Fraustadt 1706

Time goes backward on this page. Later moves are on top of the page. A description of the game is on the very bottom.

Move 6

Battle end with a complete defeat of the Saxon cavalry wings. Dice were very unfavourable, with the first swedish charge routing two trained saxon units. The rest of the two wings was routed in two additional moves. Bad luck, it will go better next day.

The game went very smoothly, it was great fun.

We might try a Seven Years’ War scenario next time.

Move 4

This move sees the complete rout of the Saxon Left Wing and another losing clash on the Saxon right wing. More bad luck for the Saxon (me).

Move 3

Move 3 sees a wild charge by the swedish cavalry on the Saxon left wing. One glorious regiment manages to rout two enemy regiments in a clash and follow-up move.

Very bad dice for the Saxon.

Move 2

Move 0

Organising the game

Here we are, Francesco, Marco and me, ready to play yet another battle using the wonderful Twilight of The Sun King rules, Fraustadt 1706.

Marco has found an appropriate map, drawn around the same year of the battle. All is ready, I only need to scale the map to match the unit size.

Initial deployment

We have scaled the ancient map to 15 base widths between the villages.

Few questions related to the terrain and deployment:

1. Should we consider any terrain effects from the two villages? The swedish fellows say it should be considered open terrain as the rest of the map while the saxon player would hope at least for a bad going where the scattered houses are indicated (there should be a reason for the defences being put between the two “villages” and also a reason for the inner angle making the fortifications align to the beginning of the two “villages”, where the russians are placed. Maybe bad going? maybe blocking line fo sight for artillery to enfilade the defences?
2. Should we have fortifications on the flanks, as indicated on the map looking at the two villages on the flanks?
3. The bogs on the back should really be a stream plus frozen ponds, should we consider them bad going or firm ground?
4. How was the visibility at the beginning of the game? The deployments are as indicated, we have deployed the saxons first, then the swedish has deployed. Is it a good idea or should we throw a dice to give more even chances to the two parties?

Stefano,

On your questions.

1: The villages were very dispersed and had little impact on the battle. Count them as an action test when moving through them.
2: There were no fortifications on the flanks but the flanks were resting on the villages/buildings. See the map here – https://weaponsandwarfare.com/2019/04/16/battle-of-fraustadt/
3: Again these didn’t prove to be a big problem in the battle as they were largely frozen so I would go with an action test when moving through them.
4: Historically the Saxons & Russians were in position and the Swedes then deployed to attack them. So in game terms the Saxon/Russians deploy and then the Swedes deploy after. There is no reason why you can’t change this but it is quite a tough battle for the Swedes generally & it will be likely to make it more difficult.

I love your set ups ?

Answers from Nick Dorrell, the author