No one signed up for BAR before Consimworld Expo. But this year I wasn't going to commit to an alternate game only to have a BAR opponent contact me at the last minute and have to tell them I'd committed elsewhere. Regardless, I set up expanded Lobisitz on a table in the atrium beside the ballroom door hoping the wonderful map, counters and box cover art would attract an opponent.

Several friends stopped by to tell me they would try and ask uncommitted gamers to try BAR. John Kranz, the guy who (with Brian and others) runs the Expo brought Dave Twitchell over and asked if I wanted to teach him BAR. Dave is new to gaming. He was in Tempe for another conference last year and saw the Expo going on and became interested. He'd picked up a few games but this was his first Expo and first try of BAR (a more serious game system than many).

I'd advertised for an experienced BAR player since I'd recently only played a little Monmouth and before that no BAR since Expo 2014. However, Dave seemed like a bright friendly guy and I know you best learn what you teach so I gratefully agreed to lead him through BAR the next day. He downloaded the Rules and the Primer and next morning we dived into the early morning fog of Lobositz.

Dave turned out to be the best of students and an astute player. In addition, he's a great human being and fun to be around. Anyway, on to the game.

I asked Dave if he wanted to play the deployed scenario with troops alligned for battle or take the much more challenging task of moving onto the board and deploying in the face of a moving enemy, which for BAR dictates much of the battle. To my pleasant surprise he chose to begin at the beginning so as to learn all facets of BAR. I was impressed.

As you recall, the early morning fog adds four to the end-turn dice roll so a natural six or higher (plus four) advances the turn toward the end. Throw in a few tie dice rolls and one side getting lucky and both Dave and I had a turn or two where half of our respective commands sat inert while your opponent scampered wherever he pleased.

Fredrick the Great wasted time and troops chasing the Grenzers around the vineyards. Friends who played BAR Lobositz told me about their frustration doing the same as Freddie.

Not me. I screened the left side of my column but soon ceased that as I ignored the vineyards. If Dave wanted to advance Grenzers into the open he'd be easy prey for my cavalry, and I warned him so. However, as in real life, sometimes folks get tired of waiting for trouble to come to them. The Grenzers slipped from under the foliage and attacked my passing infantry.

I turned back one of my heavy cavalry commands. In battle, cavalry likes nothing so much as running down light troops in the open. Aside from a special result that knocked off some horsemen the outcome was one-sided. Having faced Austrian skirmishers on BAR Prague, I took particular pleasure in sweeping these Grenzers from the board.

It resulted in part of my cavalry being far behind the rest but I made them a reserve behind the other cavalry.

Here's the aftermath of my cavalry vs. Grenzer sweep. Notice how many Prussian cavalry failed their pre-charge morale check. Yes, I managed to roll less than 15 on some. :eek:

My Prussian cavalry deployed to screen my deploying infantry from the formed Austrian cavalry off to my front right.

Dave is an ideal student. He listened carefully to advice and made his own decisions.

more to follow later

I marked the beginning, so I can follow at my leisure.

0740 - My missing Prussian cavalry is returning to the line in the center. Dave has Austrian cavalry to my right and right-front. His infantry is in column in the vulnerable sunken road but too far away.

I'd like to hit his cavalry on my right with one of mt cavalry commands because I can hold the rest of his cavalry from responding with the bulk of my cavalry.

Steve,

From which box come all those orange 'Road Column' marker ? I don't remember having them.

>From which box come all those orange 'Road Column' marker ? I don't remember having them.

Those are the counters that I personally made for the BAR. I like color counters so that I can easily differentiate the markers on the map. Thus I made up a set of color counters for the BAR markers. Steve had those counters mounted.

See attachment.

Very nice photo coverage of a very cool AAR! Thank you!

Since it's brought up now, what would the assembled BAR Brain Trust think the Grenzers should do if they are actually bypassed? Stay in the vineyards eating grapes? Wait for the Prussian infantry and to be more fully engaged and then move to mow down leaders and artillery (from the rear)? Plunder the Farm around the vineyard looking for finished product? Slide down to the river and move to screen more in front of the town of Lobositz if they can make ...and maybe providing a better diversion of Prussian strength....if they don't make it?

I have thought of using such a maneuver, to bypass and screen the Grenzers to move more directly to the rivers to seal Lobositz from assistance prior to moving to drive the Austrians from the Sunken Road and the town.

What would you think would be the best way to maximize the Grenzers if/when they're allowed maximum flexibility in their application in LOBOSTIZ?

THanks!

I don't know about Brain Trust, but the Grenzers are a threat on the flank of the advancing Prussian army. The Prussian commander has to detail some amount of troops to at least keep them contained. If that containment force is too small, he might find the Grenzers running loose in his backfield.

I agree with threatening the Prussian flank. From the photos I'd say the Grenzers were moved way too far into the open. I'd be tempted to move one or two of them one hex away from the vineyard in the Open Ground, but I'd leave the rest in the terrain, adjacent to support the ones in the open. if cavalry attacks the ones in the open, those Grenzers are likely dead, but advance or pursuit will bring the cavalry in the range of the other Grenzers. My hope would be Grenzer defensive fire causes some cavalry losses and/or Disorder, and their post-CC position will cause them additional losses as they try to extricate themselves from vineyard's edge. Otherwise, lay low and pop out behind the Prussians to harass any Shaken or Routed units. If that draws the cavalry back, then that's one less Prussian cavalry command on the front line.

More AAR to follow.

I really like the easy recognition of who is shaken, disordered, routed, etc.

The Austrian defense would love to set up behind the sunken road but that's too far back from the game-critical city and town.

I warned him that aligning his cavalry immediately in front of an impassable wall could lead to their death.

0820 - The Austrians split off their left-wing cavalry and they are vulnerable. IIRC, Dave didn't want to give up that third of the battlefield but the remainder of his cavalry cannot support his left wing.

Prussian infantry are formed and almost upon the Lobositz position.

First pic: Austrian view of the battle line

Second pic: Prussian cavalry command on the right wing charges the Austrian cav to their front. All pass their pre-combat morale check. Surprising, eh? Remember all the shaken cav who refused to charge the Grenzers? This time all pass and charge. The Austrians all attempt to counter-charge (don't want to give the Prussians a +4 charge bonus) and all but one pass their morale check (notice the one Austrian shaken unit). The road column markers indicate Prussian attack designations.

Third picture: Disaster for the Austrians. Close combat routs the Austrians everywhere and pursuit eats up the routed units. The result? Two Austrians remain, routed. The sole shaken Austrian that failed its pre-close combat morale check and thus didn't counter-charge is the only Austrian cav unit not routed or wiped off the map!

The Austrian cavalry wing advanced toward the main Prussian cavalry. Their salient is from trying not to block Austrian guns in Sullowitz village.

The Prussian infantry is one turn away from contacting the Austrian line. Grassins and Austrian light cav waits off the Prussian left flank.

My timeline is fuzzy here. My previous 0820 post may be nearer 0900.

Anyway, the main body of Prussian cavalry heaved into the Austrian cavalry. This photo shows the result, with Austrian cavalry (marked with charge markers) charging to avenge their fallen buddies.

Sure, I'd beaten the Austrian cav but I got greedy and didn't roll for recall. My cav pursued and ate up several Austrian cavalry points but leaving my guys scattered all over the area and facing away from the remaining Austrian cav. Big mistake. This photo is after the Prussian charge and immediately before the Austrian cav did their Attacker's pre-close combat morale check.

I should have rolled for recall after routing Austrian cavalry units rather than pursue. In volleyball they wisely advise "Go for the win, not the slam." Had I tried early recall I'd probably have had a good line of Prussian cavalry when the Austrians hit back. :confused:

But I didn't.