Que sera, sera. Whatever will be, will be, as the expression goes. Recently a substantial Seven Years' War Saturday away game was rightfully postponed into 2026. A day later on the eve of departure, my traveling companion friend, Bob B. and I pivoted determined to throw something together. We wanted to move miniatures and throw dice. But what?
Our first thought was the game must be finishable in three hours. I looked at the table. Nothing was ready. All the wrong stuff from a previous affair was lounging where it now did not belong. However, if I repositioned part of a ridge then acting as a scenic divider, we could have the Prussians boldly descend through a mountain defile pitching themselves into the waiting French.
THE DEFILE - DECEMBER 06, 2025
A SCENARIO YOU CAN TRY
Left Edge: The repositioned ridge formerly at the top of the image opened a defile there.
Top: Frederick's five battalions, a few cannons and cavalry arrive pushing forward. Allow them to move first in the opening turn.
Bottom: Two battalions of the French left flank.
Right: French Left Flank with three battalions and cannons.
Left: Prussians exiting the defile.
Center Top: French Right Flank beyond the big trees.
Bottom: The repositioned ridge stretches 6' left and right along the table edge.
Near: Hanoverian and Prussian battalions with cannons.
Far: Hessian and Prussian battalions with Kürassiers.
Far: French Right Flank. Two battalions and dragoons.
Left Center: Hessian and Prussian battalions wheel right.
Bottom Left: Prussian heavy cavalry.
Bottom Right: Frederick's Right Flank. See previous photo.
Saxon Leibkürassiers pretending to be Prussians. In late 1756 Frederick incorporated the Saxon Army into his. Many deserted to the French and Austrians forming corps with them.
French Right Flank opposing distant Prussians.
French Right Flank with Saxon von Brühl Dragoons. French Regiment Auvergne (two battalions) closes with the enemy.
CLOSING REMARKS
1. "Hey Bill! Why are there Saxons on both sides?"
2. "The Saxon heavies look like Prussians. We deployed what we had for the good of the game. Our group's Prussian cavalry was at the cancelled game."
3. The big trees in the center offered a good way to make tactics more difficult and uncertain. This could have been a four-player game, but we had no time to invite others late the night before Turn 1.
4. Rules. We use the four-page Quick Reference Charts below 99% of the time.
5. The above was restaged so you could plan your own Defile Scenario from any era.
6. A conclusion was reached in six turns and three hours of relaxing companionable fun.
7. Comments welcome. Do you have any?
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