From: Roberto Chiavini <mumaye@mail.dada.it> 
Subject: Two reviews 

Craonne (Book of Sandhurst Wargames)

The second little game from this interesting book is a simulation of a
Napoleonic battle, one taken by one of Napoleon's last campaigns, fought
against the Russians.

The game comes with a small map, colored with period flavor, if not with
particularly good graphics, while the counters (mounted on very thin
cardboard paper) are not noteworthy.

The system is very simple, similar to other classics from the Seventies,
but with several peculiar rules, not all of them hitting the target.

The game is not too long (perhaps a couple of hours), with only a few
dozens pieces for each player, and the situation is a classic one, with
the French on the offensive (with the aim to take the high ground on the
left side of the map) and the Russian with 2/3 of his force opposing the
French, while the other part on reserve, waiting for a direct order. And
starting with turn 7 (the game lasts 12 turns) the Russian player rolls
secretly to see which are his victory conditions (a nice touch to add
uncertainty to the game).

Each combat unit is rated for combat and movement, plus a value for
pinned combat (used when the unit is pinned by a previous combat - but
this value may also be added to the combat strength of the unit in a few
situations). There are simple optional rules for adding commanders.

Combat is with a ratio CRT, with only three results: pinned (both force
are pinned and must try to disengage or receive reinforcements before to
leave this undecided combat situation), retreat (that is peculiar, as
the retreating force must take a full move toward his rear) and
elimination.

Stacking is not permitted.

The combat situation is interesting, with a very moved terrain (with
slopes, towns and woods to add to the perils for the attacker) and two
almost equal forces put against each other. As in most other games with
a bloodless CRT, the encirclement of the enemy pieces is fundamental to
a winning attack, so the game is similar to a chess match, but not
particularly funny nor exciting.

All in all, this game could be a good introduction to wargames (apart
from the strange retreat rule and several unclear rules), but it is not
very good for "grognards" that are not interested in a game on the 1814
campaign.

I rate this game 6 in a 1-10 scale.