Napoleonic Wargame Club (NWC)

How many of you have played the Mons opening scenario? Its a fairly common situation for the players. Napoleon attacks the British right flank and all that.

I am in a game with Dean Beecham and just wondering how the Anglo-Allied players handled the situation. Did you stick around to fight or duck out and just take the loss?

Bill Peters
HPS Napoleonic Scenario Designer (Eckmuhl, Wagram and ... more to come)

[url="http://www.fireandmelee.net"]Fire and Melee Wargame site[/url]

Bill,

I have only played the scenario as the French, but it struck me as a "no win" situation for the A/A, barring a major misstep by the French. In your shoes, I would make visible feints to force the French to form square, delaying their advance, but would pull steadily back, avoiding any engagement until your infantry arrives.

Regards,

Paco

<i>Maréchal</i> M. Francisco Palomo
<i>Prince d'Essling, Grande Duc d'Abrantes et
Comte de Marseille
Commandant - Division de Cavalerie de la Vieille Garde </i>

Yes, the Allies really dont want to fight here. Take the Minor Defeat and move on to the next fight.

Bill Peters
HPS Napoleonic Scenario Designer (Eckmuhl, Wagram and ... more to come)

[url="http://www.fireandmelee.net"]Fire and Melee Wargame site[/url]

Bill,
I managed to crush the French lead cavalry as the Brits and then slowly retreated. Unfortuanately I traded my cav slowly over the scenario to a constant volley from the French Infantry. Still took a Minor Defeat and moved on. My infantry never arrived. Fighting in the city is impossible for cavalry and the roads make it impossible to manuever without disordering your cav.

Best to run and run early.

General de Division Doug Fuller
Duc de Montmorail et Comte de Hainaut
2e' Grenadiers a' Pied de la Vielle Garde
I Corp Commander
AdN

Pretty much came to the same conclusion. Not sure why Charlie decided to use the woods on the roads. I think its a map makers failing for those woods they see along the road which is merely a line of trees that cavalry can easily negotiate. Something I avoid as a map maker unless there is a real cause for it. Maybe he has data that I dont know about so I wont be critical of his choice of terrain.

Bill Peters
HPS Napoleonic Scenario Designer (Eckmuhl, Wagram and ... more to come)

[url="http://www.fireandmelee.net"]Fire and Melee Wargame site[/url]

Bill,

What effect does the first scenario have on later scenarios. I suffered a minor defeat in the 1st round and now have started the second. What is the effects other than loss of the troops (which didn't seem to have much effect either) Is there any difference in the next battle between a Major French Victory and a Major Allied Victory?

And yes the woods along the roads are horrible.

General de Division Doug Fuller
Duc de Montmorail et Comte de Hainaut
2e' Grenadiers a' Pied de la Vielle Garde
I Corp Commander
AdN

What is the name of the campaign you are playing Doug?

Narrow Historical?

narrow_historical_bulow_variant?

narrow_historical_wellington_1st?

Waterloo_wide_variant?

Once I know that I can help you out. Basically if you open up the campaign editor you can view all of the branching and the Outcomes tell you the path you will go to from a particular set of choices.

Bill Peters
HPS Napoleonic Scenario Designer (Eckmuhl, Wagram and ... more to come)

[url="http://www.fireandmelee.net"]Fire and Melee Wargame site[/url]

I am doing Waterloo wide varient. I choose go east (through chatelet) and fought the Prussians at the bridges. Got a French MV. I figure my next moves will either end up as a QB-Ligney twin battle or a Ligney type battle.

Do you get any troops back that get lost? I killed 40 Prussian guns in the first scenario.

General de Division Doug Fuller
Duc de Montmorail et Comte de Hainaut
2e' Grenadiers a' Pied de la Vielle Garde
I Corp Commander
AdN

There were three choices that the Allied player could have chosen but Mons is the result - just a different version each time.

In each case Rich and Charlie chose to use a "flow-thru" branch - in other words Mons wont decide anything. Its just a place where IF the players want to mix it up they can.

Wont go into the club aspect of a defender choosing to withdrawl from the field of battle. Players could mutually agree on a Draw result if they like I suppose.

Oops - forgot to mention - yes, losses do carry over to future battles and units can recover strength.

Its very random - some units get alot back while others remain close to where they were.

Bill Peters
HPS Napoleonic Scenario Designer (Eckmuhl, Wagram and ... more to come)

[url="http://www.fireandmelee.net"]Fire and Melee Wargame site[/url]