I decided to test my Waddington's CAMPAIGN board game-based campaign rules by pitching France against Prussia in an imaginary conflict set during the Napoleonic Wars. Because I was able to download a copy of the 1810 calendar, I set the war during that year, starting on Thursday 1st March, the first day of the spring quarter.
Background to the war
Tension between France and Prussian had been growing during the winter, and things finally came to a head when the French ambassador to the court of the King of Prussia took exception to a leaflet that was being circulated in berlin that lampooned the Emperor of France. He demanded that the author and printer be arrested at once and a guarantee be given that no further such scurrilous publications would be allowed. When the Chancellor demurred to make suck a guarantee, the ambassador said 'This means war!' and immediately left for Paris.
Within days of his return to Paris, the Emperor ordered the immediate mobilisation of his army, and within a week a fromal declaration of war had been made.
The starting positions of both armies
The French Army
The French Army comprised five divisions, the Imperial Guard Division (based in Paris and commanded by General Dupont) and the 1st Division (based in Nancy and commanded by General Lucas), the 2nd Division (based in Lyon and commanded by General Lapointe), the 3rd Division (based in Bordeaux and commanded by General Janvier), and the 4th Division (based in Toulouse and commanded by General Torrance).
Each Division comprised four infantry regiments, a cavalry regiment, and an artillery regiment, and each city was garrisoned by one (Nancy, Lyon, Bordeaux, and Toulouse) or two (Paris) reserve infantry regiments.
France was allocated the red card suits.
The Prussian Army
The Prussian Army comprised five divisions, the Guard Division (based in Berlin and commanded by General Lettow), the 1st Division (based in Hanover and commanded by General von Kluck), the 2nd Division (based in Leipzig and commanded by General Steiner), the 3rd Division (based in Dresden and commanded by General von Horn), and the 4th Division (based in Stettin and commanded by General von Bissing).
Each Division comprised four infantry regiments, a cavalry regiment, and an artillery regiment and each city was garrisoned by one (Hanover, Leipzig, Dresden, and Stettin) or two (Berlin) reserve infantry regiments.
Prussian was allocated the black card suits.
The initial moves of the war
Turn 1: Thursday 1st/Friday 2nd March 1810:
- Red King: French move IG to F4 (2) and 1st to L5 (3)
- Black King: Prussians move 1st to N5 (2) and 2nd to O10 (3)
- Red 10: French move 3rd to D9 (1)
Turn 2: Saturday 3rd March/Sunday 4th March 1810:
- Black Jack: Prussians move 2nd to M10 (2)
- Red 10: French move IG to G4 (1)
- Red Jack: French move 2nd to L10 (2)
The French 2nd Division has moved into a square that is adjacent to that occupied by the Prussian 2nd Division and attacks them.
Turn 3: Monday 5th March/Tuesday 6th March 1810:
The battle between the French 2nd Division and Prussian 2nd Division is fought.
Elsewhere ...
- Red 9: French move 4th to H11 (1)
- Black 4: Prussians move G to S5 (1)
- Red 8: French move 4th to I11 (1)
To be continued ...
Excellent stuff Bob and I look forward to the battle and of course how the campaign unfolds:).
ReplyDeleteSteve J.,
DeleteCheers! I’m hoping to fight the battle using my draft Fast Play 3 x 3 Napoleonic Portable Wargame rules.
All the best,
Bob
Bob - I’m obviously having a bad day.
DeleteI mis-read your comment that you were intending using your “draft Fast Play 3 x 3 Napoleonic Portable Wargame rules” to suggest you’d be using your DAFT FP3x3 Nap PW rules. I dare say, now the “wrong” word is stuck in my brain then I’ll have a hard job breaking that connection.
Likewise, the car park behind my old office had a sign that said they were Shopfitters - every single time, the association my brain made first was “shoplifters”…
All the best,
Geoff
Elliesdad (Geoff),
DeleteThere are some wargamers who would argue that all my rules are daft!
We all have words that we misread or mispronounce, and once it gets stuck in your head, it’s almost impossible to break the spell!
The situation can be made worse by other people. During the closing of a Masonic meeting, I often have to say the word ‘repository’ … and many times I’ve seen our Secretary mouthing the word ‘suppository’ to me in the hope I will say the wrong word. It starts me thinking ‘I must say repository and not suppository; I must say repository and not suppository’ … and at least twice I’ve said ‘suppository’!
All the best,
Bob
Bob - The French look to have mobilised much the more quickly. Both will be hoping for a big victory in the upcoming Battle of Lyons...
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Ion
Archduke Piccolo (Ion),
DeleteThe French certainly seemed to get their act together slightly quicker than the Prussians. It will be interesting to see if the side that wins this first battle will go on to win the war.
All the best,
Bob
Good to see the Campaign in detail Bob - how are you going to fight the battles, PW or 3x3PW?
ReplyDeleteMaudlin Jack Tar,
DeleteThe changes to the rules seem to have made the campaign move along a bit quicker.
I intend to fight the battles using my draft FP3x3NapPW rules … which I hope to feature in the next PW Compendium.
All the best,
Bob
Hello there Bob,
ReplyDeleteThis has all the hallmarks of being a really handy system! Will you be transferring the actions to the tabletop? I am wondering if the Del Prado collection will be making a welcome reappearance at some point.
I am certainly looking forward to seeing how this develops!
All the best,
DC
David Crook,
DeleteThe latest draft of my campaign rules (along with the use of the CAMPAIGN map) does seem to have produced a simple, workable system.
I intended to fight any battles using my Del Prado figures and my draft FP3x3NapPW rules.
All the best,
Bob
Bob, very interesting and a good start to the campaign, I hope to have a go as well this evening, a small ECW campaign. Regards. Paul.
ReplyDeletePDL (Paul),
DeleteCheers! The opening moves of the campaign have created an interesting situation.
I hope that your ECW campaign goes well.
All the best,
Bob
An excellent start Bob looking forward to the next instalment. A simple but workable campaign system.
ReplyDeleteStephen Smith,
DeleteCheers! It does seem to be easy to use and to produce reasonable results … which is what I hoped.
All the best,
Bob
The beginning of a campaign is always the best part. 😀
ReplyDeleteStew,
DeleteI also enjoy the prior campaign preparation stage as well.
All the best,
Bob
Very interesting so far. I'm looking forward to your (hopefully not daft) 3x3 Napoleonic rules.
ReplyDeleteMark Cordone,
DeleteCheers! The FP3x3NapPW isn’t too daft … I hope! If they work, I’ll put them in the next PW Compendium.
All the best,
Bob
I expect they will be great. My version worked very well.
ReplyDeleteMark Cordone,
DeleteI will try to send you a copy of my draft/daft rules!
All the best,
Bob
Thanks! Looking forward to it.
DeleteMark Cordone,
DeleteSent as requested.
Read and enjoy,
Bob