Some Notes on "Casualties"

In Clarence Harrison's "Victory Without Quarter" ECW rules (and in many other rule sets) a "casualty" does not mean lots of dead soldiers, but rather a reduction in their combat effectiveness.

A unit removed for too many "casualties" is not "wiped out", it is merely no longer an effective force on that given day.  What would happen after the battle is that many soldiers would return to their camp and the unit would be built back up from that cadre.

For an on-going campaign such as "The Alpian Wars" I am using the following simple formula for determining how many men return to their unit:

• 1st casualty  --  returns on a d6 roll of 2 or better
• 2nd casualty  --  returns on a d6 roll of 4 or better
• 3rd casualty  --  returns on a d6 roll of 5 or better

So most of the units that were "dispersed" and removed from the table top during the Battle of the Crossroads have now regained some (or all) of their casualties.   However some are carrying casualty markers forward into the upcoming Battle for the Bellevue Hills.

Some three  weeks after the Battle of the Crossroads (and a certain amount of command changes and reinforcements) word has reached Stagonia that a large Alpian force under General Rossi will attempt to force its way through the passes of the Bellevue Hills into the rich wine valleys of Stagonia . . . and General Murdeau has been given a force to try to slow Rossi down, beat him to the Bellevue Hills and prevent the Alpians from breaking through.

Soon we will find out what will happen.

-- Jeff

Looks Like an Alpian Win

While it started out good for Stagonia when the Alpian Cianti Cavalry charged the Cheveaux de Rappeneau but were beaten and pushed back with a casualty marker . . . but Cianti and Brigadier Lombardi both saved so the regiment wasn't Shaken.

But then the Artillery shattered Stagonia's Falcon Regiment with a three-hit shot that dispersed the Regiment.

The Cavalry Action

Brigadier Gilbert advanced the Cheveaux de Pincemail and then charged up the hill at the Asti Spumanti regiment, catching them at a halt . . . which should have been good but the Stagonian dice were poor and the Alpian dice splendid (only 2 hits to 4 even with Alpia suffering the -2 for being at the halt).

The result was the destruction of the lead Squadron and the second being pushed back . . . but it did not shake.

Perhaps seeing their fellow cavalrymen disheartened the Cheveaux de Rappeneau, for while they definitely had the advantage, the Cianti outfought their lead Squadron, dispersing it and pushed the second back as well.

So with half its cavalry gone and only their Goyette Pike & Shot unit left, General Murdeau will likely have to break off and save what he can . . . (I will allow the two Squadrons and Goyette to escape unscathed if he so chooses.

A look at the North shows that there seems little point in pursuing the fight.  Izzo holds the Village and soon the Light Gun will seek out the slow-moving Pike & Shot regiment . . . and, in the South, the Stagonian cavalry is outnumbered two to one.

-- Jeff

Five Decks Played

I've played Decks 13-17 and (except for Falcon's abysmal shooting) they seemed to favor Stagonia this time.

Deck 13 started with "Turn Over".  Deck 14 had one cav card, then "Turn Over" . . . so two very quick turns in.

Then Deck 15 opened with the Stagonian C-in-C, General Murdeau, who repositioned some units, ordered some ineffective shooting and moved into the woods to the south toward the cavalry.  He sent a courier with orders for Brigadier Gilbert . . . but the poor fellow hit his head on a tree limb, was unhorsed and failed in his attempt.  A few cards later and the "Turn Over" card appeared again.

Deck 16 saw Izzo retire into the village . . . and then "Turn Over" again.  Through four Decks only eight non-Turn Over cards appeared  . . . and most of those had little effect.

View from North

Deck 17 was different.  It started with the "Reload" card, then the Artillery card . . . which resulted in Falcon going Shaken.

Next was an "Event" card, with the next brigadier being able to give two orders to each of his units within 6".  This turned out to be Stagonia's Brigadier Delage.

First he ordered de la Forquest to wheel and fire on Qeel, which caused one casualty marker (5 hits) and Qeel going Shaken.  Then he had de la Forquest move into charge range (although their subsequent volley was ineffective)..

Delage then managed to rally Falcon back to steady (but they still couldn't seem to hit Utti with their shooting).

View from South

Alpia's Utti regiment was able to cause a casualty to the 1st squadron of the Cheveaux de Pincemail, who failed their morale roll and shook.  But then General Murdeau's card came up again.  He was able to change the orders of Cheveaux de Rappeneau and advance them into charge reach; and instructed Brigadier Gilbert to join the Pincemail cavalry which just managed to rally them.

At the end of the turn, de la Forquest charged Qeel . . . and, while failing to give them another casualty marker, did beat them which resulted in Qeel failing another morale check and routing off the field.

So both sides are now on the brink of losing over 50% of their forces . . . and the action moves to the South.

== Jeff

Short & Eventful Deck 12

Deck 12 opened quietly enough with both Stagonia's Goyette Regiment and Alpia's Regiment Utti missing their shots.

But then General Rossi's card appeared.  Qeel opened with four hits on Goyette causing a third casualty marker which dispersed them.

Izzo (purple banner) rolled three sixes against Falcon  (brown banner) resulting in a casualty marker and blown test which left them Shaken.  The Light Gun then hit them, causing them to rout.

But then Brigadier Delage's card came up for Stagonia. 

He ordered Regiment de la Forquest to advance onto the Hill where they delivered a volley that dispersed Alpia' Zuff Regiment.  Then he joined the routing Falcons and rallied them.

While the cavalry to the South remained just out of charge reach of each other, Alpia's courier isn't far from reaching Brigadier Lombardi.

Indeed, General Rossi himself has moved closer to the cavalry as well.  And although Regiment Utti missed its shot at Stagonia's cavalry, it is in position to do some damage once it gets itself in order.

So while this Deck involved very few cards, it did see the demise of a regiment on each side and perhaps bodes for some action soon in the south . . . depending upon what orders I receive and the luck of the cards and dice.

-- Jeff

Deck 11 -- Situation Fragile

Again Alpia managed to gain on the 11th Deck . . . but is in perilous straights with two units one casualty marker from oblivion.

View from North

The deck started well for Alpia.  Qeel (brown banner, bottom of photo) managed to clobber Stagonia's Goyette Regiment (blue banner) with five hits causing a casualty marker . . . and Goyette then failed its test and was Shaken as well. 

(Note that later in the turn Brigadier Delage joined Goyette and managed to rally them back to Steady).

Then Utti (yellow banner) finished off Stagonia's Lau Crossbows . . . and Brigadier Arnoux fell mortally wounded as well (he failed his save).

Meanwhile General Murdeau advanced his lines against the Alpians. 

Of particular note has been the behavior of the Falcon Regiment (brown banner).  They have over this and the last few decks made several saves after being hit by Alpia's Artillery (between buildings).  Furthermore they shot up the Izzo Regiment (purple banner) so that it (as well as Zuff) are perilously close to breaking.

And while little has changed in the south where the two cavalry brigades are still staring at each other, General Rossi has dispatched a courier (visible at the south end of the middle building, behind Utti.

Of course couriers often fail to arrive safely and this one will probably need two more turns to arrive at Brigadier Lombardi's position with the Cianti Cavalry Regiment.

-- Jeff

Alpia Advances -- Decks 9 & 10

Deck 9 was huge for Alpia.  Only 7 cards long it included Alpia's General and two Brigadiers.  The lone Stagonian card was a cavalry regiment . . . and they remain immobile.

During this deck, Regiment Utti finished off Stagonia's Ardant Regiment and Zuff took out the Stagonian Field Gun.  But in Deck 10, Stagonia's Regiment Goyette dispersed the Picanti Swordsmen before they could be pulled out of danger.

View from North

As  you can see to the left, a gap has opened up between the two forces.

(Note:  Alpia's "yellow" Brigadier Buffo is actually farther up the hill in a one o'clock direction . . . he slid down before I snapped this photo).

Stagonia's Brigadier Delage (on far left) has managed to Rally the routing de la Forquest Regiment (green banner), which now has a pair of Casualty Markers.

View from South

A view from the other direction shows the gap between lines a bit better.

Once again I have omitted showing the two cavalry brigades to the south of this image since they seem to do nothing but stare at each other.

It should be noted that all three clearly visible Alpian Pike & Shot units need reloads, while Qeel (out of sight in the far north) and all of the Stagonian foot are fully loaded.

Several Brigadiers are currently attached to units . . . and perhaps the General's might wish to change this (or attach others).  Following is a rundown of all units situation:

ALPIA:

General Rossi -- unattached

• Brigadier Lombardi  --  attached to Cianti

1. Asti Spumonte Cavalry  --  steady, out of command
2. Cianti Cavalry  --  steady (brigadier attached)

• Brigadier Franscioni  --  attached to Zuff

1. Izzo  --  steady, one casualty, needs powder, out of command
2. Zuff  --  steady, two casualties, needs powder (brigadier attached)

• Brigadier Buffo  --  unattached, out-of-range of Utti

1. Picanti Swordsmen  --  two casualties, dispersed and out of battle
2. Utti  --  steady, needs powder, out of command
3. Qeel  --  steady

• Light Artillery  --  unlimbered

STAGONIA:

General Murdeau  --  unattached

• Brigadier Arnoux  --  attached to Lau Crossbows

1. Ardant  --  three casualties, dispersed, out of battle
2. Lau  --  steady, one casualty (brigadier attached)

• Brigadier Gilbert  --  unattached

1. Cheveaux de Rappeneau  --  steady
2. Cheveaux de Pincemail  --  steady

• Brigadier Delage  --  attached to de la Forquest

1. de la Forquest  --  steady, two casualties  (brigadier attached) 
2. Goyette  --  steady, inspired (+1 to die), out of command
3. Falcon  --  steady, out of command

• Foot Artillery & Guard  --  overrun and dispersed, out of battle

 So there you have a run-down of the current situation . . . time for Rossi and Murdeau to decide what they want to do next.

-- Jeff

Decks 6, 7 and 8

Three decks worth of moves?  YES!

Well the first deck was two cards long . . . the Alpian C-in-C and "Turn Over"; and the next deck was only six cards long . . . but Deck 8 ran all the way through with "Turn Over" being the bottom card in the deck!

View from North

Looking from the north, it might not look like a lot has happened . . . but there has been lots of shooting and Regiment Zuff (green banner atop hill) now has two casualty markers . . . although fortunately the attached Brigadier Franscioni saved both times).

Yes, that means that Stagonia finally got its Field Gun in operation.  Alpia's Swordsmen ran the Stagonian Artillery Guard off but have taken a casualty from Regiment Goyette (blue banner).

View from South

Alpia's Izzo Regiment (purple banner) has come out of the northernmost set of buildings and has traded casualty markers with Regiment de la Forquest (green banner with white stag).

Regiment Utti (middle building) may look like it too has advanced, but it is currently occupying that set of buildings.

To the east you can see the still shaken remnants of Stagonia's Ardent Regiment . . . and just east of it Brigadier Arnoux has finally managed to rally the routing Lau Crossbows.

View from West

Looking west you can see another perspective of the current situation after eight decks.

There are no photos of the two cavalry brigades facing each other because that situation remains static . . . both sides just out of charge reach and awaiting any orders to move up and charge.

While Alpia currently holds two of the three objectives (southern hill and village) and is contesting the northern hill, the sides are really rather similar in their status in regard to casualties . . . and things could easily change quickly.

Alpia:

• Zuff -- 2 casualies
• Izzo -- 1 casualty
• Picanti Swords -- 1 casualty

Stagonia:

• Ardent -- 2 casualties & Shaken
• de la Forquest -- 1 casualty
• Lau Crossbows -- 1 casualty 

So now it is time for David and Ross to send me any new orders . . . and for you to wait for another update.

-- Jeff