King Karol of VinAlba had other things to occupy his mind which meant Prince Otto and the Zarland succession would have to wait another day.
Both Nuringia and Genachia would no doubt be pressing their claims.
As 1816 closed VinAlba remained officially at war with Zarland although relations had cooled with Davaria. King Karol did not expect any help from that direction after the Kloster Arens fiasco. His view was that, had the Davarians committed all their forces to his attack things would have fared better. Instead they had pursued their own small war to little avail.
The mechanical map – each link provided a viable invasion route between the nodal countries
Nuringia also remained at war with Zarland.
And Davaria seemingly had lost interest in taking some of Zarland as trouble brewed with its south eastern neighbour – Verbonia.
In Nuringia the Elector, Grand Duke Maximilian had been building his forces waiting for an opportune moment to strike. His objective was a land grab – well recovery of historic Nuringian lands. The broader objective was to acquire control of Zarland.
Maximilian decided to attack once the Zarlanders were fully occupied by the VinAlban/Davarian actions in the west. In the event his troops were marching only as the VinAlbans were failing at the battle of Kloster Arens.
This meant the Zarland Regent, Duke Constantius, was able to move quickly against Maximilian.
When both sides began to make contact their respective scouts reported the following numbers.
Nuringian Scouts estimated 11,000 Zarlanders in the field – this was not what Maximilian had expected.
Zarlanden Scouts estimated 9000 Nuringians in the field.
These estimates* were not far wrong and Maximilian realised his opportunity was gone. He ordered his forces to retire.
In just a few months the apparently tottering Zarland regime had repulsed three attacks on Greater Zarland.
Duke Constantius was well pleased with this outcome at the close of the first year of Princess Maria’s reign. He did not expect matters to improve though.
*for my campiagns I use various systems to create “establishments”. These are then subject to availability based on the turn of events. To add to the uncertainty for solo games I then use variable assessments by the enemy of the opposing forces. In this case Zarland actually did not field 11,000 men.
They had a lot less than Nuringia. It was just poor information and and misreporting that gave the high figure. The fog of war so to speak.
For solo gaming narrative campaigns its all grist to the mill. And it throws up more variety in terms of battles and forces.
The Neil Thomas ruleset 19th Century European Wargaming (NT19e) has quickly become a favorite of mine, stoking an interest in an era that frankly I have never read about since I was taught, as a kid, about some mad British Cavalry charging Russian guns in a place called Crimea. And not knowing that the French and Prussians rehearsed world war 1 44 years early, in 1870, as well. I did learn about the American Civil War – but that was on a different continent, so doesn’t count.
Neil Thomas restricts his interest to the evolution of European Wars over a 60 year period.
Day 1: I used Neil Thomas NT19e to run a mini game between the advance guards
My original european wargaming interests ended at Waterloo in 1815, with Napoleon and then restarted in 1939 with world war 2.
Neil Thomas provides a comprehensive ruleset for battles between 1815 and 1877. Indeed he covers campaigns in a way not really addressed in any of his previous publications. He persists with his “keep it simple but interesting” style: Too simple and you get bored. And I originally considered my first contact with his Ancient and Medieval Wargames tended to the boring – compared to the more complicated rules still holding sway 15 years or so back then. How wrong that has proved to be. I now regularly use all his rulebooks.
For my first Zarland wars I have taken Neil Thomas NT19e and used the following
The forces generators for the mini and standard game
the command optional rules
To that I have added
My Zarland Campaign narrative – to provide the background and scenario details
Forces on the march so my forces invariably have advance guards or flying columns
Dispersal – you need to concentrate from the march because there is always something drawing troops away: So you don’t always get what you want, where you want it. Thats an imaginary life!
Zarland Backdrop
The collision of the three forces were part of the politics of the campaign with Davaria allied to Vin Alba and wanting to support Prince Otto, in reality also wanting a slice of Greater Zarland itself.
Vin Alba has other borders to attend to, so its own effort is only partial.
I used a simple random % to deal with such diverse interests and the use of respective forces drawn from each countries establishments. I normally set up an “establishment” – the theoretical force a country has in place or could raise with notice. Against this the actual field force is a product of circumstance, conflicted resources and leadership (both political and administrative).
So that gets you three slightly different forces and not all “top troops”.
Arrivals
The idea of forces on the march allowed me to apply the simple rule of an NT19e mini game for the advance guards contacting, followed by an NT19e main game for the main bodies clashing.
Day 2: At Kloster Arens – the main forces and their generals
I diced for broad decisions which led to the Davarians under General Modistin having no advance guard, marching to join and support an already present VinAlban army. Also neither Zarland nor VinAlban advance guards had control of the field. So it was a proper blundering encounter.
Units were mixed with blinds to create a shuffled card deck which was dealt randomly into marching columns. These were moved until contact was made. I also kept the card deployments in place to help create some fog of war. This complimented my “umpire” role in what was a “zero player” wargame.
The advance guards fought a simple engagement with only a few units heavily involved which is always the more likely in my games. It was simply a logical move to retreat the VinAlbans northwards at the end of the first day. By chance this fed the second day action with a false assumption, by the Zarlanders, that the VinAlbans were in force to the north of the battlefield. All this helps develop the battle narrative without hijacking it.
A lot of troops marched onto the field. In the event the weather brought matters to an early close.
On day 2 the main battlelines met on the same field. This time the NT19e command rule restricting the number of units in action per move did have some effect, while the use of written rules at least one move ahead, meant I had no temptation to make changes of order to achieve a sudden opportunity.
Finally the weather rule (from Charles Wesencraft’s Practical Wargames) provided detail and in fact influenced the game ending early. I then simply determined a number of options for day three and randomly selected one. This turned out to be the “VinAlbans break off action”. I then came up with the appropriate story line that this was caused by “orders from higher up” and ensuring some dissatisfaction on the part of the Davarians.
The actual battlefield terrain was an accident. I wanted a river crossing at a road junction scenario. Zarland aim to control the junction, just inside their border, to prevent the VinAlbans and Davarian forces uniting.
A flat landscape was planned and then I remembered my collapsible tables had height adjustable legs. Coupled with my desire to experiment with cloth battlefields, one thing led to another.
I used three collapsible picnic tables which come with some handy height adjustment
I had seen a number of blog battle reports showing rolling countryside. I played around with some wooden blocks and old towelling. Finally I tried using a spare quilt!
I was surprised how the quilt gave just enough shape although my “25mm metals” squashed it a bit too much at times
Yes thats a rolled up wargames felt mat pressed into service as well. The wood pieces are discarded TV unit shelves (you never know when you might need trapezoidal wood shelving!).
The result was as you see it and I immediately set about planning the action.
Kloster Arens is suffering some slight settlement – I hope that door opens inwards. The road zigzag was a result of laying out the road and it seeming natural that the road would not go straight up the valley side.
After the clash of advance guards it was now the turn of the Zarland and VinAlban main bodies to seek to control the River Hase.
The River Hase passes the Kloster Arens on its eastern bank ridge while on the west bank is the Arensburg and its no less imposing Rittergut.
The Royal Zarland Army was commanded by General Kratzen an above average General whose chief of staff General Klettern was in fact an outstanding Officer.
As dawn breaks the Zarland pickets see movement on the west bank of the River HaseGeneral Sumpf has elected to hold what he has – Kloster Arens and keeps his few forces east of the River Hase
The VinAlban army was commanded by General Geflugel (an average general) who had been delayed along the route of the march. General Modistin commanded the Davarian force sent to support Prince Otto’s latest attempt on his fathers crown. Modistin was a poor general and very much concerned with his own importance. General Geflugel had sent his Chief of Staff General Nelke (an above average commander) to meet Modistin and try to contain the unreliable General until he could arrive.
Both Zarland and VinAlban forces descend into the river valleyThe Davarians are on the right flank, south of Kloster Arens and in force
The VinAlban and Zarland commanders had broken up their main bodies so as to push on to support their advance guards.
General Klettern had arrived with
7th Cavalry
5th Artillery
He sent these north west beyond Kloster Arens as it appeared the enemy were massing to cross the river Hase. General Sumpf had also mentioned the defeated VinAlbans had retreated north the previous evening – no doubt back onto their main body?
General Nelke had likewise brought some troops to reinforce the advance guard of General Stute. He had
10th Infantry battalion
2nd and 3rd Artillery
4th Cavalry
11th Skirmishers
General Nelke dispatched General Stute north with part of this force as reports had been received of enemy movements from that direction.
He then pushed a force across the river Hase in readiness for the arrival of General Geflugel and the main body. Its orders were to secure the flat ground north of Kloster Arens.
The force comprised
4th Cavalry
12th Infantry
10th Infantry
3rd Artillery
He then rode to meet General Modistin who had already arrived from the south west with a substantial force of Davarian troops.
both sides are bold with their artillery!
Earlier at 0400 am General Sumpf again sent patrols north to check on the VinAlbans whose advance guard had withdrawn in that direction the previous day. The 19th of March had dawned very cloudy but still dry. General Kratzen would soon arrive with the main Royal Zarland army.
The forces gather their courageIt is the Davarians who are across the river first as the VinAlban 4th cavalry also begin their crossing
General Klettern had in fact arrived earlier to take over from General Sumpf who took some rest in the Kloster Arens. General Klettern had been surprised to see not just VinAlbans across the Hase river valley but Davarians. He had immediately sent a courier to General Kratzen to hasten forward.
Vin Albans cross north of Kloster Arens as the first attack is made directly by the Davarians on Kloster Arens itself. Ouch!Today the artillery are seemingly ineffective General Nelke watches as the assault on Kloster Arens developsVin Alban skirmishers and infantry take artillery hits as the Davarians attack across the old sawmill bridge to the south
On the west side of the valley General Modistin had arrived at the Rittergut, meeting General Nelke and immediately demanded to know where General Geflugel was.
General Modistin was noted as a poor General yet he had sent his forces straight into attack showing an unexpected degree of boldness. General Nelke viewed the developing frontal attack with dismay.
The combined VinAlban and Davarian forces had descended the valley and made for the Kloster Arens and its ridge.
Finally both sides begin to see the attrition build from firing exchangesThe Davarians are seemingly undeterred by the steepness of the Hase river valley sides
General Klettern spreads his weaker forces across the ridge to contain the advancing VinAlbans and Davarians, feeding in the main body troops as they arrive on the Kloster Arens road. General Kratzen is now at the Kloster Arens and discovers a General Sumpf slightly the worse for sampling some excellent Kloster wine. Even so General Kratzen is pleased with Sumpf’s work the previous day.
As the afternoon beckons the grey day turns darker under heavy rain clouds. The Zarland forces have crossed the river Hase north of the Kloster bridge while the 3rd artillery deployed at the bridge and luckily for them. Opposite the 2nd Zarland Artillery, an elite unit, are under orders not to fire on the bridge which must be taken intact!
Today the elite artillery are off colour anyway as they fail to get the range on the advancing VinAlban 10th Infantry.
The fordable river is no barrier to the advancing troops. But it is the persistent light rain that is now affecting events.
The 14th Davarian Infantry are driven back across the old sawmill bridge
As the 14th Davarian Infantry seek the ridge line to the south of Kloster Arens they meet the 14th Zarland Cavalry and are driven back across the river Hase – with few casualties but suitably shaken.
Meanwhile north of Kloster Arens the VinAlbans turn the Zarland flank. Is this the moment the position becomes untenable?
Attrition is working through all the units in the battle. In the far distance the VinAlbans outnumber the Zarland right wing
At 1800 hrs the heavens open and a mighty deluge of rain slows movement and impacts firing. Although the Vinalbans are now making progress General Geflugel decides to withdraw across the river Hase as the weather shows every sign of getting even worse.
And so the battle ends with the Zarland Royal Army still holding Kloster Arens.
That evening General Geflugel held a review with his senior commanders including a frustrated General Modistin, the Davarian General. Everyone was informed that there would be no resumption of the attack as new orders from VinAlba required a withdrawl from Zarland.
An incredulous General Modistin stormed out of the tent into the torrential rain. He mounted his soaking wet horse and rode away cursing VinAlba and her useless Generals. At least he could say he had shed Davarian blood for Prince Otto in the so called battle of Kloster Arens.
……………as darkness gathers at the Rittergut, under leaden skies, the thoroughly soaked General Modistin grabs the last spotlight by staring hard to the east at Kloster Arens………………..
The Wargaming Erratic 