Annexation of Chiraz - Game #5 - The Defence of Cressay - Set Up

First game of the year for DG and I, albeit by Skype.. 😏

..in this scenario, the fifth in the campaign, an Allied force has arrived to try and take the two bridges in the town of Cressay, and bring the campaign to a triumphant end. The French of course will be trying to stop them..

Previous battles can be found here:

• Annexation of Chiraz - Game #1 - Battle of Petreville
• Annexation of Chiraz - Game #2 - Crossing the River Cressay
• Annexation of Chiraz - Game #3 - Incident at Drew (Part 1)
• Annexation of Chiraz - Game #3 - Incident at Drew (Part 2)
• Annexation of Chiraz - Game #4 - Return to the Arsenal

OOB:

As attckers the Allies have an extra infantry battalion, and an extra regiment of horse..

Country	Unit Type	Unit Name	SP	MP
French	Cavalry	Souastre	5	5
Bavarian	Hvy Cavalry	Arco	5	5
French	Infantry	Bearn	5	5
French	Infantry	Navarre	5	5
French	Infantry	Toulouse	5	5
French	Infantry	Nivernais	5	5
French	Infantry	Royal Italien	5	5
French	Artillery	Medium Artillery	5	5
Country	Unit Type	Unit Name	SP	MP
Allies	Cavalry	Schomberg	5	5
Allies	Cavalry	Cadogan	5	5
Allies	Hvy Cavalry	Alt-Hanover Cuirassiers	5	5
Allies	Infantry	North and Grey	5	5
Allies	Infantry	Dering	5	5
Allies	Infantry	Goor	5	5
Allies	Infantry	Beinheim	5	5
Allies	Infantry	Rechteren	5	5
Allies	Infantry	Sturler	5	5
Allies	Artillery	Medium Artillery	5	5

Set up notes:

• Allied entry is bottom corner, French/defenders deploy 'behind' the red line; for the French hidden deployment is allowed (but not used for this game, but if they were, use the usual methods i.e.. map where units are, reveal when they could be seen etc..)

• It’s a 6’ x 4’ table and we used our usual WSS rules (a modification of the Will McNally AWI rules - details on my project page [clicky])

• Both sides can deploy on to the table in any formation they prefer - the French may start the game inside the buildings if so preferred. 

• Woods are 'open'; all hills are 'gentle'; the river not crossable except at the bridges (which are wide enough for one base width column); houses will hold one unit each/the church will take two

Winning conditions:

The winning side needs to ‘hold’ both bridges at the end of the game - hold meaning that both ends of the the bridge are controlled. If  each side only holds one bridge then it is a draw.

In the last game DG came up with a 'hideously complex formula' (trademark DG ) for working out the end of the game and it worked so well I thought we'd use it (slightly modified) in this game as well - in fact, I think the army breakpoint rule works so well it could feature permanently...

• Game ends when at the end of a Turn one side
• 1] Has 68%* + losses (that is the Allies have 16SP left; the French have 13SP left)
  and
• 2] Does not control both bridges
  or
• 3] Concedes

That side is then obliged to quit the field. So, as long as a side controls both bridges they can't lose

* why 68%?? DG originally came up with the number for the last game, as in that game it represented a round number of SP's lost - he subsequently did some research and found out that French casualties at Blenheim were about that, so it has some verisimilitude..

Stay tuned for the game report which will, somewhat amazingly, be post number number 700 (!)