I’ve recently been writing scenarios for two of the bloodiest battles of the Seven Years War; the Battles of Prague and Kolin. Prague was particularly notable for the remarkably high attrition-rate among generals on both sides and it started me thinking once again about how generalship is reflected (or not) in much in Tricorn. At present, generals in Tricorn don’t do a great deal, other than mark the geographical position of formations, transmit/receive orders and roll for initiative. I’ve therefore been toying with some ideas based loosely on the original Shako Optional Rules for generals…
At present, Divisional Commanders have a generalship rating which is used to modify their Initiative Roll: Poor (-1), Average (+0), Good (+1) & Excellent (+2). Any unmodified 6 rolled may be used to remove a Stagger or Casualty from a unit under their command.
Army Commanders do things slightly differently, in that they roll a number of d6 based on their generalship rating: Poor (0d6), Average (1d6), Good (2d6) & Excellent (3d6). These dice may then be used to replace the Divisional Commanders’ initiative dice, but may not be then modified by the Divisional Commander’s generalship rating.
This system works well, but I’ve been wanting to add a few more options for heroism, orders of chivalry and untimely death…
The playtest rules:
* Generals (either Divisional Commanders or Army Commanders) may attach themselves to a unit under their command and within 12 inches at the start of the turn (i.e. before the Artillery Phase). Leave their HQ marker in place, but add an extra marker (e.g. a mounted officer figure) to show the personal attachment.
* An attached Poor or Average general will increase the unit’s Morale Rating (MR) by one level (even a bad general can have his moment in the sun). An attached Good or Excellent general will increase the unit’s MR by two levels. The modified MR may not exceed 7 and the modified Disordered MR may not exceed 2.
* If the unit to which the general is attached is Broken, the general will be killed/captured on a roll of 4,5,6 and will be replaced by a Poor general at the start of the following turn.
* If the unit to which the general is attached is forced to retreat, the general will be killed/captured on a roll of 6 and will be replaced by a Poor general at the start of the following turn. If the general is killed/captured, the retreating unit’s MR will be reduced by 1 during the subsequent attempt to rally.
* If a general is killed/captured, the formation must roll on the Formation Morale Table during the following Command Phase, applying a -1 modifier (therefore no change if the general was Poor). Use the next ‘step’ of the table; e.g. if the division hasn’t yet rolled for Formation Morale, use the 1/3rd casualties step. If it’s already rolled for 1/3rd casualties, use the 1/2 casualties step. If it’s already rolled for 1/2 casualties, roll again applying the -1 modifier. If the Army Commander is killed/captured, use the same method at the various ‘steps’ on the Army Morale Table.
* Attached Divisional Commanders may not receive orders from the C-in-C during that turn (the ADC marker waits at their headquarters until the next Command Phase in which the general is unattached).
* Attached Army Commanders may not transmit new orders during turns in which they are attached to a unit.
* Generals apply their generalship rating to Formation Morale rolls, but may not do so when they are attached to a unit (re-living your glory-days as a Colonel is not necessarily effective generalship!). The exception to this is that divisions led by a Poor general will always apply the -1 modifier, even when the morale-sponge is away from his HQ!
(Note that I’m already amending the rules to add a -1 morale modifier for formations that are already Demoralised.)
* If a formation is broken the general will be killed/captured on a roll of 6 (this is only really relevant to campaign games).
* The Army Headquarters may move during the Movement Phase, provided that the Army Commander is not attached to a unit. The Army Headquarters may not transmit orders during the turn in which it moves.
Anyway, that’s it for now. Please let me know what you think.
I’m also mulling over some ideas for intermediate Corps/Line/Wing commanders between Army and Division and would welcome ideas from anyone who has attempted such things using Shako (or indeed Tricorn).
There will shortly be a slight break from Tricorns, as I’m presently writing a small Burma scenario and AAR of the game which we played last week. I thought I’d better give fair-warning to my fellow Laceheads, so that their manservants can stand by with fans, nosegays, smelling-salts and fresh wigs.
I’ve been mulling things over for a while, mate, and they’re good ideas which could be fitted to other rules as well. One change I’d look at is a roll for the replacement, with a 1/6 chance he’s average rather than poor. Occasionally replacements for general officers have been able to step up and take charge fairly well, even with the normal confusion and disorganisation concomitant with the loss of a senior commander.
Cheers Dal. Yes, that sounds like an excellent idea.
Our group never played Shako 1 and thus are unfamiliar with some or your assumptions thus we are unclear how bn guns work. If stationed in front or a line can the line still fire? If the line stand still can the bn gun still move and fire? With regard to a solid line can an unoccupied building secure a solid line? Must a solid line be secure on both flanks as per Shako II or is one sufficient? No one here knows Tricorn and there seem to be subtle differences not covered in the QRS. Thanks for any guidance in advance.
Hi Jay,
Bn Guns aren’t in Shako and we played around with various ideas until we settled on how they work now. Basically, a game ‘battalion gun’ abstractedly represents the dispersed detachments and sections of 6-8 battalion guns assigned to an infantry brigade. Consequently, being only deployed as singles or pairs in reality, they have reduced firepower but improved mobility when compared to light position batteries (which would typically have the same calibre guns). Light position batteries by contrast, had the advantages of concentration of firepower, a larger train of ready ammunition and the command and control of trained artillery officers, but were rather more unwieldy.
Battalion guns may therefore fire AND move, like horse artillery. Position batteries may fire OR move. Battalion guns may be manhandled 4 inches and light position batteries may be manhandled 2 inches.
Artillery crews deployed in front of infantry and within 2 inches may evade back to the supporting infantry battalion when contacted (or they may opt to fight if it’s a good day to die). Stick a marker or loose gun model to show where the guns are. The gunners will then remain with that supporting battalion and share in its fate. Evaded gunners may not fight and are lost if the battalion is lost. They may re-crew their guns when the enemy has buggered off and when the infantry battalion moves (or remains) within 2 inches of the guns.
So yes, infantry battalions may fire as normal if the gunners in front have legged it back to their line to evade the enemy during the movement phase. So in the course of the turn, the artillery may fire, then the enemy moves, the artillery evades, the enemy continues their move and then the defending infantry fire.
Yes, a friendly-occupied building or other piece of terrain will secure a Solid Line. The Solid Line needs to be secured on both flanks.
If friendly infantry move into flank support position after the enemy cavalry make their move (this actually happened during our Minden game, when the French cavalry were having a go at the Hanoverian Guards), the defending unit doesn’t count Solid Line, but can claim flank (and rear) support as per standard Shako.
I hope that helps. I really need to write this down in an understandable format… It’s been on my ‘To Do’ list for a very long time… 😉
Mark