Andreas E. Gebhardt
Germany
Birkenwerder
-
Smolensk 20 AAR
REMARKS:
This AAR is bases on a Vassal game played while waiting on an airport in Germany and after being back home again!
The sequence of notation is used as during the many play testing sessions I did for the Nap-20 playtesting team. It illustrates every single move or combat so you can check what was going on and in doubt, replay the whole thing...
Abbreviations used are:
* RP » reaction phase
* RBC » retreat before combat
* HR » hazardous retreat
* d6r » 6-sided-die roll
* = » die roll result follows
* MP » Morale Point
* SP » Strength Point
* N,W,S,E » all directions inclusive doubles like NW =» northwest
START 04-FEB-12, 20:05hrs UTC +1
GT 1
F- no random card (by rule)
* French units advance towards Smolensk deploying outside town
R - General's Mutiny (N/E, reshuffling cards)
* Ru-II (d6r=5) enters map on road at 0601, moving along towards Smolensk
* Ru-VI moves along road towards Smolensk
* both Ru-VII and Militia retire into fortified town hexes (0810 and 0909)
Morale F-8, R-7
GT 2
F - some good news (pontoon bridge built!)
* forced march (MT -1)
* Fr-RES Cav rushes along road towards pontoon bridge
* Fr-I enters map on road Fr-LOC 0814 moving into Smolensk
* Fr-I and -III attack Ru-VII in fortified Smolensk at +3, gaining a DW, which converts to N due to the fortified effect
R - Generals Argue (N/E)
* Ru-IV (d6r=3) is placed on entrance hex 0601 w/o moving
* Ru-VI moves along road towards Smolensk, followed by -II
Morale F-7, A-7
GT 3
F - Imperial indecision (no MP spending)
* Fr-V enters map on road at 1113, moving towards Smolensk, while -II Cav enters map at 1214, entering forest at 1313
* Fr-RES Cav crosses pontoon bridge
* Fr-I and -III attack Ru-VII in fortified Smolensk again at +3, gaining another DW result for a N, due to fortified effects
R - General's Mutiny (N/E, reshuffling cards)
* Ru-IV (d6r=5) enters map along road at 0601, while -BAR Cav (d6r=2) is put on entrance Ru-LOC 1301 w/o moving
* Ru-BAG Cav (d6r=5) enters along road at Ru-LOC at 1301, moving along road towards Smolensk
* Ru-VI moves along road towards Smolensk, followed by -II
Morale F-7, A-7
GT 4
F - Les Grognards (d6r=1, loosing 1 MP)
* Fr-IG enters map on road at Fr-LOC 0814, moving along road towards Smolensk, while -RES Art enters on road at 1113
* Fr-RES Cav moves N between forests at 1710
* Fr-II Cav adjacent to pontoon bridge
* Fr-V enters rough terrain at 1110
* Fr-I and -III attack third time Ru-VII in fortified Smolensk at +3 gaining a DR-(6)4, forcing -VII to rout 4 hexes! While crossing the Dniepr-bridge causing a HR (d6r=1), the Russians break causing morale to change -1 for the Russians and +1 for the French. Fr-I advances into vacated fortified town hex
R - Smolensk Ablaze! (City Ablaze! marker placed on hex 0809)
* Ru-BAR Cav moves along road towards Smolensk
* Ru-III (d6r=5) enters map along road at Ru-LOC 1301, moving along road towards Smolensk, while -RES Art (d6r=3) is put at entrance hex 0601
* Ru-VI enters Smolensk along road into Russian objective hex, followed by -II
Morale F-7, A-6
GT 5 (night)
F - Napoleon's Marshals (spending 1 free MP)
* forced march (by card)
* Fr-RES Cav moves adjacent SW of Lubino (Russian objective!), while -II Cav crosses Dniepr and enters forest at 1711
* Fr-V moves adjacent NE of Smolensk, while -RES Art deploys SE of town
* Fr-III enters Smolensk, while -IG deploys out of town at 0911
* no rallying
* MT +1 (for the night turn)
R - de Tolly's Luck (spending 1 free MP, reshuffling cards)
* Ru-RES Art (d6r=1), delays entrance by 1 GT
* Ru-V (d6r=6) enters on road at 0601, following -RES Art along road Smolensk
* Ru-MILITIA-1 retires across Dniepr along road to opposite unknown ford, while -II moves into vacated fortified Smolensk 0909
* Ru-BAG Cav moves towards Smolensk, followed by -IV
* Ru-BAR Cav moves along road towards Gorbunovo, followed by -III
* Ru-VII deploys SE of Gedeonovo
* no rallying
* MT +1 (by night turn)
* reshuffling cards
Morale F-8, A-7
GT 6 [17-AUG]
F - Some Good News (City Ablaze! marker removed)
* Undiscovered Ford (d6r=4) is not discovered!
* Fr-V/ -III/ -RES Art attack Ru-II in fortified Smolensk at +4 gaining a DR-(5)3, which results in a -1 MP and the advance of Fr-III into the vacated fortified hex
R - Generals Argue (no moving through other Army's hexes, nor any deployment of units of different Armys)
* Ru-III (d6r=1) delays entrance, while -RES Cav (d6r=5) enters map on road at 0601, moving towards Smolensk, following -RES Art and -V
* Ru-BAR Cav enters Gorbunovo, while -III enters forest at 1305 due to circummovement of 1. Army's path
* Ru-IV moves on road towards Smolensk
* Ru-VII enters road at 1208, while -BAG Cav enters Stabna
Morale F-8, A-6
GT 7
F - Cossack Patrols (-1 movement for French Cav units)
* Fr-I Cav enters map at 1214 entering forest at 1313
* Fr-III Cav moves to NW of Prudicheo
* Fr-II Cav enters Lubino (Russian objective), while -RES Cav moves N to 1807
* Undiscovered Ford (d6r=3) is not discovered!
* Fr-I/ -III attack Ru-VI (in Smolensk, across Dniepr) at +4 gaining a DR-4, causing the Russian morale to drop by 1, but no French advance
R - de Tolly's Luck (+1 MP spending w/o costs, reshuffling cards)
* forced march (by card)
* Ru-COS Cav (d6r=4) enters on road at 1301 moving towards Gorbunovo, while -VIII (d6r=1) delays entrance by 1 GT
* Ru-BAR Cav crosses Kolodnia river to 1905
* Ru-VII enters Valutino Gora, while -III deploys NW and -BAG Cav SW of town
* Ru-IV enters Smolensk adjacent city bridge at 0809
* Ru-RES Art moves along road towards Smolensk, followed by -V and -RES Cav
* Ru-II deploys S of Gedeonovo
Morale F-8, A-5
GT 8
F - Cossack Patrols (-1 movement for French Cav units) [again!!!]
* Undiscovered Ford (d6r=1) is not discovered!
* Fr-III Cav moves adjacent to pontoon bridge, while -I Cav enters Prudicheo and -V moving along road towards town
* Fr-RES Art enters vacated hex adjacent undiscovered ford
* Fr-IG enters Smolensk at 0910
* Fr-I/ -III attack Ru-IV (in Smolensk, across Dniepr) at +4 gaining a DB, causing morale to change -1 for the Russians and +1 for the French. No French advance
* Ru-RES Art bombards Ru-MILITIA-1 (in Smolensk, across Dniepr river) at 0, causing an AR, which changes to AW
R - Campaign Exhaustion (French -1 MP)
* Ru-VIII (d6r=5) enters on road at 1301 moving along road towards Stabna
* Ru-BAR Cav enters forest at 2106, while -COS Cav moves along road into Gorbunovo
* Ru-BAG Cav crosses Kolodnia river into Fr-RES Cav's ZOC
* Ru-VI deploys on road S of Stabna, while -MILITIA-1 deploys adjacent NE of Smolensk
* Ru-RES Art enters Smolensk adjacent undiscovered ford, while -V enters Smolensk (Russian objective)
* Ru-RES Cav deploys SW of Gedeonovo
* RP: Fr-RES Cav countercharges Ru-BAG Cav at +1 for a N result
* Ru-III/ -VII and -BAG Cav attack Fr-RES Cav at +3 gaining a DR-3 with a HR=5, which allowed the French to withdraw unmolested, but followed by Ru-BAG Cav on full path, while -III crosses river into vacated hex
Morale F-8, A-4
GT 9
F - Napoleon's Marshals (+1 MP spending for free)
* Undiscovered Ford (d6r=2) is not discovered!
* Fr-IV Cav enters map on road at Fr-LOC 0814, moving along road into Smolensk
* Fr-III Cav crosses pontoon bridge into forest at 1711, while -I Cav follows across river into adjacent forest at 1812
* Fr-V moves along road to NW of Prudicheo
* Fr-RES Art deploys NE of Smolensk, while -III enters vacated hex and -IG enters fortified Smolensk at 0909
* Fr-RES Art bombards Ru-MILITIA-1 (across river) at 0, gaining a AW result
* committing guards for free (by card)
* Fr-I and -IG attack Ru-V in Smolensk across river at +4 gaining a DB result with a morale change of -1 for the Russians and +1 for the French and Fr-IG to advance into vacated hex (Russian objective!)
* Fr-(routed)-RES Cav and -III Cav (calling all reserves for a +1 SP and a -1 morale adjustment) attacking Ru-BAG Cav at +2 gaining a DW and a French advance
R - de Tolly: "Withdraw!" (may voluntarily eliminate one combat unit per GT at Russian LOCs for a +1 MP gain) - [wow!!! What a wise decision!!]
* Ru-COS Cav crosses Kolodnia river towards Lubino
* Ru-VI moves along road towards Ru-LOC 1301
* Ru-BAR Cav/ -COS Cav and -III attack Fr-II Cav (in Lubino, calling all reserves for a +1 SP and a -1 morale adjustment) at +1 causing a N result
* Ru-BAG Cav mandatory attacks Fr-III Cav (calling all reserves for a +1 SP and a -1 morale adjustment) at -1 causing a DW result and a mandatory advance of the Russian Cav
* Ru-RES Cav/ -II and -RES Art attack Fr-IG (in Smolensk, cmmitting reserves for a +1 SP and a -1 MP adjustment) at +2 causing a DR-(6)4 for a HR-6. Fr-IG crosses Dniepr safely, but French loose 2 MP for DR and "Le Garde Recule!". Ru-RES Cav advances into vacated town
Morale F-4, A-3
GT 10 (night)
F - Vive l'Empereur (N/E)
* undiscovered ford (d6r=4) is not discovered!
* Fr-RES Cav enters forest at 1610, while -I Cav moves adjacent to Ru-BAG Cav
* Fr-V moves into Prudicheo
* Fr-III enters fortified Smolensk 0909, while -RES Art enters vacated Smolensk hex adjacent of undiscovered ford
* no rallying
* Lubino Russian objective occupied, causing a -1 on the Russian MT
* MT +1 (for the night turn)
R - Smolensk Ablaze! (City Ablaze! marker set)
* Ru-VI moves along road towards Ru-LOC 1301, while -VIII moves towards Smolensk
* Ru-II deploys S of Gedeonovo
* Ru-BAG Cav moves towards Smolensk, followed by -IV
* Ru-BAR Cav retires to 1810
* Ru-III deploys S of Lubino, while -VII deploys on road SW of town
* rallying Ru-V (d6r=5, redeploying in Gorbunovo) and -IV (d6r=2, eliminated)
* MT +1 (by night turn)
* reshuffling cards
Morale F-5, A-3
GT 11 [18-AUG]
F - Vive l'Empereur! (N/E)
* Undiscovered Ford (d6r=2) is not discovered!
* Fr-VIII enters map on road at 1214, moving into forest at 1313, while -V crosses pontoon bridge
* Fr-IV Cav enters Smolensk 0709, while -IG enters Smolensk 0910
* RP: Ru-RES Cav RBC
* Fr-III Cav/ -III Cav and -I Cav attack Ru-BAG Cav at +3 gaining a DR-6, resulting in 2 HRs (d6r=1, breaking the Cav unit for a change in morale by -1 MP for the Russians and +1 for the French). Fr-RES Cav advances full path, while -III Cav advances adjacent and -I Cav into the vacated hex
* Fr-RES Art bombards Ru-MILITIA-1 (across river) at 0 causing a DR-5, resulting in a Russian morale change of -1
* Fr-II Cav (in Lubino) mandatory attacks Ru-BAR Cav/ -COS Cav/ -III and -VII at -2 gaining an AW result, which results in a HR-4 and a Ru-COS Cav advance into town
R - Intell Gathering (N/E)
* Ru-VI moves off map at Ru-LOC 1301 for elimination and a +1 MP
* Ru-V crosses Kolodnia river to 1906, while -VIII moves along road towards Valutino Gora
* Ru-RES Cav enters Smolensk (Russian objective), while -II deploys on road N of town
* RP: Fr-RES Cav and -III Cav countercharge Ru-VII at +4 gaining a DR-4, causing a HR=4 and a -1 MP, while Fr-III Cav advances along retreat path into forest at 2008 and -RES Cav into vacated hex
* RP: Fr-IV Cav (committing reserves for a +1 SP and a -1 morale adjustment) countercharges Ru-III at +1 gaining a DW and a French Cav mandatory advance into the vacated hex
* Ru-III and -COS Cav attack Fr-II Cav (committing reserves for a +1 SP and a -1 MP adjustment) at -1 gaining a N result
* Ru-RES Art bombards Fr-RES Art in Smolensk across river at 0 gaining a N result
Morale F-5, A-1
GT 7
F - Enemy Lethargy and Confusion (place a ROUT marker, Ru-VIII affected)
* Fr-VIII enters Prudicheo, while -V enters forest at 1812
* Fr-I Cav and -II Cav (committing reserves for a +1 SP and a -1 MP adjustment) attack Ru-III at +1 causing a DW and a French Cav advance
* Fr-III Cav and -RES Cav attack Ru-COS Cav in Lubino at +1 gaining a DW, causing a HR=2, breaking the Russians and having their morale to drop by 1 to "0" !! 
END of GAME 06-FEB-12, 01:20hrs UTC +1 
F-MT 4 (0x broken/ 0x elim)
R-MT 0 (1x broken/ 1x elim)
RATIONAL:
This was my very first Smolensk 20 game and it worked out very well. Even though the French won in the end, it was quite historical, because the Russians could hold off the French for quite a while.
The French were lucky enough to get the pontoon bridge built such early causing a "second front" to the Russians who had to keep this threat in mind...
I should had taken more care for the "General Retreat" card when it was pulled, but there was a good chance to stop the French in the Eastern sector of the map. Unfortunately it failed and so the morale went down just two turns...
Unfortunately I forgot to take snap shot pictures from the Vassal system 
Andy (521tiger)
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Lance McMillan
United States
Lakebay
Washington
-
My only question would be why didn't the Russians disengage with their Cossack cavalry on the last turn? They were facing a +2 attack with a Hazardous Retreat if they stood fast. Cossack have the special ability to disengage from enemy cavalry; if they'd done so it would have kept the Russians in the game for at least one more turn.
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Steve Carey
United States
West Coast
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Thnx for the AAR, Andy.
I still have fond memories of playtesting Smolensk 20, and hope that it becomes a 'sleeper hit' in GMT's upcoming Fading Glory quad pack.
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Kim Meints
United States
Waterloo
Iowa
-
Gee,Andy had a French Win.This really was a game for him to post
Me thinks Andy was thinking of the old tried & true rule of Cavalry can't disengage from an enemy Cavalry unit when he didn't disenage the Cossacks.But hey,a Russian unit got broken and that's fine with me(oh my French bias is showing again  )
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Andreas E. Gebhardt
Germany
Birkenwerder
-
Lancer4321 wrote: My only question would be why didn't the Russians disengage with their Cossack cavalry on the last turn? They were facing a +2 attack with a Hazardous Retreat if they stood fast. Cossack have the special ability to disengage from enemy cavalry; if they'd done so it would have kept the Russians in the game for at least one more turn.
Well Lance,
as far as I do read the rules, "disengagement" is only possible against no-Cav-units!?? 
Rule [8.3.2] Enemy Cavalry Prohibition: The disengaging cavalry unit cannot begin its Disengagement Movement in the ZOC of an enemy cavalry unit.
The situation was noted as "* Fr-III Cav and -RES Cav attack Ru-COS Cav in Lubino..."
If I should read this in a wrong matter or misunderstood it, please give me an information, because I ALWAYS played it like this and so most of my test results could be wrong 
On the other hand, I couldn't find a ZOC/ no-ZOC clause to sneek the Cossacks out...
Andy
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Andreas E. Gebhardt
Germany
Birkenwerder
-
jackiesavon wrote: Gee,Andy had a French Win.This really was a game for him to post
Sure it was.... 
Andy
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Kim Meints
United States
Waterloo
Iowa
-
Andy
Cossack Disengagement is in the Exclusive rules-16.9.1. Last section with bullet.
Here's the Entire rule case-
However Cossacks "Can" disengage from ZoC's of enemy cavalry units(i.e. it ignores Rule 8.3.2)
(Thus the Cossacks can always run away from a fight unless they are being attacked from opposite sides and are in effect surrounded)
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Andreas E. Gebhardt
Germany
Birkenwerder
-
jackiesavon wrote: (... unless they are being attacked from opposite sides and arfe in effect surrounded)
Ok Kim,
but that's what happended over there in Lubino. French Cav units attacked from North AND South surrounding the place. (SORRY that I didn't take some pictures. It looked very interesting!!)
Even more French units had been deployed in the vacinity, that's why the Cossack should have to roll twice (2x HR) for their retreat, BUT failed at the first die roll...
Nevertheless THANKS a lot for showing the effects of not reading the Exclusive Rules correctly AND entirely!!!
It was a fun game anyway...
Andy
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Kim Meints
United States
Waterloo
Iowa
-
LoL-Well if you had'em surrounded Andy they would die like all good Russian Cossacks going up against Napoleon's cavalry
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Posted Wed Feb 8, 2012 4:22 pm
