Napoleonic Wargame Club (NWC)

For any club a rank should mean something - each rank should have meaning. And each should be based on accomplishing something.

You really do not need to have points. Once a member reaches a "milestone" he gets a new rank. But the TOP ranks are reserved for the leaders in the club.

Example: A member likes to play but will not take command of any unit, do any admin work, or help out with a tournament or train anyone. He is in the club for 14 years. What rank should he have? At best Brig. General. And he should be happy with it.

Should he be a Marechal? No. For a man in the French army to be a Marechal he had to be able to train men or be a leader of men. Just because a member plays games does not make him a CLUB leader.

Here is how I would assign and award ranks in a club:

2nd Lt. - all members start at this rank.

1st Lt. - upon completion of 10 club games a member is awarded this rank. Two of the games must be FULL battle size/length scenarios. No more than TWO of the games can be SMALL scenarios.

Capt. - upon completion of a further 15 club games - three of the games must be full battles. No more than three of the games can be SMALL scenarios.

Major - upon a completion of a further 20 club games - four and four (Full battle and Small battles).

By the time the member reaches the rank of Major he will have completed 45 games. This rank is often so trivia its not funny but by the time a commander made this rank he was battle hardened.

Next ...

Colonel - as a Major must train six club members and have lead a brigade for at least two years. As a Major must have completed 10 more club games (I lower the games requirements so that he has time to do up his command properly). Also must have participated in at least TWO MP games with members in his brigade OR at least played EACH of his brigade members in a MANEUVER at least ONCE per member/year.

Brigadier General - As Colonel must have commanded a Division for at least two years. Must have completed 15 club games as a Colonel. Must have provided Brigade Leadership training to at least THREE members during this time. If only two brigades are under his command then he would have needed to have provided assistance in the annual army war games (this is another requirement I would have that would help lift army esprit de corps). Finally, the rank must be granted by the Army CinC after a review of his performance.

Major General - As a BrigGen the member must have commanded a Corps for at least two years. He must have given all of his Division Commander advanced leadership training. He must have directed the Corps Competition once a year. (basically a intramural set of games - nothing difficult - just has the brigades pair off and fight each other from dif. divisions.)

Lt. General - As a Maj General must have commanded an Army for at least two years. Must have given Corps Command training to his Corps Commanders. Would be posted to an army command as a Maj Gen. at the discretion of his Army CinC. who would be placed in an Army Staff position or mustered out to the Retired Army COs list. Would assume an honorary role in the army - perhaps command the Guard Corps.

Full General or Marechal - Must complete a further 30 games since having made Major General.

(note that no games requirements were given to the Maj Gen or Lt Gen - assume that each must finish two games a year)

Staff Officers (website, tournament director) must have the rank of Major or above. No one with lesser rank can assume these duties unless there is a lack of help.

Promotion Note: The Tournament Director position equals five games towards any of the promotion requirements/year. Thus if a person is a Tournament Directory for four years he earns 20 games credit.

Website helpers - These are special positions and their aid towards promotion would be based on something similar to the Admin Point system. Only in battle equivalents. At most a website admin could make 5 battle credits/year.

In this system no points are needed for battles. Just FINISH the battle and the credit is yours.

FINISH = play at least HALF of the turns for scenarios under 100 turns. After that any extra turns are not needed for completion.

Dropouts - if a player drops out of a game before it reaches a definite conclusion then the game would not count for them. A def. conclusion would not be reached just because a key leader is taken or a flank is turned.

For me if a scenario is 200 turns long but only has two corps it is not as important as if you play the Full battle of Waterloo.

Unless we add in a size variable like the Blitz Wargame club has then this will always be a point of contention.

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Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Prinz Peters von Dennewitz

3. Husaren-Regiment, Reserve-Kavallerie, Preußischen Armee-Korps

Honarary CO of Garde-Ulanen Regiment, Garde-Grenadier Kavallerie

NWC Founding Member

For Club Games: I prefer the Single Phase mode of play. I prefer to play with the following options OFF:

MDF, VP4LC, NRO, MTD, CMR, PR, MIM, NDM, OMR (ver 4.07)

Bill to me rank should be about activity and success on the battlefield and the things you site as secondary.

I like the famous allied officers like Jeka or Muddy and I like their equally grand titles and ranks and I would prefer these things are won through battle than other means. It helps us all select an opponent we would enjoy testing ourselves against and when less experienced guides us on who to avoid.

Before you jump all over me this is just my opinion and I am just putting forward an alternate perspective.I respect where you are coming from and hope you will afford me the same respect despite my opinion differing from yours.

My best regards

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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"

I totally disagree. A ranks system should promote the person that is the most well rounded. Not the guy that has the hottest dice.

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Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Prinz Peters von Dennewitz

3. Husaren-Regiment, Reserve-Kavallerie, Preußischen Armee-Korps

Honarary CO of Garde-Ulanen Regiment, Garde-Grenadier Kavallerie

NWC Founding Member

For Club Games: I prefer the Single Phase mode of play. I prefer to play with the following options OFF:

MDF, VP4LC, NRO, MTD, CMR, PR, MIM, NDM, OMR (ver 4.07)

K.I.S.S.

Too much of trying to reinvent the wheel.

What we have now, works.

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Ernie Sands
1ère Brigade of 2ème Division de Grosse Cavalerie, Réserve de Cavalerie
de la Grande Armée
President, Colonial Campaigns Club

Well actually keeping track of points is not easy. And if Scott Ludwig or John Corbin drops out YOU are going to do their job? I don't think so.

You and others are just not getting it. These clubs take mammoth amount of hours to maintain.

You want KISS - we all meet on a forum and find opponents. You call yourself what you want.

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Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Prinz Peters von Dennewitz

3. Husaren-Regiment, Reserve-Kavallerie, Preußischen Armee-Korps

Honarary CO of Garde-Ulanen Regiment, Garde-Grenadier Kavallerie

NWC Founding Member

For Club Games: I prefer the Single Phase mode of play. I prefer to play with the following options OFF:

MDF, VP4LC, NRO, MTD, CMR, PR, MIM, NDM, OMR (ver 4.07)

Hey Bill no dice then? Na seriously I am not just talking about winning I am talking about volume of turns and games played. Seasoned experienced players should be senior officers. Just my thought. If you are a commanding officer at present or do admin tasks you already get extra points so the support side of the club is rewarded.

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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"

But a player can never command and gain the highest rank. That is not right.

The highest ranks belong to the well rounded member that makes the club the best possible place it can be. Not because they can roll hot dice.

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Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Prinz Peters von Dennewitz

3. Husaren-Regiment, Reserve-Kavallerie, Preußischen Armee-Korps

Honarary CO of Garde-Ulanen Regiment, Garde-Grenadier Kavallerie

NWC Founding Member

For Club Games: I prefer the Single Phase mode of play. I prefer to play with the following options OFF:

MDF, VP4LC, NRO, MTD, CMR, PR, MIM, NDM, OMR (ver 4.07)

I think there is value to promoting the members of an army mentality.
But it is obvious that not everyone is into that aspect of the game & club.
Perhaps the compromise is to have a set level of rank that can be achieved by the player who just wants to play. Say it is Colonel (as that is what, typically a regimental commander?). For such players who continue to win battles and develop a respected reputation, perhaps that is where admittance to the various elite Guard formations comes into the equation. And the players who want to get more out of the experience working together, as teams, they can move on to higher ranks reflecting club participation.
And for those who may scoff at the idea of only gaining the rank of Colonel, rather than the imaginary rank of General or Marechal, or what have you, perhaps they could keep their rank, but not be placed in command of brigades, divisions, or corps, but hold their esteemed titles in the elite formations themselves. And those who want to command and lead teams of players as it were, they shall be given command of brigades, divisions, and corps.

Yes, something like that works.

If you want to play - Colonel with a Guard slot for better battlefield achievement.

But the Marechals were guys that trained and lead. Not just participated in a battle.

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Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Prinz Peters von Dennewitz

3. Husaren-Regiment, Reserve-Kavallerie, Preußischen Armee-Korps

Honarary CO of Garde-Ulanen Regiment, Garde-Grenadier Kavallerie

NWC Founding Member

For Club Games: I prefer the Single Phase mode of play. I prefer to play with the following options OFF:

MDF, VP4LC, NRO, MTD, CMR, PR, MIM, NDM, OMR (ver 4.07)

As it currently is constructed, at least in my experience with La Grande Armee, as a new player one is randomly assigned to a regiment (where there is an opening), and there is no allowance for whether the player desires to be in a brigade (or higher formation) that develops team work, and what have you, or conversely, whether you want nothing to do with that.
So then your stuck, and have to try and go through a process of changing formation posting.
So much trouble could be saved if this were built in from the get go.
But on that note, what if you are a player who wants nothing to do with team play or interaction with your commander (I know that there are commanders who have nothing to do with their subordinates in the current ranking and unit assignments)? You can obviously still opt out of said events, because you are only one officer among many in your regiment.

I personally think we are here to offer as much as we can to everyone. We are not the real military, an open format that allows everyone to rise to the highest level on their terms is what I am in favor of. There might be times where there are no commands available, why should someone be held back. Everyone is different in their commitment & time levels. People volunteer to take commands because they want to give a little extra, the key word is "volunteer". I have never looked on admin work as a chore, you take your positions with the full knowledge that things might be expected of you. I have gleeful done this and transformed the Prussians into what I feel is something that adds quality to the Club and the men of the army. I have never griped at doing it and it isn't a lot of work. It is fun actually. I love showering my officers with awards and seeing them rise through the ranks, it means I am doing something right myself in how I run the program. I did about 43 updates in a couple hours the other day. The trickier part is finding a little time to carve out the email notices I send out. I could always farm that out if need be.

But I am always a proponent that people are different and we as a Club should value those differences and not punish one group because they might just be casual gamers or whatever they might be.....

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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

It seems to me that the general idea being put forth by Bill in this thread is a simple restructuring of rank coupled with responsibilty. I don't see how it is punishment.
Let us take the original post's description of duties assigned to officers offered command of higher formations than regiments. If you accept command of a Brigade great! If not, so be it, you are named Baron of the Empire. When your prowness on the battlefield propels you to be offered command of a Division and you decline, so be it, now you are named Count of the Empire. Continued success in the playing of scenarios now brings you to the offer of Corps command, and it is still not your cup of tea, so be it, now you are a Duke.
From there, the player who doesn't want to lead can proceed higher up the ladder by gaining admittance to the ranks of Immortals, the various Guard formations, etc.
What about that?

Your description of nobility titles is how the French army operates itself I believe. The various allied armies operate somewhat differently I think.

I am just not in favor of denying anyone a component of the Club. Though eventually moving up the ladder is available to officers via movement in their respect army guards, that could take a very long time and lead towards some being denied outright as they are lousy gamers and don't have the time or interest to take command.

This Club should not be looking to restrict people even further. I have always been for making it an easier format than what it already is. You attract more people that way & you keep them happy too.

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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

I'm sorry, yes, my description of advancement was from a strictly Francophile POV, but just substitute national titles.
I do not see how becoming a count, etc, is denying anyone a component of the club. And as for the lousy gamers where are they advancing otherwise?
I fail to see the restriction here. I mean yes, instead of becoming a Brigade commander, etc, you are called a Baron, etc.
And if enough people desire the rank that comes with the command of a Brigade, etc, why, each army can have a specific corps set aside for people who want to play and not be bothered otherwise.
Those who want the challenge of fulfilling the duties as described in the original post will be assigned to the corps which conduct themselves accordingly.
Is that acceptable in general terms.
No one is being restricted or punished.
When a player joins and is assigned his first post as a Lieutenant, he can indicate his preference: Just want to play and advance with battle points to fancy titles, welcome to VII Corps. You want to play and experience the duties of leadership, welcome to III Corps.
If anyone is being restricted and punished surely it's the club member who can't get his Brigade, Division, or Corps leader to respond to his emails asking for help navigating the pathways of this club, or instruction in becoming a better player.

Are you proposing that if people don't accept a higher command, they should be denied rank promotion?

The different Corps concept would work if you have the resources available to do so, not every army does. I am not against an army choosing that platform though or forming divisions within itself to operate that way. But these shouldn't be written in stone rules, that's all.

If someone wants to operate their forces that way I am all for it.

Btw I am sorry you are having issues getting contact from your commanders, if that is indeed the case. If you have questions about the pathway of the Club feel free to email me: eric2900@aol.com I can help you with that. The becoming a better player, well I am pretty lousy myself, but I could recommend a few French fellows that you could try to reach out to....

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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