Seasonal

Buld Deadline Summer 1742:

24:00 Sunday December 23rd

Maps: End of Spring 1742

Maps end of Spring 1742

European Guardian Spring 1742

First Edition

Turkish Cartographer Executed

Sultan Ali 1 has ruthlessly executed his cartographer following his failure to guide the Turkish horde to the gates of Moscow. Instead his vast force is languishing in the vastnesses of Central Russia with only the steppe ponies for company.

Russian Domination of Scandinavia Complete

The last stand of the Swedish Nationalists

Russian forces now stand overlooking the North Atlantic from the Norwegian fjords. At the same time insurrection in Stockholm has been put down and its hold on Sweden in consolidated

Jacobite rebellion finally crushed

The last remnants of the Jacobite Rabble

The hopes of the Stuart Pretender to regain the English Crown have come to naught. There has been a ruthless purging of the Jacobites and the Pretender himself was forced to flee disguised as a woman.

Caught on i-phone

The pretender slips past British grenadiers

Franco-Austro-Prussian Confused Merry-Go-Round

Armies on the move in Central Europe and Northern Italy

European Guardian correspondents report German principalities changing hands almost daily as French, Austrian and Prussian armies march into and out of places like Baden, Berg and Franconia.  Elise von Pullapint who keeps the Soldier's Rest in Frankfurt said There has to be a battle soon"

And from further south there are rumours of an impending Austro-French battle over Milan.

New Rule: The Waterloo Situation

The Waterloo Situation

When a province is attacked from two directions by the same or allied forces and the defender chooses to fight the incoming forces may not be a unified force as battle commences.

We have such a situation in Spring 1742. It has not occurred before

If I give the defender the opportunity to attack one force first and then the other its unfair on the invader whose forces might have had time to unite.

Rule to be applied in all such situations.

To establish whether the attacker has unified his forces or whether the second army is arriving late

Campaign Master's Score of D6 -2.

Adjusted scores of 0 and -1 =. armies united. Defender faces both from the start of the batttle

Adjusted scores 1 to 4 = Moves into the game before the second force arrives at the table edge. Full move on next move.  

Depending on the Campaign Master's interpretation of the map this edge may be a flank in the attacker's half but the defender will be have been advised which flank by his scouts/local population.

Spring 1742

Move Deadline: End of Sunday, November 24th.

Spring 1742 Build Deadline

Spring 1742 Build Deadline

November 10th

Phases of 1742

Phases of 1742: Clarification

As I managed to get us in a muddle, this is for clarification.

I will not ask for builds and moves together this time round 

1) Spring Builds

Umpire determines random events and advises the affected nation, in case there are provinces where he cannot build or affects income

Players asked to spend their resources on new units and advise the Umpire where they are to placed.

Players may promote one general one grade. i.e. Create a 7 or move a 7 to 8 or an 8 to 9. Location to be named.

(Assume he was promoted in the capital at New Year. It's taken until to spring to arrive at the posting.

2) Spring Movement

Umpire publishes list of random events which might hamper movement

Players submit movement

3) Spring Consequences and Results

4) Summer Builds

Umpire determines random events and advises the affected nation, in case there are provinces where he cannot build or affects income

Players asked to spend their resources on new units and advise the Umpire where they are to placed.

5) Summer Moves

Umpire publishes list of random events which might hamper movement

Players submit movement

6) Summer Consequences and Results

7) Winter No builds

Umpire determines random events and advises the affected nation, in case there are provinces where  income affected. Otherwise income banked

8) Winter Moves

Umpire publishes list of random events which might hamper movement

Players submit movement

9) Winter Consequences and Results

 

Maps Winter 1741

European Guardian: Winter 1741: Final Edition

Russian fire power too much for the Swedish army

Sweden now spelled Швеция

Frederick's last throw ends in tragedy

After losing Stockholm to the Russian invaders in the Summer of 1741, Frederick I of Sweden pulled in all his remaining forces from Norway and Pomerania together in a desperate attempt to liberate his capital and retain his monarchy. It was not to be as his army disintegrated in a short sharp battle. Frederick is now a lonely figure seeking sanctuary in the Royal Courts of Europe.

Frederick, without an army, flees the battlefield

Russia hold on the Europe's northern flank is consolidated. 

European Guardian: Winter 1741

European Guardian Winter 1741

Jacobite insurgents crushed

The "Yes" Campaign tries to make a point

The armies of King George, who had stationed a moderate sized force in Scotland reacted firmly when the Jacobites sioaught a referendum on Scots Independence. After a short battle a quarter of the clansmen fell while the others disappeared into the Highland fastness. King George, who is commanding here personally knows he will have to pursue them ruthlessly for one more season at least.

Turkey Nibbles at Southern Ukraine and Kiev

Ottomans march nrth

Taking full advantage of Russia's preoccupation with swallowing up little Sweden far to the marched into Kiev and the Southern Ukraine meeting little resistance. It might have been stopped if the Czarina hadn't inadvertantly  concentrated her southern garrison in Burkovina

Swnngs and roundabouts in Italy

Austrian Artillery in Modena

With her troops in Venetia quarantined by the presence of disease in the province, Maria Theresa was unable to reinforce her army in Milan and has conceded it to the French although the Austrian force in Milan slipped south to secure a new base in Modena  With Venetia now free from plague, are the French in Milan facing an attack from two flanks?

Maps Summer 1741

Maps Summer 1741

Deadlines etc for Winter 741

Information as circulated with your end of Summer briefings

Builds and moves for Winter 1741 by midnight on September 8th

 

Please state

a) Build location

b) Movements showing troops remaining in start province in brackets and then state destination and movuing force

 

e.g.

Lancashire (1inf) to Yorkshire SG8, 1 Gd, 4 inf, 1 HC, 1 Art

Derbyshire (2inf 1 Art) to Yorkshire 2 Inf 2 HC, 1 Art

Nottingham (1 Inf) to Derbyshire 3 Inf  (which will make Derbyshire 5 Inf 1 Art)

 

If you don't name a province, I will assume the current garrison is standing unchanged.

 

Please try to list units in a moving force in the following order.

Generals, Gd/Gren Inf, Line Inf, Skirmishing Infantry (e.g. Grenzers) Gd Cav, Cuirassier Cav, HC, LC, Art

Provision of Generals

Provision of Generals

From Winter 1741, in addition to the original Generals you are moving with your forces, any force of at least 4 units without a General, will be deemed to be under the conttrol of an SG7.  In any conflict any number of SG6 can be appointed (presumably from senior regimental officers) to meet the needs of the situation but must command a brigade of at least 3 units. 

In Winter moves each player may either create another SG 7 to move with their forces or may promote one existing SG7 to an SG8. The location of the new SG7 or the promoted SG8 must be stated

Season Clarification

Season Clarification

Following a query from the King of France

Spring

 Moves are sought and made. Conflicts determined. Revenues determined. Builds made*.These Build Rules still stand Please note the last paragraph From Spring 1742 include  Upgrades (see 4th pragraph)

Summer

Moves are sought and made. Conflicts determined. Revenues determined. Builds made*

Winter

Moves are sought and made. Conflicts determined. Revenues determined.  These winter rules still stand  See also the post "Upgrading generals" (yet to be written



*However to streamline things you will be asked to spend your Spring income when I ask for your Summer moves and you will be asked to spend your Summer income when I ask for your Winter moves .

Stockholm Burns

European Guardian

Stockholm August 25th 1741

Stockholm Burns

Pomerania Saved

The armies of  Sweden clashed today on the plains north of Stockholm. Although outnumbering the invading Russians by 25 percent and holding strong defensive positions behind field wall and the ramparts of Stockholm itself, the Swedes through away their advantage in a series of impetuous cavalry charges which denied with the possibility of exposing the Russian cavalry  to flanking fire. What was left of the Swedish army retreated westwards towards the safety of Norway 

To the south, a smaller Swedish army stood off an English incursion into Pomerania although the English were able to retire to Mecklenberg with no significant losses.

The Empress of Russia deploys her forces

Frederick of Sweden deploys his

Before contemplating his moves

While the Czarina loses all dignity in encouraging her infantry forward

Sweden Awaits

European Guardian

Stockholm August 21st 1741

Sweden awaits Russian onslaught

(From our Northern Correspondent)

Nervousness is apparent in the population of Stockholm as word from Swedish cavalry outposts reaches the court of King Frederick that the invading Russian army is only four days march away. 

However Frederick has summoned up the martial spirit of his ancestor Gustavus Adolphus and he has mustered a sizeable force to defend the capital

The environs of Stockholm

 

Random Event explained

Random Event Mechanism

D10 to establish the number of  Random Events

D100 to establish which of the 100 provinces are affected

2D6 to determine the events from a list in SoK. 
Scores of 2 and 12  = no effect 
There's a 25% chance it will be a beneficial event but some of the unfortunate ones are worse than others. There's a 5% chance that corrupt officials will cost you 25% of your income in your home territories     .

Breaking News: Summer 1741

Breaking News: Summer 1741

Europe descends into chaos

France at odds with Austria and Prussia. 

Bold expansion plans may mean war. 

Battle looms over Savoy in the south 

and Baden and Berg in the north.

Sweden faces partition between England and Russia

All Swedish provinces are invaded

Turkish influence expands 

but corrupt officials cost it a quarter of it income 

Persian depravations still trouble it southern border

England consolidates hold on India 

but has problems containing natives in Canada

Prussia consolidates hold on northern Europe.

Famine in Northern France

Disease in Southern Russia and Venetia

Bumper harvest in Poland

Deadline Summer 1741

Midnight Sunday August 4th

News Spring 1741

The Europe Guardian

Spring 1741

Page 1

Plucky Sweden hammered East and West

Tiny Sweden, little more than a minor power, has suffered attack in the east from Russia who poured a major offensive into Finland.

After a brief skirmish around a minor fortress the Swedes were lucky to escape with all their forces intact

The Swedish rearguard hold back the Russians while the army escapes

Meanwhile in the west, although it managed to bring  Norway under its wing, it suffered a reverse in its attempt to seize Mecklenberg where it gave way to an invading English force pushing out from Hanover.

France gambles on abandoning colonies

Louis XV has begun the campaigning season with a bold gesture. He has withdrawn all his forces from his colonial possessions, happily leaving them to an English takeover.

His concentrated European armies have marched into Savoy, where two regiments of Savoyards flocked to his colours. Lorraine and the Palatinate. although unrest here means that although he has recruited an extra regiment, unrest in the province will deny him its income and he cannot post new units there.

more controversialy Louis has also thrust into the Austrian Netherlands where the garrison, mistaking him for an ally has thrown in its lot with the Bourbon.

French infantry welcomed by the  ladies of the Austrian Netherlands

Maps Spring 1741

Maps: Spring 1741

Headlines Spring 1741

European Times
Spring 1741

Headlines

France abandons colonial ambitions: 

England fills the void

Austrian Netherlands overwhelmed

Prussia consolidates in Northern Europe

Sweden faces double threat

Ottoman armies surge North: 

Transylvania converts to Islam

Russia eyes Finland

Plague in Westphalia

Spring 1741: Results

Spring 1741: Results

All Powers had their orders in before the deadline

Points of conflict have been identified, the impact of entering neutral minor countries calculated (using the same criteria if invading a Power with overwhelming odds) and gains and losses quantified.

All Powers have been sent briefings on their current position.

Three Powers need to advise me as to their actions where there is conflict of interest. I doubt any are large enough to generate a tabletop clash.

I will neither request information on builds or set a Summer 1741 deadline until the conflicts have been dealt with.

Attacking minor Countries

Attacking Minor Countries

Before any conflict is resolved, I have decided to vary the procedure for calculating the issue of moving into a neutral territory.

In Consequences of Movement  in  Move Sequence Two Movement Phase I realise there is ambiguity and perhaps contradiction between sections A and B about moving into neutral territory. 

I am therefore reverting to the Attacking Minor Countries Table as provided in SoK. It will be easier to be consistent in methodolgy.

What you need to be aware of is that you need to enter a neutral province with at least the equivalent of it's strength points.  In this round no power loses a unit for entering a province where they are at a disadvantage but they may have been rebuffed.

My apologies for changing it but as I'm God......

Spring 1741: Deadlines

All Players have submitted their initial dispositions.

They have been gleaning information from travellers crossing the border from adjacent provinces and they are aware of any significant military movement nearby. They have not heard about less significant movements.

This is a time for diplomacy.

The deadline for movement orders is 24:00  on July 13th.

Naval Matters

Although only two nations start with a naval contingent, any nation can build a fleet and, following a query from a naval power, it is necessary to lay down the ground rules (sea rules?) now. There may be one detail I've changed since an initial informal discussion with one player. These rules below stand. They further clarify comment on sea travel in Campaign Map

Combat Fleets and Transport Fleets may be built in the build phase
Combat Fleets can fight but not transport
Transport Fleets can transport up to 3 units but not fight

Fleet movement is along the defined routes as shown in the insert below from  the SoK NE Map

Fleets move one sea zone a move.
There is no limit to the number of fleets in a zone
More than one nation may be present in a zone but there may be random generated combat

Land units may 
    a) embark and sail one zone or
    b) sail one zone and disembark

There is no limit to the number of units that can disembark in a province held by the fleets nation
Only up to 3 infantry units may make an amphibious invasion and these may only be in the provinces shown in the sea route inset  (i.e. those not in bold)

To be in supply disembarked units must have a chain of fleets back to land province that is in supply except that an amphibious landing may be in supply for one move after the landing.

Poor Quality Irregular Units with no, or few firearms.

Some nations may have poor quality irregular units with few or no firearms.

These may be raised as two units for the cost of one from Spring 1741 onwards BUT they cannot garrison a province on their own.

BLACK POWDER: LAOK VARIATIONS  AND HOUSE RULES

These are as used in Ian's running of the previous campaign                                                        

a) Variations from basic Black Powder as detailed in LAOK

  

1.Infantry columns may only form line by turning to the left or right flank . Only Prussians may form column to the front.

2. A unit interpenetrating/interpenetrated loses ½ its move. If there is insufficient move the unit is placed to the rear of the unit to be interpenetrated.

3. No unit that has moved more than twice may fire.

4. Dragoons may fire mounted with a -1 modifier.

b) House Rules

1. Units may no longer move sideways. They may wheel or echelon up to 45 degrees or move forward or backwards.

2. A unit or group blundering and being forced to move sideways becomes disordered instead 

3. Artillery making any move including unlimbering or pivoting may not fire.

4. A general attempting to join a unit to rally it but failing the test still joins the unit.

5. Evading.

If a charge is declared on skirmishers it must declare if it intends to evade before the charging unit   tests. The charging unit then tests If it fails the skirmisher needs not evade If the charger succeeds the evader is moved 1 move and if the charger has sufficient move it contacts the skirmisher in its rear.

6. Additions to the break test.

            Contacted in flank by a charge that started behind the flank -2

            Contacted in rear by a charge that started behind rear  -3

            Skirmishers contacted  by close order in melee  -1

            Each difference in melee winning test -1

Militia and Fortresses

Militia and Fortresses: Evolving Rules

Militia
Can be raised in the capital and certain other provinces (as advised in each player's spreadsheet) if the province is invaded. They represent the local population press ganged into military service. They are not going to be paid so they come free. They go back to being civilians the moment enemy forces move out of the province. They cannot move into any other province.

There are 2 + D3 militia units that can be raised in a capital province and 1 + D3 that can be raised in any other province which can raise a militia.

Irrespective of any definitions of militia in any army list the following stats will apply

Militia H2H 5 Shooting  3 Morale 4+ Stamina 3. (Unless randominsed by special rule.
Special rules. Roll D6 for each unit On 1 Unreliable, On 2 Wavering. On 3  Untested On 4 Freshly Raised

Fortresses: Initial situation. 

For free at the start Capitals have a Large Fort. Any other Militia Raising Province has a Small Fort. 

Forts can by bought at the Build Phase from the first move on. Large Forts 10 eco units. Small Forts or upgrading Small to Large: 5 eco units

The Opening Bundle of Information

The Initial Bundle of Information

This may take a couple of days to prepare. I'm juggling between charts in WITAOR and BP(LAOK). 

In the opening bundle, which will be in Excel format, a participant will be told his, Nation, Capital Province, Militia Raising Provinces and Other Provinces together with their economic value in Economic Units

There will be an initial treasury of strength points to be spent on units for his forces. At this stage they will cost 1 economic unit each. In any subsequent move economic units can be converted to military units at a cost of 5 economic units (plus purchasing any optional extra quality rules in the Spring build from the second full move onwards.)

Units may be purchased within given limits according to the BP (LAOK) army lists. The types and their BP stats are listed. The units come with the special rules given in the lists.

Many of these units may also have optional special rules which players may use to upgrade the quality of units. These may be purchased per unit at a cost of 2 economic units in the Spring move of any year after the first only. (The campaign will start in Spring 1741., so the first upgrade will be Spring 1742.)

Note also, that England and France begin with a free naval allocation.

Participants

Allocation has been done randomly but the results are:

Austria:

The Empress Maria Theresa

played by

Paul Newton

England

George III

played by

Simon Brooks

France

Louis XV

played by

Ian Etchells

Prussia

Frederick II

played by

Derek Fairfax

Russia 

The Empress Elizabeth 

played by

Alan Lumley

Sweden

Frederick I

played by

Mike Kisil

Turkey

Sultan Ali I

played by

Steve Gudmunsen