Napoleonic Wargame Club (NWC)

A King’s Dragoon officer strides into the Rhine Tavern, the thump of his black jacked boots on the wooden tavern floor contrasting with the muted jingle of his swan-necked spurs. Carrying a sheathed sword in his left hand, he confidently walks to the bar where the beautiful barmaid, Helga, is busily washing and stacking glassware. Looking up from her work, she gives a radiant smile for one of her favorite Hanoverian officers.

“Hello, Colonel”, she says as she glances at the sword the officer is carrying. “It looks as if you have brought me another present. I had rather hoped for flowers or candy, but I see it is the weapon of yet another unfortunate Frenchman who crossed your path.”

The officer grins, “Flowers and candy next time”, he says. “I promise.”

“You know that I will hold you to that”, she says, “now what can I do for you today?”

“I need a favor”, replies the cavalry officer.

“Well don’t you always,” she says in mock frustration.

“Actually, I need two favors”, replies the Hanoverian officer as Helga rolls her eyes before fixing him with an even bigger grin. “First, I need you to keep this sword safe behind the bar until the French Capitaine Kling can stop by to pick it up.”

“Simple enough”, she says as she takes the weapon and places it behind the bar, “and the second?”

“I need you to give this note to my counterpart in La Grande Armee, Marechal John Corbin”, he says as he hands her a small, folded piece of parchment. “In my review of the personal effects captured in our recent contest, I discovered that Capitaine Kling is officially still a Lieutenant. The papers indicated that he actually earned the rank of Capitaine over six weeks ago. As he is nearing his subsequent promotion to Chef de Battalion, I thought Marechal Corbin might want to officially promote him to Capitaine first. Oh, I know that their Army Commander, Marechal Jensen, actually handles the promotions, but it is the staff officers of the army that transform them into a reality,” he says as he winks at the lovely woman.

“OK, I will see that Marechal Corbin gets your message”, she replies, “just don’t forget my flowers and candy.”

“You bet, my dear”, says the cavalryman, ‘but at the moment I must get back to the battlefield. It seems that Kapitaine Kling has rallied and is attacking me yet again. Since you now have his sword, I assume he will use his bare hands this time. He is a fine officer, Helga, despite his fanaticism.”

Giving Helga a quick peck on the cheek, the Hanoverian Guardsman turns and strides back out the door.

“Just don’t forget my flowers”, she calls out after the departing officer as the door softly closes, “and candy.” Good luck, Colonel, stay safe amid the maelstrom of war.

Why would any of our junior officers play a Veteran Army commanders if we had a staff in the Div or Corps we would not be feeding these Allied with swords and Victories. Col record vs the Lt record Allied Col 39 wins in one year the French Lt. 8 odds of him beating the Col were 1in 37. His commander or Adm officer should have advised him before he took that game.

Excuse me, if you do not battle with the best you will never be able to beat the best and by the way some of my victories were against the best!

Sometimes I do not get you, but I keep trying!

Battle On,

Al

Monsieur Lt. I understand what you are saying but what am saying never give the other side room! There are many bon French officers to battle with do you understand me now!

I be more then glade to battle you ! If you will.

I'm sorry I thought this was a club and while I like winning as much as the next person. But I hope I have made a friend out of the enemies I have defeated or lost too! I know I am not in your league as player so for now I will respectfully decline to do battle with you.

Have a great day and battle on,

Al

Now when I was a 2nd Lieutenant, my Trainer and Beloved Mentor, Generaal Moss, set me up in a game against a French GdB named Colin Knox. I still have nightmares of the carnage he heaped upon my poor men, but as I toss and turn, bathed in the cold sweat of terror each night, the vivid images of his movements burn ever deeper into my brain. So much so, that I can now see them clearly in my waking hours, displayed before my vision in every subsequent game that I play, to the point that I can now emulate some of the spectacular martial accomplishments of the man that I witnessed firsthand over the bodies of my thrashing and dying soldiers.

In a subsequent playtest battle, my revered Austrian opponent, a Field Marshal in rank, lifted his eyes from the great carnage my French cavalrymen had wrought upon his hapless Russian soldiers and remarked, "Your use your cavalry like a Frenchman!" I do, and his name is Colin Knox.

The finest swords are forged in the hottest flames, mon ami Dumas. You just have to have the courage to walk into the fire.

I can't change how people thank but I can give advice. Now if you don't like my advice that up to you. But my advice is to learn first from your own and never give others the chance to gain from you. I played Gen Moss every day for years when he was a Russi commander what did I get 39 loses what did I gain nothing I played Gen Chavis my commader what did I get everything no loses no wins. If the junior French officers can't see that then the Grand Armee will not be so Grand. The Grand Armee needs to pull together to encourage other to join an not fall away the Club will be stronger in the end when The Gran Armee is what this NWC means. NAPOLEON vie l' France!

Cliff, I absolutely agree with you regarding active leadership. That is the key to success for every army in this club and, if the armies are healthy, the club will thrive.

I do disagree with you on the idea that the officers of an army should spend any great deal of time playing each other for half points and no victories. In my opinion, and that is all that it is, my opinion, you can achieve the same results by partnering with a senior mentor from your own army and fighting a similar team from another army. That is exactly the method by which Andy Moss trained me. We did not hide in a closet and play each other. We ventured onto the field together against live, French opponents at the jeopardy of our own battle records. Knowing that Andy was a fine officer with a wonderful record, I cannot begin to express to you how much it meant to me that he would risk a defeat for himself in order to train me how to really fight. Those are the actions of a true leader, and my gratitude and loyalty to him for the manner in which he 'raised' me is unbounded. You will always learn more and better when you have placed your battle record in a position of jeopardy. When your car is stalled on the railroad tracks, and the train is rapidly approaching, I guarantee you will be paying full attention.

Again, this is just one man's opinion and, as the President of this club, mine does not count as much as any one of the member's does. In my view, every single member in this club outranks me because I work for them.

The famous last word is team work not Individuals out there trying to be Gen Knox's. Am not trying to bring down anyone but build up the French Armee. We need more team work and lest titles of the ole French court. Now that's just my thoughts and not that of any one else. You can count on one hand how many French victories come in the Rhine Tavern which is neutral ground not just the Allied sounding block am I right or am I mistaken?

Gentlemen, salute!
I joined this club for several reasons: one, is to enjoy playing the game against other live opponents. It just so happens that the club is set up with opposing armies which thru the club rules of play, mean that victories against certain players results in point awards for respective army members, equalling rank and title rewards. Fine and dandy.
Secondly, I want to improve my play. This is accomplished hopefully every time I fight/maneuver against someone. In the context of how this club functions, the ideal way for improvement of junior officer's play is as mentioned in a post above, by team play with a senior officer. But that is not always available, for whatever the reasons are. I do strongly feel that a maneuver game should count for full turns, just do away (if you will) with the VP award. But if I'm playing a several hundred turn game, I feel I should receive the full points for that time spent. If you say to me, well, just don't play such a game if you don't get full credit, or play with a comrade, and don't worry about the points, I respond with: why not just give me the points, who is it hurting really? It only strengthens the club because we are participating. If you want me to not worry about the points, why should one bother participating in the club? At all? Sorry, I realize there is another thread about this, but they do sort of go hand in hand.
More to the point of this thread, I wholeheartedly agree with the idea of playing anyone who is potentially better than you in order to get better oneself. Any officer who simply plays against less skilled officers to rack up so - called victories, well such a fine appearing record is really a hollow shell.
I'm getting my command thrashed by one Allied Colonel, and am holding my own (?) against another. It is all fun, for me. But I do so wish La Grande Armee had more officer interaction. Perhaps someday. The reasons why this is not so may be true enough, but the contrast with the Allied armies is stark as well.

Allied officers that he should be playing; If I was his Administration Officer he can just e-mail these people an see if he could get a game now or later. He could team up with below this;
Maarten Roggeveen Colonel 616 8 3 2 2 12 7 2nd Dutch-Belgian Division 1st Brigade Battaillon Jagers Nº 27
Nik Butler Luitenant-Colonel 445 5 2 1 3 6 1 2nd Dutch-Belgian Division 2nd Brigade I Bn./28th (Oranje-Nassau) Line Reg
Sellick Davies Colonel 699 4 2 0 0 7 0 2nd Infantry Division 1st KGL Brigade 4th Line Battalion KGL
Mark Pustovrh Ensign 14 0 0 0 0 0 1 2nd Infantry Division 3rd British Brigade 2nd / 95th Regiment of Foot
Chas Dewar Lieutenant Colonel 407 22 12 1 0 3 1 2nd Infantry Division 9th British Brigade
Daniel Armenta Lieutenant Colonel 463 16 8 0 2 9 0 2nd Infantry Division 9th British Brigade 3rd / 1st Regiment of Foot
British Horse Guards 2010-04-02
John Sheffield Colonel 530 18 8 2 5 8 0 2nd Infantry Division 9th British Brigade 2nd / 44th Regiment of Foot
British Foot Guards 2010-04-02
Patrick McCarthy Ensign 26 2 1 0 0 0 0 2nd Infantry Division 9th British Brigade 1st / 42nd Regiment of Foot
British Horse Guards 2010-04-02
Tim Goodwin Brigadier General 898 22 9 4 2 4 2 British/KGL Cavalry Division 2nd Cavalry Brigade 1st Regiment of Dragoons
Rich White Colonel 605 14 6 2 5 3 0 British/KGL Cavalry Division 3rd Cavalry Brigade
Dale Lastowicka Lieutenant Colonel 480 14 6 4 9 13 4 British/KGL Cavalry Division 3rd Cavalry Brigade 1st Regiment Light Dragoons KGL
Steve Browne Lieutenant 170 5 2 2 0 0 3 British/KGL Cavalry Division 3rd Cavalry Brigade 23rd Regiment of Dragoons
Omar Quatar Ensign 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 Leib Battalion
Roland Lenzi Lieutenant 128 2 1 0 3 1 1 1st Light Battalion
James Bell Captain 223 6 3 0 2 2 2 2nd Line Battalion
Dr. Klaus Kuhlmann Lieutenant 146 4 2 0 3 0 4 Brunswick Uhlan Regiment
Zafer Ejder Colonel 610 4 2 0 0 0 9 Death head hussars
Mike Peccolo 2nd Lieutenant 93 2 1 0 2 0 0 Field Jagercorps
Mike Peccolo 2nd Lieutenant 93 2 1 0 2 0 0 Field Jagercorps
Mac Moore Ensign 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 Duke of Cumberland Y
Spanish Brigade, Anglo-Allied Coalition Army (strength: 5)
423 13 9 1 7 1 4
...vacant... 2/Jean Regiment
5 0 0 0 0 0 0 2/Princessa Regiment
5 0 0 0 0 0 0 3/1st Seville Regiment
7 0 0 0 0 0 1 Tiradores de Castilla
...vacant... Cacadores de Castilla Cav
66 4 2 0 0 0 1 Lanceros de Castilla Cav
Artillery Reserve, Anglo-Allied Coalition Army (strength: 23)
...vacant...
162 1 0 1 0 4 0 Battery 1
...vacant... Battery 2
476 10 5 1 2 2 3 Battery 3
595 0 0 0 3 6 0 Battery 4
160 5 3 1 0 0 4 Battery 5
British Foot Guards 2010-04-02
Ensign 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 Battery 15
Major 342 12 5 2 3 5 0 Battery 16
Ensign 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 Battery 17
Joao Lima Ensign 25 0 0 1 1 0 0 Battery 23
Stuart Wilson Ensign 20 0 0 0 0 0 1 Battery 24
French team up with
Paul Pratt Colonel 721 11 5 1 0 0 2
Sam Dodson Colonel 2412 20 7 6 18 18 43 1ère Division Artillerie Divisionnaire 2ème Compagnie du 3ème Régiment d'Artillerie à Cheval
David Earls Général de Division 816 16 4 8 5 0 7 Division de Cavalerie 1ère Brigade 4ème Régiment de Hussards
David Guegan Général 1154 21 9 3 2 4 16 2ème Division
Patrick Mossier Général 1146 23 14 1 9 5 29 2ème Division 1ère Brigade
Zbyszek Pietras Maréchal d'Empire 1596 38 19 2 6 2 13 2ème Division 2éme Brigade
Ramon Cipressi Général de Division 802 45 22 1 2 1 0 4ème Division de Dragons
Russ Dodge Général 1114 14 6 3 3 3 18 4ème Division de Dragons 2éme Brigade
Cezary Pluskwa Sous-Lieutenant 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 4ème Division de Dragons Artillerie Divisionnaire 3ème Compagnie du 2ème Régiment d'Artillerie à Cheval
Richard Orris Lieutenant 74 0 0 0 0 0 0 1ère Division 2éme Brigade 14ème Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne
Douglas Fuller Maréchal d'Empire 1419 53 25 3 2 1 6 2ème Division 1ère Brigade 24ème Régiment d'Infanterie Légère
Richard Hamilton Maréchal d'Empire 1243 18 8 2 5 1 6 2ème Division 2éme Brigade 57ème Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne
Bruce Hall Maréchal d'Empire 2212 67 31 5 6 5 8 3ème Division
Paul Ayers Général de Brigade 604 15 7 1 3 0 2 3ème Division 2éme Brigade
Jeff Bardon Maréchal d'Empire 2441 117 56 5 9 2 4 Division de Cavalerie
Dejan Zupancic Général 1225 26 12 2 4 2 7
Mike Cox Général 1134 25 11 6 9 2 5 3ème Division 2éme Brigade 40ème Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne
Theron Lambert Maréchal d'Empire 1737 87 42 3 4 3 12 Division de Cavalerie
Christophe Boucheron Général de Division 898 32 15 2 4 0 3 Y
Comte de Berry 2011-11-30, Baron de l'Empire 2011-11-30
Colin Knox Général 929 52 26 0 1 0 1 2ème Division de Grosse Cavalerie 1ère Brigade
Mark Oakford Général 1126 27 11 5 6 6 15 2ème Division de Grosse Cavalerie 2éme Brigade
They can say two things OUI and Nay!

mon ami,
your list seems to be short on Prussians!?

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Monsieur you left yourself open for this one " I didn't want to embarrass anyone in the Prussi Armee"!

No monsieur! You left yourself open to the question of "why are you scared of the Black Menace"

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