Der Deutsch Franzoesischer Krieg - Century of Warfare, TOAW III, and TOAW IV

Der Deutsch-Französischer Krieg by Joe Bowers ([email protected]) Made for French computer vs. Human player and version 1.04.01 of Opart300 CW.exe. First off, put the .sce file into scenarios and the two .bmps into graphics and you are ready to go. The i10021y.bmp is the Gambetta balloon I made. As the Germans started to encircle Paris the French found that balloons left over from the 1867 Great Exhibition could carry a man. Gambetta got in one and left for Tours. To me this has to be one of the great moments in military history. "He's very, slowly, getting, away!" Changes in this version include the title. This is not Der Deutsch-Franzoesischer Krieg 1.0 but rather Der Deutsch-Französischer Krieg. Note the umlaut over the o. I discovered how to add these only recently and I put them where ever I knew they belonged. I also added any french punctuation or correct lettering I could. Other changes include correct French formation names, in French, rather than the english translations which I think looks alot better in the order of battle. For the map I added two villages, one of which is Bouzonville. This does not affect the game play but is rather the gathering point for the French IV Corp at the beginning the conflict. The other is Danjoutin, a semi-fortified village south of Belfort. I added this as it was historically important in the course of the seige of Belfort. Any other map changes were cosmetic or otherwise for play convenience. The main changes I should mention are the unit proficiencies. I rebalanced this scenario. Instead of making the French units virtually retarded I limited the way in which they received replacements. Consequently, I was able to bring the two Forces unit proficiencies much closer together. My levels are 40 green, 50 trained, 60 veteren and 70 elite. German forces should be higher, I put most at 60. Most of them saw battle in 1866 and should be in the prime of life. The French I-VII Corps I put at 50 (trained). I know the French saw some battles at various places but I don't believe at the same level or as recently as the Germans had. Also many French units, through poor mobilization were not fighting with the correct formations and therefore should not fight well together. New French formations, Loire Army, Nord etc are set to 40. These were very largely untrained troops. In my oob I made a few changes. I made sure that no formation was over 9 units. Gee, I like this one, I found it makes it much better especially when moving on the rail. I added Landwehr to each German Korp. I can't swear that they were really there, in this way, but my scant information hints that they were. I attached them to the Korps leaders as reserves, like the artillery. And frankly this makes the Manteuffel, Zastrow etc formations good for something, at least they can defend now and not just take up space. Seige Artillery. These are not how the Germans deployed these. I attached divisions to the Army Hq just for the sake of organization, more convenient etc. Also, I don't really know how big these divisions really were. My gun composition is pretty close I think but I really don't know how many of each there would have been. I think it works well the way it is. Finally, I changed some equipment compositions, some things that probably looked odd if anyone actually looked at them. I won't tell you all they were, just know that if you saw something you thought stupid, I probably changed it here. Some comments: About the map, some areas are out of scale. For example, the area around Metz. Had I shown this at 2.5km a hex, there would be no Mars-la-Tour or Vionville, Rezonville, or an old Roman road segment. There would be just one hex, labeled Metz. Frankly, if you can find an old Roman road segment in your research, use it, it would be a waste not to. The same is true for the Worth area, those surrounding villages would not be shown otherwise. Weissemburg, I knew the names of the fortress gates, I definitely had to use those, even if I was out of scale. Sedan, Strasbourg, Belfort, Neuf-Brisach, Paris, Orleans and Le Mans are handled in the same way. I had lots of space to fill, 35,000+ hexes worth, it looks better and only improves gameplay. There was little naval action in this war. I did however, include the ships Meteor and Bouvet which actually fought near Havana for 2 1/2 hours. I did this in conjunction with the inclusion of the German's one and only sea battalion. I did this for fun. Don't forget they are there (north west coast of France), the sea battalion can be useful with proper timing for capturing Rouen. I threw in a river gun boat because I knew the French had them. I knew little else about them but at least you got one in the game. Quotes: "...I am your Majesty's true brother." -what Napoleon said to Wilhelm as he surrendered at Sedan. You get this one when you kill Napoleon. "We are sitting on a chamber pot..." you'll see the rest in game. Ducrot said this as the Germans closed in around Sedan at Bazeilles. This should appear when Bazeilles is taken. Be sure to attack the civilians when you get there. The Germans, actually Bavarians were accused of this anyway so, you may as well get your criticisms worth. The quote attributed to Gambetta in its entirety is "The great recipe for success is to work, and always work." Not very inspiring, is it? Other notes: Charles Miroy I included as an irregular, free shooter unit when I came across this reference: Announcement During the night of the 6th to the 7th of this month, several shots were fired from the surrounding hills at troops entering Belval on requisition duties. Charles Miroy, aged 42 years, the parish priest of Cuchery, of which parish Belval is part, who had concealed and distributed arms to the inhabitants, has been arrested as the instigator of these hostile acts, and by virtue of the judgement of a Council of War, he has this morning been executed by firing squad at Rheims, for the crime of treason against the German troops. Rheims, 12th February 1871 Governor-General, von Rosenberg-Gruszczynski, Lieutenant-General --------------------------------------------------------- You may come across Captain Leonce Patry as you race around the map. He wasn't anyone particularly special, just a malcontent (a man after my own heart) who happened to write his memoirs. He started with Ladmirault's IV Corps and ended up the war helping to suppress the Paris Commune (something about which he didn't like to talk). You can see him around Thionville or on his way to his service with the Army of the North. You get nothing for killing him other than the fun of doing so. Other map notes: Switzerland is basically copied from Piero Falotti's Battle of Zurich v. 1.0 Also, anyone who can improve upon what I have done, artistically, with my map, please feel free to do so. God knows I can't. Just mention my name in the edit or let me know or I can include it with version 2.0. Finally, I guess, oobs. They should be pretty close. However, anyone knowing better for: Cambriels forces in the east, Cote-d-Or, Vosges Army Cremer's division Garibaldi's new Vosges Army Werder's XIV Korps or anything else, please let me know at the above email. Oh, I guess I should include more game notes. I achieved an overwhelming victory by turn 41. Of course, I designed this but anyone else should be able. If you find it too easy change the French assigned equipment to 100% and that should take care of it. I made this to be figured out, of course you can beat the computer, who can't. The key is strategically how. If you don't want to know and do it yourself don't read further. Metz is made to be surrounded. Leave at least 1 corp east and 2 or 3 west. The Metz Army will come to you. Makes it exiting. Capture Buchy, Sedan, Chalons, Soissons in the north to open rail lines. Strassbourg, Marsal, Epinal and Toul and Vitry with Third Army in the south. Also, Corbeil, north of Orleans will open a line, not to Orleans but within a march or two. All of these are included to get you to where you need to go quicker. The Germans used them and you have to too, else you can't win. Most French forces will conglomerate around the most threatened objective. Try to draw some away, eg, If you have your heart set on attacking Metz do so by putting pressure on Borny and Thionville and on the opposite side at Mars-la-Tour. Having a corp south, in the middle will also help. Do not attack Paris. Take the objectives surrounding it. Attacking Paris will at best get you 25 points, good luck with that strategy. You may not be able to get to Dijon but you can get to Belfort, take it. If you have not read the scenario briefing yet: Taking any fort worth at least 1 point and on a rail will have a 33% chance of increasing the German supply stockpile by 1 point and rail capacity by 150. The French totals will decrease by the same amounts at the same time. This does not happen in reverse should the French recapture. The German stockpile should not exceed 35 and rail capacity should not exceed 5950. The French should not drop below 25 and 3000 respectively. I guess the rest is up to you. Have fun, that is the entire point. February 15, 2006