Can a unit in square benefit from an entrenchment if one of the square sides is adjacent and the entrenchment and the attacker is attacking over the entrenchment?
Also, can a unit start the game in an entrenchment and then form attack column to allow another attack column to share the entrenchment?
Yes, and Yes.
So that means that a Spanish unit, of variable esprit, can start in an entrenchment with a river directly in front of it. It can then form attack column and have a grenadier unit (valiant) snuggle up next to it?
No attacker could go near that and hope to win!
A couple of thoughts:
1. The Spanish army usually has only one grenadier unit, so it's not a trick that can be applied all along the line. If he has a second Gren unit, then that means he has no cavalry, which naturally changes the French tactics, since presumably the French do have some Cav.
2. I think that some of your frustration comes from the fact that you're using a large BW (2") on a relatively small table. It may be necessary for the guys who play in 28mm to use a deeper table. In your case, for example, the Spanish - if defending on the short edge - only need to cover 24BW of front. If you played in 15mm with a 1.5" BW, then the defenders need to cover 32BW. That's the difference of two full units in Line. Something to think about. You could use a 6-foot deep table, for instance, and keep your 2" BW, now the defender has to cover 36BW.
If you use a 1.5" BW, then every unit in the Spanish core list - deployed in Line, end to end - covers 39BW. Let's say the Spanish player thinks he's fighting 1916 and ignores cavalry and just goes for a Veteran Infantry support brigade. He has a total of 14 Battalions now, meaning he can put 6 of them in attack columns and 8 of them in Line, and still cover the whole front - assuming he wants no reserves. Surely - at some point along the front of those 8 Spanish units in Line - the French can find a soft spot? Especially if they've got cavalry that can scare the Spannies into squares?
Sam,
I agree with all of your points. I am going to go to 5x8 for the table. That dimension fits my terrain boards well!
I also agree that the entire situation changes with cavalry on the board. Essentially a well played Spanish force can defend the objective for the 16+ turns without a problem. The way to beat them is to pick a weak spot and try to break the army (as you have suggested). As the French I think that they really need to concentrate on one point, since a draw is actually a Spanish marginal win.
I have also thought a bit about shortening the river section or including an intrinsic ford or two to help inspire the Spanish into action.
Working on 12 town bases at the moment to see how the Spanish do fighting off the French in a larger town. I'll report back some time next month.
J
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