Aspern Essling BBB refight 02 Mar 2020 (21 & 22 May 1809)

Some of my war-games buddies have, in the past, mentioned that I don't post as much about gaming as I do about modelling.

So here, to redress the lack of gaming posts, is last night's epic Aspern Essling game, using the BBB (Bloody Big Battles) ruleset.

The players were:

Mark S - scenario writer & umpire

The French ~
Mark J - The Emperor Napoleon
Dave W
Crispin M

The Austrians ~
Bruce M - The Archduke Charles (& the other two Austrian Generals deemed worthy to have figures on the table)
John M
Chris P - the creator of BBB - see his blog here - Bloody Big Battles blog
Colin W

We set up in about half an hour and got playing around 6.30 pm.  There were 9 turns, 3 on 21st & 6 on 22nd May, with a night interval inbetween.  We finished around 9 pm, with enough time to head to the local for refreshment and more banter.

The following photos will give a flavour of the game.  I took these as play took place and in the infrequent times when I wasn't doing anything!

Firstly, above, one of my half timbered houses (see previous posts) in situ as an objective.

Below, the Austrians, on the right, move towards Aspern (on the left, near the stream).  The French wait for them to get in range....

My command is in the foreground, lined up behind the marker that tells me not to move till turn 2.  More of this later.

Slightly later the French, holding Aspern, begin to feel the pressure, whilst Napoleon wonders how to get his bridges across the Danube operational again (as the French failed their rolls to keep the bridges open, thus delaying the build up of their troops).  

To the left of the picture, my troops close in on Essling and its Granary.

A little later - in the foreground the Austrian reserves and 1.5 of my 2 forces pressure Essling.

Here is the other 0.5 of Dedovich's IV Korps.  All Austrians were passive, there were also almost no Generals represented, so getting troops to move was.......... slow.  These troops formed a column and spent most of the game taking their time to stroll towards Essling.  Never fired their guns.  Never got shot at.  Possibly got a little dusty.....

The fight for Essling - foreground.  Bruce (Charles & the reserves) and I teamed up to take on Essling and it's Granary.  Here the IV Korps, reserve Cavalry & the Grenadiers all pile in.  

At the other end of the table John M & Chris, as the Austrians, have taken Aspern and the woods, now heading for the bridgehead.

Turn 8 - the END.  Napoleon, pushed out of Aspern and it's woods, decides that he will withdraw from Essling and retire to Lobau Island to think again.  

All in all, a most enjoyable game - nice to get the buildings into use as well!

I hope that this has given you a flavour of BBB Napoleonics and how you can play some of the biggest battles in history on a 6x4 foot table in an evening.  Then go to the pub! 

Figures - French - Mark S, Austrian - me