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Wellington at Waterloo
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section
1. Introduction 3
2. Getting Started 3
2. 1 Loading
2.2 Game Levels
2.3 Loading Saved Game
3. Saving a Game 3
3.1 Ending a Game Turn
4. Army Orders 4
4.1 Orders
4.2 Unit Order
4.3 Details Access
4.4 Terrain Access
4.5 Re-organisation
4.6 Unit Amalgamation
4.7 Unit Disbandment
5. End Turn 7
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5.1 French Phase
5.2 New Turn
5.3 Victory
6. Rules of Movement 8
6.1 Movement Points
Terrain Chart
6.2 Movement Rule
6.3 Command Radius
6.4 Corps HQ
7. Rules of Combat 11
7.1 Firing
7.2 Adjacent Combat
7.3 Morale
7.4 Domino Effect
7.5 Advance and Retreat During Combat
7.6 Artillery Rout
8. Limited Intelligence 16
9. Abbreviations 16
10. Beginner's Notes 17
Map of the Battlefield 18 19
11. Historical Notes 23
12. Designer’s Notes 29
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1. Introduction
In Wellington at Waterloo the player commands the Duke of Wellington’s
Anglo-Dutch army and the 4th corps of Blucher’s Prussian army.
The computer commands the army of Napoleon which, on 18th June 1815,
attempted to defeat the allied armies on the field of Waterloo.
2. Getting Started
The game is controlled via a set of menus from which the appropriate actions
may be selected. A section of the battlefield will be displayed at all times.
The area displayed may be scrolled by using the arrow keys.
2.1 Loading
To load the game, follow the instructions in the Spectrum manual. The game
will load in three sections.
2.2 Game Levels
Once the game has loaded the option is provided to select the game level.
Level 1 is for beginners, level 3 for ‘experts’.
2.3 Loading Saved Game
Having selected the game level the option to load a previously saved game is
given. To select this option press “L” when requested and follow the
on-screen prompts. If starting a new game then press any other key to
continue to the save game prompt.
3. Saving a Game
The player is given the option of saving the game by pressing the “S” key.
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This option is available at the start of each game turn allowing the battle to be
saved for another session. If save is not required press any other key.
3.1 Ending a Game Turn
If there are orders still to be issued, press ‘A’ to access the Army Orders
menu. To signify that the player has issued all required orders press the “0”
(zero) key, the computer will then instigate the End Turn phase.
4. Army Orders
On selecting the Army Orders option access is gained to the player’s main
menu. From this menu it is possible to issue orders to armies under the
player’s command, obtain details of corp’s effectiveness, examine the terrain
on which each unit is located, re-organise individual units or exit to the
previous menu.
4.1 Orders (press key O)
On selecting the ‘orders’ option a list of Wellington’s forces will be displayed.
Each corps may be selected by pressing the number key associated with it
as prompted on the display.
The Prussian 4th corps arrive as reinforcements at some time after game
turn ten. When they arrive they will be on the right hand side of the map. If you
are not allowed access when you press its number key, then the corps has not
yet arrived.
Pressing “E” will return control to the Army Orders menu.
4.2 Unit Order
After access to a corps the ‘I’ cursor will appear on that corps’ HQ symbol. At
the same time a I, II and III will appear on three units of that corps.
Use the arrow keys to move the cursor to the position you want the
corresponding unit to move to. Press the T key to set this unit’s target
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position. The unit will move towards this target position during the following
movement phase. It will continue to do so during subsequent movement
phases until the movement order for that unit is changed or it is subject to
certain rules of movement or combat. See 6.3 Command Radius, and 7.5
Advance and Retreat During Combat. Should you wish to retain a
previously issued order to a unit then press the E key, not the T key. This
allows a player to change one unit order without the need to reset all the
others.
If a unit is currently covering the HQ symbol, then the first cursor will obscure
this unit. Move the cursor before setting or exiting, as the obscured unit may
be one that will correspond to a later cursor symbol.
If an infantry unit is being issued with a movement order, the computer will
request the formation required.
The possible formations for infantry are:-
LINE (press L)
COLUMN (press C)
SQUARE (press S)
To leave the current formation press “E”. If the infantry unit is adjacent to an
enemy unit then this menu is skipped. You cannot change formation when
adjacent to the enemy.
For details of infantry formation see 7. Rules of Combat. Repeat this
procedure for all units in the corps. Control returns to the Army Orders
menu.
4.3 Details Access (press D)
If the Details option is selected the arrow keys control the position of an
on-screen cursor. When this cursor is positioned over a friendly unit its
current status will be displayed:-
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NAME STRENGTH MORAL
When positioned over an opposing unit the details given are name and
strength only. Pressing “E” returns control to the Army Orders menu.
4.4 Terrain Access (press T)
On selecting the terrain option the computer asks whether it is required to
view the terrain beneath the Allied (press A) or French (press F) units. The
computer will then request the corps number required from the displayed list.
The selected units will now be temporarily removed from the display allowing
the player to view the terrain beneath them. Pressing “E” returns to the
select Allied/French option, pressing “E” a second time returns to the Army
Orders menu.
4.5 Reorganisation (press R)
During the battle any unit may become weakened or moral lost to such an
extent that they are no longer an efficient fighting force. At this stage it is
possible to re-organise the corps provided that:-
(a) The corps HQ is more than 3 positions from the enemy.
(b) All units of the corps are within 4 positions of the corps HQ.
(c) No unit of the corps is adjacent to an enemy unit.
Providing these conditions are met then the player may Amalgamate or
Disband a selected unit. Pressing “R” will produce a list of the available
corps. The required corps must be selected by pressing the appropriate
number key from the list provided. Having selected the corps then the player
may opt to Amalgamate (press A) or Disband (press D). Pressing “E” will
return to the Army Orders menu.
4.6 Unit Amalgamation
If two units of the same type each have a strength of 2,000 or less, then they
may be amalgamated into one unit. The unit formed will have the combined
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strength and average moral of both units. If the average moral is less than
good it will be set at good.
To amalgamate two units, move the pointer to the first unit using the arrow
keys and select by pressing “U”. Next move the pointer to the second unit
and press “U” again. Providing the conditions allow, the units will be
amalgamated. Pressing “E” will return to the Reorganisation menu.
4.7 Unit Disbandment
If there is more than one unit of the same type within the corps and an
individual unit has a strength of 2,500 or less then its strength may be shared
between the other units of the same type, provided that no individual unit has
a resultant strength greater than 4,000. This has the effect of evenly
distributing the disbanded unit’s strength.
To disband a unit move the pointer to the required unit using the arrow keys
and then press the “U” key to select.
5. End Turn
When all orders have been issued pressing “E” from the Army Orders menu
will return to End Turn Selection menu. By pressing the “0” (zero) key the
computer will begin the allied movement phase. Each unit will be moved a
distance determined by its type, formation and terrain (see Rules of
Movement for details).
Once movement has been completed the computer moves into the allied
combat phase (see Rules of Combat for details). Where combat is possible
the computer acts as referee, deducting strength and modifying moral for
both attacking and defending units. The player has no direct control over
combat. If opposing units are within range then local commanders take over.
Thus if two or more enemy units are in range of an artillery unit, the local
commander will select the target.
During combat the strength lost by each unit will be displayed on the map.
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The map will automatically scroll to display the current combat area.
5.1 French Phase
When all allied combat is complete the computer will make the move orders
and combat decisions for the French units. During this phase the map will
again scroll automatically to display the actions carried out Combat will be
judged on the same basis as allied combat.
5.2 New Turn
When Allied and French turns are complete the computer returns to the
Save Game option. The whole cycle is then repeated until one at the armies
is reduced to less than 30,000 men. When this occurs the victory sequence
is initiated.
5.3 Victory
Victory is determined by comparing losses between the two armies. There
are no geographical objectives. This means that if the game is terminated
before the arrival of the Prussians then the result will be increased in favour
of the French.
It is possible to continue play after victory has been declared by pressing the
“Y” key. To play again the game must be reloaded from cassette since the
initial unit data will have been lost.
If you inadvertently press a key other than the ‘Y’ key, and you wish to
continue the game, press BREAK and ENTER/RETURN.
6. Rules of Movement
During the movement phases each unit (Allied and French) obeys the
following rules:
6.1 Movement Points
Each unit has a specific number of movement points allotted to it depending
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on its type. These points are used to determine the distance moved on each
game turn. The basic number of points allotted for each unit type is:-
Infantry 6 points Cavalry 10 points
Artillery 4 points
The number of movement points required to move one map block (distance
covered by one icon) depends on the terrain over which the unit is moving.
The following table gives the details.
Artillery cannot move adjacent to an enemy unit. Movement is restricted to a
maximum of four positions per turn. Each unit exerts a degree of control over
adjacent positions. As a result, no unit next to an enemy unit can move
directly to a position that is also adjacent to an enemy unit.
MOVEMENT COST
INFANTRY
TERRAIN LINE COLUMN CAVALRY ARTILLERY
Clear 3 2 2 2
Stream 4 3 3 4
Woods N/A 3 4 4
Village 4 3 3 4
Ridge 4 3 3 4
Hamlet 3 2 2 2
Chateau 4 3 3 4
(Hougomont & La Haye Sainte)
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Note: Infantry are not permitted to travel through woods in line formation and
that infantry in square formation are not permitted to move at all.
6.2 Movement Rule
When a unit is required to move along a straight line, column or diagonal
then movement will take place along that straight line. If not then a unit will
move diagonally until it reaches one line or column from its destination. It will
then move left/right or up/down with the last move along the diagonal.
The same method is used to determine “line of sight” for combat purposes.
6.3 Command Radius
A unit more than four positions from its HQ at the start of a movement
phase will move towards its HQ. The position of an HQ is the centre of each
corps, calculated on the average line and column numbers of all units in
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each corps,
6.4 Corps HQ
The player’s HQ’s are for the purposes of access and control. It must be
stressed that an HQ is not a physical unit. Units may move freely through an
HQ without effect.
7. Rules of Combat
After each army’s movement the units of that army are considered attacking
units during the foIIowing combat phase and the opposing units as the
defenders.
There are two kinds of combat -firing, foIIowed by adjacent combat.
7.1 Firing
Infantry in line formation and artillery will indulge in ranged fire against the
enemy provided that the enemy is in line of sight and in range. Line of sight
is blocked by woods, villages, ridges, chateaux, hamlets and friendly
units.
Infantry units have a range of two unit positions, artillery have a range of five
unit positions.
The effectiveness of the fire will depend on the formation of the opposition
and its type according to the following tables.
Artillery unit strengths are in numbers of men not cannon in order to allow for
easier comparisons of strengths with other types of unit.
Line Infantry Attacking
Infantry in column losses +20%
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Infantry In square losses +20%
Cavalry losses +30%
Artillery Attacking
Range in Unit Squares
2 3 4 5
Infantry in fine +10% +5% - -
Infantry in column +15% +10% +5% -
Infantry in square +25% +20% +15% +10%
Cavalry +20% +15% +10% +5%
Artillery +25% +20% +15% + 10%
Where firing is possible each local commander will determine the target. The
player has no direct control unless units are positioned in such a way that
only one target is within range and line of sight.
7.2 Adjacent Combat
All adjacent opposing units will engage in combat. The losses resulting from
combat are determined by each units strength, morale, unit type, the terrain
on which the unit stands and a random factor. Additional losses will be
incurred depending on attacking versus defending unit type. Both the
attacking and defending units will suffer additional losses as shown on the
following tables.
The following tables show the extra losses suffered by the unit type in the
left hand column when fighting a unit of the type along the top of the table.
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Defending Unit
Infantry
Attacking Unit Line Column Square Cavalry Artillery
Infantry in line --- 100 --- 100 150
Infantry in column --- --- --- 100 200
Infantry in square 100 100 --- --- ---
Cavalry --- --- 150 --- 250
Artillery 150 250 --- 250 ---
Attacking Unit
Infantry
Defending Unit Line Column Square Cavalry Artillery
Infantry in line --- 100 --- 100 200
Infantry in column --- --- --- 50 200
Infantry in square 50 100 --- --- ---
Cavalry --- --- 150 --- 250
Artillery 200 250 --- 300 ---
In reading these tables remember that the figures refer to extra losses
suffered by the unit types in the left hand column.
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For example, infantry in column attacking a cavalry unit will suffer 100 extra
losses, but when defending against a cavalry attack will suffer 50 extra
losses.
This does not mean that the Infantry unit will suffer 100 or 50 losses more
than the cavalry unit but more than it otherwise would have done if it had been
fighting another column of infantry, for example.
The losses are further modified by the effects or terrain as shown on the
following table.
Terrain Effect Table
Terrain Type Additional Attacking Reduced Defending
Losses Losses
Stream 100 ---
Woods --- 100
Village --- 100
Ridge --- 100
Hamlet --- 50
Chateau (Infantry) --- 200
Finally, each unit involved in more than one attack/defence during a single
combat phase will have its strength reduced by one quarter for the second
and subsequent combat in that phase. Normal strength will be restored at
the end of the combat phase.
7.3 Morale
The morale level of a unit adds to its effectiveness in combat. This
effectiveness may be measured in the equivalent number of extra men
produced by the moral level.
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Morale LeveI Equivalent
Extra Men
Excellent 600
Very good 500
Good 400
Fair 300
Low 200
Poor 100
Abysmal 0
Morale is affected by the results of combat. If a unit suffers losses of 400 or
more as a result of ranged combat, its morale is reduced by one level. If a unit
suffers losses equivalent to its morale level during adjacent combat, then its
morale is reduced by one level.
7.4 Domino Effect
A unit with abysmal morale will rout during the course of the game turn. All
other units of the same corps will suffer a morale loss of one level. Any unit
whose morale is so reduced to abysmal will rout on the same game turn.
Under the right circumstances this can produce a domino effect in which all
the units of a corps rout on the same game turn.
7.5 Advance and Retreat During Combat
Defending units may retreat and attacking units may advance, depending on
the results of combat. A retreating unit will move in a direction determined by
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the relative positions of the two units.
An advancing unit will move towards the position set by its current
movement order.
A unit of the player’s army subject to retreat will move to, and remain at the
retreat position until another order is issued to that unit. A retreat move may
take place in the following movement phase if the unit did not possess
enough movement points in the combat phase.
An attacking unit advancing after combat will still resolve combat with all
enemy units it was adjacent to before the advance look place.
7.6 Artillery Rout
If an artillery unit suffers 1,000 or more losses in a complete game turn (two
combat phases), then it will rout at the end of that game turn.
8. Limited Intelligence
Computer units whose exact positions are known are displayed on screen.
Units whose position but not type are known are displayed by an HQ
symbol. Corps whose general whereabouts are known have their HQ
displayed.
9. Abbreviations
DIV Division GD Guard
CAV Cavalry IIIC 3rd Cavalry Corps etc
ART Artillery l 1st Corp etc UX Uxbridge
BDE Brigade RES Reserve LT Light
BR British B Brunswick KGL King’s German Legion
NETH Netherlands AP Artillery Park HAN Hanoverians
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10. Beginner’s Notes
Players new to battle simulations of this type may appreciate a few tips on
how to get to know the game and improve their skills.
Having selected Level 1, scroll around the map. Examine your own army. All
your units (except for your hoped for Prussians) can be made visible on one
screen display.
You will see:
1st corps (William of Orange) - 4 infantry and 1 cavalry unit
2nd corps (Hill) - 2 infantry and 1 artillery unit
Reserve corps (Picton) - 2 infantry and 1 artillery unit
Brunswick’s corps - 2 infantry units (1 light inf)
Uxbridge’s cavalry - 4 cavalry units
Artillery Park - 2 artillery units
Scroll down and look at the French in the same way.
You will see:
1st and 2nd corps, looking very formidable with 4 infantry and 2 artillery units
each.
The Guard, the French elite troops with 3 infantry and 1 cavalry unit.
3rd and 4th cavalry corps with 3 units each.
6th corps with 3 infantry units.
Remember that once the game starts you will lose sight of all the units not
close to your own, but the HQ flags will give you an idea as to where they
are.
Scroll the map to the right and left and see how much room you have for
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manoeuvre. Note, the ridges and the woods provide good defensive terrain
and cover from artillery, as do the chateaux Hougomont and La Haye Sainte.
Decide on a simple, basic plan and see how the computer reacts to it. When
giving orders remember that unts can get in each others way. A good
commander will give orders that avoid this.
Try not to pack the different corps close together. This is likely to produce
confusion in your own units, and provides the computer with a simple target
Stretching out your front-line will give you room to manoeuvre and create
more problems for the computer to solve. It may produce weaknesses which
you can then exploit.
Keep part of your army in reserve so that it can be used later when and where
reinforcements are needed.
Cavalry is most effective against units already weakened by combat. Do not
launch them early in dashing attacks (See the Historical Notes for details of
Ney’s ghastly mistake).
Make sure artillery units have an unobstructed field of fire. To keep them
protected from attack, you will need to deploy infantry units slightly forward
and to the side.
Have definite objectives for each corps. If far-sighted, sensible orders have
been given, you will not need to give new orders to every corps each turn, and
the game can move quickly, especially early on.
Don’t get bogged down in tactical complexities until you know the game. Use
the column formation if you want to get somewhere fast, otherwise use the
line formation. Ignore the square formation at first. Withdraw badly battered
corps for re-organisation while they are still of some use.
As you become more skilled, you can learn to exploit the various infantry
formations more expertly and to use re-organisation to maximum effect. This
will be needed at Levels 2 and 3, but at Level 1 an effective game is
possible without these complexities.
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Avoid creating a static front-line, locked in combat. Maintain manoeuvrebility,
retreating if necessary, to give the computer maximum problems. You will
have the chance to creating confusion and weak targets for attack.
Important: Your units will try to go where you direct them, but if other units
are in their way, they will try to find a way round, which may not always
produce sensible results. This may be annoying, but it is also realistic. If they
have to retreat after combat their movement is likely to be unpredictable.
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11. Historical Notes
On his return from Elba, Napoleon was faced with an enormous organisational
problem.
Out of the 224,000 men the Emperor found on the French army’s muster
rolls, hardly 50,000 were actually ready for field service. Morale was low,
discipline shattered and command structure virtually non-existent.
Of the marshals, Marmont and Victor had joined the Bourbons. Augereau,
Oudinot, St. Cyr, Perignon, Kellerman, Moncey, Lefebvre, Serurier and
Murat were considered unsuitable for various reasons. Macdonald and
Massena dodged duty on the pretence of iII-health. Ney displayed symptoms
of severe emotional disturbance, and was initially only trusted with minor
assignments. Sickness crippled Mortier jusl as the campaign opened.
Fortunately for Napoleon many experienced generals were available to
replace these marshals, though much personal initiative was to be missing in
the forthcoming battles.
Marshal Davout was made Minister of War, which was undoubtedly a waste
of his military skill, but a post for which his loyally, zeal and great
administrative talent particularly filled him.
The major problem was the lack of a competent Chief of Staff. Berthier had
died mysteriously trying to return to France after escorting Louis to safety.
He was never effectively replaced. Napoleon eventually made Marshal Soult
his chief of staff, but Soult was unfamiliar with staff work, was widely disliked
and handicapped by a lack of trained assistants. Despite these shortcomings,
the assembly and re-organisation of the French army was a remarkable
achievement in so short a time.
Napoleon had one other slight problem - over 600,000 Prussian, British,
Austrian, Russian and other allied troops were marching against him.
He had two courses of action open to him. He could stand on the defensive
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as in 1814, or he could take the offensive as soon as possible against
Blucher and Wellington, confident that after their defeat he could cope with
the Austrian and Russian armies. He chose to take the offensive, and the
campaign that was to culminate in the Battle of Waterloo had begun.
Napoleon’s objective was to drive a wedge between Wellington’s AngloDutch
army and the Prussian army under Blucher, and to defeat them in
separate battles. Wellington, unprepared for a French offensive, allowed
Napoleon to catch and defeat Blucher’s Prussians at Ligny on the 16th of
June.
While Ligny was a significant defeat, Blucher dismissed all advice to retreat
eastwards towards Liege and instead maintained faith in Wellington and
retreated northwards to Wavre - just 12 miles due east of Waterloo.
This was undoubtedly the most crucial decision of the whole campaign.
Leaving Marshal Grouchy in command of two corps under Vandamme and
Gerard, to shepherd the Prussian army in what he was firmly convinced
would be an easterly retreat, Napoleon turned his attention to Wellington’s
Anglo-Dutch army.
Wellington’s position south of Waterloo was deceptively strong. Its backbone
was a low narrow plateau running roughly east/west. The plateau’s south
slope was relatively steep, and this, combined with the fortuitous bogging of
the low ground at its foot, would take much of the shock out of the French
aIIacks. Wellington had also heavily defended the two chateaux, Hougomont
and La Haye-Sainte, immediately in front of the centre of his line. With their
huge walls they would prove to be a formidable obstacle for the French army.
Napoleon’s dispositions were such as to permit him to manoeuvre in any
direction, yet gave no preliminary hint as to the probable direction of his main
effort. Preceded by a massive artillery bombardment, Napoleon decided to
assault Wellington’s left centre and left flank using d’ErIons corps with
support from Ney.
Reille was ordered to merely mask Hougomont by occupying the woods to
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the south in order to distract the enemy and keep them guessing as to where
the main blow would fall.
Jerome led a brigade into the woods, clearing them quickly by 1215pm.
Then, wild with success, he rushed the six foot thick park walls of the
chateau but was bloodily repulsed. More than a division was poured into the
assault on Hougomont. Severe losses were suffered - all for an objective
that Napoleon had never wanted, and which was never taken.
Shortly before 1300 the great battery was ready to fire, and Ney requested
permission to launch the main attack. At the same time Napoleon’s attention
was called to an odd change in the appearance at the ridge around
St-Lambert away to his right. The whole area was darkening and some of his
staff dismissed it as merely the shadow of a cloud.
The riddle was solved when hussars brought in some Prussian prisoners
and an intercepted message from Bulow to Wellington. Bulow’s corps was at
St-Lambert with Bluchers other three corps at Wavre. Grouchy, the prisoners
said, was not in contact with the Prussians.
The prudent course was to withdraw and fight another day. With enemies
marching on France from all directions Napoleon did not have the time and
moving Mouton’s corps to cover his right flank, committed himself to battle.
After half an hours pounding by the artillery battery on the Anglo-Dutch left
centre and the left flank, d'Erion advanced. The French quickly cleared the
enclosures around La Haye-Sainte but could not break into the main
buildings. Papelotte was taken and the Allied line started to break. At this
point Uxbridge charged, his cavalry sweeping the French infantry before
them. The infantry broke and ran - some of them never stopping.
Unfortunately, neither did the pursuers who entered the heart of the French
army around La Belle Alliance and were cut down. This resulted in some of
Wellington’s cavalry refusing to charge later in the day.
With one of his front line corps shattered, another committed to the totally
wasteful effort around Hougomont and Moulon’s corps withdrawn ready to
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face the slowly advancing Prussians, there seemed little left for Napoleon to
do.
Meanwhile the French gunners had once again taken up their positions on
the central ridge and re-opened their fire. The bombardment that followed
surpassed even that of Wagram, and Wellington moved his line behind the
crest of the plateau.
Suddenly the battle look a novel and spectacular form. Mistaking the partial
withdrawal of Wellington’s infantry for the start of a general retreat, Marshal
Ney decided to take a short cut to victory by sweeping the ridge with heavy
cavalry. He assembled some 5,000 of them, including 8 regiments of
cuirassiers, on the plain in front of the allied centre between Hougomont and
La Hays-Sainte.
Wellington watched the splendid spectacle with amazement. It seemed
unbelievable that the French would dare to assail a line of unbroken British
infantry with cavalry alone, but this was plainly their intention.
On reaching the crest of the plateau this cavalry met a chequer board pattern
of infantry squares determined to hold their ground. Throughout the whole of
the Napoleonic War cavalry had never broken infantry squares determined
enough to stand their ground, and Waterloo was no exception. Short of
impaling their horses on hedges of bayonets they could do little but mill
around the squares presenting themselves as targets to be shot down.
Both Reille and d'Erlon were ordered forward again with whatever infantry
they could muster and fighting took place along most of the line. Both armies
were determined to be the victor, and the result was carnage.
During this time, Mouton’s corps supported by the Young Guard had
engaged and held the Prussians around Plancenoit, although Blucher
eventually gained this village. Napoleon sent two battalions of the Old Guard.
They chased the Prussians out of Plancenoit and thus secured his flank.
Keeping two battalions as reserve, Napoleon turned the rest of the Old
Guard over to Ney with orders to once again assault the depleted centre of
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Wellington’s army.
Ney, forgetting that he was in command of an army, led the charge of the
Old Guard, thus reducing himself to the level of the common soldier and
totally losing control of his army. Meeting the same resistance that the
French army had met all day, the Old Guard hesitated, faltered, turned and
fled.
The Guards’ repulse staggered the French. Wellington ordered his whole
army forward. Whilst the Guard at Plancenoit and La Belle Alliance shrugged
off all attacks and retired slowly in perfect order, the reaction of the rest of
the French army was one of discouragement, indiscipline and growing panic.
As veterans they understood the danger of being trapped between
Wellington’s and Blucher’s armies, and saw no sense in lingering.
Napoleon’s army retreated towards Paris, pursued by Blucher’s Prussians,
with the shattered remnants of Wellington’s Anglo-Dutch army incapable of
anything other than tending its wounds.
Blucher approached the outskirts of Paris 11 days later on the 29th of June
and with 400,000 Austrians and Russians swarming through eastern France,
Napoleon abdicated for the second time.
Casualties at Walerloo were approximately 15,000 Anglo-Dutch, 7,000
Prussian, and 26,000 French dead and wounded.
The armies that met at Waterloo were equally keen on victory and led by
men unwilling to accept defeat. Indeed Blucher was seemingly incapable of
ever accepting a defeat!
The result was slaughter on a scale rarely seen even in the great battles of
the previous 20 years. Due to conditions prevalent at the time, many of the
wounded who had survived the battle itself did not survive the hospitals. The
claim that Brussels stank of gangrene for three weeks was probably only a
slight exaggeration.
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12. Designer’s Notes
The game is designed to enable the player to simulate the many varied
battles that could have taken place on the field of Waterloo on the 18th of
June 1815. It is an historical simulation, not an historical duplication.
Historical duplication serves no purpose, as we already know what actually
happened. The object is to allow the player to choose and explore the many
strategic and tactical options available.
The army strengths are biased slightly in favour of the French to balance the
difference in intelligence between the player and the computer. It also
ensures a greater challenge for those who enjoy facing obstacles and
overcoming them - the type of player for whom this simulation was designed.
The computer opponent is capable of complex decision making and will
challenge the most experienced wargamer. Newcomers to wargaming
should start at level 1 (see Beginner’s Notes), and more experienced players
at level 2 or 3.
My objective is to set the player thinking at every stage. As the player’s
ability to command an army increases, so the game will give greater reward.
The game is designed to create as many critical considerations as possible
on each turn and to avoid any sense of ‘waiting for something to happen’.
The computer is not pre-programmed. It will respond to the player’s moves in
an intelligent and varied manner. There is no particular method of winning
which, once identified, wins every game. Throughout the game identify the
opportunities available to you and equally as important, those available to
your opponent and guard against them.
There are no geographical objectives in the simulation. The result is
determined purely on a calculation or losses. If the game is terminated
before the arrival of the Prussians, then it is assumed that the Prussians
routed at the Battle of Wavre, and this will affect the result significantly in
favour of the computer.
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This means that the player can fight the battle anywhere on the map and fully
explore the possibilities afforded by the different terrain. It also means that
whatever strategy is chosen it must allow time for the arrival of the Prussian
4th corps. This corps will arrive some time after 10 game turns on a random
basis.
There are many different strategies that can be employed. Some of the more
obvious ones are as follows:-
(1) Maintain a concentrated and co-ordinated army, fighting the battle on a
relatively short front line. This affords greater opportunity for replacing a
corps in the frontline that requires re-organisation.
(2) Split the army into two and effectively create two separate battles. Try to
create such superiority in one of the battles that it is won so decisively as to
override the result of the other battle.
(3) The battle of manoeuvre. Constantly try to out-manoeuvre the enemy to
create situations advantageous to local and short-term attacks.
Tactically there are varied options open tp the player. Probably of greatest
importance is the effective use of artillery. Correctly used it can dominate
sectors of the battlefield. lts ability to inflict considerable losses, even at long
range, means the player should be looking to use it in areas where the
terrain presents a wide field of fire.
When artillery is subject to adjacent combat then losses on both sides will be
high. The scale of the game does not allow for the number of times that
artillery would be able to fire at advancing infantry or cavalry, so each combat
involving artillery is adjusted accordingly.
If an artillery unit suffers 1,000 or more losses in a complete game turn then
it will rout at the end of that game turn. In adjacent combat this represents an
overrun of the artillery.
This means that the player should beware of charging artillery, particularly
with cavalry. If the artillery unit is weak and likely to rout, then the choice to
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take out an artillery unit in this way should probably be taken. Otherwise use
at least two units and take advantage of the rule of combat which reduces
unit effectiveness on second and subsequent combats. This rule of combat
means that it is always beneficial to achieve odds of two to one or greater in
adjacent combat between units of all types.
Decisions regarding infantry formations are very much subject to circumstances.
Study the tables regarding adjacent combat both for terrain effects
and the varying adjustments of losses between units of different types.
The infantry square, whilst effective against cavalry, does have some distinct
disadvantages. If subject to fire from artillery or line infantry, its losses are
high. The fact that an infantry square cannot move and that units cannot
change formation when adjacent to an enemy unit, means that an infantry
square can be tied down by a determined attack on the part of the computer.
On the other hand line infantry are vulnerable to cavalry attack. Detailed
tactical decisions regarding infantry formations are largely a case of trial and
error.
Re-organisation is probably the single most important aspect of the game.
Maintaining individually strong units with as high a morale as possible is
critical. The player must always bear in mind the need for each corps to
disengage and reach a position that complies with the conditions of
re-organisation.
At all costs avoid the domino effect produced by abysmal morale. Remember
that amalgamation of two units with very low morale will produce a resultant
unit with good morale. Disbandment is better than amalgamation if all
remaining units have a high morale.
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Example of Re-Organisation
1st CORPS ORANGE
1st BR DIV 1,700 EXEL
3rd BR DIV 3,500 EXEL
3rd NETH DIV 1,100 POOR
2nd NETH DIV 2,100 FAIR
NETH CAV 2,800 GOOD
In this case both unit amalgamation and unit disbandment are possible.
Amalgamation of 1st British and 3rd Netherlands divisions would produce the
following result:-
1st BR DIV 2,800 GOOD
3rd BR DIV 3,500 EXEL
2nd NETH DIV 2,100 FAIR
NETH CAV 2,800 GOOD
In this case amalgamation has not produced a particularly strong unit and
has also destroyed the excellent morale of the 1st British division.
If instead of amalgamation, disbandment of 3rd Netherlands division was
chosen, then the results would be as follows:
1st BR DIV 2,100 EXEL
3rd BR DIV 3,900 EXEL
2nd NETH DIV 2,400 FAIR
Neth CAV 2,800 GOOD
This still leaves two relatively weak units but has maintained the excellent
morale of the 1st British division. It has also produced a very strong unit with
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excellent morale.
A careful corps commander would realise at this stage that the 2nd
Netherlands division should be kept out of the front line and its strength
preserved. When 1st and 3rd divisions have lost a further 400 men between
them, then 2nd Netherlands division can be disbanded producing two very
strong units with excellent morale. This represents the kind of tactical thinking
required at levels 2 and 3. A less tactical, more strategic game can be played
at level 1.
With regard to the sequence of access, I would suggest that on each game
turn you access re-organisation to acquire a summary of the current state of
your forces. Follow this by access to Details, which allows for direct
comparisons of unit strengths to opposing units close to one another. You can
then switch between Details and Orders identifying and issuing new orders to
your corps in turn.
Remember, you are playing against a computer opponent that has access to
information only on the same basis as yourself and therefore has no hidden
advantages. It is important to bear in mind that the computer has the same
problems as you have. It will play a game on a par with the player, but like
the player, will not always make the best moves. This means it will present
opportunities that you should always be prepared to take advantage of.
The difference in the three game levels is achieved by an increase in morale
of the French army and a reduced chance of early Prussian reinforcement.
At level 3 there is a good chance that the Prussians may not arrive before the
battle is won, or more probably, lost. Morale only marginally affects the
results of combat. However, because of the domino effect, it is a critical
feature of the game overall. It means that strategies at level 1 can produce
interesting games which at Levels 2 or 3 would only produce disaster. The
ability to induce the rout of an entire French corps is greatest at level 1 and
progressively more difficult at levels 2 and 3 (domino effect).
Ken Wright
- 34 -
Bibliography
The Military History & Atlas of the Napoleonic Wars by Esposito and Elting
Acknowledgements
Program written by Ken Wright. Cover graphics by Oliver Frey
Copyright Warning
(c) 1989 K. Wright. All rights reserved. Unauthorised copying, lending or
resale by any means strictly prohibited.
Published by CCS - Cases Computer Simulations Ltd., 14 Langton Way,
London SE3 7TL Tel: 01 985 7232.
Instruction Manual PDF by M. A. Harrison 2008
Guarantee
This software is guaranteed against being faulty. If it is found to be so, return
the tape only to CCS at the address above for an immediate replacement.
This guarantee is in addition to any statutory rights.
The following games by Ken Wright are available mail order from CCS
at the above address.
Blitzkreig Spec. 48/128K £9.95
Napoleon at War Spec. 48/128K £8.95
Overlord Spec. 48/128K £9.95
+3 Disc £12.95
Atari ST £19.95
Stalingrad Spec. 48/128K £9.95
+3 Disc £12.95
Yankee Spec. 48/128K £9.95
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