Campaign Informant #5

Well, quite some time has passed, but not in vain!  I have discovered the programs written and offered for sale by Nigel P. Marsh under the title Carnage & Glory II.  The programs cover several of the more interesting periods of military history including Napoleonics and – another interest of mine – Pike and Shot.  I’ve added a link to his website and urge all of those who are interested in campaigning – or even one-off battles – in any of the eras his programs cover (includes American Civil War!) to visit the site and read through.  I’ve ordered the programs for Pike and Shot as well as the Napoleonic periods; since I first read Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen by H. Beam Piper, I have harboured the secret desire to fight out the battles described in that alternate history novel.  Now I have the means to do so, without adding addition expense of figures for yet another era and an additional large gaming table for which I have no room!  But, first, the Napoleonics campaign!

Campaign Informant #4

Well, better late than never, the old saying goes!  Here is an update with the final draft of the campaign level map, not the CC3 version, but the draft.  The army lists are completed and consequently I now know exactly how many officer-characters for whom I must make statistics … that is, how many to personalize and no, I won’t say at this point, but it is a large enough number that I’m using a stat generator made using a spreadsheet.  There are seven – or is it eight? – states in the Napoleonic era campaign and the starting date is already projected.  But, you know how ‘projections’ work out, don’t you?  You don’t?  Then you’ve never waited with bated breath for the release of some new wargame program, trusting in the developers’ published release date; have you?  *chuckle*  Well, enough of that.  Here is the final draft of the map and as usual, click on it to see this version of the map in full size.  The actual full size is twice this large.  There is one error and that is the “Principality of Monrovia” should be “…Moravia”.  That’s what a draft is for, isn’t it?

I have been working with CC3 and have figured out an acceptable scale etc for the KS-scaled maps – scaled at 1:7500 – with only a bit of color for indicating impassable forests – yes, I know but some forests remained which could not be passed by formed troops who desired to remain formed – and there will be a legend for any maps which I post here.  At that scale, a map 8″ x 8″ (20 cm x 20 cm) will cover one square mile of battlefield, allowing me – on my 36″ x 36″  (90 cm x 90 cm) tactical table – a large enough field upon which even two or three brigades on each side may likely maneuver without being detected by their opponent’s forces.  Not for a long time, it is true, but enough to give some scope for grand tactical maneuvering in the Grand Manner.  The time scale will be a Campaign move representing four hours, hence there will be six Phases in a Campaign Day.  The K-S time of course is much much shorter – nominally, but the umpire can – will!! – lengthen the time of a single tactical bound to avoid boredom.  Campaign Map scale will therefore be one square representing two miles (3.2 km) or about one hour’s march by a formed unit of foot, cross-country composed of nearly flat and open terrain.  Also representing then four KS-scale map sheets of 20 cm x 20 cm each.  More on that later!  Tempus fugit and I figit!

Campaign Informant #3

“The mill of the Gods grinds slow, but exceeding fine.”  I may excused for hoping that my efforts on the Napoleonic Campaign may be similarly “fine”.  Here is the Campaign Informant for October 26 2010.  I have decided against re-creating a fictional H.R.E. as the campaign context and instead the context will be a German Confederation sort of situation, but occuring after the utter incapacity of Revolutionary France to sustain its wars against the other European powers after the death of Napoleon Buenoparte in Italy in 1792 and the subsequent serial Terrors inflicted on the inhabitants of that unfortunate nation by the various factions of the “successful” Revolution.

Campaign Informant #2

Here is the Campaign Informant as of 8 July 2010.  The campaign is not ready to start, of course, as a lot more work is required, but that is now mostly in the area of finances, army lists and character creation.  The broad political outlines of the campaign version of the H.R.E. has taken form.  I have taken the liberty of “rescuing” as it were branches of the various families which had become extinct as of our real time line to be the heads of the Houses and States in the campaign.

Campaign Informant#1

As I look over the finished outline of this campaign, the thought occurred to me that someone out there might like to read what shape this is taking.  So, from time to time, as the campaign takes form, I shall post updates to inform you of what is being accomplished.  Here is the Informant for 13 June 2010: