VAHZMIETA SEVASTOPEL!
Take Sevastopol!
By Paul Koch
By Paul Koch
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Pronounced "VAHZ - MÉ - ETA SEVAS - TÓ - PEL" Since publishing ON TO RICHMOND, one of my most fulfilling experiences has been hearing how other gainers have played and enjoyed my game. This is no more true than when I hear of one of the variants being played. There are those who do Naponeonics, English Civil War, Franco Prussian and many others. The availability of cheap figues in ESCI, Crimean War range "put a bee in my bonnet" and hence this effort. I am even now painting up hordes of stolid phlegmatic Russkies and pressing Franco-Prussian French veterans and some dusty British Waterloo Airfix figures into service in the Crimea. I have also been reading up on this much overlooked conflict. My special thanks go out to Dave Raybin and his excellent series on the war in Volume VI of THE "old" COURIER. I was quite surprised at the ease with which OTR transposed itself into the Crimea. I will describe a simple variant that will introduce the conflict painlessly. TROOP AND COMMANDER ROLLSThe French use the CSA chart, the British use the USA chart and the Russian require a new one as follows:
For troop quality all sides should use CSA chart. ARTILLERYAll guns are smoothbore and fire as do Union guns. In addition however when a "kill" is registered against Russian artillery it must be confirmed with an even number on a D1O. This reflects the metal carriages of the Russian guns which were very difficult to dismount. It is also strongly suggested that the Catastrophic Kill rule be used only against the Russians reflecting their very tight formations. SMALL ARMSBritish and French use the rifle, and as such fire as in the rules (12"). The Russians however should fire 6" for their line units and perhaps 8" for better armed Guards. The fourth regiment in each division was called a "rifle regiment" and it might be more Sporting if not historical to give it 12" range. BASIC ORGANIZATIONAlthough I have given this matter only a quick survey I suggest 8 stand Brigades for French Infantry and 6 stand Cavalry brigades. The Brits should have 6 stand Infantry and, being generous, 6 stand cavalry Brigades. The basic Russian unit should be an 8 stand Regiment acting in the rules as a Brigade. Remember to give the Russians lots of Artillery as they will need it. Their Cavalry should be 8 stand Brigades. MORALEThe French use the USA chart while the sturdy "thin red line" use that of the CSA. The Russians once more require a new one as follows:
*Russians will rout only on modified negative rolls. NB In addition Russians are not allowed to use SPECIAL MOVES. The Russians will not run but are slow and cumbersome. There you have it. Try it, and let me know the results. Back to Table of Contents -- Courier Vol. VI No. 6 Back to Courier List of Issues Back to Master Magazine List © Copyright 1986 by The Courier Publishing Company. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. |