Game time is 0430 16 October 1809!If you have forces on the map at this point, please submit your orders for the day. Should circumstances dictate a need to issue new orders later in the day you of course may do so, but the first set of orders for the day is generally your corps' marching orders.
I already have orders from Davout, thank you sir!
If you are not on the map at this point, you are assumed to be marching toward your designated entry point.
I'm in.
Me too!
Gentlemen,If I may beg you indulgence. Thanks everyone that has sent in orders so far. If I may, here are a couple of things that would make my life as umpire much, much easier:
- Please keep orders as plain text emails. If you want for role-playing purposes to make up a particularly elaborate handwritten looking order on a parchment background, and send that as a PDF, for a "special" or very important order, be my guest. But if we could refrain from sending me PDFs otherwise that's very helpful. I need to edit each order to add things like time received, and I need to keep track of all of these to know when they should be delivered. half a terabyte of PDFs is going to end up being a problem!
- Brevity is to be valued! Again, role-play all you would like. On the other hand, this is 1809, not 1989. Six part warning orders and five part operations orders may be what a modern commander would write. It isn't what Davout or Bellgarde would have written. Reviewing the examples of collected dispatches from the 1806 Kriegsspiel might provide some examples. I'm getting some really, really, long orders!
- If you are sending the same information to multiple recipients, it's perfectly fine to write a single order and direct it to all of them. No need to generate separate orders for each.
- What I do need to know are things like what time you sent the order, who you're sending it to, what time you sent it, if to your own corps, where your HQ will be if you are planning on moving (otherwise I might assume you're staying where you are, and your message delay times will get longer and longer and longer...), and what you need from the recipient or what you're wanting them to do. In terms of structure, please see above.
- Please try and avoid micro-managing your subordinates or throwing in a lot of conditionals. Again, this is 1809. The roads are dirt tracks. The dirt tracks are almost non-existent. People tell time using inaccurate devices or by looking at the position of the sun. You aren't going to be able to specify exact timetables for operations. The more exacting you are in ordering your subordinates the more likely it will be that your orders don't make sense in light of the actual situation on the ground, and they don't have radios to ask you for a clarification. What they may well do is just stop and do nothing while a courier rides all the way back to you with a question about a situation you don't have eyes on yourself!
Please, please, please, DO engage in role-playing and do what you need to do to have fun and enjoy the game. If that means you're going to write really long orders, and they're all going to be scans to PDF of a document you wrote with a feather quill on actual parchment, in French or German, so be it. I'll find some way to adapt! For my own mental well-being, however, and speed of turns, the more we can follow the above guidelines the better!
All morning orders are in and dispatches have been...dispatched. Messengers are riding their horses at breakneck speed across the damp fields and roads of Bavaria in the misty dawn light!
The clock will tick tomorrow for the next game turn.
Do you have a template for orders, to make life easier on you?
Here's a good basic template that should cover everything. I believe this originally came from Jim Lacey.
ATTENTION TO ORDERS!
Sender:
Time Sent: (UMPIRE)
Recipient:
Time Received: (UMPIRE)
Unit Marching:
Route of March:
Time to Spend Marching:
Expected Objective:
Rules of Engagement:
Dispatches:
So should time sent be filled out by the umpire (see template) or by us?
BTW: I would like to hand in my orders for the last 6 months since we seem to have been moving at lightning speed :D
Quote from: panzerde on July 22, 2018, 06:33:42 PM
Game time is 0430 16 October 1809!
Quote from: Iconoclast on July 24, 2018, 07:54:28 PM
So should time sent be filled out by the umpire (see template) or by us?
BTW: I would like to hand in my orders for the last 6 months since we seem to have been moving at lightning speed :D
Quote from: panzerde on July 22, 2018, 06:33:42 PM
Game time is 0430 16 October 1809!
I labeled a dispatch earlier today as 1806, so we've actually swung back three years in time.
Apparently after writing dispatches for 18 months during the last game, I can't get my head around not being in October 1806 yet.
Anyway, you can fill in the "Time sent" field if you'd like. There's a chance if I get your dispatch after I've moved the game clock forward I'll move it into the next hour, but if so that won't happen all that often.
Game time is 0530 April 16 1809
If you have orders or messages you would like to send this hour, please get them to me before tomorrow evening.
Note that it can be quite important for OTHER PLAYERS, when you're dispatching them courier messages, to know when (in game time) you sent the message forth. PD will tell you when you're receiving it, but unless the player has told you when he sent it then PD might not (perhaps inadvertently) tell you that.
This is a point I plan to emphasize over in our game, too. But I'm following this game with interest, of course. O:-)
Quote from: JasonPratt on July 25, 2018, 07:59:42 AM
Note that it can be quite important for OTHER PLAYERS, when you're dispatching them courier messages, to know when (in game time) you sent the message forth. PD will tell you when you're receiving it, but unless the player has told you when he sent it then PD might not (perhaps inadvertently) tell you that.
This is a point I plan to emphasize over in our game, too. But I'm following this game with interest, of course. O:-)
QFT
Moving right along...
Game time is 0630 April 16 1809I'm going to give everyone until Friday to get settled in and adjusted to the dispatches moving around before I advance the clock again. If we're moving too quickly, please let me know. I'm going a bit more quickly that Cyrano is with his game, and I don't want to overwhelm anyone. Send up a rocket or something if this is too much, too fast!
Also, Thursdays are my weekly gaming night, so we'll probably always have a little extra time between a turns on Wednesday and then Friday.
Looks like I picked a good weekend to go camping.
You won't be there for a bit, but some dispatches are coming your way...
Game time is 0730 16 April 1809
A couple of important things are in progress and we have some participants who are occupied today. To give everyone in that situation time to get orders in I won't be advancing the clock until around noon tomorrow (Sunday). So, if you have any orders you want sent prior to 0830, that's your deadline!
Game time is 0830 April 16 1809!
I would like to advance the clock again this evening. Stand by for dispatches and if you can respond yet today that would be appreciated.
Gamer time is 0930 16 April 1809.Hold on everyone, things are already happening...
:tickedoff:
(As Lannes) I told you that entire Spanish thing was a bad idea...
Quote from: panzerde on July 29, 2018, 07:33:31 PM
Gamer time is 0930 16 April 1809.Hold on everyone, things are already happening...
YOUR MISTAKE WAS COMING HERE, NAPPY-PUPPIES! NOW, DII--
....
........
...oh, wait, sorry, wrong game. Carry on. O:-)
Can't resist peeking in here -- and I'll have a role to play before too very long -- but it's likely going to prove hard to keep this straight once the fur really starts to fly...
Game time is 1030 16 April 1809
I stand ready for the 10:30am turn ....
I was a little later getting started tonight and since there are Things Going On I'm waiting on a couple of order clarifications. Look for the clock to advance tomorrow early evening.
We have one participant I know of going to GenCon for the rest of the week after tomorrow, and I want to be sure I have his orders so we can keep things going while he's gone. If anyone else will also be at GenCon and unavailable please let me know so we can make arrangements.
I'd give my right arm for a set wireless radios for myself and my corps commanders. (no really, I would. I'm left handed)
Quote from: OJsDad on July 31, 2018, 09:32:59 PM
I'd give my right arm for a set wireless radios for myself and my corps commanders. (no really, I would. I'm left handed)
Isn't the 19th Century great! If it's any consolation the French do have a "telegraph." This is actually the Chappe Optical Telegraph (https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/chappe-optical-telegraph), i.e. permanent semaphore installations, running from the borders all of the way to Paris. I will consider the effects of this high-tech innovation on any dispatches sent your way prior to your arrival in theater.
I'll go sulk in the My Life Sucks thread.
Think how cool all of this will be to read about once we're done!
Game time is 1130 16 April 1809
Stand ready for dispatches and reports! The game is afoot...
Just FYI, I'm going to be up on Michigan's Upper Peninsula for the 5 days. I will have my laptop and internet access, but it may be late before I can respond, if there is anything for me to respond to by then.
Quote from: OJsDad on August 03, 2018, 12:16:07 PM
Just FYI, I'm going to be up on Michigan's Upper Peninsula for the 5 days. I will have my laptop and internet access, but it may be late before I can respond, if there is anything for me to respond to by then.
Dispatches are winging their way to you...
Game time is 1230 16 April 1809I going to try and advance the clock two hours tomorrow and probably the same on Sunday, so be ready for some shorter response times.
That assumes I get over whatever plague I've been suffering from today that nearly laid me low.
Hope your feeling better Panzer. There's been a 24 hr flu bug going around up here, and I think we're only about 3 hrs from you. So wouldn't be surprised if you got hit with it.
Quote from: OJsDad on August 03, 2018, 08:41:33 PM
Hope your feeling better Panzer. There's been a 24 hr flu bug going around up here, and I think we're only about 3 hrs from you. So wouldn't be surprised if you got hit with it.
Thanks! That feels exactly like what it is. Nausea all day today. Nonetheless I am rolling dice and drawing lines on the map!
I'm sure that new dice tower is helping you persevere.
I do love my new dice tower! I saw that Broken Token is also at GenCon.
Game time is 1330 16 April 1809I will advancing the clock another hour this evening. Need to get these offboard players into the game.
No need to rush. I am happy sitting here and enjoy the anticipation.
In the meantime, I have changed my avatar for the duration of the Kriegsspiel to a picture of my historical predecessor.
Regards,
A
He's missing the required funny hat!
I trust my Marshals and Generals to have the forces of the upstart in Vienna running for home before I get there.
Game time is 1430 16 April 1809
By the power of Greyskull!
Game time is 1630 16 April 1809
Yes, we're taking a two hour jump tonight.
Time is 1730 16 April 1809.
As a reminder, full dark is 2230.
Game time is 1830 16 April 1809.
Following Cyrano's excellent example, I'm trying a new system for tracking the game using a custom operational Kreigsspiel setup I've created in Tabletop Simulator. It certainly looks pretty, and is an online analog of where I've ended up trying to track the game on my real table. Hopefully it will be faster, as right now it takes me about two hours real time to play out an hour in game. I'm also experimenting with moving messengers in on the map rather than plotting message receive times when the message is sent.
All of which means there may be a little weirdness in how fast I process turns until I sort this all out. If successful, I'll be able to eliminate paper and move more quickly. The videos will look cool, too...
Looking forward to that! :notworthy:
Quote from: JasonPratt on August 11, 2018, 07:32:31 PM
Looking forward to that! :notworthy:
It does look great, and feels like working with an actual table. It took me most of the day yesterday but now every single message in transit has a block on the table. That's nearly 60 messengers right now for just
one side.
Some of you people are positively chatty.
Game time is 1930 16 April 1809.
Quote from: panzerde on August 12, 2018, 11:11:39 AM
Some of you people are positively more chatty than a bunch of woman at a church sewing day.
FTFY. ;D
Quote from: OJsDad on August 12, 2018, 12:53:32 PM
Quote from: panzerde on August 12, 2018, 11:11:39 AM
Some of you people are positively more chatty than a bunch of woman at a church sewing day.
FTFY. ;D
You just wait. I'm looking up the rules for how bogged down your carriage will be under the avalanche of paper headed your way!
Game time is 2030 16 April 1809
Dusk is in one hour, full dark in two hours.
Game time is 2130 16 April 1809
It is now dusk. Full dark in one hour. Unless you have provided me with orders otherwise, I will assume any marching troops are stopping for the night at 2230.
Game time is 2230 16 April 1809
It is now full dark. If you've not told me otherwise, I am considering you stopped for the night. Dawn is at 0430.
Bacon and eggs for breakfast for all my loyal troops!
Game time is 2330 16 April 1809
Fatigue calculation next hour. Lots of messengers on the roads, stumbling around in the dark. Most of them will probably find their way to their destination.
Please be putting together your movement orders for April 17th if you haven't already. Dawn is in five hours.
Who's idea was it to switch out the couriers horses for mules?
Game time is 0030 17 April 1809
We have finished our first day. Fatigue has been calculated. A desperate battle was fought under the light of a rising moon.
We will move quickly through the next few hours to dawn. Please prepare your orders for the 17th by 0430.
Game time is 0230 17 April 1809
Yes, we took a two hour jump. Two hours until dawn. We'll revert to one hour turns for 0330, so players can get orders in if they haven't already.
Game time is 0330 17 April 1809
Dawn in one hour! If you haven't sent me orders for 17 April, please do so. There's an excellent chance we'll tick the clock again yet today.
Message traffic the last hour was quite busy. These armies never sleep!
Game time is 0430 17 April 1809!
It is dawn. The game's afoot!
Game time is 0530 April 17 1809
And armies are on the march.
I will be away from Kriegsspiel World HQ starting tomorrow until Tuesday, inspecting Fort Ticonderoga and the Saratoga battlefield. I will have access to email and can respond to any questions, but won't be advancing the clock until my return.
Enjoy. Much jealous.
I'll send pictures.
When you write your dispatches, something like this (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/laptops-powered-american-revolution-180958253/) is what you're using.
I suspect users of these devices sent fewer copies to all and sundry than our players do!
I'm back from New York. Unfortunately my Internet is down due to a cable cut and has been now for more than a day. I have very limited access via a portable hot spot.
Since I'm tracking the game using TableTop Simulator which makes extensive use of online resources (i.e. Steam wants to be connected) I'm a bit stalled on our next turn until Spectrum fixes the cable. I'll get our next turn out as soon as I'm able! Apologies for the delay.
Tell the truth PanzerDE, your still visiting battlefields.
Quote from: OJsDad on September 07, 2018, 04:31:22 PM
Tell the truth PanzerDE, your still visiting battlefields.
I wish. Three days back at work and already, the stupid, it
burns...
Quote from: panzerde on September 07, 2018, 04:39:02 PM
Quote from: OJsDad on September 07, 2018, 04:31:22 PM
Tell the truth PanzerDE, your still visiting battlefields.
I wish. Three days back at work and already, the stupid, it burns...
Ah, we work with the same people.
Game time is 0630 17 April!
Hiatus over! Troops are moving on the stricken field again.
If you have orders, please get them to me by tomorrow morning. I will definitely be moving the game clock again tomorrow to get things caught up a little.
0730 17 April 1809
I'll plan on advancing the clock again tomorrow evening.
0830 17 April 1809
0930 17 April 1809
1030 17 April 1809
Has been for a few hours, I kinda forgot to post here...
1130 17 April 1809
I'm planning on ticking the game clock tomorrow, so if you have any orders or dispatches to send, please do so ASAP.
That must of been a heck of a birthday party. <:-)
Heh. "...what year even is it?!" "April, 1809" "...DID I PARTY HARD ENOUGH TO HURL MYSELF BACK IN TIME?!"
Quote from: JasonPratt on September 25, 2018, 08:20:21 PM
Heh. "...what year even is it?!" "April, 1809" "...DID I PARTY HARD ENOUGH TO HURL MYSELF BACK IN TIME?!"
I'm pretty sure I did that with a bottle of Everclear when I was in college. Unfortunately, I seem to have sent myself back in time to a point where I had cholera or something, because it was miserable.
1230 17 April 1809
I've read so much about how different commanders during a campaign acted so very differently from each other; how one was hard charging and advanced quickly, another was cautious, while another was outright lethargic and very slow to move. That's always been interesting and a bit puzzling to me...after all, everyone had the same mission, right? It's fascinating to watch the same thing unfolding here.
It's going to be very interesting to read the AAR and see what the whole picture looked like from the 40,000 foot level.
1330 17 April
There are rumblings on the horizon...
1430 17 April 1809
Lots of marching men in Bavaria today...
They are men!
Marching men! -- in tights!
in-Vading Bavaria, giving the French all our rights! Ha!
Blue and white striped tights, one assumes.
1530 17 April 1809
1630 17 April 1809
The spring birdsong is drowned out by the harsh crash of cannon!
The foley in these games is the BEST.
1630 1730 17 April 1809
I guess you meant 1730?
1930 17 April 1809
It looks like I forgot to post a couple of days ago when we did the 1830 turn.
Dark in one hour!
Disregard that. Dusk is at 2130, so in two hours, dark is at 2230.
2030 17 April 1809
Dusk is in an hour, full dark in two.
Please send me any dispatches and orders as quickly as you can. If we can knock out another turn tomorrow I'd like to do so.
We have some players away from home today who won't be able to get orders in until this evening or tomorrow. Let's shoot for having orders in by tomorrow early evening if possible and I'll advance the turn clock tomorrow night.
If you have orders or dispatches for the 2130 turn please send them ASAP. I've been waiting to hear from some folks but will plan on moving the clock tomorrow regardless.
2130 17 April 1809
Dusk, full dark in an hour.
2230 17 April 1809
It is now full dark.
Whew, there was a lot going on this last hour. Can't you guys just go to bed?