Proposed fictional campaign

I wish to lay claim to sprites as they relate to the fine army of Schwitz

Infantry

Irregulars (aka Freeschwitz) Sprite = inf-aus-friekorps
Light Infantry (aka Lightschwitz) Sprite = inf-aus-jaeger
Grenadiers (aka Bigschwitz) Sprite = inf-aus-grenadier

Horse

Kazaks (aka Holyschwitz) Sprite = your choice Digby...something hairy and unkempt preferred :-)
Hussars (aka Hussarschwitz) Sprite = hussar-red-01
Uhlans (aka Verybigschwitz) Sprite = uhlan-red-02

Artillery
Horse artillery (aka Gunschwitz) Sprite = artillery-russia-horse
Position Artillery (aka Barrelschwitz) Sprite = artillery-austria

Well in addition to my requested sprites in the above post, I want to relay the story of my people. Ah - the stories the elders told me at the fireside ...

Schwitz was once known for its vibrant sunflower farms, vineyards and bustling fish trade (the inland Schwitzfish was intensely flavorful and meaty) with the northern coastal marks.  For centuries, its happy people worked peacefully with its neighbors, spreading knowledge and joy with all whom they encountered.  

Until the Great Stench, or GS

Concurrent with the GS, the Familie Brzeczyszczykiewicz rose to power in neighboring Polstovia and spread their influence, much like ants looking for food or locusts searching for that next fertile field.  And so along with that influence came an odor.  A stench so foul that vegetation died.  Farms disappeared.  Soil dried up. The once-numerous Schwitzfish became scarce. Trade collapsed. Most of the northern region became little more than a barren wasteland.  Poverty grew. The people, once happy and joyous, now became sad.  There mere act of laughing was thought to be a luxury it was so rare.

And then came Pat

Pat was an heir to the throne of Borgenmark as his bloodline emerged from the same Madame Lady Queen Fifi who ran the brothel frequented by the Royals of Borgenmark, yet he actively claimed no title in Borgenmark.  There was something unique about Pat

A common man with uncommon virtues. Inspirational.  Charismatic. Innovative. Creative. Smart.  Soon, the country ran out of new adjectives to describe the phenomenon associated with Pat, but almost as quickly Schwitz again became vibrant.  Ores and precious metals such as silver were discovered in the mountains.  Enterprising mountain farmers developed the extremely popular Schwitzweed tobacco, to include mind-altering variants. A rare, incredibly flavorful mountain spice known as PatSchwitz became a bumper crop, the demand for which at times eclipsed demand for spices from other exotic faraway lands such as China, India and New Jersey. The population migrated internally to the South. For the past few decades they have almost exclusively inhabited the southern mountainous regions.

Even the very definition of Schwitz was changed from the original "people from Schwitz" to "People still living in Schwitz but pretty much mostly in the mountains."  To be a Schwitzian once meant "proud fisherman with nice boats" but now in the Golden Age of Pat it means "to not be from Polstovia, as a minimum, and to have a preference for mountain living and mining and stuff." We even developed our own slogan for the tourism industry: "We do indeed give a Schwitz about you"

A new Capital was established.  Interestingly, it had no real name like every other city in the known world.  Also interestingly, in case you weren't interested the first time, Schwitzians found upon further investigation that they had a couple cities which had no names unlike the other Marks. Really. Take a look. A simple look at the world map yielded a cities with no official names, all of which were within Schwitz boundaries. Its like we don't exist. No matter.   The new capital is referred to formally (and by foreigners) as a map location known as "The little city square on the southern area of Schwitz due north of the "W" in "Schwitz" on the pdf map." Locals refer to it as Patberg

I am proud of my Schwitzian heritage

A most entertaining story sire. Most... amusing. I am surprised there is not a story of the gods making the first man from dirt and a great flood epic in there but time must have been short for the young Pat who no doubt had little time for fireside stories and was busy accumulating self-referencing adjectives. A busy young man indeed.

It is curious that the cartographer who has drawn up our magnificent map of Ye Knowne Worlde or Der Grosser Carte as it is known, left off the names of two of Schwitz's fine cities. Perhaps this was because they were reduced to mere rubble during the Great Stench or simply that one does not usually give names to dung heaps. However the matter has been rectified and the new cartographer who is most eager not to share the painful fate of his predecessor has noted the two are called Stollenweiss (in the west) and Altenberg (near the mountains).

The new cartographer is also busy adding more details to the improved Even Neuer Grosser Grosser Carte just arrived from the surveyor's office which shall be published in due course.

ANNOUNCEMENT THE FOURTH

ITEM ON THE AGENDA No.1

Current states and rulers with their capital cities and army uniform details where known:

Borgenmark / Freiherr Karl Furst von Duppelstein / Capital: Mikkelsensborg / 1806 Prussian uniforms
4 cities - Juulsborg, Hansensborg, Mikkelsensborg, Bergsborg
43 towns

Altmark / King Felix von Waldesborg (Thunder) / Capital: Waldeshut / Austrian influenced uniforms mostly in brown with old-fashioned looking cavalry
4 cities - Knudsenhaven, Mallingsborg, Waldeshut, Riemannsborg
46 towns

Noordemark / King Frederik XXII (Ehey) / Capital: Birkkjaerhaven / Bavarian styled uniforms
4 cities - Sorensenhaven, Asbaekhaven, Wurgen, Birkkjaerhaven
43 towns

Polstovia / Baron Grzegorz Brzęczyszczykiewicz (Kevin) / Capital: Miasto Dolina / Polish themed uniforms
4 cities - Twierdzymorskiej, Miasto Dolina, Jezioro Miejsce, Burtsfurt
43 towns

Schwitz / Freiherr Pat von Schwitz und Fifi (Pat) / Capital: Altenberg / mostly Austrian styled uniforms
5 cities - Spitzhafen, Bruckensfurt, Tonkissfurt, Stollenweiss, Altenberg
29 towns

Parnese / King Dragomir III (Martin J) / Capital: San Lioretto / mostly Austrian styled uniforms
5 cities - Torno, San Lioretto, Reina, Monte Gravina, Puglese
27 towns

Grenouisse / (Grog) / Capital: (not known - confirmation being sought) / Uniforms (not known - confirmation being sought)
6 cities - Passillon, Montrichard, Raille, Crusot, Ofteborg, Lemande
18 towns

Gelderstaad / Prins Mikkel van Groen [aka The Green Prince] (Miko) / Capital: Twerpanten / Dutch/Nassau style uniforms tending towards a green theme
5 cities - Vierwegen, Twerpanten, Sondershuus, Oorthuyshoos, Hoorten
28 towns

ITEM ON THE AGENDA No.2

Inactive states:

Phlegmark
Vestemark

(and any additional roles people would like to suggest)

ITEM ON THE AGENDA No.3

There is an area of hill country that lies astride the western border of Borgenmark and the eastern border of Altmark, in the south of those lands atop the snow dusted heights of the Massif Enorme im Zentrale, a region somewhat easterly from Riemannsborg and westerly from Bergsborg. This region is inhabited by a hardy folk, well versed in the crafts of forest, mountain and stream. These robust people, somewhat squat and ruddy of complexion due to the rarefied airs in which they dwell, are gifted in tracking, hunting, charcoal burning and skinning, as well as trading in pelts, fish, timber and forest fruits.

The leader of this people is known as Baron Maximilian von Schneider, a man who rarely descends from his hillside lair. He employs a gentleman of statecraft, one Graf Gustav von Balderikk via whom he engages with local lords and even state rulers. In past conflicts the Baron's men have provided scouts, irregular infantry and even a small body of light cavalry to fight for the highest bidder and the men are skilled in matters of Petits Guerre. Interested parties who wish to hire the Baron's soldiers as mercenaries should contact Graf von Balderikk in the first instance, via the office of Le Duc de Soilleux, the neutral intemediary.

His soldiers are rather frighteningly known as Der Wolftruppen.

ANNOUNCEMENT THE FIFTH

ITEM ON THE AGENDA No.1

NOTES ON THE ORGANISATION OF THE BORGENMARK ARMY

Each infantry regiment is 2 battalions; each battalion has a 3-pounder battalion gun.

A brigade is two regiments (4 battalions).

The 4-gun brigade battery is held under division command but usually supports its parent brigade.

On paper each battalion is 625 men, of 4 musketeer and 1 grenadier companies. On campaign the grenadiers are stripped from the parent battalions and form independent converged grenadier battalions, named after the acting major (the senior company commander).

These may be assigned 1 per brigade or amassed into a reserve or separate elite force comprising a 2- (or 4-) battalion strength brigade for every 2 (or 4) musketeer brigades.

The practice is to maintain the grenadier company at or near full strength by feeding it with the most suitable men from the musketeer companies. This results in strong grenadier battalions but noticeably weaker musketeer units.

The infantry wear dark blue with a variety of facing colours and a bicorne hat. Grenadiers, curiously, wear green with a distinctive red mitre cap. If there is an influx of musketeer 'fillers' some grenadier battalions can sport a motley mixed uniform effect, which the careful-eyed opponent can use to determine if it is full of genuine elite soldiers or watered down by new replacements. The infantry carry large square flags of Maltese cross design, the flames and corners of various colours with a heraldic eagle central clutching lightning bolts in its talons.

Landwehr provide security in their home cities and towns and cannot leave the nations borders. They also may not move far from their home settlement. Each city has a 2-battalion (on paper 1,000 man) militia regiment which has no battalion guns or grenadier companies.

Each town can muster 2 militia companies. These may fight as a 250-man half-battalion or may be formed into a 4-company battalion that will function to secure and police the region around its two parent towns.

The landwehr also form a species of police force. Due to this double call on their functions, landwehr battalions in the field are often understrength.

The landwehr wear a uniform of identical style to the musketeers but of poorer quality cloth. They can be identified by their simpler more distinctive flags emblazoned with their city or town motif.

There are two jager battalions, the first, Jager zu Fuss is armed with experimental rifles, and wear green coats and grey breeches with black cocked hats buttoned up at one side. The second Der Fliegerjager, are armed with muskets. They wear green jackets and grey breeches but sport an unusual black leather "stovepipe" style hat, quite uncommon in military dress and supposedly designed to lessen the chance of entanglements on bushes and other vegetation. These two formations are bigger battalions of 6 companies each but are often split up into pairs of companies and attached to other formations for screening and security, or kept combined for use in the Flieger Kolonne ('flying column') with attached horse artillery and light cavalry.

A number of Freikorps battalions exist, raised partly at the cost of their commanding colonels. They vary considerably in strength but err towards the small size. These have some skirmishing ability but are of dubious quality and reliability. They do provide a useful screening function. Sometimes due to their unreliable nature they are sent to garrison distant places. Their uniforms are varied and often bizarre as they are chosen by their colonels and some can take the appearance of grenadiers, jagers or indeed all manner of soldiery which can be a useful guise in battle against an unknowing opponent.

The Garde zu Fuss regiment is a 3 battalion formation of ceremonial guards that never leaves the capital. They defend the royal palace if it is attacked, or the person of the monarch when they are in residence. A single company of Garde zu Fuss attends upon the monarch when they are travelling. This duty is served in strict rotation. During ceremonial service they are attired the same as the line grenadier battalions but with finer cloth and lace but for military service they wear distinctive brown greatcoats to protect their fine uniforms.

Cavalry operate in regiments of 3 squadrons at about 450 men total. Cavalry form a high proportion of the army's troops and tend to be fielded at the ratio of 1 squadron to every infantry battalion. Almost all the Borgenmark cavalry are horse, kuirassiere or heavy dragoons which by this period are battle cavalry and no longer mounted infantry. Light cavalry are very much in a minority. The few hussars are generally irregular troops and while they can perform scouting and petits guerre operations well they are often little relied upon to be as effective in formal battle as heavy cavalry. There is a single regiment of uhlans which was raised last year and which sports red uniforms of Polstovian cut following a state visit in the spring by Baron Brzęczyszczykiewicz.

There is a 4-squadron Garde zu Pferde regiment which in peacetime performs ceremonial functions around the palace and the monarch but unlike the Garde zu Fuss, the regiment goes on campaign where it takes senior place in the first cavalry brigade of the first cavalry division. This regiment is paired with the second most senior horse regiment the 3-squadron Ritter-Grenadiere or Grenadier Knights. No expense is spared in the acquisition of fine horseflesh and dazzling uniforms for these regiments. The Borgenmark heavy cavalry is the army's strongest arm and one to be rightly feared across the Marks.

The cavalry carry small guidions in a variety of colours, chiefly red, blue, mustard yellow or green. The kuirassiere, horse and garde have square edged guidions; the hussars, dragoons and uhlans, round-tailed.

Artillery is the weakest arm of the army and is low both in numbers and firepower, and is slow to manoeuvre on the battlefield. Apart from the small and not terribly effective brigade batteries, Borgenmark fields 3 artillery "regiments". The Feld-Artillerie-Regiment employs 6-pounders in companies of 4 guns. The Haubitzen-Artillerie-Regiment uses 8-pounder howitzers in companies of 6 guns but these are often lacking in the field due to the need for large horse teams of high quality animals, upon which the heavy cavalry arm always has a priority call. These companies might go on campaign with as few as 2 or 3 guns in service. Lastly the Artillerie-Regiment zu Pferde can field only a few small batteries of 4 guns each, mixed of 4-pound and 6-pound calibres. The horse artillery is attached to the cavalry divisions. There is no heavy artillery arm.

Most artillery pieces and limbers are painted a medium blue. The horse artillery cannon and vehicles are green.

Artillery flags are small square and yellow, some rudely claim this is to identify how weak they are.

Concurrent with the GS, the Familie Brzeczyszczykiewicz rose to power in neighboring Polstovia and spread their influence, much like ants looking for food or locusts searching for that next fertile field. And so along with that influence came an odor.

A vile slur, sir. Most execrable. Your fairytales may be believed by small children and your likeminded family, but the people of Schwitz know better. They know how your clan the, Hill Williams, isolated in the mountains and breeding amongst themselves for generations, descended into the lowlands sowing chaos and destruction wherever they went. My uncle, Prinz Szczepan Brzępurewski, the true and legitimate ruler of Schwitz was too ill and too forgiving to suppress this onslaught. I assure you, sir, I am neither.
The Schwitzatonians yearn to return to the old days. They reach to the east with outstretched arms to embrace the warm and ample bosom that is Polstovia. They will not have to wait much longer.

It looks like the War of the Borgenmark Sucession will have to wait.

Miko and Grog - I have sent you both messages via Discord. Can you get back to me asap please.

All - I am working on an introductory story and battle to open the campaign. It is called The Moormont Affair and takes place on the border of Gelderstaad and Grenouisse in early April, the traditional start of the campaigning season. Watch this space.

Kevin - I think the bosom to which you refer is Madam Fifis and indeed many Schwitzians and Polstovians yearn for it. In fact her business model is based on it.
Overall though it saddens me to see in you such venom whilst in such denial. Your adjustment to annexation by Schwitz will not be easy. We will do our best to help your transition into submission. We have pamphlets and even trained counselors.

And I am not sure what your Uncle told you about what he did but trust me it had little to do with governance. Unless you view it as his governance of the bucket of waste he carried around for us when people were in need of bowel or bladder relief on family picnics. He was a nice guy and all but really had nothing to do with our political infrastructure or leadership functions. Again, just a re-education thing for you and we can help.

Digby - do you prefer PM via this site, discord or email for any specifics of my army or things that might or might not have to do with Kevin that he doesn’t need to know about? Also on behalf of my humble People we appreciate your gesture in replacing sub par cartographers.

King Frederick briefly considered relocating the capital of Noordenmark somewhere warmer but when informed that there was no such land within the borders he resolved to retain it at Birkjearhaven. Just so it's on the record.

King Frederik, the nomination of your fair and icy capital city is noted. It seems the Noordmark army may be in need of a lot of moose fur lined undergarments, the supply of which is a trading opportunity some merchants may wish to rise to.

Freiherr von Pat - Sir, - and all other monarchs and gentlemen of the ruling classes - please send all communications you do not wish to be specifically public via the offices of my press officer and legal counsel, Le Duc de Soilleux, whose address is below. This gentlemen will then forward them on after copies have been kept in case of a future need to legally defend our fine neutral office against any unforeseen... problems.

martinsc (at) gmx (dot) com

Having seen the revised map I must say I am very excited to actually SEE my towns and cities with names. My only question: Are you sure that the Eastern border of Schwitz is accurate? I could have sworn it extended much farther in a generally Eastern direction. Like really far. Edge of the map far. There is some other country sitting where my eastern frontier is supposed to be. Is that something you can correct now before things begin?

The nation of Altmark has a very military driven tradition. Forcing every man to do a 2 year stint in the military. This provides a strong military and driven economy.
The people of Altmark are a fiercely independent lot. Choosing to produce everything on their own instead of importing from outside the nation. Doing this means there are less resources, and inferior products to that of other nations, but less worry if the nation goes to war. Even the domain of Altmark was independent for a long time and was the last nation to fall to the Borgenmark Kingdom.

The last war between Borgenmark and Altmark was a long a bloody war between the understrength Altaian forces and the ineptly lead Empire forces. For most of the war it was a stalemate as the Altaians out maneuvered the slow and ponderous Empire forces. The war ended when a general in high command defected to the empire and gave misleading intel. This intel lead the Altaian army into being out of position and the Empire army took the Altmark Capital of Knutzonborg and captured the king forcing him to surrender.

Borgenmark realizing that Altmark was to big to leave alone they broke the nation in two and moved the capital to Waldeshut. The new nation was called Vestemark. This move greatly insulted the Altaians and to reduce the resentment the king of Borgenmark began a tradition of marrying the Altmark royal family in the attempt to bind the two nations together. Over the years the Altmark government used the growing influence to help Altmark grow. They managed to get the Artillery School moved to Mallingsborg and the Staff college built at Waldeshut. In addition they influenced major industry and manufacturing companies to move into Altmark. The Stone Ironworks set up in Riemannsborg and the Vickers Armory was built in Waldeshut.

With the turmoil in the succession debate and the Polstovian, Schwitz cold war it may be time for the kingdom of Altmark to rightfully reclaim its independence and take it's place on the world stage once again. Long live Altmark.

Thank you for this Your Majesty. Records are being taken of each nation's history for the purposes of establishing the character of the states in this affair. However this office will amend each record to produce an official version, so rulers are gently warned not to attempt to paint their states as hugely successful superpowers with perfect claims to the Borgenmark throne.

Do please be aware that Borgenmark is a Kingdom, not an empire.

No state can survive without cross border trade as none are self-sufficient - the Altanian economy is therefore currently somewhat depressed by this attempt to become self-sufficient and no nation has a Staff College at this time, such things being decades in the future. In fact the Mallingborg 'staff college' was an expensive failure since the sons of the blue-blooded nobility refused to attend, claiming that since they are of the upper classes the skill to manage and effectively conduct the art of war flows in their veins and none needs to be insulted by being sent to school. The college therefore quickly descended into a place where quite the 'wrong sort' of common officer attended and few graduates ever attain senior rank, most going to the dirty jobs in the artillery and engineers. As an unexpected side effect this has filled the Altanian artillery with a new type of officer who, while he is efficient and knows his job, also refuses to keep to his place and thus the Altanian artillery and to a lesser extent, the engineers are a hotbed of liberalist thinking, some claim even revolutionary ideals! A most dangerous situation.

While the attempt was made to move industry from Vestemark to Altmark this was not entirely successful since the Vestemark concerns resisted, and therefore competition began between the old and new factories, driving down prices and not assisting economic growth. The ironstone mined at Riemannsborg is of a lower quality to that found in the district of Broog across the border.

Concerning the history of Schwitz, there is an undercurrent of resentment in the Schwitz nobility regarding the fact that "Pat" (or however he styles himself) is no more than a royal bastard and not eligible to rule. There is a growing resistance in the Schwitz military against a commoner being in the former royal palace. One cannot take the seat of anointed kings if one is the son of a Red Lady.

The northern farming and fishing communities also bear resentment against 'von Pat' for abandoning their critical position in the former nation's economy.

To the grand nations and royales of this fine land. I, Graf Gustaf von Balderikk, write on behalf of Baron Maximilian von Schneider, to the interest of all concerned in the nature of warfare. Fear not the lives and livelyhoods of your loyal subjects, those brave men who choose to serve in your forces, for Baron Maximilian von Schneider has a proposal for you. Der Wolftruppen is available for hire! With men of foot, cannon in support, and cavalry to drive victory, our band of fighting men are ready to support the independance of any nation that may find themselves caught up in these most troubling and turbulent times. Capable of taking any action neccessary, Der Wolftruppen has a long history of taking part in the many conflicts and wars that have bespoiled the beloved countryside of these great nations. Men of the hills, used to the hardy nature of an army on the move, for a price these men and the command of Baron Maximilian von Schneider are yours to use to bolster any campaign.

I await your deliberated and considered reply with anticipation for the months to come.

Graf Gustaf von Balderikk, on behalf of Baron Maximilian von Schneider.

Return address: Manor on the hill, astride the border of Borgenmark and eastern Altmark, down the road from Mrs. Miggins Pie Shoppe.

My only question: Are you sure that the Eastern border of Schwitz is accurate? I could have sworn it extended much farther in a generally Eastern direction. Like really far. Edge of the map far. There is some other country sitting where my eastern frontier is supposed to be. Is that something you can correct now before things begin?

Please do not worry yourself about a line on the map. I shall be erasing it very soon once I begin annexation. Polstovians everywhere are excited at the prospect of their kinsmen in Schwitz rejoining the Motherland. I may even allow your Hill-Williams clan to remain, should you humbly submit now before blood is shed. If not, you would do well to begin relocating your them to some other mountainous range farther to the west.

-Baron Grzegorz Brzęczyszczykiewicz

Kinsmen

Yes indeed kinsmen. As we share the same mother.

But Why such veiled references to purposeful armed conflict? Do you harbor resentment from the past? Dear brother we cannot change unfortunate history: Stenches. A shared but possibly disreputable matriarch. Cartographical errors.

Yet there is much good in our history, my brother. Remember the vacations to the Altmark coast with mother? Summers in the Vettel foothills? We used to ride together pretending we were knights of old. Mother always said you were better at the joust than I. You know I never blamed you for that accidental impalement. That young lad had a full life of 12 years until that day. He simply did not move fast enough as you ran him through. Granted, Had he lived it would have been so much easier to explain my royal lineage to others. Alas, one must adjust.

I look forward to a more congenial dialogue in the future. There is much unrest and I see no reason to add to it

ANNOUNCEMENT THE SIXTH

ITEM ON THE AGENDA No.1

Tax income will be linked to the overall population and their productivity from agriculture, industry and trade. This will increase if effort is expended in financially supporting and encouraging these and may fall if wars are fought on your soil or there is a bad harvest.

In addition there is a weekly gift donated by the nobles, gentry and other persons of note to the royal coffers which is a mark of the esteem in which they hold the ruler and the government. Esteem may rise or fall as a result of actions or public declarations by the states ruler. How these fluctuations occur is not for discussion but will follow historical grounds based on the social norms of the time. Think how Louis XIV behaved and how respected and honourable the upper echelons of his people considered him. Remember this is prior to the French revolution and an age of extreme distance between the classes.

ITEM ON THE AGENDA No.2

Persons available for military service is a number related to the number and size of settlements and the overall area of land within the state. It can increase if the economy is poor and decrease if trade, farming and industry are booming.

ITEM ON THE AGENDA No.3

The cost of raising military forces (in Marks):

Musketeer/Fusilier/Regular Foot = 2
Grenadier = 4
Foot Guard = 6 (1)
Regular Light Foot/Jager/Grassin/Tirailleur/Fantassin = 5
Landwehr/Militia/Opolchenie = 1 (2)
Provincial Landwehr/Militia/Opolchenie = 0.5 (3)
Freikorps/Kleintruppen = 1 (actually 1.5 but part paid for by colonel) (4)

Chevauleger/Light Dragoon = 5
Dragoon = 6
Horse/Cuirassier = 8
Hussar = 7
Uhlan = 7
Kazak/Uzbek, etc = 4 (5)
Freikorps = 3 (actually 5 but part paid for by colonel) (4)

Brigade Gun (3 pdr/12 men) = 60 (maximum one per battalion)
Field Gun (3 pdr/12 men) = 60
Field Gun (4 pdr/15 men) = 90
Field Gun (6 pdr/20 men) = 120
Position Gun (12 pdr/30 men) = 240
Horse Gun (3/4/6 pdr - 15/20/30 men) = 180/240/300
Light Howitzer (6"/20 men) = 120
Heavy Howitzer (8"/30 men) = 240

For each gun in a company more than the first two = +10 (excludes brigade guns)
For a battalion HQ = 20
For a regiment HQ (foot or horse)(max. 4 btns/4 sqdns) = 40
For an artillery company HQ = 20 (excludes brigade guns)
For a brigade HQ = 50
For a division HQ = 100

Upkeep cost for an infantryman in the field per week = 0.2
Upkeep cost for a cavalry trooper in the field per week = 0.5
Upkeep cost for an artillery piece and team in the field per week = 2.0

ITEM ON THE AGENDA No.4

Notes on military formations and troops:

Maximum size of an infantry battalion or cavalry regiment is 600 men; advise how many equal-sized companies/squadrons this is
(1) At the moment each nation may have a single 2-battalion regiment of Garde zu Fuss or similar troops at zero cost, totalling 1,000 men. These however are ceremonial and their duty is protection of the capital city only. If it is wished that these are eligible for campaign they must be paid for to represent equipping and supplying them for field service.
(2) Local forces that may not leave the borders of their state.
(3) Provincial militia are bound even closer to their locale as they also act as police forces.
(4) The colonel raising these troops will issue equipment and uniforms of his choosing. They should be considered less reliable in formal battle.
(5) Irregulars. The numbers under command should be expected to fluctuate and these units may even disperse if a campaign is going badly. Conversely their numbers might swell if they sense things are going well and the opportunity for plunder increases. As the local tribesmen bring their own horses and equipment they are very cheap to raise, the cost effectively being a gift to the clan leader in return for supplying a body of troops.

The armies depicted in the campaign aim to represent the 1770s when light infantry was yet to reach its full potential. Generally the only troops that can skirmish will be light infantry battalions/jagers etc. Line troops never skirmish. Freikorps can but are less adept at this tactic.

Hussars are still considered irregulars and are not yet full battle cavalry. Freikorps cavalry likewise are semi-informal troops better suited to scouting and screening than battlefield charges.

States may use battalion guns at a rate of one per battalion but due to the limitations of SoW these must be formed into separate batteries at 2 or 4 guns per unit. They operate as divisional assets in the same manner as other artillery.

Be warned that 12 pounders and 8" howitzers will be extremely slow.

ITEM ON THE AGENDA No.5

All monarchs have been sent their annual budgets and manpower pools. You may commence raising armies gentlemen. Please forward your requested structures to the usual address.

A Clarification Regarding the Expense of Militia.

Your Royal Highnesses, Lords, Gentlemen

Militia battalions do not attract regiment or brigade costs, only the cost of the soldiers and their battalion headquarters. These troops also cost nothing to upkeep as they are civilians who live at home and are not a burden on the state unless called up to fight. This however also means they are immobile. If you need them to march elsewhere other than their home town(s), however, then upkeep becomes payable. These units form into ad hoc brigades if they are called upon to fight, or single battalions can be added to regular infantry brigades, therefore no standing brigade/regiment headquarters costs apply.

Thank you.

Le Duc de Soilleux

How does the quality of the soldiers work? Is a line infantry battalion going to be the same quality across the board?

I'm presuming this would be a good place to inform you of the sprites we wish to use as well. Is there a specific format you want us to reference the sprites or just file name from that folder of options?

Your Majesty

Troop quality ... is a question we are not able to answer. If you wish to drill and train your troops, you can spend money on this. There are other ways to improve the morale and well-being of your troops and their officers. We leave individual rulers to consider ways that might be accomplished. It may be one of those factors affected by the esteem of the ruler as well.

A link to pictures of the available sprites was given earlier. Please inform this office which ones you wish to use via the image name. Our understanding is that your soldiers will style themselves off Bavarian uniforms but more details of cavalry would assist us greatly.

For your convenience Sire, here are the paintings again, all exquisite miniatures produced by our Department of Arts and Crafts:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/uzdkgd8ktv6fss6/Sprites.rar

As ever Sire, with all respects, yours sincerely

Le Duc de Soilleux

ANNOUNCEMENT THE SEVENTH

ITEM ON THE AGENDA No.1

Rulers and their army high commands may find that they require more money to maintain an army of their choosing. We have engaged the services of a reputable finance house, Messrs. Betrüger und Hochstapler whose senior partner, Philipp Anton von Klugenheit, is available, via this office, to discuss terms of fiscal support.

No country is an island. Individually we wither yet together we thrive. Come join the Greater East Borgenmark Co-Prosperity Sphere. There is so much more to Schwitz than meets the eye.

I think a few remarks here about army composition may be of use to some. My intention is to set this campaign historically before the time of Napoleon. I have begun using the year 1790 in my e-mails but really the feel I want to go for is earlier - after the Seven Years War but before the French Revolution so around the early 1780s possibly.

These armies are very definitely of the Ancien Regime type and the Prussian army of 1806 is a fair model.

Musketeers should be the primary and most numerous type. Grenadier battalions ought to be in a ratio of about 1:4 to 1:6 to musketeer battalions.

Light troops are individual single battalion regiments and so that our online battles do not take on too much of a Napoleonic nature I will allow only 1/2 a light infantry battalion to operate with each brigade - say 250 to 350 men maximum. Light infantry are usually used in terrain that is unsuitable for close order troops - woods, scrub, towns, marsh, hillsides. Please try to avoid using them as screens ahead of your musketeers in Napoleonic fashion.

The most common cavalry type should be dragoons, or chevauleger, followed by horse or cuirassiers. Hussars at this time could be a little irregular in nature and will be rated so they are NOT effective battle cavalry. They will however be excellent for scouting and screening - as will light infantry. Uhlans should be rare and are limited to the eastern states only. Only Polstovia may use Kazaks.

Freikorps (infantry and cavalry) can be as numerous as you wish but be aware their ratings will be low so they make useful screen, patrol and garrison troops but are less effective in formal battle. They will have their stats adjusted upwards in mountainous and forest regions.

Artillery should tend towards lighter guns and smaller batteries. Horse batteries should be no more than about 1:6 of all guns, the same for 12 pdrs.

Initially I did not impose any structure limits but having seen a couple of proposed OOBs that are not ancien style regime armies I think these guidelines might help.

If anyone would like suggestions for an OOB, please ask. The Borgenmark army structure is, I hope, a helpful guide.

As for social norms, please try to put aside any modern thinking about equality, liberalism, socialism, rights for the common man and so on. The French revolution is in the future, as are army staffs. The armies (and governments) of the day were run by the nobility and other landed gentry in a completely amateur manner. Birth and bloodlines meant everything, skill and aptitude might even be looked down upon and anyone who went into the dirty army branches of the artillery or engineers could really kiss any decent high rank career goodbye. This was the golden age of 'who you knew, not what you knew'. Please try not to think of your ordinary soldiers as anything more than criminals, scum and ignorant peasants worthy of anything more than cannon fodder.

Conversely the farmer is valued and looked upon as important, a stout yeoman working hard to feed his family and those in his neighbourhood - and of course giving tithes to church and lord of the manor. The fisherman likewise was a hard working person to be looked upon with pride. Merchants were tolerated but not valued in society. Their business helped societies function but making money off others was seen as a little unclean still. The entrepreneur was unknown. Medicine, science, engineering and the budding industrial revolution were all, at this time, driven by the philanthropic actions of noblemen who might treat the study of diseases or how water could best be pumped uphill as a kind of hobby.

This was a world owned and controlled by those with land, money and title. If you try to bend your society into any other form it could very quickly dent the esteem in which your people that matter (aka those with land, money and title) hold you.

Apologies all for some recent slow down. Other things have jumped up the priorities ladder in what passes for a social life that I have but all the relevant e-mails are glaring at me accusingly from my in-tray demanding that I process them so I'll be back with some replies/more forwarded letters ASAP.

ANNOUNCEMENT THE EIGHTH

ITEM ON THE AGENDA No.1

In response to a recent question from one of the monarchs concerning the raising of new troops.

Recruits for musketeer units can be raised in a month. The practice generally is to replace losses from other units from the musketeer regiments, so the smallest and most nimble men, of quick minds get moved to the light infantry and the biggest and strongest to the grenadiers. The most veteran and well decorated grenadiers get moved to the garde, or an especially victorious and disciplined grenadier unit may even be promoted to the status of garde.

There is also the case in desperate times of simply impressing manpower into the lowest tiers of infantry while on the march in foreign (and even friendly!) lands. This practice is frowned upon but happens nonetheless. One should consider however that doing so will in the medium term lead to higher desertion rates and a possible drop in unit quality and discipline.

Cavalry troopers require two months to train. Again, losses in the heavy and light cavalry can be made good via shifting men from the dragoon or light dragoon regiments.

An artillery unit requires three months to raise. About 50% of men in a battery are the labourers and teamsters and these can be replaced again from the infantry and cavalry. The other half tend to be the specialists however and can only be got after a good deal of schooling.

Schwitz-Noordemark Trade Agreement

A trade treaty has been signed between the kingdom of Noordemark and the state of Schwitz. The treaty has set to zero cross-border taffis for road traffic and shipping for all non-military goods and produce moving between the two nations by land or water and conveyed by the native merchants of either state.

A Fishy Matter

The Noordemark Fisherman’s Guild master, a Monsieur Shermont du Meckrel, is also placing at the disposal of members of the Schwitz fishing community, the skills of the Noordemark fishery experts in an agreement to boost the Schwitz northern waters fishery industry.

Convivial Relations

It has been reported in court circles that Freiherr von Pat of Schwitz and King Dragomir of Parnese are renewing the friendship of their youth. A flurry of letters of most cordial tone are reported to have passed along the highways between the capital cities of the two nations and it would seem that peaceful co-existence between these two houses is assured for the foreseeable future. There are also hints at a possible trade agreement.

Military Exercises in the Borgenmark?

There has been a noted increase in border patrol activity within the parent state of the Marks. Parties of green-coated jagers and vedettes of garishly dressed hussars have been seen by travellers and traders on the road crossings near Bruckensfurt and Ostebourg and it has been reported from Juulsborg and Hansensborg that parties of soldiery are afoot, marching hither and thither and conducting their drills in the city squares, much to the delight of the burghers who are always impressed by a show of military prowess.

There has thus far been no official statement from the capital, Mikkelsensborg, offering an explanation for this unusual activity though it does suggest that military readiness has been raised.

All Quiet in the Southern Regions

There is no news emanating from Grenouisse or Gelderstaad, it appears these states are enjoying the mild spring weather and their stout farming communities are busy with the necessary task of preparing this seasons crops.

ANNOUNCEMENT THE NINTH

ITEM ON THE AGENDA No.1

It is the end of March. The campaigning season traditionally opens in April, on the 1st of that month to be precise, the Feast of All Fool's Day. Each state may select one of its divisions to be dispersed if and as required at border posts within its realm. All other forces are encamped at the capital city. Landwehr troops may be encamped at their home towns.

This office is now open to receive and process any orders for troops to march!

To the assembled rulers.

I have received no final, and in the last case, proposed army organisations for the following states. Please supply these as soon as you are able.

Altmark - army OOB submitted but queries raised
Polstovia - army OOB submitted but queries raised
Parnese
Grenouisse
Gelderstaad

The game is now live. Those who have forces which have been approved may issue orders, however you cannot send forces across the borders of any state that hasn't yet supplied its army OOB and therefore that state must be considered neutral.