From: Doug Murphy <dmurphy@WPPOST.DEPAUL.EDU>
Subject:      Fred the Great (SPI/AH) Review/Replay (v.long)

I had a little time last eve. so I dusted off & broke this one out and played
the 1756 scenario (rather badly I might add).  Here Frederick tries to
defeat the Saxons while fencing off the Austrians.  FTG reflects game
mechanics of the time.

Here's a flow chart: In the Prussian turn, one skips the Reinforcement
phase (none in this scenario), then Morale Recovery (roll per
demoralized force to recover: DR + leader unit's Initiative value must be
greater than 7)., then Depot Creation (takes 2 of these phases; is
created in stacks of 10 SP w/ LOS), March phase: roll die once: DR +
stack leader's Initiative = MP (limit: 6).  Otherwise units can't move.  So
leaders go around picking up / dropping off units.  Terrain effects are
cumulative: the map is rather bland: forts, clear, mountains, most
everything is one MP or +1for pass or river hexside.  Winter: - 1; Enter
Austrian ZOC +1.  Overrun occurs here -- when Attkr stack is 400%
greater than defender.

Then Enemy Force March Phase (roll once per force attempting to move:
DR + Init. = MP ; limit 6 again.  If this number is greater than six, lose 1 SP.
Then Combat Phase: it's voluntary for opposing units in the same hex, w/
a funny CRT: Basically, you take total AS x 100 & divide it by DS to find
the right column; leader Attack or Defense numbers are +/- DRM
respectively.  You'll get two loss % results: one for attacker and
defender.  You check these % against a chart to determine SP losses.
Add enemy SP lost to your leader's Init. value and compare totals.  If
unequal, higher is victor and gets the diff. in SP as POWs (which are
exchanged - though not in this scenario).  Remnants retreat a number of
hexes by rolling + Init value and are demoralized, meaning the stack can't
attack, can't divide, has a zero Init. (but can build a new depot).

Next is Siege Resolution.  "Expend" a depot completed by the besieger to
roll on a Siege table.  Fort's leader is a negative drm.  If a breach is made
(about 50% chance), you can offer "honors" whereas they pop off to
the nearest friendly fort and you take over; or they must choose
between surrender (become POW) or being "stormed" where they're
eliminated but you lose equal SP.

Finally, Enemy Attrition.  Trace LOS of 4 hexes to a depot or fort
garrisoned by 1 SP.  In Winter (turns 16, 17 & 18), you lose 1 SP if not in
a fort.

In the Enemy Turn, you go through the phases again.  During their march
phase, the "supreme" leader must be the one with the greatest force.
During Prussian Attrition phase, your LOS is 5 hexes.

Victory is determined by control of forts with your SP losses subtracted
(within some parameters for the Prussians).

This scenario goes only 9 turns.  In 1756, Frederick started moving into
Saxony to grab Torgau and then move on to the main Saxon army in
Dresden.  But his siege of 1 SP in Torgau stalled, also wasting a turn
constructing a depot to maintain LOS.  Meanwhile, in a fit of pique,
another large Prussian stack moved through the mountains to threaten
Konigrattz (sorry about the spelling).  Due a number of good movement
rolls, the Austrians swiftly concentrated and assaulted the Prussians,
beating them back across the mountains and following them into a siege.
Frederick lifted his siege and ran to the rescue.  He sent a minor leader to
pick up the SP at his supply depot and follow on.  This small stack
tempted the Saxons to come out for a quick kill.  But in a calculated risk to
make the most of this blunder, Frederick doubled back and completely
crushed the Saxons.

Frederick then resumed his rescue, while the Austrian siege dragged on.
In a climactic battle, the Austrians were routed back to Konigrattz.  Now
Fred faced a dillemma, Winter was here, he could settle for a draw or go
for an expensive win.  He went for it, successfully besieging &
assaulting Konig. in a winter siege resolved on the last turn of the game.
This cost him so much that he eked out a marginal victory.  1757 should
be interesting...

Even with the limits of a d6, this is a fun game. Nothing is more frustrating
then building up for a siege only to see it drag on. Frederick is not nearly
so dominant as in other games but still must race around to off-set his
more ponderous enemies.

Doug Murphy