We Came, We Saw, We Got Our Butts Kicked.

This past week my local group gathered to play a game of Honors of War (HoW). The game pitted the Austrians and Prussians in an epic clash. We had eight players, four to a side and around one thousand figures on the table by games end.

The Austrians were tasked with holding a ridgeline and two small towns against a massive Prussian assault. Initially only a vanguard of grenadiers was available along with a substantial cavalry element to hold the planes on the right flank. The plan was to hold the ridgeline awaiting reinforcements to solidify the position and for the cavalry to engage their opposite number and upon that success to launch spoiling attacks against the then exposed Prussian infantry’s flank. As you can likely tell by the title none of this went as planned.

Austrian cavalry prepare to vanquish their Prussian opponents. The troops on the right are destined never to leave this spot.

On the first turn our grenadiers moved up and took their position at the front of the hill while my cavalry group headed off to attack, however the other half of the cavalry failed to activate. The Prussian infantry rushed forward making good time, while their cavalry oddly held back. 


On turn two our cavalry group again surged forward. Little was I to know that this would be the last time our second cavalry group would activate. Over the next few turns our reinforcements arrived and to my surprise the Prussian, after making amazing progress simply halted outside of musket range. I had to wait for the cavalry reinforcements to catch up because my right flank support repeatedly failed to move. I was finally ready to launch my attack against the enemy cavalry, when suddenly the Prussian reinforcements of hussars arrived on our flank, and just behind our dawdling cavalry. The rear attack against them potentially left them vulnerable, but since our cavalry was not pinned each unit contacted had the opportunity to turn and face the enemy charge with each only needing a 3+ to succeed. Five out of six units failed the roll. I was forced to send part of my cavalry back to try and prevent disaster. By games end our cavalry force was a mess. The Prussians still had a fully intact brigade of dragoons ready to go. We had lost 5 battalions and over half of the remaining were blown. The Prussian hussars were also spent, as was more than half of the rest of their cavalry. For us the battle was over.

Reinforced, the Austrians cavalry advance against the Prussians.

The Austrian central hill position await the Prussian infantry advance.

Prussian grenadier capture the town. Austrians linger just outside musket range.

After the unexpected flanking rear attack by Prussian hussars half the Austrian cavalry are in a major disarray.

Having seen off a battalion of Prussian grenadiers the rest of the Austrian cavalry await the inevitable Prussian cavalry charge.

On the opposite flank the reason for the Prussian infantry delay became clear as a pair of fresh infantry brigades came crashing into our left flank. With both flanks compromised and a force of nearly intact veteran Prussian infantry to our front we concede the game. 

The main Prussian battle line engage the central hill.

The disarraying outcome of the cavalry battle with units scattered across the field. Prussian hussars lower left, dragoon and cuirassier right. Austrian cavalry upper left and center. 

As one sided as this turned out everyone, save one of us, had a good time. For obvious reasons the poor fellow who never got to play, other than by rolling poor dice, did not enjoy the experience. What I took away was the need to limit both Dithering and Dashing commanders. Their extremes of a one third chance to either not activate, or on the opposite side, a one third chance to double move, are real game changers. Personally, I hate a system that prevents you from playing simply because of luck. I am considering modifying the effect to only allowing half of a force to advance on a Poor result, while a Feeble result will be no units may advance.