From: Robert Markham Subject: Re: Montcalm & Wolfe Playtest To all, I just finished the latest playtest of the upcoming Montcalm & Wolfe. I thought I'd do a quick run through since first it was a short quick victory and second I WON. I started as the French in May 1755 by noting that my rival had started to advance Braddock toward Fort Duquesne. Elsewhere all was quiet. To respond to the Braddock threat, as well as get Bougainville in gear from Montreal to Ilse aux Anne, I elected to roll on the Command Table. Luck was with me and I activated both Bougainville and Cout'cour at Niagra. The French moves forced my British opponent to feel threatened enough to try for more activations on the Command Table. He failed utterly, which left him in a bad situation. To further complicate things. My French negotiators were able to make an alliance with the Tuscaarana. With another risky but successful trip to the Command Table, I was able to unleash the Tuscaarana on the settlement at Wilkes-Barre, which they triumphantly raided and fortunately for me did not burn to the ground. At the same time, I advanced and took Fort Edward with Bougainville, while Cout'cour attacked Braddock. When the smoke cleared at the end of August, Fort Edward had fallen to the French and Braddock had fallen back to Fort Cumberland, inexplicably leaving the road to Baltimore open for the French. The British then attempted to respond but allowed me to activate one group instead. Disaster had struck. The French reached Baltimore. Right now, the Political Track was clearly in the French favor. September saw the French retreat inland at Baltimore as the British forces under Shirley and Braddock combined to attack. It meant however that they had little to spare elsewhere. Winter and a heavy attrition on both sides, left 1755 clearly in the French favor. So much so, that the variable reinforcements were clearly on the French side (if you are doing poorly, the governments in Europe are less likely to reinforce your effort). In fact, Montcalm fresh from France found a nice mixed force awaiting him when he reached Canada. By now, another good campaign year would bring an automatic victory for the French. The British player continued to clean up the havoc the previous year had created, but neglected to put any pressure on the French. Instead he did not contest Montcalm as he advanced from Montreal and Linked up with Bougainville at Fort Edward. Only then did the British rush their forces to Albany,l at the same time finally pushing up to Fort Duquesne where they beat a militia garrison. By December, the only way the French could achieve an automatic victory would be a major victory at Albany. Putting my head down and gambling everything on the battle, I struck and while taking heavy losses, I achieved a major victory, and an autmatic victory. For my opponent this was the first time through and he could see that his big mistake had been falling back on Fort Cumberland and also so focusing on Cout'cour that he neglected to leave enough strength to contest Montcalm's advance. Next week we will fight the war again. Total time: 1hour 45 minutes.Fouteen turns played. To M&W playtesters: I'm sending out your copies tomorrow. Rob