Another year and another excellent Broadside Show. This year the Rejects took the Battle of Rivoli to display.
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The motley crew. I'm sure some of these are on the police's most wanted list! |
This post is mostly about the game. I was umpiring and barely had a chance to step away from it all show. For other excellent reports on the show and the game I refer you to fellow Rejects Lee's
Broadside Wargames Show 2025: Show Photo Review and
The Battle of Rivoli 1797 - Posties Rejects demo game at Broadside 2025 and Ray's
Broadside 2025 - The Rejects on Tour - The Battle of Rivoli 1797.
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Surjit carefully eyeing up the table and weighing his options. Having led the Austrians to the Osteria Gorge twice and failed, he was determined to crack this toughest of nuts. |
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The Austrians advanced towards the Trombalore Heights threatening Joubert's troops deployed there. |
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French reinforcements start to arrive while Postie can't quite believe whatever he is seeing or hearing. |
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Surjit launches cavalry quickly up the gorge and clears the deployed artillery and turns to face the French light cavalry. The Austrians have already got off to a better start. |
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To add to the Austrian joy, Vial's troops are being pushed back from San Marco. |
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Hoping to maintain pressure and hold the initiative, the Austrians rush to climb the gorge and gain access to the Rivoli plateau. |
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Meanwhile on the Trombalore Heights, Stuart outflanks the French defences and sends the 85th reeling off the heights. The rest of the French position is looking precarious. |
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French army reserves are quickly required to form a new artillery line. |
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The Austrians throw cavalry into the fray. |
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With troops being thrown back from the heights and San Marco, the French command is trying to form a new line using reserves and Massena's arriving reinforcements. |
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Alas, the French guns stall the Austrians at the top of the gorge. However, San Marco is clearly in the hands of the Imperial troops. |
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Caught in the act! What sort of lunch break is this? Ice cream guilt is written all over their faces. |
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The view over Rivoli shows the French beginning to form their defensive line on the plateau. All the while, the heights are being heavily contested. |
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Uh oh! Austrian troops led by Lusignan have arrived in the French rear. Fortunately, Steve commanding Massena's division had two units to turn and face the unwelcome threat. |
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Massena's fresh troops steady the position at the foot of the Trombalore Heights. With the front line units exhausted and approaching exhaustion, matters are finely balanced just as Surjit launches his best infantry at the French units trying to hold the plateau. |
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But with an established artillery line supported by steady infantry, the French were able to repulse the Austrian grenadiers. With that disaster, the Austrian efforts to break out further onto the plateau ended in exhaustion. With further French reinforcements due to arrive later, the game was called a French victory. |
That was both the closest iteration and the one that most resembled the events of the actual battle. Some slight tweaks improved the scenario and made it a game where the French really had to expend a lot of nervous energy and thought in holding off the Austrians. Thoroughly enjoyable.
A lot of interest was shown in the game. Especially in the 6mm MDF figures from Commission Figurines, and the 2mm buildings from Brigade Models.
With so much of my attention on the game, I barely saw much of the show. Here are a couple of pics just to prove that I did have a quick wander around. However, I didn't get the names of the games.
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I really liked that the terrain was entirely from carpet tiles. |
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This one was using Lego. I think it was called "Brickskrieg". |
I also managed to come away from the show with some goodies.
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I was actually given these by Postie in exchange for doing some future painting for him. |
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A couple of dice trays. |
The rest were bought at the show's flea market.
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Hussars to add to my 28mm Revolutionary Wars collection. |
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A box full of painted 15mm FPW. Mostly French and some Prussians. I don't know which manufacturer. I will certainly have to rebase them. |
All in all, an excellent day. There seemed to be a lot of people there, including families and young couples.
Well done to the Milton Hundred Wargames Club on putting on another superb event.
Great post Rich, a crackin game at a crackin show. 10/10 for effort, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteThat ice cream was nice though. It was a tad warm in that sports hall.
Cheers Ray. You did look like you were enjoying the ice cream.
DeleteA fantastic game Richard, it looks very well received and worth your efforts
ReplyDeleteThanks Neil. A job well done.
DeleteI have just finished reading Ray's report, so it was good to gain your perspective as well Richard. Rivoli seems to be a tough nut to crack for the Austrians.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard for the Austrians Lawrence.
DeleteGreat to see this game was close right to the end and matched the historical outcome too. Always the sort of game that inspires, given it's the sort of thing you could do at home:). Oh and the Commission Figurines figures look great!
ReplyDeleteWell, I have done this one at home!
DeleteThanks Steve. I must confess I am most inspired by those games that I could do at home.
DeleteRichard, your Rivoli game looks superb. Well done! Having fought over this ground more than once, I know what a tough time the Austrians can have bursting through the gorge. They made it this time but could not hold on. You tempt me to dust off my FRW collection and bring Rivoli back to my table. It might be an interesting exercise to compare and contrast our two battles using different rules and different interpretations of the battle.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you should give into temptation Jonathan. It would make for an interesting discussion.
DeleteAgree, fantastic game Gents!
ReplyDeleteThank you Michal.
DeleteGreat looking game! Good presentation of the battle.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you approve, thank you.
DeleteLovely looking game, if a dodgy looking bunch of rejects! Glad it was a bit closer, big ask for the Austrians, more Landsknechts and Hussars, excellent !
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Thanks Iain. We are a very dodgy looking crew. I can't disagree with you and that observation.
DeleteStill painting some gendarmes... slowly!
Well, if you wanted to borrow some of mine you'd be more than welcome!
DeleteBest Iain
That is very kind of you Iain. I'm a little way from doing a proper game, trying to tidy up my rules. Perhaps, when the time comes, we could combine a borrowing of figures with you joining us Rejects here for a game?
DeleteThat sounds delightful! I'll look forward to it!
DeleteBest Iain
The Rivoli game looked beautifully balanced and a lot of fun.
ReplyDeleteThank you Rob, it was. It took a number of tests and tweaks to get there.
DeleteWhat a fantastic game, just a shame the Austrians could not take the heights although they did seem to do better this time!
ReplyDeleteSome nice loot from various sources too.
Thanks Keith. For much of the game the Austrians had the French under a lot of pressure.
DeleteHopefully, I can get the loot painted in a goodly fashion.
Great gathering again, Richard. Love the games and loot you picked up.
ReplyDeleteThank you Dean
DeleteExcellent write up of the game. Surjit's was sooo close...but in the it wasn't to be.
ReplyDeleteCheers Lee. Surjit certainly brought his A game... minus the critical morale checks.
DeleteWhat a superb looking game Richard, but what else would I expect from you fellas?! I was especially impressed with the representation of those rugged mountains of western Verona/the east of Lake Garda (as seen on the Giro, haha). Not a simple thing to do and done so beautifully. It was a real arm wrestle and close run thing, like the original, and a good outcome for young Bonaparte to add to his increasing 'stock' with the French people and government! Superb.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes, James
Addendum: You played it pretty straight Richard. Having gone to Ray's post after yours I am not pretty sure that was that ALL your work! Is that correct? If so my 'superbly impressed' is now doubled!
DeleteThank you very much James. It is gratifying that the game meets with such approval.
DeleteYes, it was all my own work... but, no game without the players.