Hi, recently a friend and I played via PBEM the new Waterloo 1815 from C3i. For a variety of reasons we never got online to knock this out in 45 minutes….silly really [I’m a dork!]. PBEM is pretty arduous given the mechanics. But we made ti thru to a conclusion. Strap in lets watch the fun:
June 15th-18th
I’ve posted on this title before and there are several videos by others that outline mechanics for this title. This is my 2nd opposed game play. Waterloo 1815 is a Mark Herman design, aimed at low complexity game play.
It has a novel continuous alternating movement system. Which allows some of the manoeuvre from the Waterloo campaign that took place over the course of a few of days.
This is the initial dispositions of both sides below.
There are 8 turns, and Napoleon enters from the South and has the objective of securing a line of communication from the South to the North onward to Brussels [ off map ]. The Allied Coalition of British [include the Prince of Orange etc] and Prussians are the primary forces available to deal with the Emperor returned from exile.
The trick for the French as I see it is as was historically postulated and observed is to avoid allowing the Brits and Prussians to consolidate, if possible defeat one at a time. Or defeat both so badly you trigger a win via VP count for eliminated Corps. The Prussians have screening detachments and 1 Corps Ziethen in the way. It will be required to clear them from the bridges and then head North.
Movement Phase
Fr I Corps [1C] advances across the bridge to confront the detachment holding Charleroi. Once in the enemies Zone of Control [ZOC] our Corps flip to their battle side.
Ziethen moves East doing two things or three potential things:
- Consolidating with his approaching army lead by Blucher.
- Opening a way for the French to pass through then cut supply off. Not terribly sporting.
- Making room for Welly to advance South and take up a historically accurate location in or around Quatre Bras- Nivelles. While Prussia consolidates around Ligny.
The 3rd move is D’Erlon who will engage with support, the Stienmetz detachment in the hope of forcing a retreat.
Now the challenge we have here is we don’t know our opponent. He chose the Allies, he is British, and plays quiet a few wargames. But we don’t know his style of play yet. Which is always interesting to learn when playing via PBEM or via vassal.
Allies pass. French finish their movement up with a net of 8 moves available per the diagram above. They use 6. Note units across rive do not flip as there is no ZOC.
Attack Phase:
French always attack first.
Drouot receives the honor for the first battle. He attacks the Stienmetz detachment. Who roll 1d6+1 for Terrain [village]
The French Guard attacks with 1d6+2 stars, +2 adjacent Corps +2 for attacking a Detachment.
Net result is a plus 6 [3 vs 9]. Eliminated. Drouot’s men advance and grab qhat ever wine and bread that seems to be ‘waiting for them’
Vandamme, feeling a bit miffed, sulks his way into the attack against Pirch’s detachment in Charleroi. Things do not go well. Pirch receives +1 for terrain, while Vandamme takes one for stars and +2 for fighting a detachment, note the Cav add +1 for adjacency also.
The Prussians roll a 4 for a net 5. The French roll a 1 for net 5. Stalemate!.
Note if it had been a retreat [say the Allies won the battle ], the retreat result is a bit interesting as it involves merely moving away? My opponent suggested to think of it as a regiment screening while the rest of the forces move by perhaps?
On to the 2nd turn – PM June 15th.
During Turn 2 Only Prussian Allied units may move and the French suffer from Congestion. So the objective is to clear the river bridges primarily. Drouot attacks supported by other Corps and clears the Left Flank. But Gerard’s IV corps fails to do its job and in fact is forced to retreat.
It is still too early to assess what type of opponent we are playing. That will have to await a more lively turn.