From: Roberto Chiavini <mumaye@mail.dada.it>
Subject: Reviews of Vae Victis

AUSTERLITZ 1805 THE CHOCS DES CAVALERIES (Vae Victis 2)

The game in the second issue of Vae Victis is a simulation of the clash
of rival cavalries that happened on the left wing of the French side
during the battle of Austerlitz, 2nd December 1805.

Beautiful graphics are the standard for this French magazine, and
Austerlitz is like most of the other games of Vae Victis a feast for the
eyes: excellent the counters (which you have to cut and paste, but this
is not DTP), functional the map.

The game is good, but to slow in development for my tastes. Anyway, it’s
worth a try.

The system is more complex than it’s normal for Vae Victis and this is
one of the reason of the slowness of play. You have different formations
for infantry, cavalry and artillery; you have commanders and roster
sheets to take account of the unit losses (in fact, the units have only
the starting morale factor on them).

The sequence of play is determination of command, rally, cavalry
charges, movement, defensive movement (to retreat from an attack),
defensive fire, offensive fire, melee.

The combat units have different facing for the different formations
(with front and rear hexes); the commanders have different values for
initiative, morale and combat bonus; there is a Fire CRT (based on the
Fire Factor minus the defensive protection value of the unit subject to
fire, with results which varies from morale test to rout and combat
factor losses) and a differential melee CRT.

Victory is based on territorial objectives and losses inflicted to the
enemy.

I rate this game 6+ on a scale of 1-10