The 'Hundred Minutes' map campaign project having received such a positive response, it seemed appropriate that we look for something of a similar scale that might be tried, with some of the refinements that have been suggested by several commentators (including myself). The campaign that suggests itself is that of 1806 - a supreme example of Napoleon's Batallion Carré march system against an enemy whose location and distribution is unclear.
So far, a provisional hex-map has been drawn up. I did consider the Paddy Griffith map as produced in his 'Generalship Game' (Napoleonic Wargaming for Fun), but in the end decided to create one using as a basis the campaign map in David Chandler's Campaigns of Napoleon. This is the result.
At this point, I have yet to determine quite where the respective formations begin. That will await another posting. However, here are the formations I propose for this campaign.
I have included the leaders of these corps, though I'm still not 100% whether all corps commanders should be represented, or just some. Apart from the King on the Prussian side, the Duke of Brunswick and Prinz Hohenlohe should certainly be represented, but who to add on the French? I'm inclined to think Marshals Murat and Lannes should have a representative figure, and, on the right of the whole array, I'd prefer Marshal Davout over Bernadotte, mainly on account of the latter's poor showing during the critical stages of the campaign. An alternative is to include a command figure and decide upon his identity as events suggest.
Although I have listed both Marshals commanding the Imperial Guard, it will be treated as a single formation under command of one or other of them. I daresay if one becomes a casualty, the other could take command...
The Advance Guard Divisions commanded by Blucher and Prince Louis Ferdinand were actually part of the army commands of Brunswick and Hohenlohe respectively. It seems right, though, that they have a separate existence in this campaign owing to the roles they were assigned, especially that of Prince Louis.
The numbers are arrived at by the rather arbitrary system I have used to represent each arm:
1 foot figure represents 5000 infantry;
1 mounted figure (except commanders) represents 2000 cavalry;
1 artilleryman figure represents 500 gunners, and 20 cannon.
This last indicates that the French have 7,500 gunners serving 300 cannon; the Prussians 6,500 serving 260. The Prussian ordnance seems a bit under-represented, but perhaps conflates the regimental cannon in some way.
This looks really interesting, I'm eagerly awaiting future developments.
ReplyDeleteThe next step is to formalise what rules I am using, in particular, (a) the activation of formations and (b) the reconciliation of losses. Once they are sorted we're ready to go.
DeleteCheers,
Ion
You’re making progress Ion - that’s always good. The map is nice but, as you say, it does look a bit busy/full. And finally, as ever, your artwork is lovely. 👏👏
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Geoff
Geoff -
DeleteI'm inclined to agree that the table is going to look pretty busy - an experiment that doesn't look encouraging. But each location will be represented by a single small building, with the likely exception of Leipzig, and possibly Kassel and Bayreuth. That should leave enough room for the formations to wander around.
Cheers,
Ion
Another interesting project cum campaign there Ion and certainly look forward to seeing how it progresses:).
ReplyDeleteNot sure when I will be running this, Steve. But I have, at least tentatively, sorted out where the formations start from! Also doing a fair bit of thinking about activation. The question is whether to build in Prussian dithering in the face of Napoleon's sense of purpose. If so, I'm inclined to roll for initiative plus 'roll for median' numbers of formations, giving Napoleon a plus and the Prussian a negative.
DeleteProblem there is the disparity of numbers added will make the campaign as one-sided as it was historically. The alternative is to use my 'priority chit' method, but Napoleon in person adds +2 dice to combats.
Food for thought...
Cheers,
Ion