Publisher's Synopsis
If you are interested in the Napoleonic period of history and like boardgames then this book is for you. The battle of Austerlitz 1805 is creatively reproduced within its pages, it contains all that is required to reproduce a boardgame that is intended to tactically test your gaming skills and strategically expand your planning abilities. Austerlitz is a chess game of the grandest scale, pieces flow about the battlefield with deliberate or reactive movement, like any battle you never have complete control. The battle of Austerlitz is one of Napoleons masterclasses in warfare, his strategic planning, deception and tactical execution allowed him to beat a numerical superior force. By relinquishing the Pratzen Heights and asking for negotiations, he lulled the Austro-Russian leaders into a ruse that he had baited. Seeing a weak and indecisive smaller French force in front of them an attack was ordered, the heights were taken, and the trap was sprung. Unbeknown to the Austro-Russians, Napoleon had the III Corp of Davout that would force march from Vienna some seventy miles away in forty-eight hours. The date is the 2nd of December 1805 and three emperors are about to partake in battle. The gameboard is separated into quadrants that fit together to recreate the battlefield of Austerlitz. Counters and game markers will show the location and current state of all formations across the battlefield. An ingenious game turn sequence allows for a balanced gameplay without giving an evident advantage to either side. Victory is achieved by seizing objectives, causing attrition or capturing Napoleon. Rules of engagement have a basic and advanced level of gameplay, the latter introduce, detachment counters with their specialist roles, formations and optional reactive movement. The inclusion of unique historic events that occurred within the battle can be played out with an event card, this adds depth and realism to each game.Austerlitz is part of the Grand Empire series of battles that is creative board gaming in a book, it's when boardgames becomes wargames. Produced to fit on a small tabletop, its ideal for a rainy day or just a weekend of enjoyment. All you need to recreate history are some six-sided dice and your imagination.
