Key Points - a Napoleonic Campaign

Introduction

 

Some military campaigns involved grand sweeps across large tracks of open country, but much more typical was seeking to dominate several key strategic features connected by a barely usable road network. This campaign depicts the later and pits French vs Allies in 1815.

Maps and Movement

 

Both sides write orders for each turn and then play these through. Where both sides would meet on a connecting node then dice to see who falls back and defends (1D6, +1 for 50% more cavalry, +2 for 100% more). Units may move 1 connecting line per turn.  Each turn you receive 1 victory point (VP) per key point held. 

Battles and Key Points

 

In an encounter both sides deploy behind screens or from a map. If one side is defending then they deploy first but will have advantageous terrain

There are no draws unless it was an encounter. The defender wins unless driven off or the objective captured.

·         River Crossing: There is a village with two river crossings and a chance to find a ford (D6/turn per section finding on a 6). If you defend the far-bank then the river counts as held by you. If you defend your own bank then it counts as contested and a draw allows the attacker to remain. If it's an encounter then dice to see who arrived first as they have the choice (+2 if you have more cavalry)   

·         Strategic Crossroads: Hold the crossroads and rout the enemy to count as held.

·         Fortified Position (guarding a major port): Hold the fort to count as holding the square.

·         A strategically positioned farm complex. Hold the farm to count as the winner.

·         A town (acting as a supply depot): Hold the town to count as the winner.

·         A series of hills protecting the approach to a town: Hold the heights to count as the winner. Rout the enemy to count as the winner or hold the line with at least a brigade of fresh troops.  

Forces

Both sides have the following forces available:

·         3 x command-level generals

·         2 x Infantry Divisions

·         1 x Cavalry Brigade and 1 x Special Brigade (lights or guards)

You may deploy Infantry Division and a maximum of 2 supporting Brigades in a key point. You must have a command-level general to move troops, those without may only form a garrison.

Replacements are allocated each move. You receive a maximum of 25% of your starting force per turn, but capped at the original size of the force. This costs 2 VPs. The replacements are in proportion to the original structure of the force as noted in the army lists. 

Jagers / Rifles:  These can be broken-up before the campaign and a company allocated to an infantry brigade. They may not be later recombined though and whole battalions must be broken-up.

Light infantry: These may deploy half their number as skirmishers with the rest in reserve. The skirmishers deploy 12" in front of the reserves. Casualties are taken from the reserve.

Light Companies: These may deploy up to 12" in front of their unit. They don't trigger morale tests if lost but do count  towards overall casualties.

Heavy Cavalry: Cuirassiers and British dragoons count as "heavy" against other heavy cavalry.

British Cavalry: These must charge viable targets in range on 4-6 (D6). They will count as -1 melee as they are tired if they charge immediately following a melee, but have been made better as compensation.      

French
1st Infantry Division
	Class	Note	No/unit	cost/stand	Units	cost
General		+1	1	20	1	20
Line Infantry	Veteran		6	32	3	576
Leger	Regular	Skirm	6	30	3	540
Line Infantry	Regular		6	27	6	972
Dragoon	Regular	Shock	4	27	1	108
Hussar	Regular	Skirm	4	21	1	84
Heavy Battery	Regular		1	78	1	78
Medium Battery	Regular		1	78	2	156
					Total	2534
2nd Infantry Division
	Class	Note	No/unit	cost/stand	Units	cost
General		+1	1	20	1	20
Line Infantry	Veteran		6	32	3	576
Leger	Regular	Skirm	6	30	3	540
Line Infantry	Regular		6	27	6	972
Dragoon	Regular	Shock	4	27	1	108
Hussar	Regular	Skirm	4	21	1	84
Heavy Battery	Regular		1	78	1	78
Medium Battery	Regular		1	78	2	156
					Total	2534

 

Guards Brigade
	Class	Note	No/unit	cost/stand	Units	cost
General		+1	1	20	1	20
Old Guard	Elite	Shock	6	35	1	210
Young Guard	Veteran		6	32	1	192
Leger	Veteran	Skirm	6	35	1	210
Medium Battery	Veteran		1	100	1	100
					Total	732
Cavalry Brigade
	Class	Note	No/unit	cost/stand	Units	cost
General		+1	1	20	1	20
Dragoon	Regular	Shock	4	27	1	108
Chassuer	Veteran		4	26	1	104
Cuirassier	Veteran	Shock	4	32	1	128
Horse Battery	Regular		1	78	1	78
					Total	438
Total	6238

 

Allies
Anglo-Dutch Infantry Division
	Note	No/unit	cost/stand	Units	cost
General	+1	1	20	1	20
British Line Infantry		6	32	3	576
British Line Infantry		6	27	3	486
Hannovarians		6	27	3	486
Dutch Line Infantry		6	27	3	486
Dutch Jagers	Skirm	4	30	1	120
Dutch Carbiners	Shock	4	27	1	108
Dutch Hussars		4	21	1	84
Medium Battery		1	78	2	156
				Total	2522
Prussian Infantry Division
	Note	No/unit	cost/stand	Units	cost
General	+1	1	20	1	20
"Old" Line Infantry		6	27	4	648
"Old" Fusiliers	Skirm	6	30	2	360
Reserve Infantry		6	27	2	324
Reserve Infantry		6	21	2	252
Dutch Line Infantry		6	27	3	486
Dutch Jagers	Skirm	4	30	1	120
Cuirassier	Shock	4	27	1	108
Hussar		4	21	1	84
Medium Battery		1	78	2	156
				Total	2558

Light Brigade
	Class	Note	No/unit	cost/stand	Units	cost
General		+1	1	20	1	20
Jager Companies	Regular	Skirm	6	30	1	180
Light Infantry	Veteran		6	35	1	210
Rifle Companies	Veteran	Rifles	6	39	1	234
Medium Battery	Regular		1	78	1	78
					Total	722
British Cavalry Division
	Class	Note	No/unit	cost/stand	Units	cost
General		1	1	20	1	20
Dragoons	Regular	Shock	4	27	1	108
Hussars	Veteran		4	26	2	208
Horse Battery	Regular		1	78	1	78
					Total	414
Total	6216