Monocacy Warparty

Napoleon seeks to gain control of all Europe!! 

The Monocacy Warparty is set to begin its first Grand Napoleonic Campaign this summer.  Six major countries will be controlled by the players: Russia, Prussia, Austria, Great Britain, Spain, and France, while Bavaria will be contolled by a seventh player.  The campaign rules to be used will be Empires in Arms and the miniature battles will be fought using Polemos' Napoleonic rules. 

Link to the map we will be using: 

http://eia.xnetz.com/Maps/eiamap3.gif

This is just to give you  a better visual idea of your borders.  You should be able to right click on this map and save it, then you can view it larger if you'd like.  This is also with the Pregame negotiated land swap between Prussia and Russia (Russia purchased Masovia from Prussia and gave an alliance to aid on the Western Front).

Here are the leaders:

Here are the basics of the campaign rules:

Napoleon's Campaign:
Goal: To accumulate Victory Points through the build up of Political Power in Europe (Political Points). 

At the Start: All nations are free to begin at war with anyone for free...after the game begins there are political penalties for declaring war.  Britain and France begin at war no matter what.

Each Turn the following takes place:
Diplomacy: All alliances & wars are possible except peace between France & Britain
-political points are gained for peace and lost for war declarations.  Winning gains points, losing, loses points
-allies MUST come to the aid of their ally or they lose points for breaking the alliance

Reinforcements: place new corps and troops on map

Movement: very basic French troops get 4 pts of movement, everyone else gets 3.  Costs 1 to move anywhere except mtns and marshes...2 pts for those areas.  Supply depots must be placed no farther than every 3rd region...and you must be able to trace a path to the supply train...the farther you are away, the more you have to pay to keep your men fed and supplied with ammunitions.  Its $1 for every region you are away from your supply depot (up to 3 regions...after that you have to gamble on foraging the countryside for food).

Econ Phase: Heres where you get paid.  You get money and manpower...they are noted on your map in each region by numbers like 6/3.  You add your countries overall points to those of any controlled regions. 
cost of troops...$3 infantry, $7 guard, and 2 manpower for each

End of turn

Minor countries may be controlle by anyone.  once war is declared on one minor, all those interested in defending them (taking over the government to defend against attacker) declare that intention in the following order: France, Russia, Austria, Prussia, Great Britain, Spain.  IF more than one choses to defend the minor those nations roll a modified die to see who is the controlling gov't.  It is then under your jurisdiction...you get all the money & manpower for that minor as long as it is unconquered.  If the aggressor has no troops in the minor country for 1 turn, it is no longer at war, but remains a puppet gov't for the controller. 

Thats pretty much it.  Some kingdoms may be created if the right regions are controlled...The kingdoms are Poland, Italy, Westphalia, and the Confederation of the Rhine: they are all marked on the attached map with the first letter of the kingdom name.

So there you have it.  How will Napoleon gain the crown this time?  Or will it be a new leader of Europe?  Let the games begin. 

These are the Political points that each action may cost you.  The points move up and down a chart (in the game room) and VP's are awarded based on how strong your political stance is.

This is a scan taken from the Empire In Arms instruction manuel:

These are taken from the Empire in Arms manuel:

Austria: 

Like Prussia, Austria holds a central position on the map.  Surrounded by Russia, Turkey, Prussia and France, it requires a true Metternich to successfully negotiate the rocky path of 'real politik'.  First, attempt to negotiate a nonagression pact with Russia.  A pact with Prussia cold be curical to counter an aggressive French player.  Austria will eventually have to face the French army so, if Austria finds itself falling behind in the territorial scramble for minor countries, face that war sooner rather than later.  This means that the more friends Austria has, the better.  While the French are strong they are not invincible.  If Austria can ally early with Great Britain and Prussia, the alliance will have superior strength. 

France:

France is the strongest power in Europe.  Better troops, faster movement, better and more leaders and buoyant economy make Freance a very powerful opponent.  However it is not unbeateable, especially if overstretched and faced by a powerful, well-financed coalition.  Do not pressure Austria or Prussia too much, especially in the early phases of 1805, as this may create a colaition against France and, early in the game.  France is weaker than combined Austria/Prussia coalition.  Try to weaken a possible Austria/Prussia coalition, perhaps by favouring one of them in the division of minor countries or by encouraging Russia to attack one of them.  "Divide and conquer" should be the basis of French diplomacy in all campaigns.  Control of Italy could cause the greatest amount of friction in the campaign.  With Russia controlling Corfu, every major power except Prussia has the capacity to claim some part of Italy.  Being too forceful with French demands could prove disastrous.  On the other hand, if the other major powers squabble over Italy, this is definately to the French advantage, so encourage this by offering morsels to potential allies.  France has a lot of victory points to gain so don't be frivolous in declarations of war.  If possible, get the other major powers to declare war on France.  With better French morale and leadership, France should win at least 60% of the battle and thus gain more political points than are lost.  Remember, it is better to tackle a large army with low morale than a small army with high morale since they are easier to beat and winning battles means gaining victory points thru political points, and that is what the campaign is all about.  If France does declare war, try to have the forces available to win that war FAST! 

Britain:

Correct play of GB, more so than any other major power, requires the process of maximizing the strangths of the British position and minimizing its weaknesses.  The is so because those strangths and weaknesses are more pronounced.  Precicsly because enemy access to GB is restricted by an overwhelming naval superiority and the English Channel, the British player need never retain any major troop numbers at home.  Almost the entire army can be used overseas.  However, it must be said that army will always be rather small and so where and when it will be committed should be chosen with caution.  Likely places include the islands of the Mediterranean, N. Africa, Spain, Scandinavia, Russia (to threaten St Pertersburg and or weaken the Russian navy, the Dardanalles and East Prussia where, because of their wealth, the British forces can use regular suppply while other armies may suffer from foraging for supplies.  Of course, as circumstances develop, the better places for commitment will present themselves.  Almost never commit British armies in fragments, keep them together as to minimize the risk of having them destroyed piecemeal and to gain the maximum benefit from Wellington's superior leadership abilities.  Proper use of money is central to proper British play.  Simply giving it to whoever begs loudlly will not do.  Decide who GB's long term enemies will be (usually France) and dole out money in small increments to those major powers which appear to be staunchly opposed to those enemies.  The establishment of a 'slush fund' for the purchase of military and olitical favors from these and other major powers can also prove useful.  Build up the army as evenly as possible, concentrating on regular infantry and cavalry.  the british army has unequaled quality regular infantry but lack size.

Prussia:

Prussia, like Austria, is in a central position and, in a campaign starting in 1805, has a large high quality army.  Prussia has access to many minor neutrals, but a lack of political acumen could find Prussia embroiled in a losing war.  Until blucher arrives in 1806, Prussia has very poor leadership and unless a good opportunity presents itself, Prussia should try not to antagonize its neighbors early.  Form an allinace with Austria, Russia nad or Great britain.  This woul have the major benefit of support in a defensive war.  Preserve the large army, espcially the cavalry which is expensive to buy.  The toughest question in the opening stages of the game is whether to create a Polish free state.  If done, Prussia could gain a large number of high quality Polish troops.  However, Austria and Russia could attack and conquer the Prussian Polish provinces that would otherwise be difficult to obtain.  Mecklenburg, Hesse, Saxony and Duchies are in the Prussian sphere of influence, with Hanover and Denmark less so but still attainable.  With British help, maybe even Sweden could be taken. 

Russia:

Russia has great defensive strength, due mainly to its edge of the map position.  This position, couples with its great size, poor forage values and cossacks, make it difficult for other major powers to force Russia to peace terms.  A major problem for Russia is the lack of adjacent neutral minor countries.  Neutral minor countries are the coinage of diplomacy and provide room for easy expansion.  Russia should gain Scandinaviathrough conquest or an arrangement with other interested powers and the Polish free state question can be used as a lever in diplomacy with Prussia or Austria.  Russia has a large army of good quality, allowing it to pick all the combat options with confidence, particularly the DEFEND option, as this increases Russian morale.  Russia also has decent leaders, an artillery corps and a good basic economy.  Russia will often be called upon to intervene in Central Europe and must negotiate useful gains in these wars.  Corfu has strategic advantage that beli its seeming insignificance.  Using sea supply from the Baltic, reinforcment corps and factors can allow rapid expansion in Africa and Italy.

Spain:

Spain's advantage lies in her navy, therefore an entente with France and or GB could provide several opportunites to expand into N. Africa and Italy.  In the early stages of campaign games starting in 1805, with some diplomacy, Spain could get Naples, some of N. Africa and Portugal.  Further minor countries may need to be decided by force of arms.  Spanish guerillas can be used as an excellent dterrent to an attack on the Spanish home nation.  They can cut suply lines and even amalgamate to attack isolated troops.  Spain must still leave some regular forces to defend the homeland and to prevent occupation of all provinical capitals. 

Take a look at the Painting Services page for info on who painted all these gorgeous figures!

Spain Invades Portugal:

Lisbon was assaulted on all fronts yesterday as 2 full strength Spanish Corps' moved into the city suburbs.  The Portuguese King sent forth his army, but there wasn't much that could be done to stem the overwhelming numbers advantage of the Spanish.

Spanish brigades lined up along the suburbs of Lisbon

Portuguese defenses...holding the hill on the right flank and the woods on the left.

Portuguese center

The first assault hit on the Portuguese held hill (right flank), but the Spanish were thrown back!

However, on the Portuguese left flank things went much differently.  The forward Portuguese lines were routed, and in their retreat caused the supporting division to become disorganized as well.  This led to a panic throughout the entire corps as the the Portuguese watched their brothers in arms begin to panic.  Shortly after the initial contact, the entire Portuguese corps fled the field. 

The battle ends as half the Portuguese army flees the battlefield.  Portugual's future now rests in the hands of the Spanish Crown.

The Russians marched into Sweeden to fight the combined forces of Finland and Sweden (we were forced to use French figs for Swedes and Austrians for Fins).

Russians led by Prince Aleksander march upon the Swedes!

Another Russian Division moves around the central village.

The Russian Gurad draws first blood...hitting the Swedes in the flank just outside the village.

The Russians push the center...led by the Russian Guard directly in the middle of the field.

The Swedes watch as the Russians close on the hill they defend.  WHERE ARE THE FINS!?!?!?!

The Swedes on the hill begin to take a pummeling.  They thwart the first wave of Russians, only see more to their left flank and the Russian Guard to their right flank.

The Swedes crumbled, and then the Russians turned thier collective attention to their left flank...the Fins...however, the Fins, knowing that the odds were overwhelming, raised the white flags before they became the next victoms.

The final result of the battle was a destruction of the standing Swedish army, while their Finnish allies did nothing to help...they had a very difficult time accumulating enough tempo to get moving and by the time they did, it was too late to effectively help.  Russia now stands poised to strike into Northern Europe during the next turn of the campaign.