Napoleon at the Berezina Introduction
This is an interesting game recreating the nightmare Napoleon found himself in 1812. The player commands a depleted Grande Armée attempting to cross the Berezina River as it disintegrates. It’s pretty depressing for the player but gives a good insight and feel into what happened over those four fateful days.
Play of the Game
I found it a very tough game to play with the outdated solitaire rules not helping. Also the Russians would have a huge advantage in a two-player game. I added some new solitaire rules as I played. These rules make the Russian AI more detailed and should give for a smoother game.
This is an interesting game recreating the nightmare Napoleon found himself in 1812. The player commands a depleted Grande Armée attempting to cross the Berezina River as it disintegrates. It’s pretty depressing for the player but gives a good insight and feel into what happened over those four fateful days.
Play of the Game
I found it a very tough game to play with the outdated solitaire rules not helping. Also the Russians would have a huge advantage in a two-player game. I added some new solitaire rules as I played. These rules make the Russian AI more detailed and should give for a smoother game.
Russian Solitaire Rules Additions
Use these priorities to choose which French to react to:
Russians West of Berezina:
1. French also west.
2. French east and bridge available.
3. French east and ford available then “Guard the ford!”
Russians East of Berezina:
1. French also east.
2. French west and bridge available.
3. French west and ford available.
Tchlaplatz Released:
1. French on west side of Berezina.
Army of the Danube Released:
1. French on west side of Berezina.
Use these priorities to choose which French to react to:
Russians West of Berezina:
1. French also west.
2. French east and bridge available.
3. French east and ford available then “Guard the ford!”
Russians East of Berezina:
1. French also east.
2. French west and bridge available.
3. French west and ford available.
Tchlaplatz Released:
1. French on west side of Berezina.
Army of the Danube Released:
1. French on west side of Berezina.
The Nightmare Begins Any reference above to French refers to a French Corps. So an entire French Corps must be at the location specified, not just single units. Once a command reacts to a French Corps they will continue to react to it until all French units in that corps are eliminated or have left the location specified. To compliment this rule French units must now always be in command control at the end of the French Movement Phase.
Russian Corps enter map in order of cavalry, horse artillery, infantry, foot artillery and finally leaders.
When moving a command, move closest units to French first. If equal distance, move units in highest hex number first.
When moving a unit, move towards closest available hex to French. If equal distance, move unit towards highest hex number first.
When firing a command, fire closest units to French first. If equal distance, fire units in highest hex number first.
Russian Corps enter map in order of cavalry, horse artillery, infantry, foot artillery and finally leaders.
When moving a command, move closest units to French first. If equal distance, move units in highest hex number first.
When moving a unit, move towards closest available hex to French. If equal distance, move unit towards highest hex number first.
When firing a command, fire closest units to French first. If equal distance, fire units in highest hex number first.
Time to Exit Result
The game I played resulted in a Catastrophic French Loss (-26)! At least I managed to save the Imperial Guard! Not one Russian unit was flipped! Total hits on Russians was 3 step losses! I did a lot of running away! Here are the final VP:
Full strength chosen hex +21
Reduced strength chosen hex +19
Leaders chosen hex +9
Napoleon chosen hex +5
Abandoned treasure -38
Units eliminated -42
Conclusion
Very atmospheric game. Might give it another bash at some point.
Napoleon at the Berezina was published in Against the Odds by LPS in 2003.
The link to Boardgamegeek is: Napoleon at the Berezina
The game I played resulted in a Catastrophic French Loss (-26)! At least I managed to save the Imperial Guard! Not one Russian unit was flipped! Total hits on Russians was 3 step losses! I did a lot of running away! Here are the final VP:
Full strength chosen hex +21
Reduced strength chosen hex +19
Leaders chosen hex +9
Napoleon chosen hex +5
Abandoned treasure -38
Units eliminated -42
Conclusion
Very atmospheric game. Might give it another bash at some point.
Napoleon at the Berezina was published in Against the Odds by LPS in 2003.
The link to Boardgamegeek is: Napoleon at the Berezina
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