HAHGS 200th Anniversary Waterloo Campaign - The Scenario

Well, I've finally recovered enough from the hugely fun but also quite tiring day we had yesterday running this big event to start to post about it; there will doubtless be a number of posts over the next week or two.

We'll start with the background information; the briefing  for their army (only)was given to ALL of the French, Prussian, and Anglo Allied players several days before the event, once the commands were semi-finalized. In the event we had one player who had to cancel due to illness, and four (I think) same day walk ons; some 20 players in all, Because we had so many b[players, this allowed each arm,y to have a dedicated C-in-C with no direct troops to command. This is a very challenging position - extremely chaotic at first, and then calming down as the troops gradually get "stuck in" in combat. The players as listed were as planned as of Saturday; anyone who has a better handle on the final players, let me know and I'll uipdat the post.  I believe. including ones from as far away as New Jersey and New Hampshire. As a result, Greg and James were "promoted" to assistant GM's. For me at least, this was a very Good Thing, as it was a big help to have couriers top deliver the flurry of messages sent back and forth, help with tactical rules questions, and the table to table "teleportation" of troops. 

Mid June, 1815

Emperor Napoleon I:
You have escaped from exile on Elba less than 4 months ago, and regained the Imperial throne. In so doing, you've had to make compromises with both the Republican and Royalist factions, and have delayed re-instituting conscription for as long as possible. As a result, your army is smaller than you would like, but most of the men are veterans of previous campaigns.  The rank and file are almost universally loyal to you, as are the Corps commanders, but some other officers may be suspect in their devotion to your cause. The Congress of Vienna has been bickering about the apportionment of territories and such almost since your abdication last year, and this has created mistrust between many of the members of the coalition, even though they claim to have put their differences aside to dethrone you a second time.

You have decided to strike first at the nearest of the coalition forces - The Prussians under Feld Marschall Blucher, and the Anglo-Allied forces under the Duke of Wellington. Together they outnumber you by about 50%, although you believe the quality of your troops to be superior, on average.  In your own words "I'd rather fight a coalition than be part of one!" Wellington is known to be quite sensitive to his lines of communications with the Channel ports, which run through     . Any French troops exiting West from there  will require Wellington to  detail twice as many troops of his own to counter the threat. On the other hand, "Divide and Conqueror" is the essence of your "Strategy of the Central Position".

You have kept tight control on the borders and newspapers, and thus you believe that the timing and location of your initial attacks will have the advantage of surprise. As a result of your many sympathizers in Belgium, which was part of your Empire until last year, you have what you believe to be quite accurate information about the strength and disposition of the enemy forces:

Prussians:
I Korps (Ziethen) at or within 18" of Ligny
II Korps (Pirch I) at or within 12" of Namur
III Korps (Thielmann) at or within 12" of Ciney
IV Korps (von Bulow) at or within 12" of Liege

Anglo-Allied:
First Corps (Willem, Prince of Orange-Nassau) at or within 12"of Enghien
Cavalry Corps (Uxbridge) at or within 12" of Ninove
2nd Corps (Hill) at or within 12" of Ghent
Reserves (Wellington) at or within 12"of Brussels

Your own French troops are situated thus:

1st Corps (d'Erlon) at or within 12" and South of the river at Mauberge
2nd Corps (Reille) at or within 24"of Beaumont
3rd Corps (Vandamme) at or within 24" of Beaumont
4th Corps (Gerard) at Phillipeville, extending North to just South of the river at Laneffe.
6th Corps (Lobau) South of Beamont along the road running back to France
1st Cavalry Corps (Pajol) at or within 18" of Beaumont
2nd Cavalry Corps (Exelmans) at or within 12" of Phileppeville
3rd Cavalry Corps (Kellerman) at or within 12" of Phileppeville
4th Cavalry Corps (Milhaud) at or within 18" of Beaumont
Imperial Guard at or South of Beaumont

You start at Imperial Headquaters, at Beaumont. You may issue such orders as you chose to your Corps prior to the start of the game.  Vive l'Empereur!

French Players

Rob P. (Napoleon, C-in-C)   
Len A  (I Corps, D'Erlon)                                                                    

Mark M  (II Corps,Reille)                                                                    

Russ L  (III Corps, Vandamme)

Dan B  (IV Corps, Gerard)                                                                 

Andrew C (VI Corps, Lobau)

Mitch A (Imperial Guard, Drouot)

?????  (II Cavalry Corps Exelmans, IV Cavalry Corps Milhaud)

Chris B (I Cavalry Corps Pajol, III Cavalry Corps Kellerman)       

Feldmarschall Blucher:
You have hated France and all things French since your Fatherland was humbled by Napoleon at the battle of Jena in 1806, and the subsequent Treat of Tilsit. Your general idea of strategy is to find the enemy and fight them. Vorwarts!!! You know the French are assembling on  their border with Belgium, but their exact numbers location and readiness for action are unknown. General Zeithen reports seeing many campfires South of the river Sambre, however. You have been forbidden to cross the border into France... at least until the hated French attack across it themselves.

The Anglo-Allied forces have agreed  to cooperate with you under the independent command of the Duke of Wellington. Until recently, the Duke was representing the British at the Congress of Vienna. His positions there seemed contrary to Prussian interests, causing many of your fellow officers, including your own Chief of Staff, to view him with great suspicion. Regardless, as long as he fights the French, you feel you can work with him.

Your troops are deployed as follows:

I Korps (Ziethen) at or within 18" of Ligny

II Korps (Pirch I) at or within 12" of Namur

III Korps (Thielmann) at or within 12" of Ciney

IV Korps (von Bulow) at or within 12" of Liege

You start at Army Headquarters at Namur. You may issue such orders to I Korps as you see fit, to be effective as of the start of the game; all other Prussian troops start with "Defend" orders

The last known positions of the Anglo-Allied forces are:

First Corps (Willem, Prince of Orange-Nassau) at or within 12"of Enghien

Cavalry Corps (Uxbridge) at or within 12" of Ninove

2nd Corps (Hill) at or within 12" of Ghent

Reserves (Wellington) at or within 12"of Brussels

Prussian players:
Mark (Blucher, C-in-C )
Max S (1st Korps, Ziethen)
Scott M (2nd Korps, Pirch I)
Greg H (3rd Korps, Thielmann) (Promoted and replaced by..........)
Mike S (4th Korps, Bulow)



Duke of Wellington:

You have been appointed to command a polyglot host of British, King's German Legion, Dutch, Belgian, Nassau, Brunswick, and Hanoverian Troops. Many of the troops are untried, the Dutch and Belgians in particular having only recently been a part of Napoleon's empire. Even among your British troops, relatively few of them are Peninsular veterans, many of them having been sent to fight the Americans. Although you have defeated many of Napoleon's marshals in the Peninsula, you have never faced the Emperor himself. You know that he resents the tireless opposition to his rule fostered by your nation, and suspect that he would like nothing better than to crush your army if he can. Your line of communications to the North Sea ports is vulnerable, and you cannot afford to be cut off from it.  Should the French manage to exit troops down the roads from Mons to the North West, you will have to detach twice their numbers to protect your  line of communications.  

The Prussians are your allies, and you have agreed to cooperate with and support them. As a negotiator at the Congress of Vienna, you came to believe that the long term interests of Prussia and Britain were not well aligned, and as a result, many of the Prussian high command distrust you. Still, they have shared their dispositions with you as follows:

I Korps (Ziethen) at or within 18" of Ligny

II Korps (Pirch I) at or within 12" of Namur

III Korps (Thielmann) at or within 12" of Ciney

IV Korps (von Bulow) at or within 12" of Liege

Your own forces are deployed as follows:

First Corps (Willem, Prince of Orange-Nassau) at or within 12"of Enghien

Cavalry Corps (Uxbridge) at or within 12" of Ninove

2nd Corps (Hill) at or within 12" of Ghent

Reserves (Wellington) at or within 12"of Brussels

You start at Army Headquarters in Brussels.

All Anglo Allied forces start with "Defend" orders.

You know that the French are massing South of the border, but their exact numbers, location, plans and readiness for action are unknown. Finally, you and many of your senior officers have a Ball to attend, hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Richmond in Brussels, and it would not do to show any signs of unease, lest it foster pro-French sentiment among the populace. God Save the King!

Anglo-Allied players

Joe F (Wellington, C-in-C)

Marshal  (1st Corps, Orange)

Roger D (2nd Corps, Hill)

James S  (Cavalry Corps, Uxbridge)  (Promoted and run by....)

Jared F (Reserve Corps, Picton)  (replaced by John S)

Final Orders of Battle

French Army, Napoleon I  Genius

1st Corps, d'Erlon  Dashing
Ligne - Veteran 6
Ligne - Veteran 6
Ligne - Veteran 6
Ligne - Veteran 6
Ligne - Veteran 6
Ligne - Veteran 6
Ligne - Veteran 6
Ligne - Veteran 6
Legere Veteran 6*
Hussars Elite 5

Chevau-Leger Lanciers Veteran 6

6# Foot Artillery Veteran 6

6# Foot Artillery Veteran 6

6# Foot Artillery Veteran 6

2nd Corps, Reille  Charismatic

Ligne - Veteran 6
Ligne - Veteran 6
Ligne - Veteran 6
Ligne - Veteran 6
Ligne - Veteran 6
Ligne - Veteran 6
Legere Veteran 6*
Legere Veteran 6*
Legere Veteran 6*
Legere Veteran 6*

Chasseurs a Cheval Veteran 6
Chevau-Leger Lanciers Veteran 6
6# Foot Artillery Veteran 6
6# Foot Artillery Veteran 6
6# Foot Artillery Veteran 6

3rd Corps Vandamme  Charismatic

Ligne - Veteran 6
Ligne - Veteran 6
Ligne - Veteran 6
Ligne - Veteran 6
Ligne - Veteran 6
Ligne - Veteran 6
Legere Veteran 6*
Regt Etranger Elite 5

Chasseurs a Cheval Veteran 6
6# Foot Artillery Veteran 6
6# Foot Artillery Veteran 6
6# Foot Artillery Veteran 6

4th Corps, Gerard  Dashing

Ligne - Veteran 6
Ligne - Veteran 6
Ligne - Veteran 6
Ligne - Veteran 6
Ligne - Veteran 6
Ligne - Veteran 6
Legere Veteran 6*
Hussars Elite 5

Dragoons Veteran 6

6# Foot Artillery Veteran 6
6# Foot Artillery Veteran 6

6th Corps, Lobau  Dashing

Ligne - Veteran 6
Ligne - Veteran 6
Ligne - Veteran 6
Ligne - Veteran 6
Legere Veteran 6*

6# Foot Artillery Veteran 6
6# Foot Artillery Veteran 6
6# Foot Artillery Veteran 6

1st Cavalry Corps, Pajol  Dashing

Chevau-Leger Lanciers Veteran 6
Chevau-Leger Lanciers Veteran 6
Hussars Elite 5

6# Horse Artillery Elite 5

2nd Cavalry Corps, Exelmans  Reliable

Dragoons Veteran 6
Dragoons Veteran 6
Dragoons Veteran 6
Dragoons Veteran 6

6# Horse Artillery Elite 5

3rd Cavalry Corps, Kellerman  Charismatic

Carabinier Elite 5
Cuirassier Elite 5
Cuirassier Elite 5
Cuirassier Elite 5

6# Horse Artillery Elite 5

4th Cavalry Corps, Milahud  Dashing

Cuirassier Elite 5
Cuirassier Elite 5
Cuirassier Elite 5
Cuirassier Elite 5

6# Horse Artillery Elite 5

Imperial Guard, Mortier/Drouot  Dashing

Old Guard Grenadiers Guard 4
Old Guard Chasseurs Guard 4
Middle Guard Grenadiers Guard 4
Middle Guard Chasseurs Guard 4
Young Guard Tiraileurs Elite 5
Young Guard Voltigeurs Elite 5 
Sailors/Genie (1 base only) Guard 4 

Grenadiers a Cheval Guard 4
Empress Dragoons Guard 4
Gendarmes d' Elite (1 base only) Guard 4

Chasseurs a cheval de la Garde Guard 4
1st (Polish) Chevau-leger Lanciers Guard 4
2nd (Red) Chevau-Leger Lanciers Guard 4

12 # Old Guard FA Guard 4
12 # Old Guard FA Guard 4
12 # Old Guard FA Guard 4
6# Old Guard Horse Artillery Guard 4
6# Old Guard Horse Artillery Guard 4
Young Guard 6# FA Elite 5
Young Guard 6# FA Elite 5
6# Horse Artillery Elite 5

*  Legere units deployed in or attacking into (but not firing into) woods or structures count as being 1 Morale level better for all purposes (thus elite, 6) while and only while such terrain.

Anglo-Allied Army,Wellington  Genius

1st Corps, Prince Willem of Orange  Dashing

British Guard Infantry Elite 5
British Guard Infantry Elite 5
British Line Veteran 6
KGL Rifles Elite 5
Hanoverian Lts/Jager Seasoned 7
Hanoverian Line Conscript 8
Dutch Jagers Seasoned 7
Dutch Line Conscript 8
Dutch Militia Militia 9
Dutch Militia Militia 9
Dutch Militia Militia 9
Nassau Line Seasoned 7
Nassau Line Seasoned 7

British 9# Foot Artillery Veteran 6
KGL 9# Horse Artillery Veteran 6
Dutch 6# Foot Artillery Seasoned 7
Dutch 6# Horse Artillery Seasoned 7

2nd Corps Hill  Charismatic

British Highland LI Elite 5
British Fusiliers Elite 5
British Line Veteran 6
British Line Veteran 6
KGL Line Veteran 6
British Rifle Elite 5
Hanoverian Line Conscript 8
Hanoverian Landwehr Militia 9
Hanoverian Landwehr Militia 9
Dutch Light Seasoned 7
Dutch Line Conscript 8
Dutch Line Conscript 8
Dutch Militia Militia 9

6# RHA Elite 5
British 9# Foot Artillery Veteran 6
6# Dutch Foot Artillery Seasoned 7

Cavalry Corps Uxbridge  Charismatic

Horse Guards Guard 4
Life Guards Guard 4
2 Scott's Greys Elite 5
British Light Dragoons/Hussars Veteran 6
British Light Dragoons/Hussars Veteran 6
British Light Dragoons/Hussars Veteran 6
British Light Dragoons/Hussars Veteran 6
British Light Dragoons/Hussars Veteran 6
British Light Dragoons/Hussars Veteran 6
KGL Light Dragoons/Hussars Elite 5
KGL Light Dragoons/Hussars Elite 5
Hanoverian Hussars Seasoned 7
Hanoverian Hussars Seasoned 7
Belgian Carabiniers (HC) Seasoned 7
Belgian Carabiniers (HC) Seasoned 7
Dutch Light Cavalry Seasoned 7
Dutch Light Cavalry Seasoned 7
Brunswick Light Cavalry Veteran 6

9# British RHA Elite 5

9# British RHA Elite 5
6# Dutch HA Seasoned 7 

Reserves, Picton  Charismatic

Highlander Infantry Elite 5
Highlander Infantry Elite 5
British Line Veteran 6
British Line Veteran 6
Hanoverian Landwehr Militia 9
Hanoverian Landwehr Militia 9
Hanoverian Landwehr Militia 9
Brunswick Infantry Seasoned 7
Brunswick Infantry Seasoned 7
Brunswick Infantry Seasoned 7
Nassau Infantry Seasoned 7
Nassau Infantry Seasoned 7

6# RHA Elite 5
6# RHA Elite 5 
9# British Foot Artillery Veteran 6
9# British Foot Artillery Veteran 6
Brunswick 6# Foot Artillery Seasoned 7

Prussian Army, Marshal Blucher  Charismatic

1st Corps Ziethen  Dashing
Prussian Line Veteran 6
Prussian Line Veteran 6
Prussian Line Veteran 6
Prussian Line Veteran 6
Prussian Line Veteran 6
Prussian Reserve Veteran 6
Prussian Reserve Veteran 6
Prussian Reserve Veteran 6
Prussian Landwehr Militia 9
Prussian Landwehr Militia 9
Prussian Landwehr Militia 9
Prussian Landwehr Militia 9
Prussian Landwehr Militia 9

Hussar Elite 5
Dragoon Veteran 6
Uhlans Veteran 6
Landwehr Cavalry Seasoned 7
Landwehr Cavalry Seasoned 7

6# Horse Artillery Veteran 6
6# Horse Artillery Veteran 6
12# Foot Artillery Veteran 6
12# Foot Artillery Veteran 6
6# Foot Artillery Veteran 6
6# Foot Artillery Veteran 6
6# Foot Artillery Veteran 6
6# Foot Artillery Veteran 6

2nd Corps Pirch I  Dashing

Prussian Line Veteran 6
Prussian Line Veteran 6
Prussian Line Veteran 6
Prussian Reserve Veteran 6
Prussian Reserve Veteran 6
Prussian Reserve Veteran 6
Prussian Reserve Veteran 6
Prussian Reserve Veteran 6
Ex Lutzow Freikorps Veteran 6
Prussian Landwehr Militia 9
Prussian Landwehr Militia 9
Prussian Landwehr Militia 9
Prussian Landwehr Militia 9
Prussian Landwehr Militia 9

Dragoon Veteran 6
Dragoon Veteran 6 
Hussar Elite 5
Hussar Elite 5
Landwehr Cavalry Seasoned 7
Landwehr Cavalry Seasoned 7

12# Foot Artillery Veteran 6
6# Horse Artillery Veteran 6
6# Horse Artillery Veteran 6
6# Foot Artillery Veteran 6
6# Foot Artillery Veteran 6
6# Foot Artillery Veteran 6
6# Foot Artillery Veteran 6

3rd Corps Thielmann  Dashing

Prussian Line Veteran 6
Prussian Line Veteran 6
Prussian Reserve Veteran 6
Prussian Reserve Veteran 6
Prussian Landwehr Conscript 8
Prussian Landwehr Conscript 8
Prussian Landwehr Conscript 8
Prussian Landwehr Conscript 8
Prussian Landwehr Conscript 8
Prussian Landwehr Conscript 8

Uhlans Veteran 6
Uhlans Veteran 6
Dragoon Veteran 6
Landwehr Cavalry Seasoned 7
6# Horse Artillery Veteran 6
6# Horse Artillery Veteran 6
12# Foot Artillery Veteran 6
6# Foot Artillery Veteran 6

4th Corps Von Bulow  Dashing

Prussian Line Veteran 6
Prussian Line Veteran 6
Prussian Reserve Veteran 6
Prussian Reserve Veteran 6
Prussian Landwehr Conscript 8
Prussian Landwehr Conscript 8
Prussian Landwehr Conscript 8
Prussian Landwehr Conscript 8
Prussian Landwehr Conscript 8

Uhlans Veteran 6
Hussar Elite 5
Hussar Elite 5
Dragoon Veteran 6
Landwehr Cavalry Seasoned 7
Landwehr Cavalry Seasoned 7
Landwehr Cavalry Seasoned 7

6# Horse Artillery Veteran 6
6# Horse Artillery Veteran 6
12# Foot Artillery Veteran 6
12# Foot Artillery Veteran 6
6# Foot Artillery Veteran 6
6# Foot Artillery Veteran 6
6# Foot Artillery Veteran 6
6# Foot Artillery Veteran 7

The Maps and Tables

Each of the eleven tables set up at the Portal had a small map with it (see below) showing the layout, with all of the towns labeled, all the road exits labeled as to where they head towards, and the direction of "North" on that table. The tables were set up in no particular relationship to the other tables, and the direction that is North was different from table to table. One large square is 1 foot on the tabletop. Thick orange lines are primary roads, thin magenta lines are secondary roads. Dark blue rivers are unfordable, Bridges exist wherever a road crosses a river; these may\ NOT be destroyed in the course of the game.  Light blue rivers are fordable (rough Terrain). All woods are Rough Terrain as well (fire from or at units in woods only allowed at the edge (within 1") of woods. Hills are Broken terrain. The size of a grey square indicates City (3 buildings on tabletop), Town (2 buildings), or Village (1 building, most common).

Here again is the map from the board game, "Napoleon".  The table maps above were adapted from this, already somewhat abstracted format, and then further manipulated to meet the requirements of the multi-table format. . The players each had a slightly cropped version of the map for reference; in addition, Jam,es had 3 large size (18 x 24") versions printed off at a local office supply store for about $2 each =- a copy went to each army C-in-C to assist them with their command duties. 

HAHGS Waterloo 200th Anniversary event - Players and Commands

The Hartford Area Historical Gaming Society Waterloo 200th Anniversary "Campaign in a Day" event is now less than a week away! It will be held at The Portal gaming space of The Time Machine Hobby shop in Manchester, CT this Sunday, April 26th, from 10 AM to 5 PM. The painting of the very few last troops needed for the event will be done in the next few days. The full OOB's as originally proposed will be used.  The layouts for the eleven 4 by 6 foot wargames tables that will represent the Theater of War on the border between France and Belgium are done, as is the umpire's Master Map that links them all together. The initial situation reports to be provided to each of the three armies French, Anglo-Allied, and Prussian, have been written and are ready to go out once the commands are set. Joe, Greg, and I will be bringing the 25mm troops for the event, and, along with James, providing and setting up the terrain on the individual tables.

Our final task is to distribute the players to the three armies involved, and then the various individual commands. In addition, one player from each of the three armies will need to act as the C-in-C for that side - Napoleon, Wellington, or Blucher. Ordinarily they will also command the reserves, although it is now possible that one or more of the three the C-in-C's might just focus on their command duties - it is really quite challenging to act as both a Corps commander, having to maneuver your troops strategically and then fight tactical actions, while trying to keep track of both friendly and enemy forces, as well as issue them effective and appropriate Orders, prod them for reports and updates, etc!

To facilitate the process, I have created the following grid, which I will update as new data comes in, and finalize after the event on Sunday. Players in italics are interested but as yet still unconfirmed:

Name	1st Choice	2nd Choice	3rd Choice	C-in-C?	Command
James S	Anglo-Allied	French	Prussian	last resort	Uxbridge
Greg H	Prussian	Anglo-Allied	French		Thielmann
Joe F	Anglo-Allied Orange, Nosey?			maybe	Wellington
Roger D	any			no	Hill
Russ L	any			no	Vandamme
Mitch A	French	Anglo-Allied	Prussian	maybe	Drouot
Scott M	Prussian ? Pirch I	French ?D’Erlon	Anglo-Allied	maybe	Pirch I
Mark	Prussian	French	Anglo Allied	willing	Blucher
Andrew C	French	Prussian	Anglo-Allied	no	Lobau
Mike S					Bulow
Rob P	French	Prussian	Anglo-Allied	willing	Napoleon
Jared F					Picton
Marshall C	Anglo-Allied	French	Prussian	no	Orange
Len A	French (Ney)	Anglo-Allied	Prussian	?	D’Erlon
Mark M	French (Ney)	Anglo-Allied Uxbridge	Prussian	maybe	Reille
Max S	Prussian			?	Ziethen
Dan B	any				Gerard
Chris B	any				Pajol Kellerman
Willie B					Exelmans Milhaud
Hunter W	Anglo-Allied	French	Prussian	no	SCRATCH

Regardless, it should be a memorable and hugely fun day!  Now to finish painting the few figures of Marins de la Garde that I need to round out the French OOB...

Peter

Dice, Slice, computer Mice... and something Nice at a good Price!

I have a quite full wargames project schedule from now until; Historicon 20156 in mid July. We're in the final stages of preparation for our big Snappy Nappy Waterloo "Campaign in a Day" on Sunday, April 26th. I also set and submitted my Historicon games schedule... which is probably more than a bit too aggressive!.As it stands, I'll be running Ligny with Filed of Battle 2nd edition Thursday evening and again Friday AM. Friday afternoon I'll be running a Napoleonic game with Bob Jones' new "Die Fighting II" rules. Friday evening Ken Baggaley and I will be running a "Chariot Wars" era game with my New Kingdom Egyptians vs. his Canaanites, and repeating it Saturday AM. Once we will use Pulse of Battle and once Archon, 2nd edition). Saturday night I'll run La Bicocca 1522 with my own Hostile Realms rules (all rules by Piquet, Inc). In between I hope to look in on the 2-3 Russian Civil War battles Jared will be running with Field of Battle 2nd edition, as well as some Punic Wars games that Jeff Grein is planning, perhaps including one each with Archon 2 and Pulse of Battle as well. The good news - I'll be so busy that I am not likely to buy much while I am there!  Meantime, I have another 200 Prussians to paint in 3 months, along with a small (6 figures) contingent of Marins de la Garde!

So the here's the "Dice" part of the post title - 200 red "resource" dice, 50 each green and yellow "free" and "command" dice respectively, and a dozen "black dice", all courtesy of Amazon.com, and needed for my Die Fighting II event.

Next is part of the "Slice" part of today's title. The tables for the Snappy Nappy event have a lot of "minor roads", and we needed a way to make a lot of them quickly and cheaply. Everyone who is doing up some tables will do it a bit differently, but I got two rolls of 7/8" wide x 67 yards long heavy cloth ribbon in a golden yellow color for about #$.50 each at the fabric store. I cut them with a carpet knife into 6 foot long sections, and spay painted them a "Terracotta" color, followed by a dusting of off white "Ivory" spray paint. They should do the job, I think. 

I also need yet *another* wargames table cloth, so while I was at the fabric store I checked out their felt. They had this nice orange-brown heather type 6 foot wide felt - the color on the back of the felt can be seen above. I then took advantage of the (finally!) warm, sunny weather and light breeze yesterday to use my collection of spray paints on it, using light ivory, medium brown, pale yellow, dark green, and light green cans in multiple passes to achieve the desired effect. I also have some 8 x 12" blue felt sheets that I'll cut up into strips for the many rivers that mark the edges of many tables.

I've definitely been spending a lot of time manipulating my computer Mice - the Waterloo Campaign in a Day will use eleven 4 x 6 foot tables, and each table needs a map such as the above (drawn in MS Paint), and then the individual maps have to work together so the roads, etc all more or less line up. Fun but very time consuming!

 I decided that the table for Ligny needed at least one windmill if not two, and after looking around I have decided to scratch build them myself... cheaper and probably better looking than the limited choices out there in 25mm. I'm going to use the general design above. (from: https://wargamingraft.wordpress.com/2014/03/08/building-a-windmill-in-15mm/)

The background here is more of the "slice" - a sheet of white 1/4" thick foam board, some 7/8" dowel, and some 1/2" square balsa wood that I got at the local Michael's craft store. I of course browsed the other merchandise available there, and found these two towers, allegedly for use as Birdhouses. To me, they immediately suggested the kind of "Zigurat" towers that might have formed part of the walls of cities of the ancient middle East. A gateway can easily be made out of foam board to link them, forming a nice backdrop for a Chariot Wars era game. 

The same Terracotta color that I used on the roads was spay painted onto the wooden structures ( 4" a side at the base, and just under 8" tall, and made out of light pine wood) as base coat. It shouldn't take long to paint the "stones" a light tan or off white color, possibly with some decorative features as well. The brown will show between the stones. The towers are indeed very "Nice",  I think - and at less than $5 each, they were definitely had for the "good Price"!

Well, that's it in a Thrice! It seems that rhyming has become my new Vice...

Prussian Napoleonic Dragoon Regts #4 and #8

   Next to join the forces of Prussia are the other two regiments built from the three packs of Old Glory Dragoons - DR #4 "2nd West Prussian" and DR #8 "Magdeburg, the later raised in 1815. I have previously covered the details of the Prussian Dragoon uniforms. These new regiments bring my Prussians Dragoons to four regiments total - as many as my French army. Sacre bleu!

First up is DR #8. I used different variations of Light Blue for each of these two regiments, and both are different from my two prior units. For this regiment I used Delta CC Caribbean Blue stained with  CC Blue Lagoon.

This relatively light blue contrasts well with their yellow facings, I think. 

The horses are "Light Chestnuts", with the trumpeter riding a light Grey horse. 

The 8th regiment probably wasn't issued standards, at least until after Waterloo, but mine will carry one... eventually!

This is DR #4 "Zweites Westpreussiches". Although the Kollet jacket was authorized for dress occasions, on campaign the much longer Litewka coat was commonly worn.

The decidedly Turquoise coloration of this unit's coats was created by painting them Delta CC Turquoise, then stained CC Azure Blue. The horses are "Dark Bay", with the trumpeter astride a Light/dappled Grey. 

Once again a standard is to be added later, probably by GMB. At least the colors for this unit are known!

The facings were painted first with CC Poppy red, which has a decidedly orange tone, then over painted with CC Fire red./ I wanted to make the color clearly distinct from DR #1's Crimson. The combination of the turquoise coats, orange-ish facings, and white belts reminds me a bit of the uniforms of the Miami Dolphins (American) football team. Perhaps Larry Csonka, Jim Kick, Dan Marino, and Mercury Morris are riding among their ranks?  Showing my age there with players from the 1970's!

Yorckscher Marsch, "March of Yorck's Korps".

Curiously it was written by Ludwig von Beethoven in 1809 as the "March for the Bohemian Landwehr". It was also associated with the former East German military. 

AAR: The Katzbach with Snappy Nappy

We ran the Katzbach scenario (August 26, 1813) at HAVOC on Saturday, March 28th. Despite the snow that started that morning and lasted all day and night (mostly melting as temps were just above freezing), turnout for the convention seemed good and we had the full slate of 8 players.

Set up: Christian (Blue shirt) commands St. Priest's 8th Russian Corps and Tschaplitz's 3rd Russian Cavalry Corps. Richard (white shirt) has Yorck's powerful 1st Prussian Corps... although their roster is padded with a large portion of Landwehr!

Another view of the Western part of the battlefield Paul (red shirt) is commanding Lauriston'sV Corps on the front line South of the Katzbach river, while Steve has Gerard's Corps behind that. 

Langeron's powerful Russian Left wing is some distance off to the East of Lauriston. 

Jean (?) makes the first moves with Langeron's wing. 

French opening moves by Steve (?) (Gerard/grey shirt), Greg (Sebastiani's Cavalry Corps/dark blue shirt with HAHGS logo), and Kevin (Souham/brown jacket).

Both sides have some decisions to make at the start of the game; The Allies decide to bring most of Yorck's Prussians South across the Katzbach (which is still fordable in the Eastern portions) to support Langeron's attack. 

The Prussian Foot Artillery, though is sent to support St Priest... and also to try to establish a position enfilading Lauriston's defensive line. Keep your eye on the Russian Line unit with the light yellow flag, the Bieloserk regiment, as the battle unfolds. Tscaplitz's Cavalry, who were lacking maneuver room,  attempted some charges upon Souham's intact defensive line after the rain stopped - they were blown to smithereens by the defensive fire of the French infantry and artillery. 

On he French side, Mc Donald has decided to dispatch Sebastianni's entire Cavalry Corps North across the river in a gigantic left hook. The rainy weather (although it cleared for several hours, before progressing to a Deluge for 2 hours) makes cavalry a bigger threat than usual in this scenario. 

Lauriston's Corps takes a while to reach engagement distance - in Snappy Nappy, musket range is only 1", and extreme range for all but 12 pounders is only 9", so advancing in Line is generally unnecessarily slow until you're 12" or less from the enemy.

Middle stages of the battle - the lone Russian unit in no man's land just North of the Katzbach is our friends, the Bieloserk Infantry Regiment. It is there because it just defeated an attack by two French Line units, one each in column and one in Line. The Russians had been shot up by artillery fire (as had one of the French attackers), but still routed both of its attackers. In Snappy Nappy, if a unit routs an enemy unit in Melee, it regains a Morale level, so they went from "Nervous" to "Firm" as a result!

Late arrival (and veteran of 2 previous Snappy nappy games) James (blue shirt) commands Sacken's 3rd Corps the Rusian reinforcements. James demonstrates why my own 6'4" frame is useful at times when playing miniature wargames! At the end of each tuirn, the GM rolls a D10; if the score is les than or equal to that of the turn just ended, Sacken arrives. So, what happens... at the end of turn 1, I rolled a 1!  Bingo! Sacken arrives on Turn 2!  James makes good use of road columns on the Primary road to get his troops up as quickly as possible. 

North of the Katzbach, the Prussian Artillery has deployed, and makes its presence known by destroying some of the opposing French guns. There's the Bieloserk Regiment again, facing a horde of French infantry - these are Provisional regiments, though - i.e., conscripts.

Yorck's Cavalry has forded the Katzbach and is turning West to threaten Lauriston. In the process, they have caused a bit of a traffic jam with Sacken's arriving reinforcements! Seeing the mass of French cavalry approaching St Priest, Yorcks' infantry has re-crossed the Katzback and is heading West now...

Overview of the main battle lines;Sebastianni's cavalry is readying their "left hook". Hello, what's that we see over the roof top - the yellow flag of the Bieloserk boys! They have charged a French Provisional Light unit... and are about to Rout them , too - Morale level rises to "Bold"!

Paul (Lauriston) works out some combats. He showed considerable talent at passing Morale Checks -0 a very, very useful ability in Snappy Nappy!

The enormous weight of Allied forces against him has begun to tell, and Lauristron's artillery are pulling back to the defensive kine established by Gerard's supporting Corps. Meanwhile, the rain has returned, making  fire of all kinds less effective.

This view shows the second melee of the Bieloserk boys...

and this one shows the results of it's third Melee! St Priest, looking on attached to a Jager regiment, recommends to the Czar that they be promoted to a Grenadier Regiment in his post battle report!

Sebastiani's cavalry announces its arrival by charging some "placeholder" Cossacks; outnumbered 2:1, and with the rains now pouring down in sheets ("deluge"), the result is in little doubt, and the horsemen of the steppes are quickly dispersed. 

The beneficiaries of a shift in Initiative, St Priest has drawn his sword and lead the Bielserk bois in a charge into some exposed French derrieres! Meanwhile, the (newly painted) Pomeranian Landwehr cavalry (white guidon with black "iron cross") "sees the Elephant" in the best possible light - charging into the flank of some French infantry themselves. 

Their target fails its attempt at forming Hasty Square, and with a +6 for cavalry hitting infantry in Line and another plus 9 for hitting a flank, even the Landwehr cavalry has little trouble in trampling the infantry under foot, the deluge penalty just adding further insult to the injury!

Sebastianni's left hook lands hard during the second hour of Deluge conditions. The artillery's fire being notably degraded, his 2 Hussar and one Chevau-Leger Lancier units each charge a Russian battery - and sweep them away!  Behind them, most of the arriving Prussian infantry has wisely formed Square!

The next turn (turn 9) would have seen the deluge decrease to mere Rain once again, but all Terrain would then increase one level in difficulty, the Katzbach becoming everywhere impassable, open ground becoming difficult terrain, etc, thus slowing movement by 1/3. We had now reached the 6PM ending time. 8 turns in about 3.5 hours, not bad. the troop density was probably a bit too high (the very early arrival of Sacken aggravating that somewhat). a 6 foot wide table would have been better, but I might cut the number of units by about 1/3 if I ran it again. 

Total troops:

French:  31 Infantry units (186 figures), 10 Cavalry (40 figures), 16 Artillery units (why I'm not crazy about 1813 battles - too damn much artillery!), 6 command, 283 total.

Allies: 38 Infantry (228 figures), 13 cavalry (52 figures), 27 Artillery (97 figures), 8 Command, 379 total.

Combined total 662 figures.

Thanks to all the players, and especially Greg for helping me set up and take down the game, and James for assisting with take down and discussion of refinements for our big Snappy Nappy Waterloo "Campaign in a Day", to be played at the Portal in Manchester, CT, Sunday April 26th, 10 AM - 5 PM.