How to fight like Napolean

[Harvey Birdman]

Given the provincial foraging limits, armies should march spread out with each of it's corps in separate provinces and they only concentrate for battle. Afterwards splitting up again. This how to simulate Napoleon's supply/logistics strategy in the game.

I just got the game on the weekend and playing arround I was able to get 3 size 8 division corps into an army for a total of 24 divisions in an army. I thought the limit was 20 or 22?????

Here's my "Grand Armee" composition.

It's 1 army/5 corps/ 36 divisions total.

1. Calvary Screen Corps - 4 Lt Cal or Lancers. They both have a 55% chance to "see" an extra province.

2. Advanced Guard Corps - 2 calvary, 5 infantry & 1 artillery.

3 & 4. Left & Right Wing Corps' - each contains: 1 calvary, 5 infantry & 2 artillery.

5. Army with the Rear Guard Corps - 1 calvary, 3 infantry & 4 artillery.


When enemy armies/corps are spotted, the advanced guard, left or right wing and the rear guard concentrate on the most dangerous enemy force and defeat it in battle. The other wing and calvary screen can concentrate to occupy the attentions of the other enemy force, until reinforcements from the first battle arrive.

Voila, two victorious battles and the campaigns won!!![;)]

Amazing what you can find with a google search.
http://web2.airmail.net/napoleon/Napoleon_tactics.htm

[malthaussen]

Or even by reading the classic book "The Campaigns of Napoleon.":)

Incidentally, the max for corps is (supposedly) 18 for non-French and 20 for French. I suspect, however, that this is broken -- it obviously is if you're getting 24 divs in an army. Have you tried to put even more in?

-- Mal

[Harvey Birdman]

I've read some Napoleon biographies where they covered strategy a little. But I've never read The Campaigns of Napoleon.

What little I did know of Napoleonic strategy became a lot clearer after seeing the diagram of the bataillon care/batalion square.

I got 3 size 8 division corps into an army. I couldn't get any unattached divisions or empty corps after that.

I have version 1.0.0 which might explain why I got so many divisions into an army[&:]

[garoco]

Very good notes. Thanks.

[malthaussen]

Given that the Campaigns of Napoleon is the classic text on it's subject matter, unsurpassed even after 40 years, if you're at all interested in the period, the man, or his campaigns, you want to read it.

-- Mal