Thursday, November 29, 2007

Another Stagonian Conversation

Koenig Maurice the Vile, King of Stagonia, wondered aloud if there had been any word from their secret agent in Scandalusia.

"Not yet, Your Majesty," replied his Foreign Minister, Baron Gustav von Rumpel, "but the cover identity that selected really pleased your spy chief, Count von Drednoz."

"And what was that identity again, Baron?" asked the king.

"I don't know, Sire. The Count wouldn't tell me. He said if he told me, he'd half to kill me . . . and I got the impression he wanted to tell me."

Thursday, November 22, 2007

A Scene in the Palace

(a scene in the palace of Koenig Maurice of Stagonia)


The servants whisper that the rumors are true. His Majesty is indeed playing with some strange toys.

He had glass blowers make a bunch of glass "soldier" figures, then had them painted in Tipplebruder colors.

He has lined them up at one end of the great table and he crouches at the other end and, using a spoon as a catapult, he launches lead shot toward the figures . . . and chortles every time one of the glass figures is smashed.

Surely the man has lost his wits . . . surely.

Monday, November 5, 2007

Planning the Proxy Battle

This is in the way of a summation of what we know so far.

The town of Tippelbruder has been threatened by Stagonia and is expecting to be attacked. Some time ago (August), various other countries volunteered certain troops for its defense.

We are now setting up a "Proxy Battle" to be run by Arthur (of Frankzonian fame), who uses the KOENIG KRIEG rules . . . although he prefers to double the number of stands. If doubled, it meshes very well with my own "Tricorne Wars" rules in terms of numbers.

Therefor, Arthur, I have translated things into the "6-stand battalion" numbers. I have left the artillery and cavalry a bit vague because I understand that you have fewer numbers of these figures available. If you need to play on your smaller table, you'll have to adjust numbers for the smaller battalion size.

Anyhow, here is a rundown using the standards mentioned above (and presuming all reserves have reached the battlefield):


From David of Tippelbruder -- mercenaries + townies:
  • Hussars -- 3 squadrons
  • 1 line battalion of 5 stands (musketeers)
  • 1 light battalion of 3 stands (Croats)
  • 10 skirmish stands of 2-men (combined lights)
  • light artillery
From Jeff of Saxe-Bearstein:
  • 2 line battalions of 6 stands (musketeers less their grenadiers
  • 1 grenadier battalion of 5 stands (includes those from battalions)
  • 1 skirmish stand of 2-men
  • medium artillery
From Jonathan of Hesse-Engleburg:
  • Hussars -- 1 squadron
  • 1 small battalion of 3 stands
  • 2 skirmish stands of 2-men
From Allan of Wittenberg:
  • 1 line battalion of 6 stands
  • light artillery
From Fitz-Badger of Soweiter League:
  • 1 Highlander battalion of 6 stands
From Murdock of Mieczyslaw:
  • Dragoons -- 4 squadrons
  • 1 line battalion of 5 stands
Thus, in total (at the 25-1 ratio), the Defenders have:
  • c.8 battalions (45 stands)
  • 3 mounted forces (8 squadrons total)
  • 13 two-man stands of light troops
  • artillery (almost all light guns)

Now, given the divided nature of these forces, I suspect that Stagonia should make do with approximately the same number of foot rather than the usual greater number. Thus I'm suggesting two brigades of foot (four battalions each) and a brigade of mounted (three units) with the normal light troops and artillery that we use.

We also tend to roll for what actually makes it to the battlefield and I have done that. So, here is what I got with my die rolls for units and numbers:


INFANTRY (total of 43 stands):
  • IR-1 von Hirschbock (elite) -- 6 stands
  • IR-2 du Breiz (veteran) -- 6 stands
  • IR-4 du Lepps (veteran) -- 5 stands
  • IR-5 O'Duffy (veteran) -- 6 stands
  • IR-6 De Marmier (raw) -- 6 stands
  • IR-7 von Gruber (raw) -- 4 stands
  • IR-9 von Krinkle (raw) -- 5 stands
  • IR-10 St. Cyr (veteran) -- 5 stands
MOUNTED (total of 10 squadrons):
  • CR-1 von Kirschstein Kuirassier (elite) -- 4 squadrons
  • DR-9 Moliere Dragoons (raw) -- 4 squadrons
  • DR-10 Pfeiffer Dragoons (raw) -- 2 squadrons
SKIRMISHERS (7 stands):
  • Icelauf Jagers (raw) -- 4 stands
  • Blut Jagers (raw) -- 3 stands
ARTILLERY (all veteran) --
  • 1 x medium battery
  • 2 x light batteries (one with each infantry brigade)
This gives the Defenders a very slight advantage in numbers of foot, double the skirmishers and a bit of a disadvantage in mounted (although I suspect the Stagonian C-in-C will keep the Kuirassier as his reserve, thus negating his mounted edge). Artillery is probably about equal, but again the Defenders will probably have an extra light battery.

While this sounds like Stagonia is set-up to lose, again I will remind you that the Defenders are NOT a unified command. It is composed of six separate forces . . . each having its own "break point" (whatever that may be). And, of course, if Koenig Maurice has miscalculated and Stagonia loses, that's hardly something to cry about, is it?

So, how does this look to everyone overall? Arthur, do you have enough troops to manage this? Or do we need to downsize?


-- Jeff

Saturday, November 3, 2007

Battle of Tippelbruder Looms

(well, not really . . . but we are getting it set up and the forces are closed).

NEWSFLASH . . . A Stagonian field army has been sighted in the close vicinity of the town of Tippelbruder. This appears to be in response to certain "insults" that Koenig Maurice perceived to come from the shop of David, Tippelbruder's uniform designer.

While no one else perceived anything that could have been an insult, several nations mustered troops to the defense of the town. They are:

from Hesse-Engleburg -- under the command of Captain Wilhelm Streicker:
-- Garde du Corps Prinzessin Gertrude -- 2 musketeer companies -- 2 x 120 = 240 men
-- Jäger Regiment Von Behler -- 1 company = 120 men
-- Hussars -- 1 Squadron = 120 mounted men
-- Corporal Sontag (to teach marksmanship to Tippelbruder militia)

from Soweiter League -- (no commander mentioned):
-- Saxe-Urquhart 86th Highlanders -- 1 battalion = c.560 men

from Prince Maurice Duke of Fenwick (vice King Leopold IV of Wittenburg):
-- 1 battalion of infantry (under Colonel Von Feldmouse) -- 4 companies = 600 men
-- 1 battery of artillery (under Lt. Colonel Von Schweeky) -- 120 men and 6 light guns

from Saxe-Bearstein -- under command of Brigadier Ernst von Bruin
-- Regiment von Lowenbrau -- 1 battalion = c.750 men
-- Regiment von Carling -- 1 company of grenadiers = 123 men
-- Regiment von Coors -- 1 company of grenadiers = 122 men
-- Karlsberg Jagers -- 1 small company of jagers = 62 men
-- Artillery -- 1 medium (9#) gun and crew
-- Regiment Von Urquell -- 1 battalion -- c.750 men (reserve -- still in Saxe-Bearstein)

from The Freikorps of Count Hans Trunkenbold von Misthaufen:
-- 1 Musketeer Battalion = c.500 men
-- 1 Jäger Corps = c.400 men
-- Croats -- 3 companies = c.300 men
-- Hussars -- 3 squadrons = c.300 mounted men
-- Artillery -- 6 light (3#) guns

from Town of Tipplebruder:
-- Town Militia -- 1 company = 100 c. men
-- Artillery -- 3 light (3#) guns

from Mieczyslaw -- (in Reserve -- still in Mieczyslaw):
-- Wstrasowo Dragoons -- 4 squadrons -- 150 each = 600 mounted men (not yet arrived)
-- elite Wojskowo Piechota -- 5 companies = 460 men (not yet arrived)


As can be seen, these forces are heavy in infantry, with lots of skirmish power. They also have an abundance of light artillery.

The Tippelbruder forces are, however, light in mounted troops; and definitely lacking in command officers. Indeed, it is likely that each of the above commands will remain under their own commanders with no recognized overall commander.

The Stagonian forces are as yet unknown (meaning we have to figure out a reasonably comparable force).

Please clarify any names, etc. for the above troops. Other troops may not be added . . . and a die roll will be needed by the proxy player (probably Arthur) to see if they arrive in time.


-- Jeff