolest part of the game. it might be best to skip it and just set up the deployment points for the players.
