Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Quatre Bras - Part One

Scenario design with my trusty batman, Flashman. 

There's a new Epic Waterloo scenario on ccnapoleonics.net which put me in mind of doing a Waterloo day sometime in June. There's a possibility I might have enough Prussians to do Waterloo by June, but one scenario isn't quite enough for a whole days gaming. 

Of the Hundred Days battles, Quatre Bras was the natural choice for a second battle as I have quite a few Dutch and Belgian troops and a very limited supply of Prussians.  

Scenario design is always a bit of a tricky business, I find that ultimately it isn't like a scientific experiment where finely calibrated inputs resulting in a perfect output.  The process for me at least is far more like throwing a pot. Far better to start putting something together and make the (often crushing) mistakes along the way, adjusting on the fly until you achieve a result.  The end product may be less aesthetically pleasing, but in my case, at least makes sure that something gets done.

Examining Quatre Bras as a battle, there are a number of points that  need to be addressed. 

1) The battle is the story of a smaller defending force meeting a larger attacking force and being gradually reinforced over the day.  

2) The battle took place late in the day, opening at about 1400hrs and therefore the French player in particular will be fighting the clock. 

3) The high standing crops between Gemioncourt and Quatre Bras are a distinctive and unusual feature of the battle and should be included.   The forest of Bossu is of course important, but less unusual. 

From a game point of view, there are other concerns. 

1) The battle kicks off with a Dutch-Belgian Division facing a French Corps. I've no problems with this per se, battles are meant to be a struggle, but it does cause problems for our usual method of modelling a battle because of the way we play.  With at least three players on each side, this could mean that the French players will have plenty to do, but that two thirds of the Allied team are sitting on their hands. It may be good history, but it doesn't make for entertaining play.  I will have to think about how to square that particular circle and determine how much of a wait is reasonable to impose on the Allied players. 

2) At present, I've adopted an order of battle where each battalion/regiment/battery is a unit.  This  makes the initial confrontation quite manageable, but means that there are over fifty units on the Allied side towards the end of the battle - which is at the upper limit of what CCN handles well. It is likely that French will have caused some casualties by then and the troops will be more spread out because they will be arriving in dribs and drabs. Still something to be borne in mind.

I may  reduce their numbers proportionately to make things a bit more manageable. 

I sketched out the battlefield last night, something that would be very easily done on a screen, but that I find easier with some hex paper and coloured pencils. Suitable furry company is an invaluable assistance. It was a pleasant occupation and a fine way to while away an hour.  

Mrs. Kinch took very ill last week and is unfortunately still in hospital.  She's receiving the best of care and will hopefully be on the mend soon. It's been a grueling few days between work, trying to get some study done (exams at the beginning of May - phew!) and getting into see her twice a day. But God is good and I hope that she will be able to come home before too long.

If nothing else - Flashman is beginning to get a bit unruly.



18 comments:

  1. We have done Quatre Bras a couple of times. Its easier in 6mm to get it to the table and on one of the occasions did a mirrored table (i.e. 1 v 1 - same terrain / troops / set up on adjacent tables). Both battles were widely different in results. On one the French steamrollered the initial defenders before reinforcements could be brought to bear. In the other, crafty defence bogged down the French and the reinforcements led to pushing the French back!

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    1. That mirrored table idea sounds excellent. Unfortunately, it demands a bit more space than we have.

      The trick I think will be managing to put together a scenario that is reasonably historical and makes for a decent game.

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  2. Oh dear! I do hope Mrs Kinch will be home and hearty soonest.

    multiplayer reinforcements can be tricky. I would suggest trying to jigger the table and march on spot to allow them to appear on table as soon as possible but far away even if their early turns are just spent marching not fighting.

    A worthy venture.

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    1. We shall abide souls in patience.

      I have heard plenty of horror stories about players hanging for hours waiting to command reinforcements.

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  3. I hope Mrs. Kinch feels better soon. The planned Quatre Bras game sounds fun. A largely Dutch-Belgian force isn't something we see much of in these parts.

    Best Regards,

    Stokes

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    1. Me too.

      It's about fifty fifty between British and Allies, Hanoverians, Brunswickers and Dutch-Belgians.

      Hope the move is coming along well.

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  4. Kinch old chap,

    You have a wonderfully trusting view of science viz. "a scientific experiment where finely calibrated inputs resulting in a perfect output." More often than many would admit science is about bunging some stuff in a bucket and seeing what happens. I suspect scenario design is much the same.

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    1. You have to be nice about the chaps in white coats Thomas old son or their feelings get terribly hurt.

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  5. Hope the Memsahib is up and about soon , best wishes , Tony

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    1. Me too old chap.

      As it happens could you drop me a mail?

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  6. Good luck with Quatre Bras. I've just done it twice at brigade level. Next time I will leave out the Guard cavalry and the dragoons. Not sure about the wheat fields (especially at my scale), but the stream was an interesting challenge.
    Here's a link to the report that James did which also has his refight written up as well.
    http://avonnapoleonicfellowship.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/wargaming-waterloo-1815-2015-3-battle.html

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    1. Interesting. I have missed the Guard cavalry somewhere, I will have to go over my OOB again.

      I can't not think of wheatfields when I think Quatre Bras. Too much Lady Butler I suppose. I've actually left the stream off or at least given it no mechanical effect. It doesn't seem to have had much impact on proceedings.

      Thanks for the link to the report.

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  7. Hi

    may I ask what book you are using (the big opened one)?

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    1. Mark Adkins Waterloo Companion. It's a very good book, but had less on Quatre Bras than I expected. I ended up leaning on Chandler, the Osprey and Elting/Esposito more than I expected to.

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  8. I hope Mrs. Kinch is feeling much better soon!

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    1. She's on the mend. Came home today. Things are on the up.

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  9. First off, glad the Mrs is back home.

    I am doing this very battle in the middle or end of June. I've decided to model brigades instead of battalions with batteries equalling roughly 12-16 guns instead of 6-8. Turns are 1/2 hour. The allied reinforcements will probably enter the game on turn 1 and these would include the 5th and the Brunswick legion. So there would be enough for 3 players to do...though the first couple of turns for 2 players would not be very interesting.

    The French side can easily accommodate 3 or even 4 players. If need be, the allied side can accomodate up to 5 players, each being a division commander. I don't suppose anyone would want to play the Guards though since they arrive pretty late in the battle. That player would be doing ore drinking and less playing, which may or may not be a bad thing depending on one's point of view.

    I plan on stylizing the mechanics so that each brigade will perform maneuvers and assume formations like a battalion so you get the full flavor of Napoleonic warfare. So, in that sense the game is a reduced scale version of QB. I'll be looking with great interest to see what you come up with.

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  10. From my friend Nicholas Whyte today.

    http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/2455719.html

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