Ra - 10 September 2008

Another couple of random but thoroughly enjoyable games of Ra at Stu's place. The first game was won by James with a huge score in the third round from his collection of monuments - final scores James 42, Stuart 38, Kieron 34 and David 24. Adrian arrived hotfoot from a parents' evening to add to the joshing and Derren-ing in the second game, securing him a massive win and James a complete reversal of fortune - Adrian 51, Stuart 40, David 38, Kieron 33 and James 21.

Shako 31 August: Assault on Gaschwitz

Finally, we got to play the much-postponed 2008 Shako outing at the end of August.  The summer hols allowed Adrian lots of time to prepare and two new units were painted up for the occasion (French and Austrian grenadiers).  The weather outside did a good approximation of October 1813 as James and Andy's French took the war to the allies with an all out assault on the village of Gaschwitz.  Congestion in the centre meant that Andy held back his large Saxon division to guard the rear.  A headlong attack by Polish light cavalry allowed the French to overrun various Prussian units and exit the board to the west - one of the French victory conditions.  The initial French division attacking the village was held up for more or less the entire game by the stalwart Prussian grenadiers holding the only fortifications that were not atomised by the French grand battery.  Happily for the French, the Polish infantry division were more successful and were pushing the village hard by the end of turn 11.  Meanwhile on the flanks, Jonathan's Austrians slugged it out with James' division guarding the village of Althen, denying the French more forces to fight in the centre.  On the left, Deej's Russians did well to support the Prussian centre, but took a hammering from Andy's cuirassiers (once he finally got them into battle...).

Who won?  Well, the Allies met their major victory condition - denying the French the control of Gaschwitz and thus the breakout.  The French however were able to hold onto their flanking lines of communication and have some of their light cavalry break out into open country.  As scenario designer (and since we only had time to play 11 of the 12 planned turns) I would call it a narrow victory to the Allies, but I expect others will comment...