Being a firm believer that war games where players consider their tactical tabletop decisions within a broader strategic framework makes for more interesting events and dilemmas, I cobbled together some rules and a map together for the Rejects to test. All in the knowledge that there will probably be amendments and additions along the way.
The map for the campaign is as follows:
The campaign is fictional, but nominally set during the period of the French Revolutionary Wars. The French, commanded by David, Steve and Surjit, are pitted against the Austrians led by Lee and Ray.
The two sides are blind to the others' organisation and movement. So, I cannot reveal too much as the campaign is live. However, what is known is that the French enter from the west, and Austrians from the east. Both may choose which road(s) to enter on.
The victory conditions are:
The first side to have lost half its strength points will have to retire from the campaign.
OR
The winner is the first side to reach 5 victory points, which are awarded as follows
1 point per battle won.
2 points for the enemy line of communication cut and held for a week (seven campaign turns)
As it currently stands, we are on Turn 6 of the campaign. This is the first battle accepted by both sides. The Austrians have also had their line of communications cut.
Having bumped into Steve's command at hex 07.10, just east of Comté, Ray pulled his command back to Fraise and called upon Lee to send reinforcements. In the meantime, Steve edged forward further east towards Fraise and worked on establishing a defensive position along the Comté/Fraise road. With more troops now available, Ray and Lee moved to contact Steve at hex 08:10.
The was the generated map for the hex location of the map. The French (Steve) deploying anyway on the western half of the table. The Austrians (Ray) arriving on the road from Fraise on the eastern side.
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| apologies for the image quality |
Once a map has been generated for a particular hex that terrain remains for the campaign.
Now I have just been struck by a thought. I could add a campaign order that permits scouting to include surveying a hex if no enemy found. Hmmmm... I'll ponder that. It could certainly add that idea of commanders knowing and seeking to choose where to fight.
For those of you that may be interested, the campaign orders that each player can give their commands - either full corps or separate divisions are:
Move
Prepare defences and scout
Rest the command and scout - commands are obliged to rest at least one in seven days, more if force marching, or less commands will become fatigued.
Move with march to the sound of the guns
That's a little introduction to the Battle of Fraise. Fingers crossed the next instalment will be the battle report.
I agree that campaigns lend a completely different flavour to individual games, but still have yet to see one fully through. It is also a lot of fun to delve into the blind strategic movement and reconnaissance aspects of wargaming. The map looks great Richard, and I'll look forward to many exciting AARs to follow.
ReplyDeleteSeeing one fully through is a big problem. This is very different from campaigns I've umpired before. So, I'm interested in how this plays out and whether it maintains player interest.
DeleteBoth maps look perfectly functional and playable to me. I like them both. Depending upon force composition, Ray looks like he may have a few challenges. I guess if Ray accepted battle, he knows what may lay ahead.
ReplyDeleteOn campaigns, I still ponder the possibility of launching my own and wonder if it would be worth the effort. I guess it boils down to how you set up the campaign based upon your goals and preferences.
Looking forward to Monday's battle.
I wonder if it might be good to run a map campaign as a solo thing, but then invite other players to take tabletop command in the resultant battles - with a briefing giving the campaign background. That way, you don't have to rely on everyone being committed to the whole campaign..
DeleteJonathan - I think that you are right. Ray does face some challenges in this battle. Not least shaking his troops out of march and deployed for attack. I wonder if the two things to consider in a campaign is giving the players only their strategic/tactical problems to worry about, and to limit the book keeping for the umpire.
DeleteDavid - That's a good thought and maybe one for the future. Though I wonder if moving the troops on the strategic stage makes the players more invested in what happens on the tabletop. But good idea... more possibilities for the future.
DeleteNice maps and if campaigns are a viable option for all concerned, they can be an awful lof of fun, as well as adding another level of thought to accepting battle etc. I look forward to seeing how this all unfolds on the table and the campaign map:).
ReplyDeleteThanks Steve. The players have, so far, seemed to go through some agonies of thought before committing to battle... especially the Austrians. It has also been interesting to watch their orders and try to figure out the logic behind some of their decisions.
DeleteVery interesting, and 'Worldographer' looks well worth investigating.
ReplyDeleteI agree that campaigns add a new dimension to gaming, for example no more 'it's the last turn of the night, we'll do a last charge', more likely a 'looks like we are losing this, can we withdraw with minimal losses?' That seems much more authentic when playing the role of a 'real' commander. I look forward to the battle report!
Thanks David. I have barely scratched the surface with Worldographer.
DeleteI hope you'll enjoy how the game and campaign turns out.
I hope I don't regret the decision to fight this battle?????
ReplyDeleteLOL. I'm sure that it'll be a learning experience for all of us.
DeleteInteresting stuff Richard - campaigns seem to be a bit of a "thing" currently (or discussions about campaigns in a couple of recent blog posts). It is going to be interesting to follow this one and see the tabletop battles that result.
ReplyDeleteThanks Keith. I wonder whether gamers increasingly want an organic context to their tabletop battles.
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