Below is Part Five in a series from David Waldorf covering a Manoeuvre tournament “March Madness” style. Parts 1, 2, 3, and 4 can be found here, here, and here, and here. Enjoy! -Rachel

Pregame Analysis

These two teams are fairly evenly matched.  The tie-breaker rules favor the Ottoman Empire, but the units for both teams are balanced on the full strength side, and overall the Ottoman units reduce more favorably than do their British counterparts.  The Ottoman Empire has twice the number of cavalry units, but Great Britain has Forced March and Supply Cards that help make up the difference in mobility.  Attrition or battlefield control victories are possible for both armies—the Ottomans might be more likely to go for a control victory  unless they have early success in attacking, while the British might shoot more for an attrition victory with their plentiful 2d8 attack cards.

Gameplay

Having drawn Muhammad Ali and attack cards for both Ali Pasha’s Cavalry and the Irregular Cavalry, the Ottoman Empire decides to position those two units next to each other in the center of the field, ready to make a quick and overwhelming strike.  The rest of the units are dispersed evenly.

Great Britain sets up their side with an eye toward preventing the Ottomans from gaining control of the two central hills just on the British side of the middle line.  Accordingly, at start the field looks like this:

The Ottoman Empire makes the first move, with Ali Pasha’s Cavalry trotting out into the field.  Great Britain uses supply lines to secure the two hills in front of them with the 9^th Queen’s Royal Lancers and the 4^th Regiment of Foot.  Ali Pasha’s Cavalry moves forward to contact both units, but does not yet attack, planning for Muhammad Ali to bring in the Irregular Cavalry in a concentrated attack on the 9^th Queen’s Royal Lancers.  However a forced march of the the British 52^nd Regiment of Foot allows them to flank Ali Pasha’s Cavalry so that they are now hemmed in on three sides:

The 4^th Regiment of Foot initiates the attack, and Ali Pasha’s Cavalry, fearing something massive, lays two cards down in defense.  The attack is enormous: William Beresford is able to bring in the two other flanking units, and the total attack value is 37.  Due to the defensive measures taken by Ali Pasha’s Cavalry, their defense is 18, sparing them from instantaneous elimination.  They do suffer a reduction for it, however.

In retaliation the Ottoman Empire’s Irregular Cavalry charges in to attack the 9^th Queen’s Royal Lancers, and Muhammad Ali brings in the weakened Ali Pasha’s Cavalry.  The attack succeeds in driving the Lancers off the hill, and the Irregular Cavalry claim it as their own.  Now the British 52^nd Regiment of Foot attempts to blow Ali Pasha’s Cavalry out of existence with a 1d10 bombardment, but the attack fails and subsequently Ali Pasha’s Cavalry is able to rally.

There is some give and take on both sides, and Great Britain manages to throw back the initial cavalry onslaught of the Ottoman Empire.  The Ottoman Regular Cavalry see a chance to break through the British line by riding into a very risky position, only to have their attack fail completely.  Great Britain attempts to pounce on the vulnerable Regular Cavalry, but is only able to set up a nearly perfect line at the midway point on the field:

The Ottoman Empire scores the first elimination, with the Arab Cavalry knocking out the 32^nd Regiment of Foot and piercing the British line.  They are able to prevent the Arab Cavalry from slipping behind them, but their line continues to grow ragged.  The Ottoman Regular Cavalry eliminates the 52^nd Regiment of Foot, breaking out of the three-sided box they had been sitting in for some time, and the battlefield now looks like this:

There is more maneuvering, with the Ottoman Empire’s Regular Cavalry joining Ali Pasha’s Cavalry deep behind the British line.  The British 42^nd Regiment of Foot manages to weaken the Greek Feudal Corps, and then eliminate them with a 2d8 volley.  Now with nightfall approaching, both sides try to jockey for control and movements become very calculated.  The British 4^th Regiment of Foot make a final desperate effort to eliminate Ali Pasha’s Cavalry and almost succeed, but by nightfall the Ottoman Empire has clear control of the battlefield and the situation looks like this:

Analysis and Discussion

The mobility of the Ottoman Empire was well countered by forced marches and supply lines on the Great Britain’s part.  The Ottoman Empire made excellent use of strategic retreats and withdrawals, and positioned themselves well at the end of the game.  Great Britain had some bad luck at the dice, but played a manly game anyway.  Perhaps they should have begun attempts to control the battlefield earlier than they did, but it is hard to find fault with how they conducted themselves.

The Ottoman Empire will go on to face the Austrian Empire in Round 2.  But before that, next week we have the first game of Round 2—France vs. Russia, with France starting first on the north side of the field.

Previous Article in this Series: Manoeuvre Tournament Part Four: Prussia vs. Austrian Empire

Next Article in this Series: Manoeuvre Tournament Part Six: France vs. Russia

Author: David Waldorf