domenica 11 aprile 2021

Dresden 1813 Scenario

I recently played a scenario for the battle of Dresden in 1813, using my Grande Armee fast rules. The scenario itself wasn't the full scenario with all units represented, but a "lite" version based on a Table Top Teaser from the April '79 issue of Military Modeling: "The Hasty Defense and relief of a Town", which is itself inspired by the battle of Dresden.

I usually prefer to play the original battle scenario, but sometimes playing a scenario that is just inspired by a real battle may be a better solution: it usually has a condensed number of units and terrain, which may be better suited to my models and terrain, and a streamlined mechanic that still catches the key points of the real battle while ensuring more balance and ease of play. Using historical unit designations and commanders' names helps retain the historical flavor.

The original teaser map


In this case I felt the scenario was already well designed so I just adapted some units and the terrain, and slightly revised the schedule for the French reinforcements.


Basic Turn Length: 6 Turns

Weather: Normal    Ground: Hard

FRENCH ARMY
CO: Napoleon (Great)Army Morale: Fair (BP=4)
Napoleonic Army of 1 Force, then 2 Forces, then 3 Forces
XIV Corps (XIV)Marshal Gouvion St.Cyr 2/9"
(At Start)
1/XIVClaparede4SP Sk1Conscript
2/XIVBerthezene4SP Sk1Conscript
3/XIVRazout4SP Sk1Conscript
C/XIVPajol5 SP, LCTrained
1A/XIV12pdr Foot Arty
2A/XIV12pdr Foot Arty
Cavalry Reserve (CR)Marshal Murat 4/6" (V) Aggressive
(Roll from Turn 2)
L/CRL'Heritier6SP LCVeteran

H/CRLatour-Maubourg7SP HCElite
Guard Infantry (G)Marshal Mortier 2/6" (V) Aggressive
(Roll from Turn 1)
OGD/GFriant8SP Sk2Guard
1YGD/GMortier7SP Sk2Elite
2YGD/GNey7SP Sk2Elite
A/G12pdr Foot Arty

ALLIED ARMY
CO: Schwarzemberg (Average)Army Morale: Fair (BP=4)
Napoleonic Army of 3 Forces
Left Wing (L)Gyulai 3/6" Aggressive
AG/LAs Advance Guard5SP MX Sk2Trained
1/LAs Line Infantry5SP Sk1Trained
C/LAs Kuirassiers7SP HCElite
A/LAs 12pdr Foot Arty
Center ( C )Barclay 2/8"
1/CAs Line Infantry5SP Sk1Trained
2/CAs Grenadiers6SPElite
3/CRu Grenadiers6SPElite
C/CRu Heavy Cavalry6SP HCElite
A/CRu 12pdr Foot Arty
Right Wing ( R  )Wittgenstein 3/6" Cautious
1/LPr Infantry5SP MX Sk2Veteran
2/LRu Jagers5SP Sk1Veteran
C/LPr Light Cavalry5 SP LCTrained
A/LRu 12pdr Foot Arty


SCENARIO SPECIAL RULES:

XIV Corps artillery batteries:
The two 12pdr Foot artillery units start the game behind hard cover (redoubts, see map). They can't move or change facing, but are never considered out of command.

French Reinforcements:
During Turn 1, at the end of each Pulse, the French player rolls 1d6: if result is lower than current pulse, the Guard Infantry (including the artillery) and Napoleon enter the along the road north of the river. If turn 1 ends before they enter, they enter at the start of Turn 2.

During Turn 2, at the end of each Pulse, the French player rolls 1d6: if result is lower than current pulse, the Cavalry Reserve enters the along the road north of the river. If turn 2 ends before they enter, they enter at the start of Turn 3.


Optional rules:
Weather: the real battle of Dresden was fought during a rain, which restricted the use of muskets. The original teaser was set in a normal weather, but if you want to fight in more historical conditions, then weather should be overcast and prone to change.

XIV Corps conscripts: the three divisions of the French XIV Corps were made up of conscripts, but they fought well enough to resist until help arrived. If players feel they are depicted as too weak make them 5SP strong instead of 4SP. They should remain of Conscript training. This option obviously favors the French side.