Thinking About Uniforms

Well I've got a bunch of figures on the way for my Stagonian army . . . and I realized that I have got to start thinking about uniforms for the vile ones.

I've long been planning for the infantry to be in an off-white. I don't like a pure white because to me it makes me think of white primer. So I'll probably go with a cream or light buttermilk sort of color.

However I realized that I've not really thought about the cavalry. So I sat down this evening and gave it some thought. I want the uniform colors to be quite distinct from those of Saxe-Bearstein (whose heavy cav is in white; whose dragoons are in buff coats; and the horse grenadiers are in red -- like the infantry).

I've therefor decided to have the heavy horse in light blue (the GNW heavies that have been substituting are in blue and I'd like something a bit distinct from them). The dragoons will, I think, be in a light gray . . . so the dismounts will be distinct from the regular foot.

The hussars, of course, will resemble rainbows (as always).


-- Jeff

Ludwig Muses on Possibilities

"Is there any further word from that Duchess who is infatuated with me?" asked young Koenig Ludwig of the Kingdom of Stagonia.

"No, your majesty. Some rumors that she's headed here . . . but those are almost assuredly false."

"Ah. Well, let's look over our options for exercising the army. As I see it, we have a number of possible 'options'.

1. We could launch another attack on Saxe-Bearstein -- although the Mollwitz campaign failed badly.
2. We could support Zichenau by launching a strike into northern Stollen -- say at that sawmill the Lobster Duke loves so much.
3. We could attack Tippelbruder again -- I doubt that they could resurrect the alliance that managed to turn us away last time.
4. We could invade the Frankszonian lands on this side of the river -- but Gallia might not appreciate that -- and we do want to stay on their good side (they are one of our few friends).
   
5. We could attack someone new."

"Yes, your majesty. Those are all good options. As usual you see things most clearly indeed."

Having Read the Duchess' Letter

Having read the Duchess' letter, Koenig Ludwig smiled and mused to himself . . . "soul mates and kindred in deeds", eh?

"Well, my dear, it may chance that we will meet and compare notes. If you indeed have the stomach for our passion, we may make a beautiful team . . . and, if not, I wonder how well you scream?"

Turning to an aide cowering in a corner, "Find out all that you can about this dear Duchess . . . including what lands and military forces she controls . . . perhaps this may be a match made in a very warm place."

"The King is Dead!"

Apparently the rumors that have been circulating for months are true.

Koenig Maurice du Vile and several members of his family were poisoned.

While the king survived this attempt, he was much debilitated by this foul assault upon his person.

Thus is there any question as to why he has apparently chosen
to end his life.

He has been succeeded by his noble cousin, Ludwig du Vile (pictured at left).

Koenig Maurice's last moments must have been sad indeed. He is reported to have committed suicide by gouging out both of his eyes, burning many parts of his body and finally using three blows of an axe to chop off his own head . . . all of this with his hands bound behind his back.

Koenig Maurice was indeed a most amazing monarch . . . is there any question as to why so many foreign nations were so envious of him?

Little is known of Koenig Ludwig's personality or just how he came to power since he has spent most of his life in seclusion at Nochtswan Castle (pictured at left).

However the rumors that his mother, Lucrezia de Sade, has tutored him in certain black arts are assuredly unfounded.

What this will mean for Stagonian foreign policy is not yet known . . . but certainly the foreign power or powers that poisoned good Koenig Maurice and thus indirectly caused him to end his own life will soon feel the weight of Stagonian arms in their just retribution.


-- Stagonian Jeff for Koenig Ludwig du Vile of the Kingdom of Stagonia

Stagonia's New Ally

The Kingdom of Stagonia wishes to salute a new ally, the Duchy of Loathar.


-- Stagonian Jeff for the Crown

Rumors of Assassination Attempt

For several months now the borders of the Kingdom of Stagonia have remained sealed. No one has been allowed to leave . . . and more than a few have been slain in the attempt.

Nevertheless rumors persist that someone attempted to assassinate Koenig Maurice the Vile. If this is true, there certainly would not be a dearth of suspects. Indeed his own malicious family would be amongst the first to be suspected . . . but they would hardly be alone.

Is he alive? or dead? The truth of the matter is not known, but His Vileness has not been up to his usual malevolence of late . . . so who knows?

Wollmitz Command

Koenig Maurice has decided that the area around Wollmitz required a change of command. He has therefor directed General Baron Gaspar du Vile to take command and to arrange the defenses.

In addition, His Majesty has assigned other officers to assist Gen. du Vile. Following is the list of the command's senior officers (note: with their "Tricorne Wars" information in italics):

General Baron Gaspar du Vile -- (Political, inertia 2, initiative 3 -- 12" command radius -- 2 AdC)
Maj. Gen. Rene de Villars -- (Aggressive, inertia 3, initiative 1 -- 11" command radius -- 1 AdC)

Brig. Yves d'Amours -- (Aggressive, inertia 3, initiative 2 -- 9" mounted command; 5" if foot)
Brig. Lothar Oppenkopf -- (Careful, inertia 1, initiative 1 -- 10" mounted command; 6" if foot)
Brig. Heinrich von Kroll -- (Steady, inertia 2, initiative 2 -- 14" mounted command; 9" if foot)
Brig. Graf Adolf von Voss -- (Political, inertia 2, initiative 1 -- 11" mounted command; 6" if foot)

In addition the following troops have been assigned to General du Vile to fill out the various commands as he sees fit (along with their rating in italics):

IR von Hirschbock (elite)
IR du Breiz (veteran)
IR du Lepps (veteran)
IR O'Duffy (veteran)
IR von Gruber (raw)
IR von Krinkle (raw)
IR St. Cyr (veteran)

du Coiffard Kuirassiers (elite)
von Waganer Kuirassiers (veteran)
Benzler Dragoons (elite)
Pfeiffer Draggons (raw)
Jailler Hussars (veteran)
Hockdorf Hussars (raw)

Furthermore, Koenig Maurice has assigned some artillery batteries to the Wollmitz force. These are all crewed by veteran gunners:

2 x Medium Gun Batteries of 6 pounders
1 x Light Gun Battery of 3 pounders

Finally the King has charged du Vile with defending the Wollmitz region against all invaders.

============

The above are the forces for our upcoming (June 15) quasi-refight of the Battle of Mollwitz from Charles Grant's book "The War Game". Stagonia will be taking on the "Austrian" positions and Saxe-Bearstein will be serving as the "Prussian" attacker.

As currently envisioned, Murdock will be in command of Stagonia and Ross Macfarlane, visiting from eastern Canada, will be the Saxe-Bearstein commander.

-- Stagonian Jeff