Initiative and Exploitation

Questions, chat, feedback and developments relating to REPUBLIC TO EMPIRE... Wargaming the wars of Napoleon Bonaparte.
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Baron
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Initiative and Exploitation

Post by Baron » Thu Mar 18, 2010 11:10 pm

The following question also came up last night:

Situation:
Austrian Division in position on Defend Orders, led by an average commander.
French Division of 2 x Infantry and 1 x Cavalry brigade, with 1 x Infantry on Attack and the others on Advance orders, led by a superior commander.

The French start outside the Austrian 6pdr maximum range.

Turn 1
Austrians win the initiative and maintain their defend orders and adjust a couple of formations.
French throw 3dAv, total 11 MPs +2 for the Superior division commader=13MPs. Brigades on "Advance" maintain their orders at a cost of 2 points each, leaves 9MPs. Brigade on "Attack" maintains it orders and advances at Column of attack speed, leaving 7 MPs, commander chooses to exploit with the brigade on "Attack" costing 3MPs, 4 left. He then chooses to Exploit again costing 4MPs, 0 MPs left.

Turn 2
French win the initiative and again thow well with a total of 15MPs. Both brigades on Advance maintain their orders, while the brigade on "Attack" advances and exploits twice and then in the charge phase with the two remaining MPs charges the Austrian line.

So in 2 turn the French have effectively advanced 6 moves from outside maximum 6pdr range and charged the Austrian line without them being able to fire a shot (apart from the units being charged). This doesn't seem right, have we got anything wrong? Could the Austrains have chosen to pass over the initiative in the first turn perhaps?

Many thanks

Justin
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obriendavid
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Post by obriendavid » Fri Mar 19, 2010 1:26 am

Armies that won the initiative have the choice of going first or second but the situation you described can happen when you have a gifted commander facing a plodder.

Cheers
Dave
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barr7430
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Post by barr7430 » Fri Mar 19, 2010 6:00 pm

As usual.. no one answers better than Dr O'Brien 8)
"If you think you can, or if you think you can't, you are probably right"

Henry Ford
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