The Battle of Königstür: The scenario, the terrain, the starting positions, and the values of the playing cards in the pack of unit activation cards

The Scenario:
A Prussian Korps had been sent to seize the town of Königstür, a small town at the northern end of a valley to the north of Vienna. By taking control of the town – and thus the valley as well – the Prussians would be able to quickly advance and capture the Austro-Hungarian capital.

The Korps comprised two infantry divisions, each of which had four infantry regiments and an artillery regiment. In addition, the Korps commander – General Schwartz, who was regarded by his superiors as being a very competent but not outstanding officer – had a regiment of elite Jäger at his disposal.

The Austro-Hungarian High Command was well aware of the threat posed by the possible capture of Königstür, and had sent a strengthened infantry division – led by General Rot, who the High Command considered to be one of their less gifted officers – to occupy the town and the surrounding area, and prevent the towns capture.

The enhanced division comprised four infantry regiments, an artillery regiment, and two regiments of elite Jägers.

All artillery units started with enough ammunition to fire six times. Once their ammunition is expended, they would have to be re-supplied … but that would take some time.

The Terrain:
The battlefield viewed from the north (i.e. from the direction of the Prussian advance).

The battlefield viewed from the east.

The battlefield viewed from the south (i.e. from the direction of the Austro-Hungarian advance).

A map of the battlefield viewed from the north.

Starting positions:
The Prussian and Austro-Hungarian forces entered the battlefield as follows:

• The Prussians arrived on the battlefield in two separate divisional columns; the 1st Division at C8 and the 2nd Division (accompanied by the Korps commander and the Jägers) at G8.
• The Austro-Hungarians arrived on the battlefield at D1.

Command ability and the value of playing cards in the pack of unit activation cards:
The two commanders were graded as to their individual command ability, and this determined the value of the playing cards they had in the pack of unit activation cards.

General Schwartz was rated as 'Average' and commanded eleven units. 11 ÷ 2 = 5.5, which when rounded up equalled 6. He was therefore allocated black playing cards to the value of five, six, and seven.

General Rot was rated as ‘Poor’ and commanded seven units. (7 ÷ 2) – 1 = 2.5, which when rounded up equalled 3. He was therefore allocated red playing cards to the value of two, three, and four.