An alternate Waterloo campaign

Gentlemen and other animals,

Since the year 2015 has some historical importance in connection with Napoleon and his time, I have decided to start a little project of my own on the subject.

I will be writing a fictional "what-if" campaign-AAR using "HPS/JTS Waterloo" as the main game running in the background. (Once released I may switch to SoW Waterloo - we shall see)


I may have had French at school once, but I never reached a point where I could confidently write novels in it. Thus I have decided to write the "Allied side" in English and the French side in German. In doing so I hope to preserve some "surprises" for both sides.

I don't want to handle it the way I used to: making turn by turn reports - I will however keep mentioning the in-game situation when warranted- using the maps provided by it and also using the actual deployments, supported by military symbols added afterwards.  
The campaign will be quite different as it is based on the assumption of "Hypothetical scenario 12" - which adds the reserve wing of the French army under Marshall Davout - but in turn also gives the Allied side some additional forces.


I hope that I can entertain some of you - comments, criticism and suggestions are always welcome...
I will update this topic whenever new posts are uploaded - but of course you can also subscribe to the blog (I believe this to be possible somehow - not sure really, since I have never tried this medium before...)

http://historicalaars.blogspot.co.at/2015/04/june-15-1815-past-few-days-havebeen.html



"let the games begin"

Roland did you spend to much time in the Austrian mountains over Easter weekend? I saw on TV that lack of oxygen causes adverse effects on some people.

Sounds interesting I see if i can subscribe to the blog.

What is "HPS/JTS"?

I think Roland means this games:

http://www.hpssims.com/Pages/Products/NapBat/waterloo/waterloo.html

I don't know if Boney needed another corps to win. Maybe just better health and subordinates would have been enough.

Pepe was quite right - that is the game, Martin...
a few years ago however John Tiller decided to split up with HPS and start his own company which is called "John Tiller Softwar" (JTS) - the big advantage of his games now is that they no longer require a CD while playing AND that you are entitled to share your game-key with one other person as to play PBEM with him/her.

http://johntillersoftware.com/NapoleonicBattles.html

as for Luny Billy: I quite agree - this alternate campaign however also adds units to the Allies, which weren't included in the initial version of the in-game campaign.

the final numbers are as follows:

118, 456 Allies, 154,868 French & 146,950 Prussians


this should make for an interesting match

Part II is now online:

The French attack at Charleroi with élan - the Prussian troops there will soon have to decide whether to stay and further delay the French advance or fall back to safety.
At Mons we'll soon have a cavalry fight on our hands!


Although some may not be able to understand the French side's text - and are (understandably) unwilling to use google translate - the maps provided for that side have English text in them.

http://historicalaars.blogspot.co.at/2015/04/part-2-june-15-1045-am.html

What, the Prussians didn't reinforce Charleroi? And the bridge wasn't destroyed?

technically speaking I am not AT the bridge yet: there are two possible crossings directly at the town - one of them is within my sight and appears to be unguarded - the other one - directly IN town I don't know about - but I would be surprised if it was intact by the time I get there...

as for reinforcements: not really sure if there is much in the area to reinforce the town with...the young guard is attacking and pursuing with all possible speed - maybe we get lucky with
those bridges too

Ok where do i get this free game!

Did the Allies units begin in their historic starting locations, the ones that were historically present at the battle?

Uncle Billy said: wrote:Did the Allies units begin in their historic starting locations, the ones that were historically present at the battle?

Indeed they do - all spread out- except the somewhat concentrated Prussians off somewhere to the east: The next post will give a general overview on the Allied deployment.

Mr Suicide-Squad Morsey wrote wrote:Ok where do i get this free game!

completely overlooked that post of yours there - replied to it directly via facebook...

Roland when SOW/HITS becomes a televised you will be hired and the color commentator.

Kevin the lunatic has sent Suicide Morsey to his death and Roland I want a hoe the Austrian hides behind the British beast Digby. You could make some money!

the funny part about it is: since I was new to the group I started out nice and cautious when being CinC.... this will change over time and Kevin will only be a shadow of his former self compared to the deeds done by the great butcher of ages, Field Marshall Sir Douglas Roland Haiginvictus.


next part should be up later tonight I hope - as requested it will be an overview on the Allied deployment in the area. Part 4 is done as well already - just needs the pics - the action is about to start

Part 3 is up:

as promised it is a shorter post, giving a general overview on strength and position of the Allied and Prussian Army as of June 15, around 1100 AM.

Since I have already given you the final count of troops for all armies one can deduct that there is quite a number of reinforcements arriving for both these armies in due time. But for now it would appear that the initial engagements will have to be fought with the forces at hand - and I do have to say that especially with Allied army seems rather weak and dispersed there in the west....

http://historicalaars.blogspot.co.at/2015/04/part-3-allied-deployment-in-area-on.html

So the Prussian 1st corps is not concentrated at Charleroi but is instead watching the cattle crossings of the Sambre east of town?  Boney must be very happy.

indeed - the Prussian 1st Corps guards ALL the possible crossings in the area - which also include the ones to the NE at Pont-de-Loup

all of this will be quite unimportant however - as the French have already crossed the Sambre elsewhere - more about this in Part IV - which will follow tonight

Part 4 is now online:

the Prussians desperately try to destroy the brigdes at Charleroi, while the Hanoverians are fighting a delaying action near Mons- but the real issue is that French troops have now also been spotted to the north of Charleroi, at Chatelet, and to the west - already across the Sambre.

http://historicalaars.blogspot.co.at/2015/04/part-4-june-15-1100-am.html

Not much Prussian efficiency or organization on display here.

quite so... I am sue however that the French or the Allies will run into similar issues or worse at some point

Part 5 is now online:

The Allied Army is starting to react to the French attack, while the Prussians are fighting a spirited rear-guard action near Charleroi, which actually manages to push back several attacks led by the Young Guard.

http://historicalaars.blogspot.co.at/2015/04/part-5-june-15-1130.html

A bit off topic but I watched the 1970 film "Waterloo" last night. I had completely forgotten how damned good Rod Steiger's acting was. He makes a pretty convincing Napoleon, even his facial features were not that far off. Plummer as Wellington was quite good too, but Steiger stole the show.

oh I love that movie... if only it didn't have those gasoline explosions

Perhaps if the Allies had spent less time dancing and drinking and more on thinking, they wouldn't be in this mess. Now they need to trade space for time. Do the Brits know if they are facing only a single corps at Mons? Any heavy cavalry supporting Davout?