Napoleonic Wargame Club (NWC)

Gentlemen

I would like to record a panegyric for the pleasures of M.P. games
At present engaged in two games with three officers per side and have not enjoyed playing HPS/Battleground so much for a long time. May I presume to say this sort of game should be compulsory for new officers? Any newly Gazetted officer should gain immeasurably from playing with another two experienced officers. The gains will not only be technical but in esprit de corps (just had to spit I think I spoke Frog)

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Jim Hall
Field Marshall
Commander Anglo-Allied Army

Ah a post after 4 days of nothing and "roleplay"....

I enjoy MP's, but don't have the time to commit and not everyone does or likes them. Should be encouraged and exposed to new officers, but not mandatory. Too many mandatory things already....

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Generalfeldmarschall Scott Kronprinz "Vorwärts" Ludwig von Preußen
Kommandeur des Königlich-Preußischen Armee-Korps
Chief of Staff (CoS) of the Allied Coalition
Allied Coalition Webmaster & Club Website Support

Hey Scott,

Multiple Player games are not mandatory and is something members are asked if they would like to join in. I do not think they were ever mandatory. I have heard from members who really enjoy them and some are not interested. Where did you come up with the idea they were some kind of requirement?

Al

I was responding to Jim's statement/suggestion:

"May I presume to say this sort of game should be compulsory for new officers?"

I know they aren't mandatory.....

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Generalfeldmarschall Scott Kronprinz "Vorwärts" Ludwig von Preußen
Kommandeur des Königlich-Preußischen Armee-Korps
Chief of Staff (CoS) of the Allied Coalition
Allied Coalition Webmaster & Club Website Support

Hi Scott

It was just a suggestion
Perhaps I am just light of heart and get too much enjoyment out of my fellow man.

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Jim Hall
Field Marshall
Commander Anglo-Allied Army

A good suggestions indeed Jim! No doubt, one that should be encouraged more in the training academies....but would be difficult to manage on a certain level....but I don't think some of the academies go as far as they should in exposing new recruits to it....so I credit you for raising this issue.

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Generalfeldmarschall Scott Kronprinz "Vorwärts" Ludwig von Preußen
Kommandeur des Königlich-Preußischen Armee-Korps
Chief of Staff (CoS) of the Allied Coalition
Allied Coalition Webmaster & Club Website Support

Jim I have to agree with you about MP games. I don't really have the time at present for them but your post has made me think I should get back into one soon. Marechal Bardon and I have never partnered and its on our bucket lists so will do that at some point.

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Marechal Knox

Prince d'Austerlitz et Comte d'Argentan
Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur

"What is history but a fable agreed upon"

Jim,

Thank you for taking on the role of mentoring our junior officers through MP games. I think this is a valuable contribution that our most competent, senior leaders can give. We need to always be attentive to our junior officers, for they are our leaders of tomorrow. Taking on a game with them, and actively teaching them how to improve thier own play is important, primarily because it is an active demonstration that you care about them as individuals. It is a very good measure of active leadership, and I personally commend you for the good works you are undertaking on behalf of our junior officers. It is my hope that your fine attitude spreads throughout our club. We certainly need all of the team oriented, active leaders that we can get. Thank you so much for stepping up to the task.

Hmmm, now that truly is a scary thought....

When you get the time, do come look up Sir Muddy and me. Generaal Bijl has insisted that we collect French batons in pairs.

If I may make a suggestion that'll help encourage junior officers even more is, say anyone below the rank of Lieutenant Colonel or Colonel....if they are in danger of having their game cancelled....have one of the volunteer staff from each side of the Club contact them to follow up. I think nothing does more damage to a young officers morale than something like that....or give them maybe a month to do it as opposed to two weeks...just makes a bit more sense for those without a lot of time in grade or in the Club...sets a friendly tone for the future generation of leaders...

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Generalfeldmarschall Scott Kronprinz "Vorwärts" Ludwig von Preußen
Kommandeur des Königlich-Preußischen Armee-Korps
Chief of Staff (CoS) of the Allied Coalition
Allied Coalition Webmaster & Club Website Support

Scott,

I think we are already notifying them before games are cancelled, but I believe we had some games on the books over a year old and more. I have not heard any complaints within the LGA on this issue.

Battle On...

Salute!

Ah, a discussion of MP games!

Personally, I enjoy MP battles more than solo affairs.

Why?

For the camaraderie with my fellow team members.
We talk about the battle, strategy and tactics.

It was my passion for this style of play that led me to form the Tirailleurs et Dragons! (inspired in large part by the Hanoverian Brigade and it's leader, Monsieur Jones, and the Black Menace - remember that august formation!?!?)

I have become a trainer in the Ecole Militaire for La Grande Armee in the past year, and find I enjoy that role precisely because of the level of interaction it affords.

I have not conducted a MP game in that school (although the notion is always on my mind), but I do discuss it with the cadets... and more than one has gone on to play in MP games, and even joined the T&D!.

I also know and respect that this style is not everyone's cup of tea, as it were.

But it is my cup of tea, and I like my tea strong! Or is that coffee? But I digress.

I've found myself in MP battles with Jim, currently at Leipzig, First Day of, as a Bataillon Challenge.

La Grande Armee's Bataillon's were formed in part to spread the word and faith of this style of play...
And it is going well so far.

Anyways, great discussion, and look forward to hearing more about what players think of it.

Regards,

Gentlemen

One point I would make about MP and perhaps the reason why I am enjoying the two games I am playing.
The rate of move turn around
For six people to managed a full cycle in around 48 hours is commendable.
I certainly give priority to M.P. games and can appreciate that the time commitment is restrictive, but the pleasure immense

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Jim Hall
Field Marshall
Commander Anglo-Allied Army

Last Mark mentioned he was not doing this....maybe he moved it down to the armies now....

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Generalfeldmarschall Scott Kronprinz "Vorwärts" Ludwig von Preußen
Kommandeur des Königlich-Preußischen Armee-Korps
Chief of Staff (CoS) of the Allied Coalition
Allied Coalition Webmaster & Club Website Support

Good Sirs

I like the sound of MP games, but was a little concerned when I read about the 48 hour turnaround.

Working a rotating shift pattern restricts my ability to play a turn some days. Add to that the fact that those of you in the colonies have your days and nights at a different time it can make it awkward. Having said that I agree it would be necessary to have a time limit. Although I suppose I could agree to someone doing my defensive fire if I knew I would not be there? That would be just like the optional rule in HPS.

I take it one person on each side decides the overall strategy, attack here, defend this, etc. Then each player carries out the orders with the troops at ones disposal.

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