Campaign summary

So, we’ve discussed the tools of the trade for each side, now what about the job they have to do? Below is the initial sketch map I made of the Zaub family lands, which we’ll be fighting over. Generally, it’s open land with no remarkable terrain beyond some hilly areas to the south-east. The most important feature is the major river which gives the province it’s east and south boundaries, and will have to be crossed by the Luftberg army to invade. The provinces’ only major settlement is Flussburg, the provincial capital.

So, what issues will concern the armies on campaign? The first will be supply. As is fitting for an 18th Century army, it’s all by fixed depots and supply routes. Each army draws supply from a friendly city or town just over the border, which allows them to operate through most of the province. Flussburg will also be counted as a depot, so to operate fully in the province and go where they wish they’ll need to hold it. Flussburg is also pretty important in itself, as any attempt to claim ownership of the province can hardly be conclusive while it remains in enemy hands.

For the Luftberg side, the river adds another challenge. The crossing point created by the sappers will be a natural bottleneck for their army, and communication back to their home country. As such, holding it and maintaining links home will be a prerequisite of a good victory.

The other matter for each side is of course the enemy army on the loose. Winning a pitched battle against it or driving it out of the province with heavy losses will be a pretty convincing argument in your favour.

As Luftberg are the invaders, I’ll grade things from their point of view. They will get a point for each of the following:
1) Holding a route from Luftberg into the province across the river
2) Defeat the Aschenbach army in a pitched battle which involves at least 50% of it’s units
3) Capture Flussburg and hold it at the end of the campaign year.

It should be pretty easy to quantify if each objective has been met or failed. The battle victory requirement of 50% is to make sure that some skirmish isn’t taken as a decisive victory – the bulk of the enemy have to be grappled with before it counts.

Luftberg will be awarded a decisive victory if it fulfils all three conditions. Meeting two will be a major victory, and only one will be a minor victory. Anything else is a defeat, with Aschenbach winning the campaign.