The program for Napoleonics will allow me to create armies for each of the states of my Imagined-Europa and will maintain the statistics for each of the officers commanding down to batallion of foot, squadron of horse and half-battery of guns!  In addition, the program will assist in the conduct of the tactical battles – in lieu of the Kriegsspiel rules as I had originally envisoned – but I will use the K-S maps and tiles to represent the formations, units and sub-units on the battlefields.  It will require some additional book-keeping on my part, in addition to that provided by the C&GII programs, but much less than was required by the campaign rules and method I have created and worked up for the campaign, in its original form.  I anticipate the arrival of the programs by Monday and expect to have the modified campaign rules worke-up by Friday and will conduct the initial test of the C&GII programs with the K-S tiles and maps during the following week.  Re-doing the campaign map will take a bit longer, but that’s because I need to have the scale and so forth of the map(s) utilize the C&GII program’s capacity to the fullest.  So, week of 16 January 2012, you may expect an AAR of the first test battle using these newest campaign and tactical methods.  I hope to have something made up for my ‘re-enactment’ of the battles of the war between Hostigos and Nostor as well, but the timeline is uncertain at this moment.

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!

    While “Liberte, Fraternite and Equalite” echo and re-echo amidst the sounds of firing squads, artillery firing case shot down city boulevards and the screams of – relatively – innocent civilians being massacred by the Fifth Revolutionary Council (or is it the Sixth?), my campaign will continue in a much subdued Europe.   Austria has most of its army and attention directed along the border with the Ottomans, as that Islamic hegemony is ever-eager to add the Balkans, Hungary and the southern Duchies of Austria to its empire.  Prussia, for different reasons, has its eye on its border with the resurgent Kingdom of Poland and its Imperial Russian ally.  Each of those – the two most powerful states in our campaign – can spare no more than one Corps of infantry, cavalry and artillery in the West and even those relatively paltry forces may become too much for the smaller states of the Confederation.  The Kingdom of Bayern is separated from its fraternal ally the County Palatine of the Rhine by the Kingdom of Wurttemberg and the Principality of Hesse, while the Kingdoms of Saxony and Hanover eye the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg uneasily as that worthy flirts with the Prussian Grand Duke – who still believes himself to be “King in Prussia” even after his drubbing by the Poles and the Russians – hoping for mediazation rather than digestion into the once and future “Kingdom of Prussia”.  Here is a thumbnail of the Campaign Map, with only political boundaries, major towns and cities and rivers, with roads and mountains to come.  Click for a larger version and I promise a more finished one in a short time.

The internal boundaries of subordinate duchies, counties and the like do not appear on this first version and may not appear on the final version, either.  There is a certain point beyond which detail becomes clutter and that may be too much detail (clutter) for the Campaign Map.  They are not and will not be forgotten, just are not represented on the Campaign Map.  I hope to use this as a template in CC3 to produce a more “wargamey” Campaign Map with hexes and the like.

I am putting the finishing touches on a final draft of the Campaign Rules, whichwill include Attrition, Allocation of Battlefield Casualties into Categories, Officer Quality/Characteristics, and a rule for the initial army creation allowing for units varying in quality from raw recruits with neither training nor experience through the elite bayonets of the Lieb Guard Regiments of Foot and the Death’s Head Hussar Regiments of Horse.  Of course, such units will be hard-pressed to find replacements for their losses who are the equal of those lost in battle, so one must care for one’s elite units.  (For the curious, see Donald Featherstone’s Wargames Campaigns, the 1972 edition from Stanley Paul & Co., at pages 32 – 36 for the source of my rule on attrition.)  There will be some diplomacy and intrigue as well, handled in a manner like that of Tony Bath in his Hyborean Campaign of ancient memory, that is, via die rolls and “fudges” but all such shennagans will be reported faithfully in the Gazette.  Supply with be handled with the assumption that if one’s Supply Line is intact, one is in supply for all (or nearly all) purposes.  If, however, an enemy force of at least two regiments sits astride that Line, you must begin eating out of what you’ve brought along with you.  Details later, but it is a quite simple rule, involving four items of supply, Days of Supply rather than tediously counting out how many men, how many animals, etc etc, but still providing some influence on a commander’s wild ways from his supply situation.  To paraphrase Wellsley when he was Officer Commanding His Britannic Majesty’s Forces in Spain, “I can either count my men’s socks or I can defeat the French; Iam unable to do both.”

    Battles will be resolved using the 1824 Kreigsspiel rules with some amendments.  Melee and missile fire will be resolved using the Mythic GM Emulator charts, but the losses and language of the K-S rules will be retained.  While the counters will be in use, the actual units will be rosters of actual “present for duty” strength, updated after each battle is resolved on the K-S mapsheets.  Likewise, odd events and the actions of commanders will be likewise decided using the MGME and related charts.  Details will be forthcoming, but in essence each Unit is treated as if it were a “character” or “personality” with characteristics which produce the likelihood of success or failure, when combined the Commander’s ability – or lack thereof! – and the circumstances on the ground.  My point of view is initially intended to be the commander of both sides, as the various solo gaming mechanisms will, I anticipate and desire, will take away from me much of my volition and ability to use my “helicopter view” of the battlefield.  Tactical maps will be for the testing of the modified K-S rules the mapsheets I have; for the actual campaign, I hope to create tactical maps of the proper appearance using CC3 and it’s “Napoleonic Maps” modifications.

Much has been done and much still remains.  But I trudge forward in the hope of seeing this campaign playing itself out on the maps, charts and by means of those die rolls so beloved of we who game with our imaginations.  Come along and cheer or boo are you are inclined by the events.

The House of Hapsburg – not of Hapsburg-Lorraine as in our time line – in the person of Emperor Leopold III Joseph, son of  Emperor  Leopold II Joseph, son of Joseph I and Princess Wilhelmina Amalia of Brunswick-Lüneburg, daughter of John Frederick, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. (In our time line, Leopold II died as a child, setting the stage for the Empress Maria Theresa and the War of the Austrian Succession – didn’t happen here).  All of the historical titles, thrones and holdings remain in his hands as Archduke of Austria, etc.  The Emperor’s primary concern at the start is Turkey and it’s resumption of the expansion of Islam into Europe by way of Austria.

The House of Hohenzollern – here, Grand Duke of Prussia and Margrave-Elector of Brandenburg.  Prussia lost its eastern possessions in the course of their wars with Poland-Lithuania about a century ago.  In this time line, Poland secured an effective alliance with Russia, who actually provided troops to fight Prussia and sent a general who was neither senile nor corrupt beyond reason.  As a consequence, there is no King in Prussia for this House.  The present Grand Duke is the aged Frederick William III, son of Frederick William II of Prussia and Frederica Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt, married to Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and their children are:  Frederick William 15 October 1795;  Charlotte 13 July 1798; Charles 29 July 1801; Alexandrine 23 February 1803; Ferdinand 13 December 1804; Louise 1 February 1808; Albert (Albrecht) 4 October 1809.

The House of Hesse – with only one ruling branch in this time line and all the Hessen lands consolidated by familial agreements into one state.  The present Landgraf & Elector is Wilhelm I, Kurfurst von Hessen, who married Wilhelmina Caroline of Denmark and Norway; their children are two daughters Korline Amalie & Marie Friederike and one son, Wilhelm the heir.

The House of Mecklenburg-Schwerin – The current Grand Duke is Friederick Franz I, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (10 December 1756)  Grand Duke1785 of German state of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.   On 1 June 1775 in Gotha Friedrich Franz married with the Princess Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (1756-1808). They had six children:[1]Friedrich Ludwig (13 June 1778 – 29 November 1819). He married Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna of Russia, a daughter of Paul I of Russia and Sophie Marie Dorothea of Württemberg. They were parents of Paul Friedrich, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Paul Friedrich’s oldest son was Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1823-1883), who succeeded as Grand Duke in 1842. Louise Charlotte (19 November 1779 – 4 January 1801). Gustav Wilhelm (31 January 1781 ). Karl (2 July 1782).  Charlotte (4 December 1784).

The House of Wittelsbach – in our time line, the Bavarian Branch became extinct in 1799, combining Bavaria and Pflazgraf branches.  In the campaign time line, Joseph I Ludvig Leo, 25 August 1728 did not die at age 5 and succeeded his older brother Maximilian III in 1777; his eldest son Joseph II Ludvig, 13 July 1758, became Elector upon Joseph I Ludvig’s dead in 1799.  Joseph II Ludvig married Theresia Maria Josepha Magdalena, youngest daughter of the Elector of Saxony Frederick Christian and their children are:  two girls (whom I haven’t named yet) and two boys = Maximillian Karl (heir), 15 Jan 1788; one other (likewise awaiting a name and birthday).

The House of Wittelsbach, Palatinate Branch – (I need to complete this information; the current Elector-Pfalzgraf is Maximillian I Joseph.)

The House of Brunswick-Luneburg – in our time line, this House had become the Kings of England in the person of Georg I, which House held both the throne of England and that of Hanover until Victoria became Queen of England and the Salic law provisions of Hanover’s laws of succession made her uncle Ernest August, Duke of Cumberland the King of Hanover.  Not so here.  Queen Anne had a son who lived and the Tudor line continues in England.  The current ruler is Kurfurst-Herzog of Brunswick-Luneburg:  Ernest I Augustus  (5 June 1771), recently came to the titles; as yet unmarried.

These are the first seven of the royal and noble houses in our Campaign.  The missing details will be added into this post as I complete them and the other five will be the subject of a separate Informant.

I have come to the conclusion that what is appealing to me about a campaign set in the Holy Roman Empire – even if in an alternate history one! – the is complicated relationship among the various German states of the period, together with the relatively small armies that would be involved in any military conflicts.  The Imperial Diet of the H.R.E. was essentially quiscent by the late 18th Century; the only remaining edicts passed and published of any significance to gamers is the creation of three new Electors in 1803:  Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel, Margrave of Baden and Duchy of Wurtemburg.  The Diet had successfully curtailed the Imperial power within the Empire to such an extent that the Emperors could only rely upon their own assets in their Hapsburg holdings, the Austrian States as it were.  Given that essential Imperial weakness, it was necessary for a considerable amount of dealing and trading of favors to be conducted in order to advance anything resembling a coherent Imperial policy.  So, while the Imperial Diet was important, it was largely inactive; present but quiet.  As a campaign factor, not of tremendous importance.  Compare, for instance, the Houses of Parliament in England – for example – during the English Civil War and Interregnum which followed.  Therefore, while votes in the Imperial Diet are potentially important even in the campaign, they’re not critical.  It would seem that each session which had any significant issues before it would see factions and voting blocs forming based upon the princes’ view of their interest at the time, rather than as a part of some long-term program or plan.

You will recall that estates in Germany were not entailed and consequently were divided among all surviving sons more or less equally.  Of course, as time went on, this had the effect of dividing the existing states into smaller and smaller polities, growing less and less effective as time went on.  Of course, there were family compacts which directed inheritances upon the extinction of one or another branch of each land-holding family, but I have seen as many as eight distinct branches of a single noble family, all extant at the same time, and holding bits and pieces scattered all over the map.  At the time of the Napoleonic Wars, in our timeline, there were perhaps as many as 300 separate and sovereign states in the H.R.E.  Exciting, perhaps, for role-playing but difficult for campaign map-making.  But, fortunately, they had organized the various states into what are called in English Imperial Circles, which grouped the various states geographically.  This gives me a basis for two simplifications:  (1)  reducing the number of states in the campaign by means of the Circles, using the assignment of all the various small to tiny states as a basis for amalgamation of them into the larger states within each of the Circles – for example, all the Hessen states represented in a single Margravate of Hesse, rather than the unweildy number of smaller states located in and around the larger states of Hesse-Kassel and Hesse-Darmstadt; (2) in potential, all of the member states of  each Circle may be treated as if they were members of a political faction, sharing common objectives.  The Circles contain Electors, rich states, poor states, etc, all giving a reason to separate the various Electors.

Next there were not so many different families who were important state-holders in the H.R.E., if you view the family as if it were made up of people who liked each other.  Not true in real life, to be sure, but useful as a method of determining what a count or duke might do in any given circumstance and gives rise to another Characteristic for the nobles and that is “Loyalty”.  It is also another dimension along which I can “slice” the various political states, with the potential, for example, that a family might join together to achieve a certain, specific, fairly short-term goal.   Again, not all the Electors or full voters in the Diet are in the same family or the same branch.  So, adding major families and a branch or two for some of them gives more cohesion and “atmosphere” to the campaign.  From time to time, the H.R.E. did things based on family interests which strangers might not have done.

More later, as I sharpen these definitions and begin to write down the Circles, consolidate into two to six states the states that were actually in each Circle, see how the balance of votes in the Diet and Electors works out.

On the advice of a commenter, I’m adding a category called “Playing Pieces” to the blog.  Here, you will be able to see various Kriegsspiel playing pieces made by different companies.  The first is from Photon Cutters Studios – which is owned by Thomas Evans, the gentleman I’ve bought my first set from.  You’ll be seeing them in the various photos, as the campaign continues.  I like them and here is his catalog page showing his pieces. 

PhotonCutterStudios

08 Juni 1820

 Brigade-Gen. Graf Ludwig von Blauerfluss orders his Brigade to assemble.

Late that Afternoon, the courier arrives at Roterburg with his message from the Red Border Guard captain, forwarding his spies’ reports of the intentions of the Blue Duke.  At a Nighttime council of war, Duke Wilhelm order Graf von Roterfluss to move post- haste to prevent this intrusion onto the soil of the Red Duchy. (See the attached Order of Battle of Brigade von Roterfluss and Order in Council signed by Duke Wilhelm.)

 09 Juni 1820

About Mid-day, Bde-Gen. von Blauerfuss inspects his Brigade, some fifteen miles west of the objective, finding them prepared in all respects for the upcoming campaign.

 At about the same time, Brigade-Gen. Graf George August von Roterfluss orders out the available units of his Brigade together with an attached Hussar Regiment and a battery of horse artillery.

10 Juni 1820

Bde-Gen. von Blauerfluss orders his Brigade to advance toward the Moselle River bridge near the village of Noveant. His leading cavalry regiment leaves mid-Morning and his other units follow in their turn. It is his duty to seize that bridge and secure it and the river crossing. Further, he has been ordered to take defensive positions which will give his Duke control of the eastbound roads from the Moselle into the Red Duke’s domains. The Brigade Staff has recommended that the northern road be the route taken to the objectives and the Graf has approved their recommendation. The Staff estimates that it will require two days’ normal march to reach the village Noveant where the Brigade will commence active operations. (See the attached Order of Battle of Brigade von Blauerfluss and the Order in Council signed by Duke Karl ordering and requiring this attack.)

Early that same Morning, Brigade von Roterfluss begins its march to the village of Corny. Being uncertain of the departure time of his opponent’s formation, he requires his Brigade to force-march the distance of some ten miles. They arrive in the Mid-Day, tired but having accomplished their beloved Brigadier’s desires. No sign of the invaders being on either bank of the river, the Brigade deploys on the Blue side of the Moselle. Defensive positions are taken up in Noveant facing the pass with one battalion of Line and two squadrons of Hussars, with the battalion’s skirmishers inside the village. Likewise, one battalion of line and two squadrons of Hussars take up positions in and around Arnaville, supported by the battery of horse artillery. The Brigade HQ and the field artillery battery are on the Red side of the river, on a slight rise giving them a view into the village of Noveant and a bit of Arnaville as well. They eat, rest and await their rivals in arms.

 11 Juni 1820

Brigade von Roterfluss has rested up from its forced march of the day before and there is no contact with the enemy.

Brigade von Blauerfluss continues its march to the river, unaware that the Red Duke’s men have beaten them to the bridge.

Each Campaign Day is divided into six Phases of four hours each.  They are as follows:  Morning, which lasts from dawn or 0600 until 1000; Midday, from 1000 to 1400; Afternoon, 1400 to 1800 or dusk; Evening, sundown or 1800 to 2200; Night, 2200 to 0200; Late Night, 0200 until dawn.  The times are 24-hour clock or military times.  When you see one of these times of day capitalized and used in the Journal, the reference is to that particular Phase in the Day.  For those just joining, this is a solo campaign and the events occurring when the forces are not in action against one another are dealt with by me as the Campaign Manager.  I am using this campaign to familiarize myself with the Kriegsspiel rules from Too Fat Lardies and to playtest my solo campaign rules using the K-S rules to decide the battles.  Questions and comments are welcome and I hope you each enjoy following the Red and Blue Dukes.

Blauberg Advance Guard -  Brigadier Ludwig, Graf von Blauerfluss, Officer Commanding

2d Blauburg Regiment of Foot – Col. Johann, Freiherr von Blauerburg, Officer Commanding
Fredericksburg Regiment of Foot – Col. Charles, Freiherr von Fredericksberg, Officer Commanding
2d Regiment of Hussars – Col. Ernst, Vizegraf von Blauerburg, Officer Commanding
#1 Battery of Field Artillery (6-pounders), Major Hans Gruber, Officer Commanding
#1 Battery of Horse Artillery (6-pounder), Major Frederick Schornhorst, Officer Commanding.

Likewise, here are the units of the Advance Guard for the Red, likewise showing their Commanders:

Rotenberg Advance Guard – Brigadier George August, Graf von Roterfluss, Officer Commanding

2d Regiment of Foot, Alexander Ernst, Freiheer von Roterfluss, Officer Commanding
3d Regiment of Foot, Karl Ernst, Vizegraf von Rotholz, Officer Commanding
Zolms Regiment of Hussars, Frederick Karl, Vizegraf von Zolms, Officer Commanding
#1 Battery of Field Artillery (6-pounder), Major Ernst Mueller, Officer Commanding
#1 Battery of Horse Artillery (6-pounder), Major George Horst, Officer Commanding

Each of these officers has characteristics – ‘stats’ for short – which have been diced for with 1D100.  As the campaign unfolds, these stats will be used to determine some of the actions and decisions of these and other officers, both command and staff, in both armies.  The Campaign Journal will refer to them in an elliptical manner, thusly:  “With his customary caution, Col. Humperdink only advanced a portion of a day’s normal march after defeating his foe.”  From the use of the phrase “…customary caution…”, you may infer that Col. H is one of those who is not overly endowed with elan.  Or, “Despite his cautious nature, Col. Humperdink not only advanced his main body a full day’s march, but sent skirmishers out to his front after making camp for the day.”  Here, the give-away phrase is, “Despite his cautious nature…”.  Phrases like these, coupled with descriptions of the decisions made, will give you a clue as to each commander’s character.  When, as and if the present officers are relieved, wounded and sent off to recover at home, crippled and retired for that reason or killed outright leading their troops, new suitable officers will be promoted to fill these vacancies.  Similarly, if a foot battalion goes off on its own away from its parent regiment, that battalion’s O/C will be introduced and will have his own stats to guide his actions.  More details about stats will be forthcoming as the campaign advances.  Hark!  Is that the sound of a cavalry regiment with its accompanying horse artillery battery clattering down the cobblestone street, heading for the open main gate??  Why, that is a fife and drum, piping and beating out the marching rhythm.  Listen carefully and perhaps we can discern the tune the foot regiment’s band is playing as they pass ….