Napoleonic Wargame Club (NWC)
https://www.wargame.ch/board/nwc/

Favorite Scenarios
https://www.wargame.ch/board/nwc/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=17821		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Jim Pfleck [ Wed Nov 19, 2025 2:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Favorite Scenarios
Alright, it has been a long time since we have done this.

What are your favorite scenarios you can play over and over again, and why?

For me, it is

Battle of Dennewitz from Campaign Leipzig. This is a pretty balanced and pretty large battle. Both sides have good armies and both sides have opportunities to attack. I have played this 3 times and I want to play as the French.

Battle of Lutzen from Campaign Bautzen. Another large, swirling battle that gives both sides interesting armies and the need, at different times, to attack. A massive, but mostly low quality French army faces off against a medium sized, but high quality Coalition force that has a massive artillery and cavalry advantage. I have played it 3 times as the allies and want to play as the French.

Marengo from Campaign Marengo. Medium sized battle. Is close every time I play it. have played it 3 or 4 times. I have won this as both sides.

Five Days in April is a tremendous scenario for Campaign Eckmuhl, but, as the name implies, it takes a long time to play.


I also like The Battle of Ligny, from Campaign Waterloo, even though I have lost it 3 times and only one once. Also Quatre Bras. Also played 3 or 4 times, at least.
Author:  Alexey Tartyshev [ Thu Nov 20, 2025 6:58 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite Scenarios
I would break it down by scale:

Medium-sized scenario

Quatre Bras 1815 would be number one for me (in fact, it’s the most frequently played scenario in the club).
First of all, it gives both sides a decent chance to win (unlike the full Waterloo battle).

- The terrain is interesting and both sides must understand how to use it to their advantage.
- It has several interesting variants that add uncertainty.
- The scenario is large enough not to be decided by one lucky charge.
- It is fairly short — you do not need to march for 30+ turns before receiving feedback on your operational plan; the tension begins within the first hour of the battle.
- The two armies differ significantly in structure and capabilities (the French have stronger cavalry and artillery, while the Allied side has British infantry with its superior musket drill).
- The scenario allows for a few operational choices and outflanking manoeuvres.
In fact, it’s a perfect training scenario for new recruits, and I highly recommend that younger officers play it from both sides to master the fundamentals.


Larger battles

Borodino 1812 is historically fascinating because it demonstrates the horrific intensity of the fighting and the enormous losses. But in game terms it is more of a head-on clash and largely a tactical challenge, with only a few (though exotic) operational decisions.

Ligny 1815 is also a good one, with the caveat that the Prussians are badly disadvantaged. A stronger, more experienced player should probably take the Prussian side, while younger officers can safely practice their attacking skills as the French.


Huge scenarios

Leipzig #90 1813 scenario is the ultimate test and not for the faint-hearted. In my view, this is the apex of all scenarios. It requires you to account for multiple factors: complex and vast terrain, multiple river crossings, supply, reserves arrival, exit zones, multiple fronts — not to mention roughly 200,000 troops on the map per side.

The scenario does not have any pre-determined “recipes” for either side — anything is possible, although of course the French are in a disadvantaged position.


Campaigns

I have not played too many but the 1807 Spring Campaign is a very interesting one, with each side having its own strengths and weaknesses and a good mix of scenarios in terms of size and terrain.
Author:  Alexey Tartyshev [ Thu Nov 20, 2025 7:07 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite Scenarios
Actually, I found it difficult to enjoy the Marengo scenarios due to force mix (limited of cavalry), the small-sized armies involved (one lucky charge can swing the odds of the scenario), the very long scenarios running for many dozens of turns and the difficult terrain (vineyards, broken ground). No complaints in terms of historical accuracy of the OOB or terrain — it is just not my cup of tea.
Author:  Jim Pfleck [ Tue Nov 25, 2025 11:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite Scenarios
bump
Author:  Bill Peters [ Tue Dec 02, 2025 11:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite Scenarios
My fav. scenarios:

1. Campaign Eckmuhl - Hunt for Davout, Teugn-Hausen, Landshut & Sacile
2. Campaign Wagram - Battle of Aspern-Essling
3. Campaign Austerlitz - Battle of Austerlitz
4. Campaign Marengo - Battle of Marengo
5. RBR - Battles of Hohenlinden, Bergen, Fleurus, Messkirch, Ostrach & Amberg (and many more)
6. Campaign Leipzig - Battle of Dennewitz - the very latest version that I put out in my last update I helped with
7. Campaign Bautzen - both of the main battles in the game, Konigswartha plus a lot of the Russo-Swedish War company level scenarios
8. NIR - Battles of Smolensk & Polotsk
9. Campaign 1814 - while many of the battles have one side with a lot more troops, I still like to play the battles of Napoleon vs. Blucher. Laon as well.
10. Campaign Jena-Auerstaedt - Battle of Jena. I like to try and win as the Allies. Its a good challenge.

Recently, I played the Campaign Marengo scenario from the 1799 campaign called Battle on the Mincio. Wonderful 2-day battle. My opponent and I discovered faults with it and I fixed those in the last Marengo update I worked on with WDS.

Really there are too many good ones in those games to ever pick a true favorite. I enjoy the Battle of Dresden and the later action to the south called the Battle of Kulm. The larger version is a blast! Adds in more battlefield area and more troops.
Author:  Jim Pfleck [ Wed Dec 03, 2025 12:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite Scenarios
I have played the Battle of the Mincio once as the Austrians. It is a really good, fun, and balanced scenario.
Author:  Sir Muddy [ Sat Dec 06, 2025 1:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite Scenarios
Quote:
Huge scenarios

Leipzig #90 1813 scenario is the ultimate test and not for the faint-hearted. In my view, this is the apex of all scenarios. It requires you to account for multiple factors: complex and vast terrain, multiple river crossings, supply, reserves arrival, exit zones, multiple fronts — not to mention roughly 200,000 troops on the map per side.

The scenario does not have any pre-determined “recipes” for either side — anything is possible, although of course the French are in a disadvantaged position.]


I have to agree with this one. I enjoy the big battles, a couple hundred turns, where anything is possible, and the carnage blots out the scenery. There are a few others (Borodino, big Waterloo, etc) but Leipzig has to be at the top of the list.
Author:  Michael Hödl [ Tue Dec 09, 2025 5:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite Scenarios
For me, all the big battles and campaign with a part of strategy. In these battles all is possible.
Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC - 5 hours
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
https://www.phpbb.com/