Introduction by Congress of Vienna Assistant Designer & Editor, Fred Schachter: Game Designer Frank Esparrago here concludes his four parts “How to Play” treatise, one for each Congress of Vienna Major Power: France, Austria, Russia, and now Britain which readers and prospective players of the game will hopefully find edifying and enjoyable.

The goal of these expositions is to give CoV players, particularly “newbies”, insights as to how to exploit the advantages and defend against the weaknesses of each Major Power.  These articles are provided in recognition that our beloved hobby has so many titles to choose from that there’s little time to repeatedly play a given game to learn all the nuances not revealed by a rulebook.

When Frank or I host a Congress of Vienna game at a club meeting or convention, we’ll sometimes warn an inexperienced player not to do something which could impede an opportunity for success or result in potential grievous damage to that player’s pursuit of victory.  Well, Frank and I can’t be at your Congress of Vienna gaming table to provide that kind of advisory help… therefore, these articles are intended to be “the next best thing”.

For more regarding Congress of Vienna, with the referenced “Strategies” articles as well as pieces conveying Scenario Set-Ups, Optional Rules (such as the Tactical Battle Resolution Matrix and those not provided with the published game), after action reports, a compendium exploring all the game’s cards, designers notes for the Solitaire and Two Player games, as well as presentations of this fascinating Napoleonic era history in terms of the game, etc., see: GMT Games – Congress of Vienna

Incidentally, please note these “Strategies for” articles are based on a Congress of Vienna Standard Rules Full Campaign Game of potentially ten turns duration.

With that, take it away Frank!

Introduction by Congress of Vienna Assistant Designer & Editor, Fred Schachter: Game Designer Frank Esparrago continues his InsideGMT exposition of CoV Major Power Strategy pieces, the last presented through a “Strategies for Austria” piece: How to Play with Each Major Congress of Vienna Game Power: Austria (2024 Edition) | Inside GMT blog . This link will bring you to other material regarding this fun and exciting GMT P-500 offering.

Please note this article, as its preceding France and Austria segments, presumes a four-player standard Congress of Vienna Full Campaign game without any Optional Historical Rules.

We believe it best to follow-up the Austria article with Russia since those two Congress of Vienna Major Powers are both simultaneously partners and rivals as only one player can win the game.  Consequently,  Russia and Austria are, to use a popular reference, “frenemies”. When should Russia actively partner with Austria versus taking a more cautious approach in seeking its own game victory? That’s an intriguing and  fascinating game play challenge Frank explores.

With that, take it away Frank!

Introduction by Congress of Vienna Assistant Designer & Editor, Fred Schachter: Game Designer Frank Esparrago continues his InsideGMT exposition of CoV Major Power Strategy pieces, the last presented through Part 2 of 2 of “Strategies for France”: How to Play with Each Major Congress of Vienna Game Power: France (2024 Edition) Part 2 of 2, Emphasis on War | Inside GMT blog. Attention is now given to Austria… whose Hapsburg players have challenges quite different from those in the role of the French emperor, Napoleon, as well as the two Allied Major Powers of Russian and Britain.  Yes, different indeed!

Introduction by Congress of Vienna Assistant Designer & Editor, Fred Schachter: Part 1 of this article focused on the Diplomatic aspects of French Congress of Vienna strategy. This, of necessity, required some reference to the game’s military considerations.

But with this article’s Part 2 of 2, CoV Designer Frank Esparrago takes a deeper dive into how a French player could succeed with emphasis on what the game offers France militarily… and it is substantial!

Introduction by Congress of Vienna Assistant Designer & Editor, Fred Schachter: As previously mentioned and lamented in other InsideGMT articles, space prohibited including in the published game several “goodies” Frank and the Congress of Vienna (CoV) Team wrought to enhance players’ appreciation of this fun and exciting game inspired by Mark Herman’s renown Churchill.  Many of these pieces may now be found in GMT’s CoV site: GMT Games – Congress of Vienna.  These articles, particularly the Quick Start Rules, should provide readers with background concerning the game as well as a foundation for understanding what is presented herein.

This article, the first of a 4 Part Series (one for each of CoV’s Major Powers: Russia, Britain, Austria, and France). It is intended to convey the team’s experiences in successfully meeting the challenges in playing Napoleonic France, which is seeking during the game’s 1813-1814 period to recover from the disastrous and calamitous 1812 invasion of Russia. 

These recommendations/observations for the game’s prospective players in the role of the French emperor Napoleon are for Congress of Vienna’s Full Campaign Game, without Optional Historical Rules (OHRs), or use of the game’s Solitaire Rules and/or Bots.   Contending with one or more of those have unique considerations all their own.  For readers curious to learn of these options, kindly reference the above link to GMT’s CoV Site.         

To additionally set the stage, here is an image of the Congress of Vienna Production Gameboard:

With that and this link to the game’s Quick Start Rules Summary Booklet InsideGMT article: Congress of Vienna Quick Start Rules (Bi-Lingual: English & Spanish Versions!) | Inside GMT blog, Frank, CoV’s Designer, will hopefully entertain you with this “How to Play” piece for Congress of Vienna’s Imperial France, through which he shares some “tricks of the trade” in surmounting the challenges faced by France, who is not without resources of its own, as it’s pitted against powerful enemies coming at it from every point of the compass.  So here is Part 1 of 2 of this “French Strategies” article, enjoy!