Another member of the club introduced to Square Bashing via Walter Schnaffs. He enjoyed it so much he immediately bought the rules and is taken with putting together something from 1914. The WS game was a four hander with the latest devotee as half of the French team. Although there was a Prussian breakthrough and some devastating Krupp preparation, the French dug themselves in around the central village, as well as bagging a couple of the objectives. I told him all is not lost until the victory points are counted, and indeed the French won a minor victory by a margin of thirteen points, thanks to sundown and the isolated position of the Prussian breakthrough.
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/s960x960/83280487_211052090054059_3294997123061252096_o.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_ohc=8RwDrMXjCzkAX8fcei2&_nc_ht=scontent-lht6-1.xx&oh=120b9b9f32538a9d0bb66606c8cd9fe6&oe=5ED8E54B)
my favourite bit about SB is not being quite sure if you have won or not
Indeed Simon, the Prussians were sure they had it in the bag, but Major-General von Ditherstein failed to launch a flanking attack against the French right flank, allowing night to fall (a defender die roll of 4 when the countdown was at two). Defeat was further compounded by all four Prussian batteries on Windmill hill being overrun when Lieutenant-General Attakzky rushed most of the infantry forward from the area around the hill to try and grab victory points from a breakthrough, only to expose his own right flank to an opportunist attack by French line infantry and zouaves. this situation can be seen at the top of the photo. The perils of decision making - the Prussian tactics should have been the opposite on both flanks.
Quote from: SimonC on February 06, 2020, 12:16:10 PM
my favourite bit about SB is not being quite sure if you have won or not
Yes, this is common with a lot of RFCM games. But then history is usually written by the victors. Or who ever could get the report back to papers fast enough!
I do sometimes wonder why Square Bashing doesn't get the acclaim I feel it deserves. A real classic that I would vote for in any poll as ground-breaking in its design.
Good to see folk enjoying the game. Rob would be most pleased too :)