Write in with your experiences with Last Days of the Grande Armee. Tell us how many times you've played it with an opponent, and solo, and whether you found it enjoyable, exciting, frustrating, and what problems you encountered.

Progress on Highway to the Kremlin

The following report got displaced from Wargame Design Magazine #5. Joe Youst is now working on the map, which comprises two map sections. This game has turned out to be very similar to Napoleon at Bay, despite the difference in scale. The formula is as follows:

1 MP in HTK = 1 turn in NAB (10 mi.)
1 MP in HTK = 2 days real time.
1 turn in HTK = one-third of a month (10-11 days)

The Turn Record Track

1: 22 Jun Invasion
2: 4 Jul Vilna
3: 14 Jul Vitebsk
4: 24 Jul
5: 4 Aug Smolensk 17 Aug
6: 14 Aug Viasma
7: 24 Aug
8: 3 Sep Borodino 7 Sep
9: 14 Sep Moscow
10: 24 Sep
11: 4 Oct
12: 14 Oct Retreat 19 Oct
13: 24 Oct
14: 3 Nov
15: 14 Nov Smolensk
16: 24 Nov Berezina 26-28 Nov
17: 4 Dec

The second half of each turn represents catch-up of support services, stragglers, build bake ovens, or Forced March.

There will be an option to continue the campaign into 1813.

I've designed several prototypes of the Russian Campaign at various scales over the years, so all the basic work has been done long ago. The one thing I never tried was designing the 1812 campaign at two mile hexes.

However, Geoff Geddes did design and play his own version at two miles, and has also done the basic design work of preparing a complete counter mix (560 counters), an Integrated Turn Record & Reinforcement/Replacement Record, Organization Displays, and a draft rules set (at the normal NAB scale). These materials have been on hand for quite a while, and it is great to be able to finally bring them out.

Letter from Geoff

After all my years in boardgaming I am still impressed with the capacity of cardboard and paper to create the imaginative leap that transports you into the time period and allows you to study the command problems facing the generals of the day. It takes a good designer to do it, and it has to be backed with solid research and careful modeling of the salient features, but when it is done well the result can be sublime. Far better than reading a book when it comes to understanding in depth. In your game system I really enjoy rebuilding the command structure of a Napoleonic army to make the most use of the command talent available.

The Russian Campaign was designed because we became frustrated waiting for your version to come out. I think I knew that it was not a commercial possibility to product Russia on a two miles hex scale. Even I was surprised at the extent of the map given that I used your mini hexes. Designing the rules was not a problem since I just did a paste job on Struggle of Nations. I was pleased to find I had read your thoughts about stragglers and remounts when I bought 1807.

--Geoff Geddes, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom

Info from OSG

You can join the list for our monthly e-mail newsletter by sending a message with the words 'subscribe OSG news' in the subject area.

We are upgrading our magazine, Wargame Design, to at least 24 pages, and basic subscriptions are $17.96 for four issues. A sample copy of the next issue is available for $7.50.

Contents of Issue Nr. 5 (28 pages): Bonaparte in Italy-Proof Positive; Operational Studies on CD-ROM: Napoleon & Waterloo; Study Tour of Napoleon's Italian Campaign, July 2000; Designer's Notes: The Sun of Austerlitz, Highway to the Kremlin; Progress Reports on other pre-advanced titles; Interface System between The Emperor Returns and Last Days of the Grande Armee; Wargame Design Symposium: What is Wargame Design?; The Evaluation of Units; The Subsystem; Last Days Debate-Designer's replies to controversy; Feedback, editorial & more. See the catalog page for prices on currently available OSG games. In addition, here are the pre-publication offers. Forthcoming products will be published at a rate of three or four per year.

The following games are ahead in the overall order standings. For a complete listing of ALL the pre-advanced titles please go to: www.NapoleonGames.com/pre_adv_games.htm.

CD-ROM "Napoleon and Waterloo" Pre-pub price only $38
Highway to the Kremlin Pre-advanced price only $38
The Sun of Austerlitz Pre-advanced price only $29
Abernsberg/Eckmuhl Pre-advanced price only $38
Bonaparte in Italy Marengo Expansion Set / Early 1796: pre-advanced price only $36

Guarantee: 100% refund if not 100% satisfied.

Operational Studies Group
PO Box 50207
Baltimore, MD 21211 U.S.A.
(410) 367-4004