Napoleonic Wargame Club (NWC)

Gents,

I would like to offer you a very special experience.

We all perfectly understand that these our games are only limited models of reality. With several key issues that can't be resolved within the game engines we have. Some of them were dealt with in operational level games. But some are not. These issues are:
-immediate delivery of information along the command chain - both orders from top to the bittomn and current situation from bottom to top;
-as a consequence possible absolute coordination of actions of far away corps;
-marching fatigue and forced marching;
-food and forage;
-explicit supply for arty and muskets;
-reinforcements and desertion;
-corps attachments, etc.,etc.

All of the above may be dealt with if these issues are administrated not by a computer, but by a human. An umpire. I invite you to take part in such a game. It would model operations of the Army of Berlin (French) and Army of the North (Allied) in August-September 1813. The game would be ran by two teams and an umpire. The French team would consist of 4-5 members one per each of the corps, including the cavalry. In case the players decide the French are too weak for an interesting game one more corps consisting several divisions under command of Girard would be added. The allied side would be ran by 4-5 men as well, with a possible detachment of a "flying corps". I'd take the role of umpire.

The game would have two "modes": "off-map" and "on-map".

While off-map player will give orders to the umpire "I want these and that troops to march along this routed to that direction", "I want to send this message to that commander along the following path" etc. All of the issues mentioned would be discussed between player and umpire and resolved by umpire. For example if you order to force march a corps of hungry landwehr all night long it would arrive very much fatigued and with a considerable loss. But if you do not it may arrive to late. There are possible solutions for quite a few possible “situations”. All of them would be described and agreed upon before the game starts. I leave them out for the sake of conciseness.

When two enemy forces come close enough players would be shifted to the on map mode. Here there would be created a scenario in which they will play like the usual games we play. The difference is that they can only see the units they really have under their command. Units of other players would be managed in off-map mode. Meanwhile their commanders would be informed that for example “intense gunfire is heard in the North-East direction”. So the player would have to decide on his actions on his own with very little info at hand.

Letters HR in the header of the post mean that the battles would be set up under Historicity and Realism rule set. There would be a small scenario created soon for you to try it before taking commitments.

Such a game would need a strict discipline from the players both in being fast with turns (at least 3 turns a week) and in informing the umpire about the progress. It’s vital for coordination of actions in off-map and on-map modes.

As the last note there will be about 8-10 players roles. Two of them, apparently in the Allied camp, are already reserved.

Please sign up here or via e-mail. If you have any ideas to discuss - you are welcome!

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Anton, that is very similar to the Napoleonic campaigns I used to run for HMGS. The only real difference being that we played with miniatures on a table top. I used a master board to control the strategic movements, all of which only I could see, and then moved everything to the table when the battle began. I remember one Army Commander marching 1/3 of his army to the left flank to envelope his opponent. Not a bad idea per se, but he did not correctly calculate the time it would take and they never arrived to take part in the main engagement. Needless to say, he lost.

My sincere compliments on your effort. I would love to play, but I regrettably cannot. I have far too many commitments between our Leipzig game, the SON Tournament, staff work for the Anglo-Allied Army and, of course, Real Life.

I would, however, like to add my endorsement to your concept and proposal. For those of you who have never played a game in this manner, I very highly recommend it. This is the only method I know to more accurately approach the actual Fog of War.

Best of luck in your endeavor, Anton!

I would definitely be interested in taking part on the Allied side.

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Generallieutenant Walt GroßHerzog Moehle von Neuhardenberg
Kommandeur der Korps Artillerie-Brigade
Kommandeur der Gardegrenadier
Königlich Preußische Korps