the franco-prussian war - Strategy & Tactics

II. Against disciplined, trained infantry undereffective command (anything else is eliminatedin these game mechanics) cavalry, by itself isimpotent.SUGGESTED RULES CHANGESFOR BORODINOI. French Infantry, when attacking, receive abonus of one Combat Strength Point per unitof infantry involved in the attack.II. Guard Units may be committed at will, buttheir loss is effectively double the loss of otherunits. They count twice in determining victorypoints. If the French "Old Guard" iseliminated, the French lose the benefitof rule #I.Ill. Victory conditions for the Grand Battlegame are based on the ratio of destroyedStrength Points as modified by rule #2. Thetable is as follows:French RussianKilled Killed Victor Level and ConditionsRussian Decisive-if holding Borolinoand 2 Redoubt hexes.- . -- . . -"-.%1-2 1 Russian Substantial-if holdingGreat Redoubt.-- 1 1 FrencR Marginal-if holding Borrdino and 3 Redoubt hexes.17-1 3 + - -Frencli Decisive-if holding Boro-mdino and all Redoubts.IV. French units exited off map on or betweenthe two roads east force the removal c?f doubletheir Combat Strength in Russian units. TheRussian units are counted as lost.V. Russian optional militia is used as 1-3 unitsunless Russian player is markedly inferior.RA TIONA L ESI. French infantry was still at its peak ofoffensive training. This bonus helps restore thesuperior strength for attack the French actuallypossessed. In a historical situation whereFrance had half again as many men, the gamegives the French 172 CSP and the Russians144 CSP in their field force, plus 15 CSP inredoubts, plus an optional 33 CSP in the militia(a force wh~ch historically would have beenshattered by half its numbers in regulars). Allthis in a situation where the Russian is oftensafe in taking the offensive, makes a Frenchvictory unlikely in the game.II. I think that the considerations leading tocertain decisions should be given preferenceover forcing the player to accept someoneelse's decision.Ill. See comments on rule #l.IV. The thought of Napoleon between themand holy Moscow would have driven mostRussian units east as fast as possible -without orders - at the time of the battle.V. Historical .variants should be accuratepossibilities or admitted attempts to achieveplay balance. The strength given to the militia(much of which was still mustering) gives thembetter logistics, leadership, and training thanseems possible.*-Arthur Pigg"They Can't Capture Me,I'm The General!"There has lately been much debate concerningwhether or not most wargamers suffer fromthe "Rommel Syndrone." There has also beens.much talk about those who do suffer from thisaffliction. It seems that if a gamer wants toplay Rommel, let him; but make him put acounter on the board that represents himselfand one for his Headquarters (HQ), or pick aunit to be designated as the HQ unit. TheCommanding General (CG) unit would havethe Movement Allowance of the fastestfriendly unit. If an air speed is used, use that ofa fighter or a scout plane: no bombers. If a newunit is added for the HQ, it shall have the speedof the fastest land unit; but it must use about25% of its movement to "set up" its lines ofcommunication et. al. It may, however, keepmoving and not set up. Add the followingrules:(1) The HQ Et CG units do not count forstacking and may not attack.(2a) Objectives and routes of attack must bewritten down for all groups of units, areas ofthe campaign, etc. The exact units must belisted on the orders. (b) These orders may bechanged at any time the CG is in a set up HQ.(c) Any unit not having written orders maynot move.(3a) If the CG is in his set up HQ, proceed asnormal. (b) If the CG is not in a set up HQ hecan only command a five (5) hex radius notthrough enemy ZOC or every unit he can comein contact with (including the HQ to changeorders, but it must spend half its movementthere). For this the Movement Allowance ofthe CG can only be that of the fastest friendlyland unit. (c) All units not under his commandshall continue as per their written objectives bythe specified routs; and upon reaching themthey will dig in to await further orders. (dl If agroup of units, not under command, is pressingon toward its objectives but through combathas been reduced to the point where it isfoolish to continue, it may dig in there orretreat to the nearest defensible position.- I((4a) The presence of the CG affects thecombat effectiveness of the troops in that hex.Soldiers do fight better under the eyes of theircommander. The die roll, whether attacking ordefending, is changed by plus or minus one,depending on the CRT used. (b) The unitsstacked in that hex, if forced to retreat due tocombat, instead have half their strengtheliminated. If there is .only one unit presentbesides the CG it is eliminated, but the enemymay not advance into that hex and does notcapture the CG unit.(5a) The CG unit has no ZOC and is notaffected by those of the enemy. (b) If alone, itmay retreat if possible to refuse surfacecombat. The enemy may then move into/through that hex as if it had not been occupiedat all. (c) If an enemy unit is forced to retreatinto a hex where it stands alone, it is alsoforced to retreat; if it cannot it is destroyed.(6a) If destroyed, the HQ unit may not bereplaced until one Friendly Movement andCombat Phase have passed, at which timeanother unit at least five (5) hexes away fromthe nearest enemy unit or stacked with the CGunit is designated to be the new HQ. (b) TheCG unit may be capturedldestroyed. If it is, theplayer has lost (though another player maytake his place and continue from there) andthat is all, Erwin, m'boy!-David L. 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