Here is the preamble for the game on Sunday

 

I have inflicted the role of French Marshall Tallard upon Brian ably assisted by Graham. The role of Marlborough, the great Captain General is all John's with his Imperial genius and great friend Richard, sorry Eugene

 

Enough of the buttering up, the scenario follows and the game will be published on Monday evening.

 

I will publish the written instructions and scene setting for the individual commanders after the game complete with the respective army listings and ratings

 

 

July 1704

Marlborough is in his ascendancy. Sending shock waves through the corridors of Versailles, his bold march to the Danube has wrong footed all of Louis XIV’s Marshals.

By destroying Marshal D’Arco’s Franco-Bavarian Corps on the Schellenburg heights, the bridges over the Danube at the nearby fortress town of Donäuworth are secured. The town is well provisioned with enough powder, new muskets, food and clothing to meet all his needs.

Marlborough has become emboldened and dispatches an Imperial Corps under the Margrave of Baden eastwards along the north bank of the Danube.

Eugene is to stay on the north bank also, his task to distract Marsin, Tallard and The Elector of Bavaria whilst Marlborough heads south to besiege Augsburg and threaten Munich. Although restricted in siege guns, the town of Rain on the River Lech is being subdued albeit slowly. The garrison is defending tenaciously in a time consuming operation.

Marlborough is on the east bank of the River Lech and has decided to push further south to Augsburg once Rain is taken.

The “Sun King” will not tolerate such inactivity!

Chastised and shaken from their lethargy Marshals Tallard, Marsin and Maximillian II Bavarian Elector act decisively. Marsin has been dispatched to distract and confine Eugene to the northern bank of the Danube while Tallard leads a joint French and Bavarian army who seek to cut off Churchill from his allies. His only escape will require a precipitous flight back to the bridges and safety of Donäuworth.

The Marshal presses his men hard. Better to march hard and let starvation defeat our foe. If Churchill fails to cross the river, he is lost!

The stakes cannot be higher!