Napoleonic Wargame Club (NWC)

Remembering that there was much negative discussion about the morale increases for the French in Jena when the last update was released I wanted to get a feel for how the reception has been for those that are playing with the update.

For those of you that updated your game to the latest version do you feel that the French morales have terribly biased the game in the French favor? Has it made little to no effect? Or has it made the game become better because there are much less French routs (meaning that it was too much in the original version)?

Please answer with one of the below choices:

1. Pro-French
2. No effect that I can tell
3. Highly approve - too many French units routed before (this was my original reason for increasing the morales).

For those of you that have NOT been playing with the update - please do not vote in this poll. Since you didnt test it out your input cannot be based on solid evidence.

Colonel Bill Peters
Armee du Rhin - V Corps, Cavalerie du V Corps, 20ème légère Brigade de Cavalerie, 13ème Hussar Regiment
HPS Napoleonic Scenario Designer (Eckmuhl, Wagram, Jena-Auerstaedt and ... more to come)

Hi Bill
As one of your protaganists on this issue it seems mature of me to contribute constructively.

I am playing under both patches at present.
<b>
<b>1.02 Jena Auerstedt twin battle with me as Prussians vs Marechal Bardon.</b> So players are balanced really. </b>

I have previously played this scenario 3 times as French and achieved major victories in all 3 vs very capable players.

My experience is that this scenario (emphasis on scenario) favours the French and the addition of the French morale rating further unbalanced it. This is really because the French have 150k vs 100k Prussians.

As the Prussian player I am doing quite well by falling back at Jena and fighting hard in the north. I still however believe no matter how well you play the Prussians vs a good French opponent a major victory is virtually impossible.

<b>2. Karlbsurg 1.03</b>
I am fighting Tomasz in a manuever with me as French. In this scenario I think the morales are not too pro French as the game is well balanced in terms on the numbers on both sides.

So on balance I think it comes down to the scenario as oppossed to the whole game. For example if you were playing Auerstedt only the higher French morales are almost essential whilst the twin battles version they are not.

Thanks for all your great work Bill. I love the Jena engine even with the changes in 1.03. Perhaps a change to morales just for certain scenarios is possible.

Helga a round here please!

Regards


General de Brigade Knox
Baron de l'Empire
2e Regiment Gardes d'Honneur (the regaled pheasants)
La Jeune Garde
CO. 1er Brigade, III Division Cavalerie Legere, III Corps Armee du Nord
http://www.aspire.co.nz/colinknoxnwc.htm

There are a couple of thoughts on this:

1. If I reduce the morales for some scenarios but not for others then the OB is not consistent.

BUT

2. If I adjust the Victory Levels in those scenarios where the French (supposedly because of morale levels) will wipe out the Prussians anyway (sort of like what we see in the Historical Battle of Jena) then its rather a moot point. The VLs wont really change much.

I am looking for a solution that 1. leaves the morales as is and 2. allows the Prussians to have a chance at victory.

I might have to adjust the victory levels as a result.

Colonel Bill Peters
Armee du Rhin - V Corps, Cavalerie du V Corps, 20ème légère Brigade de Cavalerie, 13ème Hussar Regiment
HPS Napoleonic Scenario Designer (Eckmuhl, Wagram, Jena-Auerstaedt and ... more to come)

IMHO I have played the long games and in both on the new the I Corps was beat up by the Prussians. So I see no different till I finish this 533 game. One game was stop I was out classed so it comes down to who you play .

Col de Art 6/3 II Corps AN Marbot CS

Bill, thanks for asking.
I think that, as Colin pointed out, it is the numbers, not the moral, that make this hard for the Prussians. I think that the victory levels are already pretty high (the French have to at least match history to get a major, rather than just hold the field).

So unless you are going to add in several Prussian Corps that were not there historically then I think it is fine. We all know going in that the battle is stacked against us allies but, from the traffic I have seen on these boards, we keep playing it anyways!

So, I would say instead of pickoing one option from your list I must pick two:
#3 reflects my opinion: this was perhaps the best Army Napoleon had (except perhaps 1805) and it should be rated high. But of course the changes are pro-French. But historically, despite Bernadotte's errancy and Ney's rashness the French completely routed and destroyed the Prussians. So you have modeled history well, which is what I care about....


Feldmarschall Jim 'Prinz' Pfluecke
Commander, Austrian Cavalry Reserve
3 Graf O'Reilly Chevauxleger Rgt
Hahn Grenadier Bn

And I still get beat by Paco and Tomasz when I play the French with the new morale levels so really it comes down to player ability mostly. [;)]

The Russians Are Coming is probably one of the stiffest fights for the French. I also have a variant where the East Prussian force arrives. Try that one out sometime.

Colonel Bill Peters
Armee du Rhin - V Corps, Cavalerie du V Corps, 20ème légère Brigade de Cavalerie, 13ème Hussar Regiment
HPS Napoleonic Scenario Designer (Eckmuhl, Wagram, Jena-Auerstaedt and ... more to come)

Monsieur the only change I see in this game is the time from 10 to, back to 15 min game march time in the big battles. Too much marching which tacks away from the fun of play to much marching. Sometimes I feel tired from trying to move all those French Corps four or eight hexes in day light and wrost at night and number one, is, it does tack from family time which cost when you play five or six games a week with others.

Col de Art 6/3 II Corps AN Marbot CS

Clifton, only march your troops for eight hours a day, during the day, and not at all at night. That should help alleviate the tedium.

Colonel Al Amos
1erè Brigade Commandant
2ème Division de Dragons

Mesi mon ami but that might cost you the game when your I Corps is beat and the Prussian fall back past Jena ! Plus all the bridges are blow up and you only get so much per turn rebulding!

Col de Art 6/3 II Corps AN Marbot CS