At Fall-In! 2019 the last game of the convention was our ESR GM Game where the game masters who ran our ESR games for Fall-In! got to play. Unfortunately one was unavailable, which means David, the lead designer of ESR, had to step in to fill the spot. Once upon a time friend and fellow designer had given him sage advice: Never play your own game, you’ll always lose.

Vandamme’s corps marched proudly onto the northern end of the battlefield, knowing that Marmont was en route to him and just six short miles away. The French had concocted a cunning plan: because the battlefield was large, and because their Army was entering along a wide front, Vandamme would arrive and setup as a salient to hold the Russians in the north, while Marmont would screen the Austrians in the south and march to meet him. With their combined Forces they could overwhelm each of the Allies in turn.

Nope. Not gonna happen, well maybe… kinda gonna happen?

The Allies had a different plan: Beat Vandamme. Completely ignoring Marmont’s march, both Austrian and Russian entered the battlefield north of center and advanced directly against the single French Force.

Which plan won out? Well… the French can claim victory because of Marmont’s Austrian-shattering attack, but Vandamme’s corps was left a mess, with multiple broken and retreating divisions.

  • The Battlefield from the Northwest
  • Vandamme’s Corps Arrives
  • Hiller’s Corps Arrives
  • Marmont Begins His March
  • The Battlefield from the North
  • Marmont: I’ll be a While
  • Marmont’s Formations Converge
  • How Come Everyone’s Over Here?
  • Hiller is the First to Deploy
  • Elements of Vandamme’s Force
  • The North End of the Field
  • So Many Austrians
  • Marmont Turns Left
  • The Long March
  • The Central Battlefield Develops
  • First Contact
  • French Dragoons Retreating!
  • Where did that French Light Cavalry Come From?
  • Marching, Marching, Marching…
  • We’re Gonna Need a Shorter Road
  • Marmont Begins His Deployment
  • Vandamme & Marmont Connect
  • Hiller’s Southern Flank
  • Vandamme’s Northern Flank
  • Dokhturov is Sick of French Light Cavalry
  • Vandamme from Dokhturov’s Perspective
  • The Southern Flank from Dokhturov’s Perspective
  • Pajol Raids Dokhturov’s Baggage
  • Pajol is Surrounded!
  • Dokhturov’s Lead Division Retreats
  • Where’d All These French Come From?
  • Marmont is Still Marching
  • Vandamme’s Right Flank
  • Hiller’s Avant Garde vs… Everyone?
  • Onlookers Offer Guidance
  • Hiller Attacks Vandamme
  • Austrian Attack from Vandamme’s Perspective
  • Marmont is… Almost There
  • Dokhturov Attacks Vandamme Too!
  • Pajol Returns to Find Vandamme in Peril
  • The Large Battlefield Got Small
  • A Third Allied Division Comes Online
  • Marmont Begins His Attack
  • Vandamme & Marmont, Finally Together
  • Vandamme’s Left Begins to Give
  • Feeding in Support
  • So Many Russians
  • The Juncture of Vandamme, Marmont, and the Austrians
  • Hiller’s Avant Garde Gives Ground
  • The Russian Right Wing
  • Vandamme’s Imperiled Left Flank
  • A Juncture of Sadness
  • Vandamme’s First Division Breaks
  • Vandamme’s Center is Also in Trouble
  • Marmont is Here!
  • Marmont Commits Against the Austrians
  • Hiller Can’t Hold Marmont Back
  • Your GMs: Todd (Hiller), David (Vandamme), Dennis (Marmont), Justin (Dokhturov), Jace (Unnamed Russian Staff Officer)