Napoleonic cavalry screens

[Childress]

Napoleon, IIRC, innovated the concept of sending out vast formations of mounted troops cross country at the outset of a campaign to blind enemy intel and disguise the centre of gravity of his main thrust. I was wondering if this kind of counter-intelligence technique is present and usable in the game. Anyone?

[redaman]

Napoleon, IIRC, innovated the concept of sending out vast formations of mounted troops cross country at the outset of a campaign to blind enemy intel and disguise the centre of gravity of his main thrust. I was wondering if this kind of counter-intelligence technique is present and usable in the game. Anyone?

hello,
the cavalry units have some characteristics of patrolling that enable them to screen and also to discover enemy troops. it will be up to you to send big commands of cavalry in front of your armies.

[Pocus]

A slight augmentation of the hide value of your stack, if you have enough cav, can be evaluated, we will discuss that with the team. Thanks for the input.

[Clovis]

A slight augmentation of the hide value of your stack, if you have enough cav, can be evaluated, we will discuss that with the team. Thanks for the input.

IMHO should be limited to the presence of an independant cavalry formation ( ie division or corps) in order to avoid to give bonus to mixed units ( cavalry regiment inside an infantry division) which would deprive of any interest the creation of large independant cavalry units.

[Syt]

IMHO should be limited to the presence of an independant cavalry formation ( ie division or corps) in order to avoid to give bonus to mixed units ( cavalry regiment inside an infantry division) which would deprive of any interest the creation of large independant cavalry units.

This should probably also be dependant on the size of the stack. Three divisions require less of a screen than 3 corps.

[Pocus]

the 'if you have enough cav' part is inded implying a ratio

[Syt]

the 'if you have enough cav' part is inded implying a ratio

And that's what I get for posting half awake at work.

[Childress]

A slight augmentation of the hide value of your stack, if you have enough cav, can be evaluated, we will discuss that with the team. Thanks for the input.

De rien! I remember reading about this Napoleonic technique in some book ages ago. The question is whether this ability should be extended to non-French forces. I gather not. Also, should existing Cav units disperse for this activity before re-combining?

Napoleonic Cavalry
From Chris Crawford on Game Design:
This is another strategy wargame that takes the ideas of the previous game on step further. I have seen few Napoleonic wargames that captured the essence of Napoleon's technique, which was to use cavalry to blind the enemy while sending the main army along a variety of routes, converging them on the true objective at the last moment. All movement in those days was road-bound, and the road network in Europe was thin enough that it constituted the primary constraint on strategic movement. Cavalry, however, could move cross-country, so Napoleon would send out swarms of small cavalry bands that would serve as his eyes, and turn back enemy cavalry so as to blind the enemy. This screen of cavalry could be 200 miles wide; behind it. Napoleon's army would crawl like so many ant trails spread over a huge area. As he developed a clearer idea of the enemy's dispositions, Napoleon would start to concentrate his armies in such a way as to cut the enemy's supply liines. If all went well, the enemy would find himself surrounded before he even realized waht Napoleon was up to. It was every General's dream: victory through maneuver.

[Walloc]

De rien! I remember reading about this Napoleonic technique in some book ages ago. The question is whether this ability should be extended to non-French forces. I gather not.

Napoleonic Cavalry
From Chris Crawford on Game Design:
This is another strategy wargame that takes the ideas of the previous game on step further. I have seen few Napoleonic wargames that captured the essence of Napoleon's technique, which was to use cavalry to blind the enemy while sending the main army along a variety of routes, converging them on the true objective at the last moment. All movement in those days was road-bound, and the road network in Europe was thin enough that it constituted the primary constraint on strategic movement. Cavalry, however, could move cross-country, so Napoleon would send out swarms of small cavalry bands that would serve as his eyes, and turn back enemy cavalry so as to blind the enemy. This screen of cavalry could be 200 miles wide; behind it. Napoleon's army would crawl like so many ant trails spread over a huge area. As he developed a clearer idea of the enemy's dispositions, Napoleon would start to concentrate his armies in such a way as to cut the enemy's supply liines. If all went well, the enemy would find himself surrounded before he even realized waht Napoleon was up to. It was every General's dream: victory through maneuver.

Depence strongly on the time of the periode IMO.
Yes its very true Napoleon did this in '05 and '06 and that the french light cavalry dominated the coalitions light cavalry. As times goes on the quality of the french cavalry declines and the coalition gets better. U alrdy see the first signs in the '07 campaign. 4 times tries Napoleon to out manuver and surround/ outflank the russian armies. Not in single time does he succed to the degree he intended. The resultinf battles tho victorius is picthed battles not a Jena-Auerstadt or Austerlitz. Again in the 1812 campaign he tries the same and again not a single time does he succed. The russians evade him every time and doesnt offer battle before Borodino and that is on their terms. If looking at the operational level its evident that the early french cav screens is cancelled by equal skilled russian screens. Knowing the french manuvers to the degree that they can avoid them.

In '13 and '14 the scales has tipped so its the coalitions that by far have the advantage. the French cavalry was in large destroyed in russian and the quality particular in '13 was such that it was totally overall dominated by the coalition cavalry. Reason for the failture of the '13 spring campaign Napoleon in part him self gives as to his lack of cavalry. Victories is his but they are of no use to him. In the fall campaign it isnt better. In the sense that the coalition by the strategy of the Trachenberg agreement and its succes. Is such on that they know where the french armies are and can avoid Napoleons strikes and know them self exactly where and when to strike the armies of his "leutenants"
The pendulum certain had swung.

Again in the '14 campaign in the strikes where Napoleon shows his old genius they arent in any way decisive, its pyherical victories. The coaltion can use its cavalry advantage to make retreats fairly unhindered. The victories just "postpones" the inviteble.

In short IMO its an advantage in cavalry and its training it self. Yes Napoleon used it early on to his advantage, but its more than shown later on that the coalition was not only capable but was able to out do the french in that area. Ofc in part cuz of numbers. So it shouldnt be a "trait" of Napoleon if u wana show the realities IMHO, but a trait of cavalry superiorty in training/tactics, numbers and the use of it.

My personal point on the game is that this isnt shown enough in the game as is atm.
Playing the '13 and '14 campaign a number of times from both side i dont see that the coalition is able hide its manuvers more than the french and be more aware of the french than other way around. A tweek in that would IMO also work to show the french superiority "early" on.

I'd certainly like that cav was able to both screen own forces more and know more about opponent than now. If they have a superiority level either by year to differenciate the change in coalitions operational use of cavalry later on or in numbers.
I'd also remove Napolons spy master train from at leased 12 and on. Perhapse giving it back in '15, tho this is doubtfull IMO.


Kind regards,

Rasmus