Deployment Cards In place of the 'fifth' (strategic) map we have shifted to a Deployment Card system. Changes in force structure will be controlled by the cards. Players will still have an opportunity to control strategic decisions via their play of the cards. GAME START PROCEDURE: Each Player deals himself 20 cards from his deck. The deck includes FORCE cards, ARRIVAL Cards, STRENGTH cards, DEPLOYMENT cards, STATUS cards, and GAME cards. All Corps that historically appeared in the battle must be set-up on map at start, unless the cards require them to appear as Reinforcements. Each map has a deployment area (dotted line) printed for each side. Any Corps which is not singled-out for special treatment by the cards may be set-up freely within the deployment zone (which represents the terrain the corps could have occupied prior to the battle). 1. FORCE CARDS... augment or deplete the given force OB. 2. DEPLOYMENT Cards... determine the set-up. 3. STRENGTH Cards...determine which units are Reduced in strength. 4. ARRIVAL Cards...determine the Order of Appearance of Reinforcements 5. STATUS Cards...determine whether a Corps or Commander is in good form. 6. GAME Cards...impose other changes on the terms of the game itself, such as delays due to weather. Every one of these cards will add or subtract several VPs to or from the totals. HIDDEN MOVEMENT To add further to the mystery of force structure and deployment, forces will initially be set-up on the map with their flag side face up. Initial forces will be represented by the hidden side of leader, cavalry, and vedettes. These three types, alone, have hidden force side (flag side), and these three types alone are initially set up. When opposing forces make contact they will be revealed. When leaders are revealed - and not until then - the combat units of their force will also be placed on the map. Until they are revealed, Leader counters represent the advanced guard of their formation. All other units of their formation will set-up in a fan-shape behind and somewhat to either side. (Here a diagram will be needed: The leader counter sits at the apex of a diamond shape that is 10 hexes wide and 6 hexes deep. As he moves forward he drags this deployment area behind him. Up to 10 units of that formation may be deployed anywhere within this 'fan.'If there are more than 10 units in the formation, the excess must set-up behind the fan, in column on the path followed by the leader. INFANTRY VEDETTES A limited supply of generic breakdown infantry vedette units will also be available to both sides. Demoralized formations may not have any infantry vedettes. Only full-strength infantry units may create infantry vedettes. The infantry unit is flipped over (temporarily, until it collects its vedettes again) and may create vedette strength equal to the difference between the full and reduced strength on the unit counter. Back to OSG News November 2003 Table of Contents Back to OSG News List of Issues Back to Master Magazine List © Copyright 2003 by Operational Studies Group This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com