Napoleonic Wargame Club (NWC)

What the Allies are doing and a few French unites are doing is building esprit de Corps. I think that we in the French Armee should be doing the same thing and not setting back as once a month gamers. I know not all are doing that but MPG are the way to build up the club. If a commander would just do as General Jones and give orders it would be a much enjoyable club. I learned so much from General Paco in one month then I did in ten years. French commanders led from the front not from the rear! I really don't mind taking orders not just to push around troops as one commander had me do but I was given orders to advance and be part of the game.

Colonel Dumas, salute!

You have raised a subject that is most dear to this player's passion for the games we all enjoy so much.

The multi-player format is a fascinating aspect to the games we play here.
Such a format is different from solo play and is not everyone's cup of tea, as it were.
It involves a definite checking of the ego at the door, so to speak.
For the commander, he must not be a micro-manager, requiring as you put it, his subordinates to simply push units around, but allow them to be an integral part of the game.

I only experienced this format of play upon joining the club.
Having formed a combat team of likeminded players, we embarked upon a series of maneuvers and battles, and discovered so many wonderful new insights about our individual levels of skill, and those of others. We are learning our weaknesses and strengths, which seem much more evident when placed in context of association with other players, particularly players from one's own side.

When battling an opponent in solo play only, our own ego can conceal our weaknesses from ourselves, but when on display to a fellow officer, it will stand out in clear relief.
The learning experience of such play is constructive when one's partners are willing to constructively criticize, and not simply demean.

Communication between the players on one side in such a game is crucial, crucial to success, and enjoyment.

This all goes to the development of esprit de corps, as you say.

For players who enjoy a so-called historical flavor to the games, the multi-player format heightens the experience.
After all, in warfare involving more than the single squad one may be in command of, the effectiveness of one's actions will depend in large part upon the actions of other commanders and units.

The famous generals we all like to believe we are emulating, whether it is Napoleon, Wellington, Blucher, de Tolly, Charles, etc, etc, all had to depend upon others to make their strategies successful.
These great leaders devised the strategies but their subordinates carried out the tactics that bore the fruit (or not) of said strategies.

Multi-player games, when effective, will allow officers to teach and to learn, which will improve the play of all involved.

Since I have started to play the games in this manner, I have found I enjoy them much more than solo play.
Why? I imagine it is because of relationship to others.
I'm interacting, I'm sharing the joy of the game with another player (who is not my opponent, which automatically limits what I can share...).

The multi-player style is just another aspect to these games.
Ultimately, no better or worse than solo play, just another way to enjoy the games.

When there is effective communication between the team members it can truly be a wonderful experience.
When there is a lack of such communication, or an ego-driven commander, the experience will not be so pleasurable.

I would hope that more players will try this kind of gaming out, and share their thoughts on the subject as well, in this thread.

Regards,

Yes, I agree with Clifton. And it's great to pair a newcomer with a veteran for the purposes of training. And even veterans can learn a lot from each other. And different styles and abilities make the game more realistic. Certainly Mark has put a lot of effort into teambuilding.

His highness Sir Moss is a prime example of a leader one who puts his men first and cares about keeping this club going . With the problems we all face in this day and age we need these kinds of clubs with so many of our players leaving an yes dying we need it that much more. I know that we have men who are minsters who might still be in this club you as minsters know that a personal relationship builds a person. My only hope that the many learn from the few who have advance in this club and a self important person will use this club only to build his own low self esteem and a low mind person will only help himself and build up his on own personal image of others and other peoples of this world. I hope that we keep this going and the Leaders of this club will be honored to lead the commands they have and not be just a paper general or Marshal.

I would like to try HPS on Multiplayer format-

Please think of including me as a junior partner on any forthcoming MultiPlayer Leipzig battle

Salutes

Cadete Porta Bandera
Fernando LopezGallo
Tiradores De Castilla
Brigada Española
The Anglo Allied Army

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Monsieur, I would suggest you go to your Corps commander and have him put together a Spanish Brig to play any and all the games that are out there . That would gave you more of a chance to find a team to play.

Thank you monsieur Seeney, will try that.
Best Regards

Fernando LopezGallo
Tiradores De Castilla

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Hi Fernando;

I have initiated discussions concerning multi-player games with your commanding officer, Lt Col Vincent Maddis.

So, there could well be the opportunity in the future for you to participate in such a game.

Regards,

Seems like the Armee of Italy is in the forward position of the Grand Armee once more Vie L' France! Marshal baton in ever knapsack!

A fine thread, gentlemen. My compliments to Colonel Dumas for starting it. The good colonel speaks from years of experience and a true love for the Armee of France.

My compliments also to Chef Schmidgall for a magnificent narrative that clearly shows his understanding of the proper measure of leadership. He is a fine officer, and certainly a credit to La Grande Armee.

My thanks to Generaal Moss, for his great, and consistent leadership. I had the very great privilege to serve as his junior partner in many MP games and fully enjoyed the benefits of his enormous experience and marvelous teaching style. He has mentored many a young officer. His contribution to our club is perhaps the greatest of all of our officers.

And Lieutenant LopezGallo, should Colonel Maddis be unavailable to assist you in a MP game, I would be honored to fight by your side, any day sir. You are a most excellent officer, and certainly a great credit to the Spanish Brigade of our mighty Anglo-Allied Army.

Gentlemen,
I guess, the best way to get friends, good experience from each other and build Esprit de Corps with MP games - these are Divisional Tournaments, when officers of the same division form their team with their ComDiv as a team leader.
I had four tournaments of that kind in the previous years, and believe me: it's much more excited way of MP gaming than any others. Moreover, this is the field where our club's organizational structure could be really useful and helpful.
Mark, I suggest to set up the Divisional Tournaments as a permanent official sort of MP games in NWC.

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General-Feldmarshal Prince Vladimir N. Repnin
Imperial Russian Corps Commander
Prince Braine-Le Comte & The Adjutant-General of His Imperial Majesty
Chevalier Guards Regiment

Prince Repnin, salute!

I agree with your comments fully, and would very much second your suggestion to Brigadier Jones.

However, my own experience in the LGA to this point has been a lack of support for such an endeavor as Divisional Combat teams by the officer membership.

This has not stopped me from trying to create such combat teams on a more provisional level, resulting in the formation of Tirailleurs et Dragons!, a combat team of officers who enjoy MP format.
And the effort is on-going.

I would very much like to continue this conversation with you, and with your permission, will initiate a conversation with you about this thru personal messages.

Regards,

Yes, of course, monsieur le tirailleur!
I'll be glad to debate the theme with you and anybody of the NWC officers,
who would like to help to make Divisional Tournaments the most popular form of MP games in our club.
I believe, this is the best way to consolidate its members, and to rise our activities up to a new great level.

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General-Feldmarshal Prince Vladimir N. Repnin
Imperial Russian Corps Commander
Prince Braine-Le Comte & The Adjutant-General of His Imperial Majesty
Chevalier Guards Regiment

The only problem that I see with MPG is files! Oui they most move from one player to the next easy. Working with Paco has been an eye opener he gives great detail orders then he also shows how his planes will win in a easy to understand way. WE move files in just one day not weeks or months. He works and I don't so I have more free time that also is a problem. If you in a MPG make your moves on the week end and just a 15 min move is all you need to do works for us with easy orders. The problem we had was the other team they couldn't move files fast enough and a game of 19 turns went south why because to much time trying to work out plans to win one leads the other follows.

Cliff i agree, You need dedicated players with high turn rates to make a tournament like this work in a timely manner. Perhaps some sort of point reduction penalty for late turns?

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