Dernières Gloires

Dernières Gloires ("Last Glories") brings together three battles from the 1813 German Campaign, the 48th, 49th and 50th in the Jours de Gloire series. In terms of map size and number of counters, it is the largest box ever published in the series. Lützen (2 May 1813) marks Napoleon’s return to the battlefield after the catastrophe in Russia. Surprised by the Russo-Prussian attack, the French react with vigor and, through bitter fighting around the villages of Großgörschen and Kaja, manage to seize the initiative. This victory, won in confusion and at the cost of bloody engagements, proves that the new Imperial Army, though still desperately short of cavalry, remains a formidable force. Bautzen (20-21 May 1813) is a battle of maneuver in which Napoleon attempts to annihilate the Allied army with a convergent attack. While the main forces pin the enemy frontally, Ney’s army is tasked with turning the flank and cutting off the retreat. Although the French victory is unquestionable, imperfect execution of the plan prevents the complete destruction of the enemy forces, which manage to withdraw in good order. Dresden (26-27 August 1813) constitutes Napoleon’s last great success in Germany. Taking advantage of a rapid concentration of his forces, he attacks a numerically superior Allied army threatening the city. In pouring rain, the French inflict a severe defeat on their opponents thanks to skillful use of reserves and decisive counter-attacks. Yet this brilliant victory would not be enough to decide the outcome of the campaign. Last Glories allows players to take command of large armies engaged in battles where initiative, coordination and a sense of maneuver are essential. Will you be able to harness the enthusiasm of the “Marie-Louise” conscripts at Lützen? Will you succeed in carrying out the encirclement planned by Napoleon at Bautzen? Will you manage to reproduce the Emperor’s last great triumph at Dresden against superior enemy numbers? The game offers a wide variety of situations, from combats of attrition to daring maneuver, putting your ability to command large armies supported by powerful artillery batteries to the test. Units: 1 strength point equals 400 infantry, 300 cavalry, 4 or 6 cannons Scale: brigades Complexity : 8 / 9 —description from the publisher