Multiplayer Dinner and Solo Dessert:

The Solo Wargame

by Russ Lockwood

First and foremost, the French had to take back Vilnius and Novo Troki. The supply line to the north via Shavli was tenuous to say the least, and there was a good chance that the Russians would push northward into Kovno and further, severing all supply and making the mid-summer's march miserable for the French. The French also had to retain Kovno for the above reasons.

The Russians continued to attack northward and westward from Vilnius and points south. The corps opposite the Imperial Guard fell back, but not by choice, while the other corps held up Oudinot and Ney. The newly arrived corp and existing Russian corps around Minsk pressed Davout ever westward. Dreams of encirclement from the Czar looked to become a reality.

That's when Napoleon took the Imperial Guard cavalry and pounded around Vilnius, accompanied by additional forces rounded up and re-energized by the arrival of Le Empereur! Under the Emperor's direct observation, savage attacks finally broke the Russians and retook Vilnius. The Russians held a line just south, but for now, the French controlled Vilnius--although the Russians controlled Novo Troki.

The End

Ney, Oudinot and the rest of the northern pincer began a withdrawal that should have begun earlier. The Imperial Guard infantry also started to withdraw down the road to Vilnius, suffering from lack of supplies as well--and fending off ever voracious Russian attacks.

Napoleon, piecing together remnants of units, stormed Novo Troki, but was repulsed. Finally, with the aid of the one last intact IG infantry unit, the French forced the Russians from the village, and then chased them back through Russian lines to the south. The road home was open once more.

And it was not a moment too soon. Leaving a garrison at Vilnius, what was left of the Imperial Guard infantry dragged itself westwards. Davout's corp was gone as well, and the shattered remains of the Grande Armee stumbled across the Niemen. Down south, Eugene finally took Brest, but Bialystok remained in Russian hands. It was a small victory--there was nothing left to exploit the breakthrough through the denuded Russian south, nor anything to support up north. Eugene left a garrison in the city and withdrew westward.

Solo Conclusions

What a great way to end a multi-player game. Nine players created an interesting scenario. It wasn't necessarily balanced, although both sides certainly had strengths and weaknesses.

Because it was crafted "after" the wargame eneded, the units were not full-strength. Indeed, Napoleon's scrambling around for units to retake Vilnius and Novo Troki was an exercise in grabbing what was at hand, not pristine reserves. Not that the Russian side was in great shape either. The vicious attacks and counterattacks around these two places whittled divisions down to nothing and sent stragglers racing homeward. The Guard tipped the scales in French favor, but it was an exhausted Grande Armee (see sidebar) that recrossed the Niemen River.

While I had a number of ideas on how to improve the multi-player campaign, the solo scenario went well. It was tight, compact, and with a very limited goal across a limited (compared to the full set up) battlefield. That all units had a "history" made it even more enjoyable, because units didn't just start, they had battled before and this could be their last battle. And each side had a chance to "win."

This idea can be extended to any non-solo wargame--even if its only two players. Assuming the battle takes place upon a table that can be left intact, don't pick up the battle when your time limit's been reached. Leave it up and trying soloing the next action. It might be an escape. It might be a last-ditch defense. It might be a hold until re-inforcements arrive. You can either continue using the same rules mechanisms as I did, or turn to the pages of Lone Warrior for various charts and mechanics to simulate an opponent.

We often end a game "too soon" due to real-world time and must adjudicate a victory. Yet within that situation, a great scenario could be waiting for the solo gamer.

Multiplayer Dinner and Solo Dessert The Hybrid Group/Solo Wargame

Note: A full recap appears in MagWeb's WarLore section.--RL

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