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mariovalleemtl -> RE: Napoleon 1813 (1/28/2009 3:08:40 AM)
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NAPOLEON 1813 - WARGAMER 1.
WHAT IS WARGAMER?
‘Wargamer’ is a flexible, REAL TIME, engine. The engine covers both the strategic and tactical level, allowing the player to plan his campaigns, utilize resources and take command for crucial battles. The emphasis is on command, leadership and sound strategic planning rather than the ‘micro management’ of individual units. The first game in the series is ‘NAPOLEON - 1813’
EASE OF PLAY - although Wargamer has a wealth of advanced options for the true buff, the casual player can maneuver his forces with a simple mouse click.
NAPOLEON 1813.
- ‘Napoleon’ covers the 1813 - 1814 campaign in which France under Napoleon was opposed by most of Europe. The remnants of the French ‘Grande Armee’ has retreated from Russia into Germany, pursued by the armies of the Czar. The Prussians, seeing an opportunity to avenge the humiliation of Jena swiftly rise against the hated French.
Massive armies sweep across Germany as both sides desperately raise fresh forces to throw into the fray. As the conflict expands, Sweden, Austria and Denmark are drawn into the campaign which culminates in the massive encounter outside Leipzig where for three days 200,000 French troops struggle against 350,000 Russians, Prussians and Austrians in the epic ‘Battle of the Nations’.
- Historically, in one of the largest battles ever fought in Europe, Napoleon was defeated. Forced back into France he waged a brilliant defensive campaign until weight of numbers forced him to abdicate in 1814.
- ‘Napoleon 1813’ recreates these titanic events. Historically the war concluded with the downfall of one of history’s greatest generals. Can the player succeed where Napoleon failed, or as Blucher can he lead his troops in triumph through Paris?
THE GAME.
- The player is cast in the role of supreme commander. As such he must organize his forces and plan a coherent strategy for winning the war. He will have to manage a wide variety of different troops and leaders of varying ability and forge his armies into a war winning tool. It is a game of leadership, command and strategic planning.
- ‘Napoleon’ covers both the strategic and tactical aspects of this vast conflict. The campaign map covers an area from Paris to Breslau (west to east) and from Hamburg to Vienna (north to south). A carefully constructed communication network system elegantly portrays the reality of Napoleonic maneuver without over burdening the player with a host of special rules. It is here that the player must make his strategic plans, raise fresh troops and organize his forces.
- A key facet of the game are the historical personalities involved, including the dashing Murat, the inspiring Blucher and Marshal Ney - ‘the Bravest of the Brave’. All the leaders who fought in the campaign are rated for Initiative, Staffwork, Charisma, Aggression, Tactical Ability (and more!). Those commanders who proved especially skilled at leading cavalry or commanding massed artillery are accounted for. Some leaders are even rated as ‘Lucky’! A key part of the game is giving the right job to the right commander.
- When a battle occurs the player has the option of fighting it out using Wargamer’s Tactical engine. Here he can see his army come to colorful life as his units maneuver (in real time) across the screen in their magnificent uniforms. Every battlefield is generated from scratch so every encounter will be different.
- Just as leaders have their own ratings, so do the units which range from the elite Old Guard (the Grognards’) to hastily raised conscripts (the ‘Marie Louises’). Units are rated for Morale, Fire Shock, Control and Response amongst others.
WARGAMER 1 FEATURES.
· Combines both a strategic and tactical level simulation in one game. Players will organize and maneuver their forces across the main strategic map. When they contact the enemy the player may choose to fight the battle using the tactical engine (or simply ask the program to give him the result).
· Advanced AI which gives a challenging game and incorporates the ideas of the foremost military theorists of the age - Napoleon, Clausewitz and Jomini.
· This is a ‘real time’ wargame. However, wargamers who dislike this may instead opt to play the game in 'turns' of 1 day or 1 weeks duration.
· Multiple scenarios, ranging from an all embracing campaign, to smaller scenarios and even single battles.
· Emphasizes command control & leadership. The varying abilities of the historical commanders are accurately reflected in the game mechanics. The player may edit these should he disagree with the opinions of the designers!
· The game includes over one hundred different troop types, all with unique characteristics & uniforms. The units represented range from the elite Old Guard to hastily raised Freikorps.
· Factors such as supplies and resource management are included without turning the player into a mere quartermaster.
· From the combat mechanics to the artwork care has been taken to ensure a true Napoleonic atmosphere is generated for the player.
· Wargamer even includes effects such as changing weather conditions and generals falling ill.
BATTLE GAME FEATURES.
· Realistic terrain generated ‘on the fly’. Not only is every battlefield different but the tactical terrain also takes account of the terrain in the strategic area (e.g. if the battle takes place in the Bohemian mountains then the tactical terrain will be considerable more hilly than one fought in the Low Countries).
· The formations and uniforms of all the various troop types accurately depicted.
· The special abilities of leaders who were especially skilled at handling massed cavalry (e.g. Murat or Nansouty) or concentrated artillery (e.g. Sorbier).
· Fully integrated into the strategic game. Therefore reinforcements can ‘march to the sound of the guns’ and arrive unexpectedly on the enemy’s flank, perhaps turning a desperate rearguard action into a brilliant victory.
GAME OPTIONS.
The player can choose from a wide range of options, allowing him to customize the game to suit his own style of play. The game can range from a simple strategy game to a highly sophisticated model of Napoleonic conflict. It aims to appeal to both the casual strategy gamer and the true Napoleonic ‘grognard’. These options include :-
· Fog of War. Limited intelligence on the locations, strengths and intentions of enemy forces. Such information will me influenced by location, leadership and the relative strengths of the opposing cavalry. This will be a feature in both the strategic and tactical games.
· Command Control. Armies cannot respond instantly to their commanders orders, especially in the pre radio age. This option imposes realistic delays as orders and information travel up and down the chain of command. This applies to both the strategic and tactical game.
· Leader & Unit Initiative. Commanders and soldiers are not 'mindless automatons'. With this option a player will have to deal with his subordinates believing that 'they know best' and modifying (or even ignoring!) their instructions accordingly. To what extent this occurs depends on the subordinates character, the information they have on the enemy and to what degree the orders they have been issued with are at variance to their 'natural inclination'. This applies to both the strategic and tactical game.
· Attrition. Armies lost more men through disease, fatigue and desertion then they ever did on the battlefield. With this option on a player will have to plan his marches and supply chain carefully or risk seeing his forces dwindle to nothing before they encounter the enemy.
· Random Events. Sometimes 'blind chance' can disrupt even the best laid plans. When playing with this option gamers will have to contend with commanders falling ill at inopportune moments, allied fickleness, bridges being washed away and quarreling high commands (to name just a few).
and many more.
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