VaeVictis #177: The Campaign of the Army of the North 1870-1871
This is an operational game, with combat forces (army, corps, divisions, brigades, columns or decoys) making point-to-point movements on a map representing the northern part of France, from Rouen to Lille and Amiens. Infantry, cavalry, artillery and siege artillery units are hidden and placed on tables for each combat force identified on the map. Their status is tracked: full or reduced strength, supplied or unsupplied, fatigue level - rested, fatigued, exhausted. Movements are made using activation markers, which randomly determine the number of combat forces that can move during a turn. The initiative can pass from one side to the other depending on the number of combat forces moved in the previous turn. There are two combat resolution tables: one for pitched battles and one for sieges. A dozen random events add chrome, uncertainty and replayability by influencing movement, combat and visibility of enemy forces.
Victory points are earned by controlling objective cities or winning pitched battles.
The Campaign of the Army of the North contains two independent scenarios: the opening battles for control of Amiens (2 turns, introductory scenario) and the full campaign (10 turns).
- Game turn: one week
- One combat factor (= 1 squadron, 1 battalion or 1 battery)
- Distance between two zones: 20 km on average
- Complexity: 6/10
- Solitaire: 3/10
- Playing time: two to five hours