Saturday, July 7, 2012

Scenario for Borodino, September 7, 1812

This is the semifinal draft of the scenario we'll be using at Historicon in less than 2 weeks, using Field of Battle rules, 2nd edition, by Brent Oman:

The Battle of Borodino: September 7, 1812

Troop Scale: 1 Infantry unit = 900 men, 1 Cavalry unit = 600 men, 1 Artillery unit = 12 guns.

Table Size: 28 feet long x 5 feet wide (7.5 feet wide for the 6 feet on both flanks). This would give a nominal ground scale of roughly 1” = 12.5yards, about half of standard Field of Battle, with the unit strengths above being 50% greater than FoB standard. To get an idea of the incredible troop density of this battle, to be properly in scale, the table would need to be HALF of the size we're using, and have 50% more units on it. We have opted for the more playable solution above!

Background: Napoleon's massive Grand Armee crossed the River Niemen into Russia on June 23, 1812. Since then, a decisive battle eluded him and the weary French. Finally, almost within sight of Moscow, Kutusov and the Russians offered battle. The result, while not the largest battle of the Napoleonic wars by any means, was the bloodiest battle of the entire Napoleonic Wars, and indeed one of the bloodiest of all time.

Map: The Kolotcha River is Class III terrain. The streams are all class II terrain. The woods are all class 2 terrain. The Redoubts and Fleches are all class 2 terrain. The wolf pits to the North of the Great Redoubt are an additional class II terrain feature for Cavalry only. The village of Borodino is class II terrain as well.

Scenario Rules:

1) C-in-C Morale Pool: 
This equals 10% of the Army’s total Morale Points (additional), thus 19 for Napoleon, and 18 for Kutusov. We’ll use the Gold Coins to depict these, and poker chips for the other Morale Points of the individual Corps (and equivalent commands). On any friendly LEADER CHECK card, the Army C-in-C may transfer as many MP as desired to as many Corps as desired. The transfer is instantaneous. There is no way to replenish these, however. Additionally, these Army Morale Points are needed to commit reserves, and potentially to avoid taking Army Morale Checks for the entire army.


2) Corps Morale Check: 
When the ARMY MORALE CHECK card is turned, any friendly Corps that are at Zero Morale Points must check as per FoB2, by rolling the Corps Commander’s LD vs a D12; If the LD* roll fails to beat the opposing D12 roll, then the entire Command will be placed Out of Command and  moved 1 segment’s move to the rear immediately (artillery will limber up if needed in order to make the withdrawal).  The entire command  will then be removed from the table on the next friendly MOVE card of any kind! (* use a D6 in place of the LD if the Corps Commander is presently a casualty!)

3)
Army Morale Check: 
In addition, when the ARMY MORALE CHECK card is turned, if that army has one or more Corps that have failed Corps Morale, AND more such failed Corps than the enemy army, they are potentially subject to making a Morale check for the whole army in the same fashion, i.e., the Army C-in-C’s LD vs D12, with the army withdrawing and thus ending the game if the LD roll fails to beat the D12. If , however, there are Army Morale Points (C-in-C’s AMP’s) remaining, then the difference in failed commands between the two armies MUST be paid from the C-in-C’s pool, one AMP for each and if the entire difference is paid, then no roll is necessary.

4) French Supply Train: 
These are located at the road entry point on the far French left (see map). The Army is far from France, and already under provisioned; loss of these supplies is likely to have dire consequences! For game purposes, the Supply Train may not move.


5) Russian Cossacks an Opolochenie (Militia): 
These units lose an Army Morale Point ONLY when they are reduced to zero UI, are forced to retreat off the board, or rout for any reason, in which case the unit is permanently removed from play.


6) Russian Toughness and the Culture of the Bayonet: 
The ratings for the Russian Jagers and Line Infantry reflect an UP one to their DD and a Down 1 to their CD when compared to comparable French units.

7) Russian Resiliency: 
Russian Leaders get an UP 1 to their LD roll when attempting to rally their troops.

8) Russian “Army” Commanders (Bagration and Barclay de Tolly): Each of these “wing” commanders may use their LD to re-roll a MOVE for any ONE subordinate (including Corps Commanders) on each MOVE card. There is no penalty for such attempts (i.e., it doesn't subject them to Survival rolls). Finally, they may also attempt to rally any troops within their Army, but this WILL subject them to loss on the survival check, with their entire Army going Out of Command immediately if they fail on a check taken for this reason (Command may be reasserted by subordinate officers on the next LEADERSHIP card). Bagration and/or Barclay will not be replaced if lost, for any reason.

Deployment: 
French (Allied) and Russian forces starting on the table are deployed as shown on the Deployment Map.




Reinforcements: See the Reserve Entry Map and table for each Army at the end of this document; this lists all the (many) formations that start off the table at the start of the game, but are available to enter as reinforcements. Each force has a cost in C-in-C Morale Points that must be paid as soon as the that side's designated C-in-C informs the GM of his intent to commit these reserves; if insufficient points are left, then the formation may not enter the table! The table also list how many move segments that force must expend before reaching the table edge; this will depend on the particular formation and the entry point chosen, which must also be revealed to the GM at the time the troops are dispatched. MOVE segments are rolled for secretly with the GM on friendly MOVE cards in the exact same fashion as for on table commands, including NO move on a LD roll of zero (subject to Corps, etc re-rolls, if any). When a formation reaches 1 segment away from the table edge (or less!), the opposing side is made aware of their presence. Surplus movement segments may be continued onto the table in the same fashion as any other command, so... watch out! Entering troops must enter within 12” either side of the designated entry point. Play testing suggests that waiting too long to commit at least some of the reserves is probably unwise, but, ot course, retaining some flexibility (and or C-in-C Morale Points) has its own value as well. Ah well... such is the burden of Command!

Victory Conditions: It’s all about the carnage! Napoleon must destroy the Russian field army. The Russians must maintain a viable field army. Play continues until one side concedes or fails Army Morale. At that point, compare the number of Corps (or equivalent) that have failed Corps Morale on each side. If the losing side has less than 50% more failed Corps than the victors, it is a Marginal Victory; 50% or more but not twice as many failed Corps is a Tactical Victory; Twice as many but not Three times as many is a Major Victory, and Three times as many (or more) is a Decisive Victory.


French / Allied OOB: Emperor Napoleon I commanding
Sequence Deck = Excellent Leadership: D12 + 1 CR 26”
C – in – C Morale Pool: 19
104 Inf, 25 A, 37C – 187 Corps Morale points. Units indicated as ‘Line’ are assumed to be French line, etc.

File:Vereshagin.Napoleon near Borodino.jpg

Borodino Flank (Kolocha River and North)

IV Corps, Prince Eugene, Viceroy of Italy Leadership D10;
Command Radius 20”, 46 Morale Points (counts as TWO Corps if fails Morale)
1 12# Foot Battery

Italian Royal Guard, GD Pino LD 10, CR 20”
1 Italian Foot guards
1 Guard Conscripts
1 Royal Velites
13th Division, GD Delzons LD 8, CR 16”
1 Legere
1 Provisional Croatian
6 Line
1 6# Foot Battery
14th Division, GD Broussier LD 10, CR20”
1 Legere
1 Joseph Napoleon
6 Line
1 6# Foot Battery

1st Division, GD Morand (detached from I Corps) LD 12+1, CR 26”
2 Legere
5 Line
1 Horse Battery

3rd Division, GD Gerard (detached from I Corps) LD 12+1 CR 26”
1 Legere
6 Line
1 Mecklenburg-Strelitz
1 Horse Battery
Italian Guard Cavalry, GB Traire LD 10, CR 20”
1 Italian Guard Dragoons

IV Corps Cavalry, GD Ornano LD10, CR 20”
1 Italian Chasseurs a’Cheval
1 French Chasseurs a’Cheval
2 Bavarian Chevauxleger


III Reserve Cavalry Corps, GD Grouchy LD 12, CR 24”
Morale Points: 6
1 Horse Battery

3rd Light Cavalry Division, GD Chastel, LD 12, CR 24”
1 Hussar
1 Chasseur a’Cheval
2 Bavarian Chevauleger

6th Heavy Cavalry Division, GD La Houssaye, LD12, CR 24”
2 Dragoon


Center

I Corps, Davout, Marechal d’Empire LD 12+1, CR 26”
Morale Points 35 (Counts as TWO Corps if fails Morale)
1 12# Battery

2nd Division, GD Friant LD 12+1, CR 26”
2 Legere
5 Line
1 Joseph Napoleon (Spanish)
1 6# Foot Battery
4th Division, GD Dessaix LD 12+1, CR 26”
6 Line
1 Horse Battery
5th Division, GD Compans LD 12+1, CR 26”
9 Line
1 Horse Battery
I Corps Cavalry, GD Girardin LD 12+1, CR 26”
2 Chasseur a’Cheval


III Corps, Ney, Marechal de France LD 12+1, CR26”
Morale Points 26
1 12# Batttery

10th Division, GD Ledru LD 12+1, CR 26”
1 Legere
5 Line
1 Portuguese Line
1 Horse Battery

11th Division, GD Razout, LD 12, CR 24”
7 Line
1 6# Foot Battery

25th (Wurttemberg) Division, LG Marchand, LD 10, CR 20”
1 Wurttemberg Line
1 Wurttemberg Light
III Corps Cavalry, GM Wollwrath, LD 12, CR 24”
1 Wurttemberg Chevauleger
2 Chasseur a’Cheval
1 Hussar


VIII Corps, Junot (Westphalian), GD Junot, LD 10, CR 20”
Morale Points 11
1 6# Foot battery

23rd Division, GL Tharreau, LD 8, CR 16”
5 Westphalian Line

24th Division, GL Ochs, LD 10, CR 20”
1 Westphalian Foot Grenadiers
1 Westphalian Guard Jagers

VIII Corps Cavalry, GD Chabert, LD 10, CR 20”
1 Westphalian Guard Chevauxleger
1 Westphalian Hussars


I Reserve Cavalry Corps, GD Nansouty, LD 12+1, CR 26”
Morale Points 8
1 Horse Battery

1st Light Cavalry Division, GD Bruyere, LD 12, CR 24”
1 Polish Uhlan
1 Fr. Hussar
1 Prussian Hussar
1 Chevauleger

1st Cuirassier Division, GD St. Germaine, LD 12+1, CR 26”
2 Cuirassier
5th Cuirassier Division, GD Valence, LD 12, CR 24”
1 Cuirassier
1 Chevauleger

II Reserve Cavalry Corps, GD Montburn, LD 12+1, CR 26”
Morale Points 9
1 Horse Battery

2nd Light Cavalry Division, GD Pajol, LD 12+1, CR 26”
1 Hussar
1 Chasseur
1 Prussian Uhlan
1 Polish Hussar

2nd Cuirassier Division, GD Wathier, LD 12+1, CR 26”
2 Cuirassier

4th Cuirassier Division, GD Defrance, LD 12, CR 24”
2 Carabinier


IV Reserve Cavalry Corps, GD Latour-Maubourg, LD 12, CR 24”
Morale Points 6

4th (Polish) Light Cavalry Division, GD Bruyere LD 10, CR 20”
1 Polish Uhlan

7th Cuirassier Division, GD Lorge, LD 8, CR 16
1 Saxon Cuirassier
2 Westphalian Cuirassier
General Artillery Park of the Army, GD Count Rapp, LD 12, CR 24”
3 6# Foot Batteries


Imperial Guard, Mortier, Marechal d’Empire , LD 12, CR 24”
Morale Points 26

Guard Reserve Artillery, GD Sorbier, LD 12, CR 24”
1 Old Guard 12# Foot Battery
1 Old Guard Horse Battery

2nd Division, (Young Guard) GD Roguet, LD 12+1, CR 26”
1 Tiralleur
1 Voltigeur
1 Fusilier Chasseur
1 Fusilier Grenadier
1 Young Guard 6# Foot Battery

3rd Division, (Old Guard) GD Curial, LD 12+1, CR 26”
3 Chasseur a Pied
3 Grenadier a Pied
1 Old Guard 12# Foot Battery

Vistula Legion, GD Claparede, LD 12, CR 24”
4 Vistula Legion

Guard Cavalry, Marechal Bessiers, LD 12+1, CR 26”
1 Empress Dragoon
1 Grenadier a Cheval
1 Chevauleger lancier de la garde



Utitiza Flank

V Corps, Prince Poniatowski Leadership D12; Command Radius 24”
14 Morale Points
1 Polish Horse Battery

16th Division, GD Zayonchek, LD 10, CR 20”
6 Polish Line
1 6# Battery

18th Division, GD Kniaziewicz, LD 12, CR 24”
5 Polish Line
1 6# Battery

V Corp Cavalry, GD Kaminski, LD 12+1, CR 26”
1 Polish Uhlan
1 Polish Chasseur




Russian OOB: General of Infantry Kutusov commanding
Sequence Deck = Average Leadership: D10 Command: 20”
C-in-C Morale Pool = 18
89 Inf, 36 A, 41C – 179 Corps Morale points.

File:Kutuzovborodino.jpg

Borodino Flank (Kolocha River and North)

Barclay de Tolly, Commander 1st Army of the West, LD10, CR 20”
Morale Points: 9

Artillery Reserve, 1st Army of the West, GM Koutaissof, LD 8, CR 16“
1 12# Foot Battery
2 x 6# Foot Batteries
3 x 6# Horse Batteries

3rd Guard Infantry Brigade, Col Karl Bistrom I, LD 10, CR 20“
3 Guard Jager/Finland Jager


I Cavalry Corps, Ouvarov, LD 10, CR 20”
Morale Points: 14

Guard Light Cavalry Division, Chalikov, LD 12, CR 24”
Guard Hussar
Guard Uhlan
Guard Cossacks
2 Line Hussars
1 6# Line Horse Artillery Battery

Platov’s Cossacks, General Platov, LD 8, CR 16”
9 Cossack Units
1 Cossack Horse Battery


II Corps, Baggouvot, LD 10, CR 20”
Morale Points 15

4th Division, Prince Eugene of Wurttemberg, LD 10, CR 20”
4 Line
2 Jager
1 12# Foot Battery
1 6# Foot Battery

17th Division, Olsuofieff, LD 8, CR 16”
4 Line
2 Jager
2 x 6# Foot Batteries


IV Corps, Count Ostermann-Tolstoy, LD 10, CR 20”
Morale Points 14

11th Division, Bakhmetieff II, LD 8, CR 16”
4 Line
2 Jager
1 12# Foot Battery
1 6# Foot Battery

23nd Division, Bakhmetieff I, LD 8, CR 16”
3 Line
1 Combined Grenadier


VI Corps, Docturov, LD 8, CR 16”
Morale Points: 17

7th Division, Kapsevitch, LD 8, CR 16”
4 Line
2 Jager
1 12# Foot Battery

24th Division, Lichatcheff, LD 10, CR 20”
4 Line
2 Jager
2 x 6# Foot Batteries


V (Guard) Corps, Grand Duke Constantin LD 12, CR 24”
Morale Points 19

Guard Infantry Division, Lavarov, LD 10, CR 20”
6 Guard Grenadier
1 Guard 12 # Foot Battery
1 Guard 6# Foot Battery
1st Combined Grenadier Division, Prince Kantakuzin LD 10, CR 20”
3 Combined Grenadier

1st Guard Cavalry Division, Depreradovitch, LD 10, CR 20”
3 Guard Cuirassiers
1 Guard Dragoon
1 6# Guard Horse Artillery Battery


II Cavalry Corps, Korff, LD 8, CR 16”
Morale Points: 9
1 6# Horse Battery

1st Brigade, Col Davydov, LD 8, CR 16”
1 Dragoon
1 Hussar
1 Uhlan

2nd Brigade, Maj General Klebev, LD10, CR 20”
4 Dragoons
2 Hussars


III Cavalry Corps, Kreutz, LD 10, CR 20”
Morale Points: 5
1st Brigade, Maj General Dyatkov, LD10, CR 20”
2 Dragoon

2nd/3rd Brigade, Maj General Skalon
1 Hussar
1 Uhlan



Center

2nd Army of the West, Prince Bagration, LD 8, CR 16”
Artillery Reserve, 2nd Army of the West, GM Lowenstern, LD 10, CR 20“
Morale Points: 8
4 x 12# Foot Batteries
4 x 6# Foot Batteries

VII Corps, Rayevski, LD 10, CR 20”
Morale Points: 17

26th Division, Paskevich, LD 10, CR 20”
4 Line
2 Jager
1 12# Foot Battery

12th Division, Vasil’chikov, LD 10, CR 20”
4 Line
1 Jager
1 12# Foot Battery


VIII Corps, Borozdin II, LD 8, CR 16”
Morale Points: 20

2nd Grenadier Division, (in reserve), Prince Charles of Mecklenburg, LD 8, CR 16”
6 Grenadier
1 12# Foot Battery
1 6# Foot Battery

27th Division, Neverovsky, LD 8, CR 16”
4 Line
2 Jager
1 6# Foot Battery

2nd Combined Grenadier Division, Voronzov, LD 8, CR 16”
2 Combined Grenadier


IV Cavalry Corps, Sievers, LD 8, CR 16”
Morale Points: 10
1 x 6# Horse Battery

1st Brigade, Panchulidzev, LD 8, CR 16”
2 Dragoon
2nd Brigade, Col. Schtakelberg, LD 10, CR 20”
1 Uhlan
1 Hussar

2nd Cuirassier Division, Knorring, LD 10, CR 20”
3 Cuirassier


Utitsa Flank

III Corps, Tuchkov I, LD 12, CR 24”
Morale Points: 10

3rd Division, Konovnitizin, LD 8, CR 16”
3 Line
1 Jager

1st Grenadier Division, Strogonov, LD 12, CR 24”
5 Grenadier
1 6# Foot Battery


Irregular Forces of the Left Wing, LG Count Markov, LD 8 CR 16”
Morale Points: 12

Karpov’s Cossacks, Karpov, LD 10, CR 20”
3 Cossacks

Moscow Opolochenie, Maj Gen Feodor Talyzin I, LD 8 CR 16”
9 Opolochenie

Smolensk Opolochenie, LG Lebedev, LD 12, CR 24”
3 Opolochenie


BORODINO REINFORCEMENT TABLE: FRENCH/ALLIED


FRENCH C-in-C Morale Pool:  19

Entry
FRENCH Reserves:
M
o
v
e
S
e
g
Cost (AMP)
Formation Name
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
4
Old Guard Infantry
-
-
2
1
1
2
-
-
2
Young Guard Infantry
-
-
2
1
1
2
-
-
2
Guard Cavalry
-
4
2
1
1
2
4
-
1
Guard Artillery
-
-
2
1
1
2
-
-
1
Vistula Legion
-
-
4
3
2
1
2
3
1
VIII Corps (Junot)
4
3
2
1
2
3
1
IV Res Cavalry Corps (Latour-M)
-
-
3
2
1
2
3
-




French Player Commands:

1.13th and 14th Infantry Divisions/IV Corps, IV Corps Cavalry 
2. 1st Division /IV Corps, Italian Royal Guards, Foot and Horse (Eugene)
3. 3rd Division/IV Corps plus III Reserve Cavalry Corps (Traire)
4. 2nd Division, Corps Arty/I Corps (Davout)

5. 4th and 5th Divisions/I Corps

6. III Corps (Ney)
7. VIII Corps (Junot)

8.Army Artillery Reserve, Guard Cavalry, Vistula Legion
9. Guard Artillery, Young Guard Infantry, Old Guard Infantry (Mortier)

10. I Reserve Cavalry Corps (Nansouty)
11. II and IV Reserve Cavalry Corps (Montbrun, Latour-Mabourg)
12. V Corps (Poniatowski)




BORODINO REINFORCEMENT TABLE: RUSSIAN

RUSSIAN C-in-C Morale Pool:  18

Entry
RUSSIAN RESERVES
M
o
v
e
S
e
g
m
e
n
t
Cost (AMP)
Formation Name
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
1
2nd Army of West Res. Artillery
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
1
1
-
-
-
2
Imperial Guard Infantry
-
-
4
3
2
1
2
3
4
5
-
-
2
Imperial Guard Heavy Cavalry
-
-
4
3
2
1
2
3
4
5
-
-
1
2nd Cuirassier Division
-
-
5
4
3
2
1
2
3
4
5
-
1
3rd Cavalry Corps (Kreutz)
-
-
3
1
2
3
4
5
-
-
-
-
1
1st Army of West Res. Artillery
-
-
3
1
2
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
2nd Infantry Corps (Baggouvot)
-
-
1
3
4
5
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
1st Combined Grenadiers
-
-
4
3
2
1
2
3
4
5
-
-
0
Platov’s Cossacks*
3
2
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
Guard Light Cav/1st Cav Corp*
3
2
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Platov’s Cossacks and the Guard Light Cavalry may not enter any sooner than the SECOND Russian MOVE card!




Looting the Supply Train: Cossacks *only*; for each Russian MOVE card that has one or more Cossack units in contact with the Supply Train at the end of the MOVE, the French will lose the following number of Morale Points from each Corps (no payout to Russians if a Corps drops below zero for this cause): 1 - 2 Cossack Units = 1 Morale Point; 3 - 4 Cossack Units = 2 Morale Points, 5+ Cossack Units = 3 Morale Points
Russian Player Commands:
1. Ouvarov: Platov’s Cossacks and Guard LC
2. 2nd Infantry Corps
3. Guard Jagers plus 1st Army Artillery Reserve (de Tolly)
4.
4th Infantry Corps
5
. 6th Infantry Corps
6. 5th Corps (Guard)
7. 2nd and 3rd Cavalry Corps
8
. 7th Infantry Corps
9
. 8th Infantry Corps
10
. 4th Cavalry Corps plus 2nd Army Artillery Reserve (Bagratian)
11
. 3rd Infantry Corps
12. Opolchenie plus Karpov’s Cossacks


Phew! Aside from last minute revisions by the rest of the team, I think that's about finished! Although the scenario is officially listed for 14 players in the PEL, we figured we'd probably get more, and already have a lengthy add on list; the above allows up to 12 players a side, about the limit for any reasonable seating at the table. Now to start organizing and packing up the troops... HCon departure minus 11 days and counting!

Peter

10 comments:

  1. It is gonna be HUGE; in both the literal and colloquial senses of the word!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Replies
    1. We still have to get you to Historicon one of these years, Larry!

      Delete
  3. Nice job on the commands! This should be a real barn burner!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope so, and who knows; maybe we'll need a commander for the Guard Cavalry! :-)

      Delete
  4. I await the game AAR out here on the west coast. Excellent preparation work. I figure the east coast will sink several inches as the lead miniatures are moved.

    WR aka Michael

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yep, could seriously destabilize the entire East Coast, with all that weight departing from Connecticut and traveling to Virginia, LOL.

      Delete
  5. Please do not forget in he heat of the Battle to take lots of pics!

    We look forward to see them.

    Great Project I wish I could be there.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks, Bernard! if you could make it, we'd definitely appoint you staff photographer! I readily admit to having no photographic talent at all. Hopefully Gabriel will take his usual slew of excellent pictures, among other present; the one on the masthead is one of his from Sacile in 2010.

    Next year should include Dresden, as well as other 1813 actions from der Befreiungskrieg...

    ReplyDelete