Rolica, First French Position: Commands and Colors Napoleonics

My CCN mat was finally finished so I decided to set up the introductory scenario in the Commands and Colors Napoleonics game which is Rolica.  Rolica was a French defensive action against Wellesley's initial advance on the Peninsula.  You can read more about the battle here.

with the mat completed, I felt it was time for action!  View from the French side overlooking the British positions.

 For this post, I'm more concerned with getting the setup straight than actually playing turns.  I plan on playing a few more turns this evening.

French light cavalry anchoring their position.

The Portuguese troops awaiting the start of the battle.  Their job was to advance and capture an important hill that would turn the French position.

Cacadores.  Actually British rifles but you get the idea!

 Just for simplicity sake, I used linear 3 x 1 bases for any/all light troops.  Regular line troops got the 3" square "massed" bases.

British units at their start line.

Sir Arthur Wellesley himself!  Obviously wrong figure but none of my British generals are pained yet!

The British left.  Also the main effort for the battle.  Plan is to advance the left while demonstrating to the front and right.  These troops would have the honor of the main advance.

view from the British left wing

The Center

Portuguese Troops 

British Gunners

The "warzone" terrain pieces fit nicely over my hexes.  Going to purchase more of them.

French center.

 The opening moves of the battle see the British advance their left and reach the river with their cavalry.  The French respond and maneuver their own cavalry to sit astride the British advance.  The stage is set for a cavalry battle while the infantry advance!

The British advance!

The French charge the British and score 2 hits.  I had to end  with the end of the melee there but will pick up later on in the evening.  The British are going to be hard-pressed to get to their objectives with the French Cavalry patrolling the flanks.

the 2 markers are hits and represent "block losses" The British cavalry units (disguised as American ACW Cavalry units) are only 3 blocks strong.  So 3 hits and they're out!  The first enagement of the battle goes the French way.

Action on the British left!

Thoughts: So far, so good.  While not my favorite game in the world, Commands and Colors is a great way to get a battle on the table and quickly.  The cards add a very interesting command dynamic in that, if you dont draw the cards you need, you can't carry out the maneuvers you have planned.  I rather enjoy this restriction and feel like it nicely limits what I can do.

The combat system is also fun and different so I can see myself playing this for many years to come, especially in the pressed-for-time world that I live in!

stay tuned for part II coming up after I read the rules over again :)