Highway to the Kremlin

Attrition to Besieged Forces (Campaign only - addition)

[59.] (change) however, an Attrition die roll Modifier of +5 also applies to Besieged Forces.' (add) The besieged forces will consume their supplies and thereby reduce the Forage Value of the hex. Roll each turn of the siege (except the first), prior to resolving attrition, to see if there will be a reduction in Forage Value. If you roll higher than the current forage rating, the forage rating will be reduced by one henceforth. Example: On the first turn of siege, a die roll of one through four will mean no reduction in forage value. If the siege is broken the forage value of the citadel returns to 4 and the citadel is considered revictualed. Besieging forces may also forage (the Forage Value reduction in their hex and the +5 modifier do not apply because they have access to the surrounding countryside).

From: "Coley Cowan"

Thanks for the response on my siege question. We have started a campaign game, and the new method worked well on Riga. Fell to the French in about 6 turns I think. Of course the Russians burned it to the ground, and I lost a point, but................

Q) Does the 48 point stacking limit still apply. Did not see it anywhere. Probably just missed it.

A) Yes!

Q) Sieges (again) - Like I said, playing a campaign game. Got to Smolensk on about turn 12. Should not have, I am strung-out all over the roads, the result of trying to chase down Bagration without success.

Anyway, went ahead and got to Smolensk to start the siege as early as possible, and think I have another problem.

Smolensk is a depot hex, and the French need the depot to extend their LOC. Unless and until Smolensk falls, then you cannot really head to Moscow. Well, you can get part way, but not all the way. I think you could get your center of Ops just short of Smolensk and then have your dispatch distance of 7MP's past that. So you run out of supply line just shy of Borodino. You would have to forage to get to Moscow; something I am reluctant to do. I also do not see any alternate supply line nearby.

Is this intended? Is it either forage your way to Moscow, or sit down and wait until Smolensk falls and then advance. If you wait, it may be 6-10 turns before you move on. That is pushing it late in the season and does not reflect the historical timetable. It may be turn 25 before you even get to Moscow. And you probably want to know what happened to Smolensk before you decide to march on Moscow. Do you need the points or not?

Smolensk was not besieged historically (I don't think, maybe I am wrong), should it be a citadel at all? Then the Russians either fight (which they did historically ) or the French just take it.

What do you think? Should I just start foraging? Or should Smolensk not be a citadel ?

A) Smolensk is definitely a citadel. A force besieged in a citadel cannot block an LOC, not even one going through the hex. (However, note that [102.b] requires Riga to be captured and garrisoned before it can function as a Supply Source.)

Given that French 12-pounders were unable to breach the city's walls, Napoleon halted the planned assault against them. His troops had merely taken the suburbs when Barclay ordered the town abandoned. Bennigsen and Constantine accused Barclay of throwing away a glorious victory. Barclay did not garrison the citadel as he pulled out; perhaps he felt he could not spare the troops.

Q) Does that mean I can enter the Smolensk hex while the citadel is besieged?

A) Yes.

Q) And garrison the depot, and keep going?

A) Yes. Place the depot on top of the besieged enemy force.

Q) When do I roll on the "Fire" table? When the city is occupied? Or when the citadel falls?

A) When the city is occupied.