Billy the Hut
United States
Boston
Massachusetts
Sit beside the breakfast table Think about your troubles Pour yourself a cup of tea Then think about the bubbles
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My wife was kind enough to give me Dos de Mayo for my birthday & I was eager to give it a play. So my friend Mark & I sat down to play, the first go at the game for each of us. By way of a heads up, this was a learning run through for each of us.
In Character: Mark scowled across the table at this low life occupier. His courage was braced & set, he would rise up and resist for the honor of Spain. I returned his steely stare with equal conviction, ready to suppress this rabble in no uncertain terms. Dogs howled in the night.
In Reality: Mark wanted to try the Spanish. So did I, having once lived in Madrid a few blocks southeast of Plaza Mayor. However as Mark was the host, and he provided pie, I yielded and happily took the French. His new puppy started howling after spotting the cat zip through the kitchen.
Turn 1 in Character: Enraged the Spanish charge the palace, with no thought to their own safety they charge the artillery. Many a brave Spaniard dies. However this rallies the city many more loyal Spaniards move towards the fighting.
Turn 1 in Reality: French forces started looking to consolidate in the east side of the city (11 to 13, 19 to 16). The Spanish, forgetting some of the effects of the Artilleria card, advance on the Palacio. Hopeful of quickly making his kill count Mark consolidates in the west of the city (4-8, 9-8, 17-10, 20-17, 12-15). One Spanish unit falls.
Turn 2 in Character: Jose Blas Molina Y Soriano rallies the Spanish making an organized retreat from the palace all the while French forces in the north of the city are slow to rise to the battle. As the artillery quiets down the sounds of dogs growling and teeth on bone can be heard.
Turn 2 in Reality: French consolidate moving west (13-12, 16-12). Here I, the French fumble, forgetting a move out of 16 doesn't count towards my two moves and not, as I had intended, moving 6-7. The Spanish, using the Jose Blas card fall back from the Palace and continue to group in hopes of making a French kill (8-9, 17-18, 15-18). Mark's puppy & his older dog decide just under our table is the place to fight over a rawhide bone.
Turn 3 In Character: Plaza Mayor becomes the rallying point for the resistance. Spaniards from around the city begin gathering here. The first attempt of the French to drive them from the Plaza fails.
Turn 3 In Reality: The French attempt to take Plaza Mayor and cut the city in half (12-18, Enter-16). In a bold all or nothing move the Spanish also try taking Plaza Mayor (10-9, 9-15, 18-15). At 6 to 4 odds a French unit falls.
Turn 4 in Character: The battle for Plaza heats up heroic efforts on each side but the courageous efforts of Captain Daoiz while great are not enough in the face of the elite French troops now reaching the plaza. The mournful howls of dogs seem to foreshadow the doom of the Spanish forces.
Turn 4 in Reality: The Fausilamientos card appears & is played immediately. Mark knows he has the Teniente Jacinto Ruiz card in his hand & now needs only 2 more French kills to win. The French press the attack on Plaza Mayor (16-15, Enter-20). I repeat my earlier mistake, forgetting a move out of 16 doesn't count towards my two moves. The Spanish try to hold their ground (9-15). Mark thinks this is another chance at a French kill as he plays the Capitan Luis Daoiz card for +1 but he's forgotten that loss of a unit at the palace thinking he presently has 8 not 7 units. So his +1 only gives him even odds not the advantage. An unusual slip on his part but it's an unfamiliar game and he's also trying to train the puppy not to howl at the cat. In the confusion I make the same error and waste the Tropas de elite card that also gives me +1 responding to his card. Another Spanish unit falls.
Turn 5 in Character: The Spanish valiantly continue their stand at Plaza Mayor, but their fate looks grim. The French troops in the north of the city finally awaken to the sounds of battle in the city center.
Turn 5 in Reality: The French continue to move more troops into the city center (6-7, 20-18). I know I need to hold the gates, but with Mark's clear offensive strategy I don't want to leave stragglers loose. Mark holds his ground, I'm not sure what he's up to (no Spanish move).
Turn 6 in Character: In a brilliant maneuver the Spanish send half their force towards Puerta del Sol to eliminate a force of French on the Calle de Alcala. This inspires many Spanish soldiers to join with the civilians in spite of their orders. However on seeing the tide turn in the Plaza many of the rebels abandon the attack on the Puerta del Sol and return to the Plaza. Leaving the Spanish soldiers to die, and still Plaza Mayor runs red with Spanish blood.
Turn 6 in Reality: I tighten the noose going in for the quick kill but a little nervous about getting too far from the abandoned south gate (7-14, 18-15). Mark makes his move, he splits his forces (15-14). Three of the six remaining Spanish units split off moving towards Puerta del Sol. At the same time he plays the Los soldados se escapan de sus cuarteles card. Recruiting one Spanish unit in Puerta del Sol. This will result in a 4 to 2 battle giving the Spanish the game win. I counter with the Desorden card, forcing Mark to cancel one movement action his choice. Since he only had one movement the three units fail to make their way out of Plaza Mayor and the recruit at Puerta del Sol falls as well as 2 more at the Plaza since they're now out numbered 13 to 6.
Turn 7 in Character: For honor & country, the remaining Spanish forces make their valiant last stand in Plaza Mayor.
Turn 7 in Reality: The French units in Puerta del Sol move South, preparing to cover the gates. This shouldn't be a problem as I now have the Caballeria card in my hand (14-12, Enter-6). The Spanish make their 3rd and final error forgetting just how fast they'll lose units considering how out numbered they are, they try to hold my forces at Plaza Mayor hoping to keep me from the south gate. At 13 to 4 odds 3 more Spanish units fall at the Plaza leaving Mark with one unit on the board.
Mark concedes, at the end of turn 7.
As the cold and rotten person I am (also in the spirit of the history), I execute the last remaining Spanish unit.
A Dog continues to howl in the night (as that cat zips through the kitchen yet again).
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Matthew Emch
United States
Charleston
West Virginia
I AM PLING!!
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Excellent session report! I loved it but was surprised that your opponent did not split his Spanish force a bit sooner.
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Sit beside the breakfast table Think about your troubles Pour yourself a cup of tea Then think about the bubbles
