"Kriegsspiel - do you scale damage down?" Topic

Going to run a game of Kriegsspiel for some friends and the conversation about high casualty rates comes up in my head.

On one hand, it'll help get the game over in a reasonable time.

On the other hand, even the Prussians modified them down later on.

On the third hand, since there's no real morale mechanic for fire, the extra casualties could just be stated to be stragglers and other ineffectives in addition to actual losses.

So for those of you who play Kriegsspiel using the 1824 rules, do you modify the casualty rates?

I should clarify, this is specifically meaning Kriegsspiel using the 1824 rules (currently published by TFL), not Kriegsspiel as a general "double-blind map game" :)

So for those of you who play Kriegsspiel using the 1824 rules, do you modify the casualty rates?

I see no reason to modify the casualty rates.

I would play it as written, owning the rules, but not having every actually played them…

I concur with your third point, about morale.

Thanks gentlemen.
I was leaning towards keeping them, mostly for the 3rd point listed.

I've ran kriegsspiel many times. Not sure what you mean about high causelties. Using the 1828 supplement which is ncluded with the too fat lardies 1824 rules let's say 3 battalions in column attack one battalion in line both with skrimshers. Frst the 3 in column move up to about 100 paces (you can do a round of fre at 300-400 paces frist if you like. Both sides roll a 4 an inflect 16 points on each other the attacking column only has 4 zugs in front not the 12 they could have do to covering a smaller front that's 48 men each side. That's 15 men each. Let's say defenders drive off the attacker skrimshers but attack proceeds so a 4 again that's 80 men divided among the 3 battalions. The attack hits at 3-1 -1 for losing the skirmish battle for 2 to 1 and plies one for column bs line back to 3-1. Another 4 results in defenders being totally defeated they take 20 points being in 2 line formation equals 60-70 men and must retreat for 5 turns and regroup for 5 more thats 15 + 70 or 85 men out of 900 or 10% attackers lose 15 + 80 + 150 for 245 men out of 2700. While the attack took one turn or 2 min. It would have taken 10 min to organize and another 5 to regroup. So less than 10% casualties for an action that took around 15 min from the order to attack to when the attackers could resume action.

The Prussian officers that revised Kriegsspiel in 1828 actually decreased the casualty rate from 1824 and earlier [1812 saw the first version.] They thought the casualty rate was too high.

Yes they did but the reason I prefer the 1828 over the 1824 rules is the change from fires being under cover or not in the 1824 rules to target under cover or not in the 1828. I got them both at the same time around 1991 and the 1828 supplement just "felt" better and made more seance. But since Too Fat Lardies have the 1828 supplement with the 1824 rules just makes seance to me to use them.

Also before running the game for friends run it for you. Take a map panel and do a simple 1 batt attack on another batt. Run it 3 or 4 times. Then have them stand and fire at each other till one has to leave. Then add more battens skimishers. Try attacks up hill and down hill. Once you get a grip on infantry attacks start doing a cav vs cav a couple of times then add art to the attacks. Once you are ready do a combined arms attack. Once you've done that you'll see how the game works and how the flow of attacks go

Appreciate the advice and yeah, definitely going to spend some time doing that :)

I've only ever used American Kriegspiel- I need to give the original a try one day…