Tag Archives: Congress of Vienna

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Congress of Vienna’s Tactical Battle Matrix Option Part 2 of 2 – An Example of Battle

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Introduction by Congress of Vienna Designer – Frank Esparrago: This detailed example of play shows how battles in CoV unfold. Due to a different historical period and military perspective; these use a system more complex than Churchill’s. This battle system, whose basics are well-described by a fine and entertaining video by two of our talented play testers ( How to Resolve Battle in Congress of Vienna: An Animated Voice-Over PowerPoint | Inside GMT blog) receives a layer of richness for generating additional influence in how battle is resolved. This is accomplished through introducing Tactical Chits to generate a new modifier for determining a potential battle victor.

This article is based on this piece’s previous installment – A Congress of Vienna Option: Adding Tactical Flavor to Battles (A Tactical Battle Matrix) by Frank Esparrago & David Schoellhamer: A Congress of Vienna Option: Adding Tactical Flavor to Battles (A Tactical Battle Matrix) Part 1 of 2 | Inside GMT blog .This optional Tactical Battle Matrix rule is based on the tactical battle matrixes of the excellent Avalon Hill games 1776 and War and Peace published in the distant years of 1974 and 1980 respectively. However, playing with this optional rule does increase the amount of time needed for battle resolution. What is clear is that the CoV Tactical Battle Matrix does add an additional element of fun, uncertainty, tactical flavor, and “fog of war” to resolving battles. It does this by presenting simple choices regarding the general tactics an army could use.

Additional background regarding Congress of Vienna should help readers best apprecite this optional offering. For that, please reference GMT Games – Congress of Vienna . Now back to our exposition!

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Congress of Vienna November 2021 Development Update: Gameboard Narrative

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During the last six months we continued adjusting Congress of Vienna (CoV)’s components to try to make them as functional as possible. This effort included minor corrections to the rules: for example, when a rule was moved from being an optional rule to becoming a standard one or vice versa.

This always seems a problem when you carry out a game’s extensive playtest program with participants contributing many ideas and feedback regarding rule development as well as victory conditions. What’s gratifying is that through it all, the core design/development team takes a considered approached to weighing the merits of all this much appreciated input; and in the case of this November 2021 update, we’ll focus on the latest Congress of Vienna map and its rule references upon the gameboard.

This means we’ll share game board modifications made since the last published overview concerning the map as play testing proceeds. New Readers about Congress of Vienna, or those needing reminders of what this upcoming GMT P-500 listed game is about, may benefit through obtaining background regarding this game through the material deposited herein: GMT Games – Congress of Vienna and to learn more of the optional rules specifically mentioned within this update kindly reference War or Diplomacy? The Struggle Between the Wargamer vs Eurogamer Soul in the Design and Development of Congress of Vienna | Inside GMT blog

With this article, we present the latest gameboard which incorporates a variety of aids intended to facilitate play of both the Standard Game and its Optional Historical Rules for players with a grognard soul (these were referred to in previous versions as “Wargame Flavor Rules”).

As with the prior posted April ’21 update, we do not have this latest gameboard extensively in-person tested since most playtesting is conducted by Vassal for self-protection measures against COVID-19 . This results in our testing teams having representatives from Europe, the States, as well as a recent addition from the Philippines (what wonderful and talented multi-national group I’m privileged to have!). We incorporated modifications from Vassal play testers who found help them helpful to avoid needing to take time to reference, or perhaps overlook, certain key rules during play of an exciting and fun game of Congress of Vienna.

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A Congress of Vienna Option: Adding Tactical Flavor to Battles (A Tactical Battle Matrix) Part 1 of 2

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Introduction by Congress of Vienna Designer – Frank Esparrago: Although Congress of Vienna (CoV) is a game with an enormously robust selection of political and diplomatic decisions and effects with the game’s military aspects omnipresent; you’d think that would be enough. Ha! Some play testers wanted an option to study what could happen if they decided the big tactical choices in a decisive battle to a greater degree of influence than the standard game offers. As CoV’s designer, I could not resist the opportunity to address their desire!

The standard game already includes military units and cards that represent generals and other units such as guard, cavalry, etc. But for a game focusing on grand strategy, how would you arrange different army corps and reserves? This was something the standard game left uncontemplated. It seemed an optional rule the best approach to address this as an optional rule.

David Schoellhamer is one of our play testers who possesses excellent analytical skills and attention to detail. He has significantly contributed to improve Congress of Vienna despite not being a historical expert of the Napoleonic age. Lately, he is involved in the considerable task of making fully operational a scenario that allows playing CoV in a solitary version: the French player versus Bots for the three allied players! This allows the Solitaire Player to experience all the pressures and opportunities for glory that confronted Napoleon during the 1813-1814 period CoV encompasses.

This optional rule is based on the tactical battle matrix of the excellent Avalon Hill games 1776 and War and Peace published in the distant years of 1974 and 1980 respectively. However, playing with this optional rule does slow the amount of time needed for battle resolution. It should only be used by true-to-heart “wargamer” CoV players with enough time and desire to get more involved in the military aspects of this game. What is clear is that the CoV Tactical Battle Matrix does add an additional element of fun, uncertainty, tactical flavor, and “fog of war” to resolving battles. By presenting simple choices regarding the general tactics an army uses; we are sure that to some players it is quite reminiscent of the simple children’s game of rock / paper / scissors / match. But we will further reference this last analogy later during this article.

Additional background regarding Congress of Vienna should help readers best appreciate this optional offering. For that, please reference GMT Games – Congress of Vienna Now to our exposition!

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War or Diplomacy? The Struggle Between the Wargamer vs Eurogamer Soul in the Design and Development of Congress of Vienna

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Introduction by Congress of Vienna Assistant Designer & Editor – Fred Schachter:This article is appearing after conclusion of an InsideGMT article series, a Standard Game After-Action-Report (AAR) of one of Congress of Vienna’s Scenarios, “The Clash of Armies”, which starts in August 1813 and runs through the end of that fateful year which encompasses many of the epic battles of a truly epic era. For those four episodes, see: GMT Games – Congress of Vienna

One of the Design/Development conundrums the CoV Team confronted during its fun and intriguing journey is how to characterize this wonderful creation of designer Frank Esparrago. Is it a wargame? The hardcore grognard wargamers, of which I number myself, certainly believe so, particularly when playing with all the “Wargamer Flavor Rules (WFR)”… which, as explained below, will be retitled “Optional Historical Rules (OHR)” going forward. That term seems better suited to those rules’ intent, eh?

Then there are the CoV Team’s Eurogamers, who proclaim that Congress of Vienna’s Standard Game is representative of the more involved kind of Eurogames they so enjoy. It’s almost like Designer Frank had two angels perched on his shoulders as he labored on his game creation… one a “Wargamer Angel” and the other a “Eurogamer Angel” each whispering their imprecations into his ears. Whom did he heed? Well, from the reception Congress of Vienna has received to date… it seems to be offering something to gamers of all flavors!

In this article Frank shares some of the design considerations he’s confronted in bringing Congress of Vienna from concept into a GMT P-500 offering. For those interested in learning more of CoV’s genesis, see: Congress of Vienna Designer’s Notes (Part 1 of 2) – Inside GMT blog If you enjoy reading of how a designer deals with complex game elements… this article should strike a chord of interest! With that, take it away Frank!

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Congress of Vienna Standard Game After-Action-Report: “The Clash of Armies” Scenario (Turn 4 of 4 – Nov.-Dec. 1813)

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Introduction by Congress of Vienna Assistant Designer & Editor – Fred Schachter: The third turn of this After-Action-Report (AAR) chronicled game was exciting and interesting with France continuing to meet its comeuppance, and not repeating its brilliant turn one Diplomacy Phase performance (winning seven Issues! Remarkable!) since the Allies are now coordinating against “The Corsican Ogre”. For that remarkable feat, see: Congress of Vienna Standard Game After-Action-Report: “The Clash of Armies” Scenario (Turn 1 of 4 – Aug. 1813) – Inside GMT blog 

For background regarding this forthcoming GMT P-500 game, for these articles presume some knowledge of Congress of Vienna’s game system, see: GMT Games – Congress of Vienna.

Our players are having a blast playing Frank’s latest CoV scenario creation. So, let’s conclude the game action of this Congress of Vienna “Clash of Armies” Standard Game contest as the massive struggle for Europe (and the War of 1812 in North America) continues… but first…

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Congress of Vienna Standard Game After-Action-Report: “The Clash of Armies” Scenario (Turn 3 of 4 – Oct. 1813)

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Introduction by Congress of Vienna Assistant Designer & Editor – Fred Schachter: The second turn of this After-Action-Report (AAR) chronicled game was exciting and interesting with France continuing to meet its comeuppance, and not repeating its brilliant turn one Diplomacy Phase performance (winning seven Issues! Remarkable!) since the Allies are now coordinating against “The Corsican Ogre”. For that remarkable feat, see: Congress of Vienna Standard Game After-Action-Report: “The Clash of Armies” Scenario (Turn 1 of 4 – Aug. 1813) – Inside GMT blog

Our players are having a blast playing Frank’s latest CoV scenario creation. So, let’s resume the game action of this Congress of Vienna “Clash of Armies” Standard Game contest as the massive struggle for Europe (and the War of 1812 in North America) continues… but first…

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Congress of Vienna Standard Game After-Action-Report: “The Clash of Armies” Scenario (Turn 2 of 4 – Sept. 1813)

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Vassal Screen: CoV “Clash of Armies” Game Situation – Start Turn 2, Sept. 1813

Figure 1 – The Military & Diplomatic situation at the begin of Turn 2.

Introduction by Congress of Vienna Assistant Designer & Editor – Fred Schachter: The first turn of this After-Action-Report (AAR) chronicled game was an exciting and unusual one with France doing well against their disjointed enemies. It should be noted that this turn’s record, as well as the remaining reports of this series, shall depict battles in some detail… but not EVERY detail… particularly regarding full calculation of the dice roll modifiers which were evaluated to learn how much each side’s two dice battle rolls would be influenced.  It’s really a simple checklist review to determine what to include.  To learn more of the game’s battle resolution system, see the nifty video two of our media-savvy play test team created:  How to Resolve Battle in Congress of Vienna: An Animated Voice-Over PowerPoint – Inside GMT blog 

So let’s resume the game action of this Congress of Vienna “Clash of Armies” contest as the conflict expands to engulf the entire European continent with Austria’s entry into the war… but first…

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Congress of Vienna Standard Game After-Action-Report: “The Clash of Armies” Scenario (Turn 1 of 4 – Aug. 1813)

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Introduction by Congress of Vienna Assistant Designer & Editor – Fred Schachter: This is the first STANDARD GAME Congress of Vienna Replay Article to grace the pages of InsideGMT. To date, each AAR used optional rules favored by CoV veteran grognard play testers… which encompasses all the “Wargame Flavor” rules the game offers. For those AAR’s and other related material to provide a rich background to best appreciate this article, see: GMT Games – Congress of Vienna .

These Wargame Flavor elements include those purple color-highlighted rule cross-references on CoV’s map (see above image) as well as other rules solely within the Playbook. While these are fun and add historiocity (such as including the Norway/Denmark Box)… the more things to consider does slow the pace of play down… not that our grognards mind! Designer Frank’s CoV play testers in Spain, however, consist of many a Eurogamer and they vastly prefer the smoother and less rule knowledge needed Standard Game. We now embark on the latest Congress of Vienna game replay adventure… enjoy! 

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Congress of Vienna April 2021 Gameboard Update

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Introduction by Congress of Vienna Assistant Designer & Editor – Fred Schachter: First to our InsideGMT readers… the CoV team is flattered, thrilled, and more than a bit bemused at the outpouring of support this addition to GMT’s “Great Statesmen Series” has garnered since its initial P-500 announcement. We appreciate all the patronage Congress of Vienna has received to date through those who’ve placed orders for the game.

This April 2021 update conveys designer Frank Esparrago’s latest modifications to the game’s map, an image of which accompanies this narrative. As play testing continues, and it will continue until the happy day GMT advises production efforts may commence, the team will make adjustments based on the feedback of our international playtest teams, who consist of both Eurogamers and hard core grognard wargamers. What fun it is to be participating in these efforts!

For more regarding Congress of Vienna, there’s a host of material available from GMT’s site for the game: GMT Games – Congress of Vienna. With that, take it away Frank!

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Congress of Vienna: Designing Its Two Player Game

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Introduction by Congress of Vienna (CoV)’s Assistant Designer & Editor, Fred Schachter: This article follows up a previous piece’s description of efforts made by one of the CoV Teams making fine and appreciated contributions to the game… “Gutt’s Guys”… who’ve come up with a set of rules converting CoV’s 4-player game into 3 and 2-player versions.

With this article, designer Frank Esparrago describes efforts to make Congress of Vienna into a completely competitive and fun two player game with all the intensity and excitement of its Standard multi-player versions… but one which delivers some unique design elements to hopefully create novel and exciting player experiences and “puzzles to victory” conundrums to explore. Later articles will describe how CoV’s Bots were created for solo play enjoyment; and shall provide a description, with examples, of how they work.

Understanding Congress of Vienna’s basic game system(s) should enhance readers’ appreciation of this article and its ensuing follow-ups. To that end, GMT’s site for the game contains a wealth of material: GMT Games – Congress of Vienna 

We hope you enjoy that content and take it away Frank!