"Battle of Geisenhausen from M. Hopper's New Scenario Books" Topic

I reviewed Michaels' new scenario Books, Eagles Over Bavaria, and Duel Of The Princes.

They are wonderful books with 18 scenarios each. Some are small with 3 to 4 divisions aside, others medium sized with 5 to 8 and large ones with 9 to 12 or more. Most of the book is black and white with some colored pages and bio's of commanders.

Scenarios included in each are:
Duel of the Princes, Northern Italy 1809.

Sacile, South, North and Grand, 3 scenarios
Volano
Soave
Castelcerino
Paive River morning and afternoon, 2 scenarios
San Daniele
Tarvis 1 and 2
St. Michael
Klagenfurt
Karako
Papa
Gyirmont
Raab
Graz

Eagles Over Bavaria
Altdorf
Reinhausen
Hausen-Teugn
Arnhofen
Abensurg, north, south, centre, 3 scenarios
Landshut
Geisehausen
Laichling
Eggmuhl, north, south, grand 3 scenarios
Abbach
Regensburg
Neumarkt
Nittenau

Our group were play testers for many of these scenarios. They are designed for pretty much any rule set, we played them with Shako 2.

OOB's list battalions/regiments, brigades/divisions.

Our game was played at Rick Stevens' place with all his figures and terrain. The scenario is played diagonally across a 12'x 6' table.

The Austrians need to get 9 wagons over the bridge at the town in back. One wagon per turn is moved off the table. Austrians arrayed in front.

Two divisons of light cavalry in the front, commanded by me.

The French starting positions with lots of light cavalry as well.

The French advanced in the same old way…
I was aggressive with my light cavalry charging and destroying two regiments of French light cavalry while loosing one. I placed one Grenzer unit in the centre forest, the other in the forest at the top of the picture.

More cavalry attacks against infantry this time, trying to slow down the French. The far Grenzer unit draws a lot of attention.

I move the centre Grenzer unit out to try and draw in the French cavalry.

More cavalry attacks, slowing the French advance. My Grenzers in the centre form square, come on charge me!

French infantry and one cavalry regiment try to turn the Austrian right flank, while our Grenadiers move up on the left.

My first light cavalry division is destroyed 4 LC and 2 Grenzers. The second with 3 LC has one unit left. You can see it moving to the rear to save itself so we don't loose another division towards victory points.
The small Landwehr division on our right is being whittled down.
Grenadiers attack on the left.

Two battalions of Landwehr are destroyed the third is drawing a lot of attention in the woods.

On the far top left you can see one Austrian Grenadier battalion that has defied all attacks, the French loosing two regiments of light cavalry in fruitless attacks on the square. This destroyed a French division. The Landwher on the right are now destroyed. French are moving in. All the wagons are across the bridge.

The game ended after 12 turns with two Austrian divisions destroyed and one French. With all the wagons across the bridge this gave the Austrians 1 point with minus 2 points for lost divisions. Minus one overall. The French lost 1 division minus 1 overall for a tie game.

I've ordered from Michael myself and am awaiting arrival in Ireland . They look great and thanks for your AAR. I'll be adapting the scenarios to Over the Hills/Black Powder/General D'Armee. I have found be Michael to be informative and great communicator. Being pretty much a solo man operation Michaels quality achievements deserve recognition and support.
Peter

Those books look really great. So, how does one go about ordering?

You can e-mail Michael directly at:
log1cal.mh AT gmail.com
Cost is $40 USD each postage is at cost.
In Canada GST is added, out of Canada no tax.

Just for clarification, TMP always inserts a US dollar amount. The correct cost for these books in Canadian Funds.

On their way to Australia for myself and two mates

Excellent post.

I have no Napoleonic troop, yet I feel compelled to get these scenario books. I could use my SYW troops instead.

SYW figures should work just fine. While the books are historical engagements, the actual figures could be from most H&M period in effect. They are not rules specific so they can be played as enjoyable well balanced scenarios by a number of periods.

I'm looking forward to #3 & #4 from the 1809 campaign early in the new year I hope.

I agree with Tim95th, these scenarios can be adapted to any H&M period. There are listings for Light Infantry, which can just be line troops. There are Elite Infantry, Light, Medium, and Heavy Cavalry as well as Light, Field and Heavy artillery.

I just got both and I an loving them that's for a great product!

👍😃

When units are listed in the scenarios are there number of man listed per battalion?

William

The scenarios are adaptable to numerous rulesets, so no figures given, but unusually large/small units noted plus actual troop numbers quoted. Former fits well with GdeA, which is what I hoped for! Excellent product and v helpful and prompt service from Michael.

My copies of the two books just reached Madrid. A very pasionate job that everyone interested in the 1809 campaign should have, for me, that my interest is focused on the Italian part of the campaign Duel of the Princes is a very welcome surprise. We will try the first scenario in a couple of week in our club of Septimo Grado, for now I can only say that the two books are just what an poor austrian commander like me could hope for…

Fantatsic review – thank you

Great scenario books and very nice pictures of Rick's games room. Really look forward to the next scenario books and to gaming at Rick's one of these days again.

Thanks for your kind comments and support of Michaels work!

William, troop strengths are listed by regiment, not battalion. Easy enough to figure out. Listed as 1/2/23 Legere (1250) would be 1st and 2nd battalions of 23 Legere, 1250 strong total. Just got my copies, will make further comments after perusing more. They look really good.

And now for the inside joke: the Austrian artillerymen above are advancing by bricole, documentary evidence that the Austrians invented this.

I've had a longer look at these scenario books and am highly impressed. The maps are good, with detailed contour lines for those who want to go that far recreating the terrain. Others can simplify hills if they wish.

The orders of battle are based on Shako II, but strengths are given for each regiment with number of battalions noted. Artillery are given by number of guns and weight of shot. This allows anyone using rules with the battalion as the basic unit to use these scenarios with very few changes. Morale/training status of units is indicated. It's a bit more work for those (like me) who are using grand-tactical rules with brigade or larger as the basic unit. But I intend to get around to playing some of these in the future, since I have a load of 1809 Austrians, some Bavarians and a load of French.

There are a couple grand-battle scenarios that will make for good games with our rules, Bloody Big Battles. The other ones, when converted should make good smaller games that should run less than 2 hours.

I really cannot add much to what has been said above. The books are really good. I am looking forward to the next two books as well.

My copies arrived here in sunny (sweltering) Sydney.

They are very worthwhile, and as others have said contain sufficient information to permit virtually any rules system to be used. In fact I am struggling to think of one which wouldn't work.

Michael is excellent to deal with and ordering is very simple. This is clearly a labour of love rather than a business venture, and those that are wavering should take the plunge. I will certainly be buying any further offerings!

Bought , "Duel of the Princes", "Eagles over Bavaria" and "Rise of the Eagles", from Michael.

The books are going to be really useful with Battles, maps, and armies listed clearly.

Michael was very helpful, as am just starting out in this Napoleonic era

Ditto the positive sentiments above.

Excellent books and Michael is great to deal with. I am really looking forward to the next ones!