GrogHeads Forum

It's the beginning of October 1806.

On one side of the Thuringian Forest are the forces of the King of Prussia.  An army that gave the Battle of Austerlitz a miss a little under a year earlier and had begun to smart under a series of indignities -- real and perceived -- from the victorious Emperor of the French.

On the other side of the forest was Napoleon I, more than aware of the Prussian resentment, not to mention mobilization, and preparing to strike north before the prevaricating Prussians could fully prepare for war.

What followed was the campaign of Jena-Auerstadt that ended in the shattering of the Prussian army and kingdom and, coupled with the 1807 campaigns further East, cemented Napoleon's version of peace in Europe until his ill-considered journey into Russia in 1812.

As a sidebar to the series of articles I'm writing for the Mythical Front Page (tm), I had thought to run a kriegsspiel of the 1806 campaign, via this forum, using Pratzen Edition's "Le Vol de L'Aigle" rules, volume I.  This is the short operational system that places an emphasis on maneuver, reconnaissance, and, yes, the logistics, if simplified, of Napoleonic warfare.  Participants will be corps commanders with someone being selected to be both a corps commander and either Napoleon or the Prussian commander Hohenlohe.  I have run this system for Napoleonic tyros and veterans and both groups found they provided a comprehensible, only moderately complicated, and satisfying experience.  Turns are not hard things to submit and I'm going to try to adopt the relatively leisurely pace of two turns per week.

If you're interested, I'd ask you to shout out here.  If you have a preference of side, please say so.  If you have a preference as to commander, you have my admiration, and please say so.

In the meanwhile, I look forward to both running this game and seeing you all out on the battlefield!

Best,

Jim
"Cyrano"
:/7)

I'm in. Either side is fine.

Bah! On the forum main page all that shows of yer title is Six days in October...
I thought you were going to run a Arab-Israeli wars PBF.  :(

But maybe, just maybe, you can convince me to give this Nappy stuff a try....

Speaking as someone who was kind of crushed that it's impossible (currently, and probably permanently) to play a full fog Campaigns on the Danube email game, allow me to volunteer as corps commander. No preference as to side.

However, despite our similar names I'm not familiar with the game rules.  :buck2: ::)

I'm in, either side.

A most excellent start and, knowing well that Vance will join this merry company, at least we begin with an even number!!

Also, to borrow from the event guide chestnut and allay Mssr. Pratt's fears:  Rules will be taught!

Leaving the door wide so that others may join :D.

Yes I am in... and burden me with some Prussians if you must....
Now I'm off to learn some history.  8)

If you run in to an odd number, you may count me in.  Three things though:

1) I don't have a preference for side

2) I don't have the foggiest, vague idea of what would be required of me

and

3) I will need enough lead time to do some research

Those unfamiliar with what's involved in something like this might find this article useful: https://theboardgaminglife.com/2015/02/16/umpiring-the-empire-theboardgaminglife-player-aid-for-le-vol-de-laigle/

Those particular tools were swiped ages ago.

(I also intend to heed his caution re: having anyone below the level of corps commander!!)

Great piece.

I think I've recruited one, possibly two more players. I also ordered a copy of Le Vol de L'Aigle for myself, since you think so highly of the system, Jim.


I also grabbed the Vassal module for it, which looked interesting.

Hoorah!

I'd love to end up at eight.

And let me be clear, Vol. I is wondrous.  I'm OK with II.  Three, well, Dr. Rouy really kinda took it straight off the rails for me.

This KS will be run using Vol. I for the sheer efficiency of it all...

I'm roping my lady-wife into the "creating layers in Adobe" thing.

If you need another person with a high level of incompetence, I'm your man!

Quote from: Pinetree on September 12, 2016, 01:19:25 AM
If you need another person with a high level of incompetence, I'm your man!

Just like real 19th century warfare command!  :D

All right.

Doug's winding up a few others and I've not quite finished promoting (looking to the end of the week) but what I see so far:

Barthheart
Blackhorse
Bob
Dom
Double Deuce
Duke of Earl
James Sterrett
JasonPratt
Lancer4321
Leg22
MetalDog
PanzerDe
Pinetree
Tobias Archer
UCG

Which would be a fine group, let me say.

I puzzle as to whiskey the actual foxtrot Brant is doing, but I move on.

I will randomize sides, set up an e-mail list, and get things under way this weekend.

Best,

Jim

Quote from: Cyrano on September 12, 2016, 01:43:26 PMI puzzle as to whiskey the actual foxtrot Brant is doing, but I move on.

:coolsmiley: :coolsmiley:
I'm wondering why all my writers are banking perfectly good material for their own blogs and leaving me begging them for content to throw to our site!
:uglystupid2:  :uglystupid2:
:tickedoff: :tickedoff: :tickedoff: :tickedoff:

I love my blog like a brother...OK, maybe an addled child... but I didn't think you wanted me indulging my deepest square-button behaviors :D.

And you've not answered the question.

It'll work on a Mac! O0

I'm allergic to Napoleonics

Quote from: bayonetbrant on September 12, 2016, 02:29:04 PM
I'm allergic to Napoleonics

Me too..... should be fun anyway.  :D

Jim, just been talking to Doug and he says you may still have room for a an old Limey guy, so I'm in if you have a space left.

And a young one I you're really really desperate

I'm fully qualified in getting Bob killed in wargames

Ah, 'geek, my old mate - what a shame, you're just a bit too late to join in...................

'I'll get you, butler!'

Where's a Blakey gif when you need one

Hoorah! Most pleased to have you both!

HA! I think UCG just got shanghaied into playing!  :D

He did, and now we're all doomed................

Who? The guys on his side or the opposition?

Both.  ;)

Pfffft non believers

Quote from: Pinetree on September 15, 2016, 06:45:56 AM
Who? The guys on his side or the opposition?

What Vance said - Both.

'As long as there's more of us as there are of them left at the end'

Field Marshall Carruthers Oct 1811

Quote from: undercovergeek on September 15, 2016, 07:58:49 AM
'As long as there's more of us as there are of them left at the end'

Field Marshall Carruthers Oct 1811

Like I said...Doomed!

Quote from: undercovergeek on September 15, 2016, 07:58:49 AM
'As long as there's more of us as there are of them left at the end'

Field Marshall Carruthers Oct 1811

Oh, shit.

Does Cyrano take bribes?

Nope.

I already tried that.

Bast****

...Field Marshall Carruthers Oct 1811 - Last Words.

....apart from 'Arghhhhhhh'

MERDE!

(Sorry, seemed to fit the moment.)

FYI, the management has asked me to keep sign-ups open over the weekend and I, of course, oblige.

So far I've got all eight participants down as having no "side" preference so will randomize commanders.

As to bribes, there is a rule within "Vol de L'Aigle" that allows each commander -- once per day -- to attempt to gain information by some means that fits the period.  The information may or may not be good.  There may be none at all.  But, while bribing me avails little, bribing a local toll official or mayor might...

Quote from: Cyrano on September 16, 2016, 09:21:03 AM
As to bribes, there is a rue within "Vol de L'Aigle" that allows each commander -- once per day -- to attempt to gain information by some means that fits the period.  The information may or may not be good.  There may be none at all.  But, while bribing me avails little, bribing a local toll official or mayor might...

Vance, warm up the Peasant Torturer. There's work to be done!

The comfy chair?


or the rack?

Hi fellow wargamers and armchair generals,

my name is Steffen.

Doug/panzerde (Many Kudos & thanks!!!) informed me about your great plan to start a Kriegspiel depicting the JENA-AUERSTEDT operational setting.

if you still have a slot open please count me in.

Please excuse my English as only a german native speaker.

Greetings.

I too am interested in joining. I have even been to the actual Battlefield (back in '92).

Blackhorse (aka Chris)

Huzzah! Great to see some new additions!

WooHoo! More lambs... err... Generals for the slaughter....  :D

Wonderful!

Welcome to you both.

I will add your names presently.

Oh, and Blackhorse, as my stories leading up to my own trip next year keep rolling out, I'd love to hear comments, suggestions, feedback, &c., particularly on the travel and "make sure to go here" side.



Jim

Here's a quick one for you. After departing Vierzehnheiligen, a small village complete with cannon-balls still stuck in buildings, we made our way to Hassenhausen, another small village also with cannonballs still embedded in walls. Upon arriving there, we noticed a substantial marker/monument. We pulled over onto he shoulder of the road, steps away from the western-most edge of the village. We then proceeded to walk the 100 or so meters to the south to the marker. We had taken probably no more that 10 or so steps, when my buddy says, "Hey what is this?" He then bent down and picked up a musketball...I kid you not (it was a freshly plowed field, mind you). It was a fantastic, and apparently not out of the ordinary find.

Quote from: Cyrano on September 16, 2016, 01:34:32 PM
Wonderful!

Welcome to you both.

I will add your names presently.

Oh, and Blackhorse, as my stories leading up to my own trip next year keep rolling out, I'd love to hear comments, suggestions, feedback, &c., particularly on the travel and "make sure to go here" side.



Jim

Okay, here's hoping that this works...  I'd like to sign up for this game. I don't own the rules but I'm familiar with the system and have participated in a couple VdA games previously (including one on this same 1806 campaign - I was Soult in that one). Willing to play either side, any level of command. Thanks.

Lance McMillan

Please include me in the Jena Kriegsspiel campaign if there are open slots still available. Are their online rules available? Regards. The Duke

Now we are getting a fine group indeed.

Welcome to you both.

Duke, are you by chance he who so regularly frequented the Austerlitz:NGV and Waterloo:NLB boards back a lifetime ago?

As to the rules, a briefing sheet will be sent out to all participants.  This will be joined by unit cards indicating the troops commanded.

The author asks that the rules themselves not be shared so I honor this, but they're not particularly complicated.  Much more will be forthcomingt early next week when the rolls close.

I would like to have a few extras in case we have dropouts, but we're at an excellent number.

Hi Cyrano. That wasn't me. There must be another Duke of Earl. Claims to aristocracy are not what they used to be :coolsmiley:

I'm interested in giving this a go but I am unfamiliar with this type of game or rule set...happy to give it a shot if people are patient with those not in the know!

So, what's the procedural format for this game going to be?

In the previous games of VdA which I've played, all in-game communications were routed through the umpire (generally via private e-mail) to ensure that an appropriately thick "fog-of-war" was maintained. Direct player-to-player communications (even when their in-game personnas were co-located) were strictly forbidden and there was no common forum (like this) where information could be openly shared. Are you planning to handle this is a similar manner, or do you envision a more open seminar/group methodology?

Lancer -- Strict communication through private e-mail will be the way of things.  Might as well book in that the address will be JenaCampaignATgmailDOTcom.  Pleased that was available.

I anticipate a brief period at the beginning for organization and coordination between the commander and subordinates -- planned course of action and all that -- after which comms go dark and everybody loses everybody else unless they're within 10km of one another.   This is, of course, entirely honor system, but, as there's greater glory in losing bravely than in winning knavishly, I should think that little problem.

The only thing I'm still working out with the management is how to provide a look in for those not playing on the game's progress.

Quote from: Cyrano on September 17, 2016, 01:48:19 PM
...
The only thing I'm still working out with the management is how to provide a look in for those not playing on the game's progress.

That may have to be honour system as well. I was planning on doing some kind of DAR while the game was going but it'll have to be honour system for others to not read it until the game is done.
Hasn't been a problem with other AAR's on  here... O0

Hi guys,
How many do want for this game?
Are you still interested in one more?
Thanks.

If you need a "reserve" player, I am in.

dom

I'm volunteering my services a a reserve commander in case someone drops out. Either side is fine.

I'm volunteering to do absolutely nothing, except maybe occasionally read what's going on  :crazy2:

Quote from: bayonetbrant on September 18, 2016, 05:52:55 PM
I'm volunteering to do absolutely nothing, except maybe occasionally read what's going on  :crazy2:

Just consider me the equivalent of the Dutch at this point.

smoking weed and watching porn?

Quote from: undercovergeek on September 19, 2016, 05:10:50 AM
smoking weed and watching porn?

You say that like it's a bad thing

It can be if you fall asleep. In my flatting days, my flat mates and I walked into our lounge after a night on the grog to find another flatty had got smashed and had decided to watch some porn on the telly. He must have thought the porn was pretty good as we found him with his pants 'round his ankles, codger in hand, and him snoring his head off.

@Pinetree:  Oh, what we would have done to that fellow in grad school.  The horror.  The horror.

@Barth:  Thanks for driving this one off the road.

I'll be drawing for commands shortly.

I just wanted to register my approval - that's not just a chicken, that's a big chicken!  O0


What I heard Brant say was that he's in for the Waterloo KS, since he's being Dutch.

Quote from: panzerde on September 19, 2016, 08:55:54 AMWhat I heard Brant say was that he's in for the Waterloo KS, since he's being Dutch.

As long as it involves smoking weed and watching porn

Quote from: Cyrano on September 19, 2016, 08:29:39 AM
@Pinetree:  Oh, what we would have done to that fellow in grad school.  The horror.  The horror.

@Barth:  Thanks for driving this one off the road.

I'll be drawing for commands shortly.

Hey, Doug was drivin, I just pushed on the gas a bit.  >:D

Quote from: Barthheart on September 19, 2016, 05:23:56 PM

Quote from: Cyrano on September 19, 2016, 08:29:39 AM
@Pinetree:  Oh, what we would have done to that fellow in grad school.  The horror.  The horror.

@Barth:  Thanks for driving this one off the road.

I'll be drawing for commands shortly.

Hey, Doug was drivin, I just pushed on the gas a bit.  >:D

Which is how this usually goes. Beep, beep!


BIG chicken.

Just in case folks were following this thread, I still need to hear from three of the Prussian commanders over in the organizational thread...lest I have to dip into the reserve!

Maybe they stopped for directions on the way to the battle? ;D

Given the Prussians' historical performance, that's not have so fanciful as your laughy-face suggests...

You're making my point for me

I have no idea what I'm doing, or will be doing, but that's never stopped me before.

Have roles/sides been assigned yet? If so, I haven't received any notice of such.

Are we supposed to be monitoring some other folder, or is this the main place to find out "here's what's going on with the game"?

Quote from: Lancer4321 on September 30, 2016, 03:22:02 PM
Have roles/sides been assigned yet? If so, I haven't received any notice of such.

Are we supposed to be monitoring some other folder, or is this the main place to find out "here's what's going on with the game"?

Yer supposed to have sent an email to Cyrano with your contact info. He's already sent out some info to us.

Mail received, just need to figure out WTH I am doing.   ???

Little bit baffled that I have somehow become a senior Prussian Commander...especially given that I have no idea how this game works, what I am supposed to do and how....so I guess I am the prefect candidate for the Prussian Command ;D