Introduction by Fred Schachter, Assistant Designer & Editor: As this article’s preceding Part 1 of 2 explained, what you have here is an excerpt from Congress of Vienna’s Playbook, it’s Section 16, which provides a detailed example of a turn’s play from the “Clash of Armies” scenario. It features Terry Leeds’ beautiful graphics for this upcoming P-500 game’s components.

For more, much more, regarding Congress of Vienna, see GMT’s site for the game at: GMT Games – Congress of Vienna. This includes a four turn After-Action Report of a full “Clash of Armies” scenario (albeit using an early CoV Vassal Module lacking Terry’s eye-catching game board graphics).

Now, without further ado, let’s resume the action with this Detailed Example of Play’s CoV Government Phase…

Government Phase

In the Government Phase, players can optionally play simultaneously, but for beginners we advise starting with the player to the right of the whoever won the Diplomacy Phase and continue clockwise.

France:

With seven Resources at its disposal (six initial plus one from Gaudin), Franceallocates two for Italy and Saxony (for 2 VP and two French units that are placed in Paris), another Resource (mandatory) for the Military Operation (sent to Paris and to be placed later during theWar Phase), and four Resources spent on acquiring all four French military support markers (also sent to Paris to be placed in the War Phase). This is not been a bad result for France in view of the mediocre hand of cards drawn at turn start. As Napoleon was saved for the War Phase, a free French Military Operation is received in Paris (see indication on the Napoleon card).

Russia:

After a great Diplomacy Phase, Russia has five Resources at its disposal (three initial plus two from British Financial Aidmarkers). Two Resources are used for mandatory Issues: Austria at War and the Russian Military Operation. One remaining Resource is used to acquire a Russian military support marker for this turn, another is sent to the Absolutism Track to increase its die roll by +1 drm, and the fifth one serves to obtain 1 VP by Sound Government.

Britain:

Britain has six Resources at its disposal (the initial five plus one additional from play of the Eldon card). The first priority is to pay for the two British Financial Aid markers placed on other player national Tracks. Consequently, two Resource markers are transferred to Russia. The next priority is to pay for the British Military Operation wherever it was won (but in this case it is on the British Track). Mirek still has three Resources remaining. The first is spent on the British Recruitment Issue and he places a British Unit and British Fleet in London, as indicated by the rules and on the marker. Britain loses 1 VP for recruiting! The remaining two Resources are spent on acquiring two British military support markers (also sent to London for placement during the War Phase).

Austria:

With a mere three Resources, their allocation is a foregone conclusion: funding Liberalism-Absolutism, Generalissimoand Future Government of Francewith one Resource each.

Unfortunately, the die roll does not land favorably for Absolutism, even with a +1drm from the Russian Resource investment applied.  But given the Resource-rich Liberalism camp’s advantages, the stalwarts of Absolutism at least kept Britain and France from getting a possible Liberalism VP bump this turn. [To advance a pawn on this Track, a result of 4-6 on a 1d6 die roll is required. Possible drms include:  Each Resource expended by a Major Power is a +1 drm. The play of certain Character cards during the Diplomacy Phase also can grant a +1 drm each. Pawns only advance, they never move backwards].

[Of course, no Resource must be spent by Austria for the French Recruitment Issue on its Track since this Issue can only be activated by France. For Austria, it served its purpose of winning enough Issues to achieve Diplomacy Phase victory and deny new units to France!]

As the Austria at War just happened, this Issue is permanently removed from the game and the Army of Bohemia wooden block is moved from the Vienna space to the Silesia space where the Russian Army of Silesia is placed. Also, the War Status marker is flipped from its Armistice side to its General War side (see Figure 20).

Because the Future Government of France Issue was won and funded, the blue pawn on the Future Government Track is moved from the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte Box to French Peers Regency Box. The VPs that each player receives/loses (indicated by the Box to which the pawn is moved) are recorded in the VP Record Track (see Figure 21).

Pax Britannica

When all these Issues are finished, the Pax Britannica die-roll is performed [To advance its pawn, a 4-6 final result on a 1d6 die roll is required. Possible drm’s include: each Resource and/or BR fleet spent through removal from the map and returned to the BR Pool, grants a +1 drm. Some BR Character cards grant +1 drm. Each space of this Track has a prerequisite to attempt an advance of its pawn. In this case the prerequisite is achieved since the Valencia and Castile spaces are Allied]. Britain has +2 drm since Huskisson and Bexley were used in Diplomacy. Mirek rolls a “3”, adds +2 drm for a ”5” result. The Track’s pawn is advanced and Britainreceives3VP (see Figure 22).

Distribution of Units and Fleets

Only France and Britain have units to place in their Armies or the War of 1812 Box. The French player starts by placing his two units through winning the Saxony and Italy Issues in the Grande Armée. The British player places the Recruitment Issue gained unit and fleet in the War of 1812 Box.

Figure 23 shows the game board’s Diplomacy Section at the end of the Government Phase.

War Phase

[The War Phase is started by the player sitting to the left of the Diplomacy Phase Winner and continues in clockwise sequence, Major Power by Major Power, Step by Step, until the start of its Military Operations and Battle Step (Step 4)]

Step 1: Placing Military Operation Markers

As Austria won the Diplomacy Phase, the French player starts by placing his two French Military Operation markers: one with the Grande Armée block (Front A) and the other in the War of 1812 Box (Front G). Next, Russia places its Military Operation marker with the Army of Silesia block(Front A). Next, Britain places its Military Operation with the Army of Portugal block(Front C). Finally, as Austria does not have any Military Operation marker(s), this step is skipped for that player! Battles are only going to be resolved for Fronts A, C and G [Fronts/Box with at least one Military Operation marker placed].

Step 2: Placing Military Support Markers

[One military support marker, each of which grants a +3 battle drm, can be placed with any of your own Armies and/or for either or both sides in the War of 1812 Box. Uniquely, the French player can place up to two military support markers with the Grande Armée if Napoleon is available for the turn’s War Phase.]

France places two military support markers with the attacking Grande Armée(Front A), one on the FrenchArmy of Spain in Gascony (Front C), and the last of four in the War of 1812 Box(Front G).

Next, Russia places its one military supportmarker with the Army of Silesia block(Front A), which already has the Generalissimo HQ marker since Austria won theGeneralissimo Issue.

Finally, Britain places a military support marker with the Army of Portugal block (Front C) and one in the War of 1812 Box(Front G). The Austrian playerdoes not place anything since he had not acquired a military support marker in the Government Phase.

Step 3: Strategic Movement

[Up to a maximum of two units can be moved between the different player’s Army Boxes; but if France has the Berthier card in hand, the French player may move up to two additional units.  Furthermore, Britain may strategically move an unlimited number of fleets in addition to up to two of its units.  Note that a player must leave at least one unit with each Army and not “strip it bare” with Strategic Movement.]

France begins this step.  Since Mirek has the Berthier card in hand, he may strategically move up to four French units.  He moves two units from the Army of Mediterranean (Front D) to the Army of Spain (Front C) and two units from the Army of Elbe (Front B) to the Grande Armée (Front A) which brings it to its full, and impressive, full strength of 16 units!

Next The Allies of the Sixth Coalition sequentially conduct their Strategic Movement: Russia moves one Prussian and one Russian unit to the Army of Silesia (Front A) from Northern Army (Front B). Britain transfers one Spanish and one British unit from Eastern Army (Front D) to the Army of Portugal (Front C). Finally, Austria transfers two Austrian units to the Army of Bohemia (Front A) from the Army of Tyrol (Front F).

Figure 24 shows the Military Map at the end of the Strategic Movement Step.

Step 4: Military Operations and Battles

[Military Operations precipitate battles and take place sequentially beginning with Front A and ending in The War of 1812 Box (Front G).]

Battle in Front A (Central Europe)

[Both France and the Allies are attacking one another with Military Operations! Each side calculates its Initial Battle DRM: this includes number of units, including British fleets as well as appropriate additional DRM. Use each side’s DRM Track pawns to indicate the cumulative totals.]

Thankfully for the Allied cause, Russia views Front A as the best option to make headway against Napoleon. Austria and Russia therefore gang up on the Grande Armée. David and Chris have a total of 28 DRM from units [each unit a +1 DRM] and military support markers, including the Generalissimo HQ [each military support marker gets +3 DRM as does the HQ]. The additional positive DRMs (as well as French military cards’ negative DRMs) result in a total of +36 DRMs for the Allies side. For the French side, 16 French units, two French military support markers, for a total of +22 DRM, along with a battle card and Napoleon, Berthier, Murat, minus Allied military cards used for reducing French DRM, create a total of 25 DRMs). Now, both sides roll 2d6 (but Napoleon with Berthier, as his Chief of Staff, has 2x2d6 rolls, choosing the best roll). Once the dice roll results are added, the final pawn Track positions are 42 for the Allied DRM and 32 for the French DRM. The DRM Battle Track shows the casualties: Austria and Russia since inflict 5 French losses and France inflicts 4 Allied losses (see Figure 25).

[The Winning Army is that which inflicts more casualties. The Defeated Army must retreat from its occupied space into the space immediately to its rear. The Winning Army must advance into the vacated space.]

The Allies win! This battle liberates Saxony from Napoleon’s grip through a major victory.  Each side removes its casualty units to the relevant Force Pools (with the Austrian Generalissimo deciding who between Russian, Austrian, and Prussian units are to become casualties).

[A battle is considered a Major Battle if each Army had ≥ 4 units when battle commenced. As Napoleon is present, +2 VP each is awarded to Austria and Russia for a Major Battle victory and a -2 VP penalty is taken from France for a major defeat. The VP Track’s markers are adjusted accordingly. Had Napoleon not been present, the VP effects would be halved… e.g. a -1VP penalty would be inflicted upon France.]

Napoleon’s Grande Armée, now 11 units in strength, retreats from Saxony to Bavaria. Both Allied Armies advance into the Saxony space. There’s a 3 VP for Saxony switch between France and Austria/Russia. As Saxony gives an additional card to France and is now no longer French controlled (see the French card symbol in this space of the Military Map), the French card hand is now reduced to twelve cards. Furthermore, as Austria is no longer neutral, its hand of cards decreases by 1 (see Figure 26).

Battle in Front C (Central/Northern Spain)

The British Army of Portugal attacks Gascony. [Gascony is a crucial space in this scenario, but a hard nut to crack as it is both mountainous and a French Homeland space.  These add modifiers against the British. Also, the Spanish Guerrilla drm bonus disappears since the battle is in France, not in Spain!]

Both sides have nine units and one military support marker. The French player receives +3 DRM for Homeland, the British player suffers -3 DRM for attacking a mountain space. So, the totals are 15 French DRM vs. 9 British DRM before playing military cards!

However, the British cards available are seemingly overwhelming! The French player uses no cards, but Britain’s player reveals Wellington, Hill and Morillo. For the Hill card, the British player decides to apply its negative French DRM instead of adding British DRMs. Wellington adds +4 DRM and Morillo +2. So the Battle Track pawns are now respectively placed in the 15 British DRM Box and 12 French DRM Box. Both players roll 2d6 (although Britain uses the best of two dice-rolls due to playing the Wellington card). Based on these dice rolls, they move the pawns to 22 (France) and 21 (Britain) DRMs. This causes two losses each.  The battle is a draw and the British and French Armies remain in their initial spaces. Both remove two units each as losses, which are placed in their respective Force Pools (see Figure 27).

Battle in Front G (War of 1812)

The turn’s final combat is in the War of 1812 Box because the last Military Operation marker was placed there by France. For Military cards France plays Jackson and Britain the Sherbrooke and Tecumseh cards. A die-roll is required for determining if the famed Indian chieftain is killed at the end of the battle: a “3” is rolled, so he remains in the game for future play. The Battle Track results before the final 2d6 rolls is tight: 12 French DRM vs. 14 British DRM (see Figure 28).

Some “catastrophic” dice rolls by Mirek and Frank cause the same losses – a draw! The French player removes two US Militia units and the British player removes one fleet and one unit. However, the US Militia Enlistments Expire rule requires that only one US Militia unit may remain in the War of 1812 Box for the upcoming turn! As such, no victory has been won by the contenders and the War of 1812 Status marker does not move from its current neutral Box.  Mirek grumbles about a fine British opportunity lost.

End of Turn

We finish the turn by awarding End of Turn VP according to the Victory Point Summary (see Figure 29).Britain gets 2 VP for holding Castile, France gets 2 VP since Austria is at War against France (they’re now fully part of the Allied Coalition), and Austria receives 1 VPbecause the Generalissimo marker is Austrian (their white colored hexagon-shaped token!).

[This is only the end of this particular “Clash of Armies” scenario turn; the game has not ended, and its next turn will now be played. A single game card draw deck is created again, minus the Leader cards and any previously eliminated (killed) Character cards. The discard pile and unused card draw deck are then consolidated into a new draw deck for the coming turn. All Issues are placed in their appropriate spaces on the Issues Display and other markers placed on the gameboard in preparation for the next turn.]

Players’ Overall End Game Comments

Frank (France): French hopes of defeating the Allies in Central Europe were in vain, dashed despite a full-strength Grande Armée (a rare French accomplishment).  Not only did Napoleon not win the resounding Victory he sought; but he was defeated in battle, lost Saxony, and forced to retreat into the Bavaria space. Fortunately, the rest of the fronts were unmolested or easily defended (there were no Allied Military Operationson most of them, and Gascony – despite my not using any French military cards – was able to easily check Wellington‘s vaunted Army). The loss of only 5 VP for the turn is meager consolation when I expected to reach 60 VP (France starts this scenario with 55 VP)!

Chris (Austria): This turn could not have worked out better for Austria. The wins in the Diplomacy Phase and the Saxony space (Front A) resulted in a stunning 12 VP Austrian net gain for the turn (it starts with 20 VP). I took the lead role in the military effort against Napoleon as Generalissimo and set upfor a next turn probable push towards Italy (Front F). Unfortunately, this came at the expense of Allied cooperation, as no other Fronts advanced against Napoleon’s empire and the French suffered but a modest 5 VP loss this turn. With the war now fully engaged by all three Major Allied Powers aligned against France, and a replacement turn looming, we suspect an all-out war will be waged on multiple Fronts (ideally at least five, if not six) as we head into the September 1813 turn.

Mirek (Britain): Things did not go well! Despite having a good diplomacy hand of cards, I was not able to win the Diplomacy Phase [Fred Notes: this was a lofty aspiration, as Austria also had an excellent hand of cards, and unlike Britain, it did not have the same pressure to save cards for the War Phase nor divert Resources to pay for Financial Aid to Russia.]. Receiving Wellington via trade the last Diplomacy Round was very surprising and led me to a risky choice – trying to capture Gascony, which did not go well either. The only good thing was the Pax BritannicaTrack’s pawn advancement which is important for Britain in future turns. Altogether, Britain got to 22 VP (it started with 15 VP). [Fred Notes: usually the British player starts slowly gaining VP, to speed up their accrual during the final turns of e game when VPs from Spain, the War of 1812, and Pax Britannica provide increasingly heavy impact!]

David [Russia]: Russia has 34 VP after starting with 25 VP. Really, it was a good turn for Russia! First, Austria at War happened with the game’s first turn through my being able to secure it.  This implies that from this turn onwards the Allies will be able to attack in Central and Northern Europe. Furthermore, by not having a good diplomatic hand, I decided to save the maximum number of military cards so as to have any chance of beating Napoleon. It was serendipity that I got both British Financial Aid Issues, which gave me a surplus of Resources for funding all the won Issues on my Track. I also had plenty of Resources left to get a VP for Sound Government, and a key military support marker for the all-important Front A battle.  Rather than have the massive French Grande Armée seize Silesia, we obtained a Major Victory that forced Napoleon to retreat from Saxony. Austria and Russia got 5 VP each for this! Indirectly, controlling Saxony allows further unrestricted progress on Northern European Front B, where the harvest of VP and additional game cards for Russia can help me towards being the final winner of the game.

Concluding Comments for this Article’s Part 2 of 2:  Ah the “what if’s” this Detailed Example of Congress of Vienna Play contain! What if France foiled the Allies single Track A Central European attack? This could have been done in one of two ways: 1. Preventing Austria from Entering the War or 2. Getting the single Russian Military Operation marker onto the French Track and off to the Russian – Persian War Box! What a risk the Russian and Austrian players took in only having a single Military Operation marker between them!

Another “What If” is France not attacking on Front A and then preventing the Allies from gaining the Generalissimo Issue for the Russian Front A Army of Silesia’s attack. This would have resulted in the Austrian Army of Bohemia not joining the battle with its eight units and the cards of Reuss-Plauen, Radetzky, and Military Card #64: Austrian Grenadier Defense. That would have resulted in Napoleon winning the battle and not losing Saxony. 

Then there’s the Austrian player’s Diplomacy Phase Card Trading: What if Austria did not reward both sides with Military Cards influencing the turn’s War of 1812 Box’s Battle and did not give France the Andrew Jackson card? Without Andrew Jackson, and the British having Sherbrooke, the battle result would have changed from a draw into a British War of 1812 Box victory!

Lastly, there’s Austria using the turn’s sixth and final Diplomacy Phase Round to trade the powerful Wellington Military card to Britain. In this commentator’s opinion, this was a kind of “poison pill”. It encouraged Britain to attack Spain Track C’s tough defensive nut of Gascony rather than Track D’s Catalonia or perhaps consider an Amphibious Attack upon Track E’s Naples. Britain’s chances for success were better with the Track D or Track E alternatives.

Readers may find other pivotal “What If” player-controlled items when considering this after-action report… this Detailed Example of a turn of Congress of Vienna Play. The main point is that while this wonderful Frank Esparrago designed game saliently includes “luck with the cards” and “luck with the dice”; it is player choices involving game elements they can control which could help best ride “the winds of war” and triumphally prevail!

Feedback from the InsideGMT Community would be appreciated.

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