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/XIV

Claparede

4SP Sk1

Conscript

2/XIV

Berthezene

4SP Sk1

Conscript

3/XIV

Razout

4SP Sk1

Conscript

C/XIV

Pajol

5 SP, LC

Trained

1A/XIV

12pdr Foot Arty

2A/XIV

12pdr Foot Arty

Cavalry Reserve (CR)

Marshal Murat 4/6" (V) Aggressive

(Roll from Turn 2)

L/CR

L'Heritier

6SP LC

Veteran

H/CR

Latour-Maubourg

7SP HC

Elite

Guard Infantry (G)

Marshal Mortier 2/6" (V) Aggressive

(Roll from Turn 1)

OGD/G

Friant

8SP Sk2

Guard

1YGD/G

Mortier

7SP Sk2

Elite

2YGD/G

Ney

7SP Sk2

Elite

A/G

12pdr 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/L

As Advance Guard

5SP MX Sk2

Trained

1/L

As Line Infantry

5SP Sk1

Trained

C/L

As Kuirassiers

7SP HC

Elite

A/L

As 12pdr Foot Arty

Center ( C )

Barclay 2/8"

1/C

As Line Infantry

5SP Sk1

Trained

2/C

As Grenadiers

6SP

Elite

3/C

Ru Grenadiers

6SP

Elite

C/C

Ru Heavy Cavalry

6SP HC

Elite

A/C

Ru 12pdr Foot Arty

Right Wing ( R  )

Wittgenstein 3/6" Cautious

1/L

Pr Infantry

5SP MX Sk2

Veteran

2/L

Ru Jagers

5SP Sk1

Veteran

C/L

Pr Light Cavalry

5 SP LC

Trained

A/L

Ru 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.