A look back at 100 Days Campiagning Nr. 7

The fifth installment of the 100 days campaign was run in 2005, before I was introduced to blogging here.

The game again included allowance for destroying bridges, something that I would not now include.  Many of these 'metaled' roads have significant bridges which even destroyed would still be able to be formed into crossings.  None of the rivers in the region are as significant as the Danube, which in 1809 formed a real barrier to armies of the age.

First in the campaign came a major action at Braie le Compte.

this time more promotional images were made to tell the story on the Arcadian Guild site

while the normal panorama shots were still made for the players

Rather than post all about the plans, I shall highlight the different map symbols used to identify troops after they have been encountered on the battlefield.

France map

British Map

The campaign actions again led to a battle at Brussels, this time with both Allied and Prussian armies facing off against the French.

promotional view, showing off the new smoke and burning effects

greater detail of the burning effect, I like how the pond looks in this shot also

late in the battle, the French could not win the day ...

The combined forces held their ground in Brussels.

Prussian map

Unable to push out the forces in Brussels, Bonaparte was forced to abdicate ... again.

A look back at 100 Days Campiagning Nr. 6

With the fourth and fifth games I ran in 2005 I started to use new 'tactical' images on the map to give more of a sense of what each commander was facing.

While I chose not to use these in the end, here are some commanders:

 The tactical information, collected by light horse or dragoons ... so whenever large cavalry formations were present, then the road between them would have these as warnings:

Then when the main line units were detected, the map would include them ...

These troop icons were used in game four as depicted in the look back number 5.  They were a feature in game five which will be the topic of the next look back number 7.

Have you designed your own campaign system?

What were the results?

A look back at 100 Days Campiagning Nr. 5

Flapping Guard Flag

With the fourth attempt at running the campaign we decided to allow for the possibility of destroying bridges, though they could not be destroyed in the face of the enemy and one of the army artillery units must spend the whole day at the action, no moving in or out for the day of 'destroying' the bridge.

To give the reader here a different perspective on what the players had for information I give the starting French information map and the choice for French deployment in game 4.

what the French player had for information of Allied troop concentrations

French deployment at game start

This time round the French player hammered away at the 'great road' to Brussels and almost ignored the Prussians, while the Prussian player was busy blowing up the bridges ... they were left behind the action to support the Anglo-Dutch in actions at Charleroi and Waterloo.

Charleroi

Waterloo

The map plan for Waterloo

Then finally the Anglo-Dutch had to face down a large French army in Brussels itself!

While the Anglo-Dutch did manage to push out the French the first time, there were more than enough French to make a second battle in Brussels ... this time the Prussians were able to come to help!

Strategic situation

Tactical battle map

battlefield overhead view

By comparing the tactical map and overhead view you can see the 4 square map tiles that I used to make the game 'map', plus the troops.  I, as the game master, was the only one to get to see the 'helicopter' view of the field.  The players would have to make do with the 'field view' from the general eye level of their commander.

British at 10h00

French at 10h00

Prussian at 10h00

overhead MAP view at 10h00 - GM only saw this

The battle progressed with all sides in furious conflict.

British at 14h00

I used and extra 3/4 overhead view to promote the game on the Arcadian Guild website

French view at 14h00

Prussian view at 14h00

the Prussian player made direct use of the photos to make his orders

overhead MAP view at 14h00 - GM only saw this

16h00 British

16h00 French

16h00 Prussian

field MAP view 16h00 - GM only

The use of 'puffs' to identify units lost helped to clarify unit losses AND had the added bonus of increasing 'fog of war' in making the area more difficult to see past.

The Allies managed to win in Brussels again, though the Anglo-Dutch were forced to leave the field after losing too many supplies ... Blucher was triumphant!

game end map used in promotion of the game on Arcadian Guild website