Tag Archives: Congress of Vienna

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A Historical Introduction to the Congress of Vienna Period (CoV) Part 4 of 4 — The Demise of La Gloire: The Invasion of France & Napoleon’s End (1814)

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Introduction (By CoV Editor Fred Schachter): The preceding parts of this article (Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3) leads us to Napoleon’s desperate 1814 attempts to save Imperial France and himself from the wrath of his many enemies: the Nations of the Sixth Coalition. These opponents may loudly voice exclamations of public unity against “The Corsican Ogre”; but lurking beneath the surface each is vying for supremacy in the postwar Europe to come: a motivation players of Congress of Vienna will find for themselves when playing this exciting game, full of the same diplomatic tensions and challenges as confronted the historic contenders representing France, Britain, Russia or Austria.  Readers may find learning of the game’s design background, why things are portrayed as they are in Congress of Vienna, by reading Designer Frank Esparrago’s InsideGMT two part article: “Congress of Vienna Designer’s Notes“. There is also more information regarding this game within GMT’s site for it. It is now a new year, 1814, and with his foes’ powerful armies closing in from all directions; Napoleon seeks to repulse the invaders and preserve his throne. Note: If you would like to view any of the below images in a larger size, you can click on the image and it will point you to the full image file.
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Convention Report: The GMT Delegation’s January 2020 Visit to Bellota Con III in Badajoz, Spain & Congress of Vienna (CoV)

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The Locale: Landscape picture taken from the Bellota Con convention site. Dominating the scene is the Guadiana River and the ancient bridge with Roman ashlars on the horizon as well as the old fortress of Elvas on the Portuguese side of the Spanish-Portuguese border.

Note: If you would like to view any of the above or below images in a larger size, you can click on the image and it will point you to the full image file.

Badajoz is a small and quiet city in the southwest of Spain with 150,000 inhabitants. It is replete with history relevant to the Congress of Vienna game period. It boasts an old fortress with 17th-century Vauban bastions that was key to the southern corridor between Portugal and Spain during the Peninsular War. It was occupied by the French March 1811 after the Spaniards surrendered.

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A Historical Introduction to the Congress of Vienna Period (CoV) Part 3 of 4: Europe Aflame (July–December 1813)

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Introduction (By CoV Editor Fred Schachter): The preceding parts of this series provided background regarding the game’s historical situation and then of Napoleon’s remarkable resurgence after the disastrous 1812 invasion of Russia. Part 2 included Napoleon’s new, but flawed, Grande Armée setting his Coalition Allied opponents reeling when it victoriously smashed its way back into Central Europe. Those victories, however, were not decisive, and both sides agreed to an Armistice’s cessation of hostilities. It is at this point Part 3â’ narrative begins. Readers may learn of the game’s design background (why things are portrayed as they are in Congress of Vienna) by reading Designer Frank Esparrago’s InsideGMT two part article: “Congress of Vienna Designer’s Notes.” There is also more information regarding the game on GMT’s site. Although war still rages in the Peninsula (Spain & Portugal) and North America (War of 1812); we now return to a temporarily quiescent Central Europe: Note: If you would like to view any of the above or below images in a larger size, you can click on the image and it will point you to the full image file.
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A Historical Introduction to the Congress of Vienna Period Part 2 of 4: Napoleon Resurgent (Spring 1813)

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Introduction (By CoV Editor Fred Schachter): Welcome back! The first part of this article series provided an overview of the 1805-1812 Napoleonic Wars period. This episode sets the historical stage for commencement of GMT’s P-500 offered Congress of Vienna Game.

This article Part 2 of 4 resumes the exciting narrative with Napoleon’s remarkable comeback after his disastrous 1812 invasion of Russia. Will he triumph or is the emperor’s journey to Elba assured?

Here’s a map depicting, in highly stylized form, the historical military situation for a game of Congress of Vienna’s commencement. 

This map shows the situation when CoV’s Campaign Game begins. It follows the game’s Army block scheme. We have kept identification of the blocks used in the game in all these maps (although in some cases these names were not used in some moments (e.g. Spanish Forces were detached from Wellington’s Army of Portugal); the main diplomacy Issues won by each Major Power will be indicated as CoV markers in or near its home country territory. Since this is at game start, no Issues have as yet been won by any Major Power.

Note: If you would like to view any of the above or below images in a larger size, you can click on the image and it will point you to the full image file.

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A Historical Introduction to the Congress of Vienna Period Part 1 of 4: The Gathering Storm (1805 – 1812)

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Introduction (By CoV Editor Fred Schachter): Although wargame grognards who have affinity for the Napoleonic Period, which includes the Congress of Vienna Design/Development Team, will likely have ample familiarity with what occurred during the game’s 1813-1814 historical timeframe; reconciling that history to how the game presents it, or allows its alternate history portrayal through options offered players, is another story and hopefully one which readers will appreciate. Consequently, the purpose of this series of articles is to present GMT’s Congress of Vienna game within its historical narrative context. For those unfamiliar with the history behind the game, this piece should at least provide a kind of overview and if it encourages readers to learn more: excellent!  Additionally, readers may find learning of the game’s design background, why things are portrayed as they are in CoV, by reading Designer Frank Esparrago’s InsideGMT two part article: Congress of Vienna Designer’s Notes. We begin this fascinating narrative in 1805, immediately after Napoleon has won his startling and decisive Battle of Austerlitz victory! Note: If you would like to view any of the below images in a larger size, you can click on the image and it will point you to the full image file.
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Congress of Vienna Designer’s Notes (Part 2 of 2)

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Introduction (By CoV Editor Fred Schachter): Readers hopefully enjoyed the preceding part of this article which introduced one of GMT’s newest Game Designers: Frank Esparrago and how his origins as a wargamer brought him to design Congress of Vienna, one of GMT’s most recent P-500 offerings.

This installment continues Frank’s narrative regarding how he devised CoV’s design: creating a game not only for Traditional Wargamers, but also for Eurogamers. Enjoy!

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Congress of Vienna Designer’s Notes (Part 1 of 2)

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Introduction (By CoV Editor Fred Schachter): I had the pleasure of first viewing a gorgeous, virtually professional quality, playtest version of Frank’s Congress of Vienna game some years ago. It was most impressive. At the time I was working and living in the Phoenix, Arizona area and enticed a local gaming buddy (and now good friend) Dick Sauer into sharing my enthusiasm for Frank’s creation and to become CoV’s Game Developer.

Improved versions of the game followed and during 2019 the game was presented at GMT’s Spring “Weekend at the Warehouse” and at the CSW Expo in Tempe, Az. where we had a blast playing games, under Frank’s supervision of course, with myself, Mark Herman, Luke Billingsley, Mark Simonitch, and other wonderful gamers who enjoyed Congress of Vienna’s easily learned mechanics and fun, exciting, action.

Gene Billingsley introduced Frank, a native of Spain who traveled a long way to join the CSW Expo festivities, during the event’s “Meet GMT’s Designers/Developers” session. The rest, as they say, is history and the December 2019 GMT Update announced Congress of Vienna as a new P-500 addition. 

This article introduces Frank to InsideGMT’s readership and provides information and background regarding Frank and his game. If you wish to meet Frank, Dick, and their local team of play testers, as well as a GMT delegation, there’ll be opportunity to do so during January 2020’s Bellota Con III gaming gathering in Badajoz, Spain. With that… take it away Frank!