Austerlitz
Rise of the Eagle

Review: Play By Mail Game

by Maurice Criddle

Austerlitz is a play by mail game set in 1808, after the destruction of the Third Coalition at the battles of Ulm and Austerlitz, and before Napoleon's rise to power. Sixteen players submit their orders every two weeks with each turn representing a month of game time. The object being to direct the economic, military and naval destiny of one of the nations in existence at the time.

The rule book consists of 99 spiral bound pages and it is recommended that you photocopy certain parts of it because you will need to refer to the charts and maps it contains on a regular basis. It reads well, and strategies come to mind with ease, so there is no problem trying to decide what to do. If you do have any problems understanding something then Gordon McLennan, the game-master, is always extremely helpful and is only a `phone call away.

Diplomacy plays a major part in both the game and real terms, and a newsletter produced each turn provides an ideal forum to impart information to all the other players without spending a fortune on postage and telephone calls. Be prepared to make a few `phone calls though.

Your troops are chosen from a list unique to your nation and it is left to you to create a balanced force given the available resources. The results of land battles involving less than 100 battalions per side are calculated by the computer, whilst larger battles are fought using a very clever tactical level system which allows the player to directly influence the outcome of the battle.

Your navy is chosen from a fixed list with two extra ship types available to Morocco and the Ottoman Empire. Naval battles are fought only by the computer. A morale system ensures that those nations which did not do well historically, will have a hard time of it here too, with Great Britain usually ending up ruling the waves.

The economic side of things is almost a separate game in itself. You need to balance the production of raw materials, food and money and you will soon find that the sums just do not add up. The only way to get all that you need is to go to war and take it.

It is impossible to go into sufficient detail here to do full justice to the game so if you want to find out more then give Gordon a ring on 0292 318130 and he will send an information pack. If you do play though, be prepared to sit on the doorstep waiting for the postman to arrive!

Austerlitz is run by GAD Games, Marland House, Doughill, Cornwall, EX23 9EL, Tel: 0288 35 6072

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