Drew and I had been talking about the good old days, during which we were neither “good” or “old”, and starting talking about some of the rules we had enjoyed playing. Including Charles Grant’s “Battle” and “Ancient Wargaming”; HG Wells “Little Wars” (we both have the book but have never played it), Donald Featherston’s various rules, George Gush’s skirmish rules, WRG first edition ancients and many more. When then starting talking about Napoleonic rules and the WRG set of rules came up.

We both had enjoyed it over the years and we decided to have a game.

There was some vicarious pleasure in playing with figures and a set of rules that were older than most of the fifty “odd” gamers in the room………. BUT THEN I FELT OLD.

My “Austrian Advance Guard” at Wagram about to be trounced by Drews French – next time I will not use an historical formation or just field the Grenadiers, Cuirassiers and Heavy Reserve Batteries of the Reserve Corp!

Horse artillery limbers and caissons dominate the hill.

The Austrian Jager on the left flank were the Austrian “men of the match”.

French Chasseurs a Cheval and Cuirassiers – fielded at “brigade level”!

French guns and infantry advance.

Austrians prepared to meet them. Amazingly we remembered most of the rules, cannot remembered what I did yesterday but can remembers rules used forty years ago!

French cavalry advance on the guns with the Schwarzenburg Lancers in support.

On the right French lancers also advance.

Austrian skirmishers and Brigade Battery open fire.

The guns fire cannister on the charging Cuirassiers but forgot to load the guns. Needless to say the French charged home and swept the guns away for the loss of one figure.

French artillery firing.

The Schwarzenburg lancers sweep away the French Guard Chasseurs. At that stage the Austrians declared a victory! Letting all in the room know the guard cavalry was repulsed!

Run Froggies run.

Alas for the artillery, but the Austrian IR3 Erzherzog Charles infantry battalion deploy to hit the Cuirassiers with enfilading fire.

The French Guard arrive – WTF! The Austrian Jager are now in possession of the village and are picking off the old guard battalion on the right.

French advance in the centre but the Austrians fail to charge.

With the French lancers lurking in the background the Austrians form square.

The Austrian Stipsicz Hussars charge the Cuirassiers in the flank who turn to face and promptly rout the Austrians. I hate these rules!

The Austrian lancers rally back from the advancing guard. meanwhile the Austrian flank march still fails to arrive.

Another Austrian victory as the Old Guard are shaken by the Jagers shooting.

Austrian infantry rout as a French Battalion to their front wheels into their flank – I now really hate these rules.

Routing Nah. Just advancing very quickly to their rear.

The Austrians Flank March now arrives at the rear of the Old Guard to claim victory.

Actually it was a decisive win to Drew’s froggies.

We had an enormous amount of fun but I think I will stick to Lassale 2! The good old days are just not THAT good.