Science vs Luck

8/6/2019 Science vs Luck

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SCIENCEVERSUS

LUCKA game of war, doctrine and matchsticks

Devised and written by Jim Wallman

Jim Wallman 1990 1


2/25

SCIENCE VERSUS LUCKA game of war, doctrine and matchsticks

Devised and written by Jim Wallman

Setting Up The Game

The game is designed for a group of players ideally as a fun club project. It has scopefor role playing, planning and playing with matchstick cannons and toy soldiers.

To work best it needs around 8-10 people ideally in a club setting (ie. A hall and severaltables), though it will work with less, down to two players and one table (if you just playthe battle game part).

The players are divided into teams of 2. There are enough briefings for six teams, thoughit is easy to ad teams. Ideally you need an even number of teams, but that isnt essential.

The Game Structure

The game is played in three distinct phases:

1. The Arms Exhibition buying the weapons for the next war

2. Evaluation and Doctrine - testing the new weapons and deciding how they will beused

3. Battle the acid test of both equipment and doctrine.

Each of these phases is distinctive.

1. The Arms Exhibition.The players start off representing senior military figures from a fictitious 19 th centurypowers which are visiting the Grand Geneva Arms Exhibition of 1859. They are giventheir briefing to purchase the best weaponry they can for their armed forces. Of coursethe definition of best will depend on their briefing.

The actual matchstick cannon models you haveare laid out as if on display at an arms fair, withcard labels and they can be inspected. We havefound it helps to have lots of different models.But they must all work.

Unfortunately the players may not touch them,or test them out they are relying on themanufacturers description and the look of thething to decide which cannon to buy for theirarmed forces. Actually testing them represents

the cannons performance in battle, so they wont get a chance until later.

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The guns models available are then bought at auction teams can bid for the one theywant. If you have enough models then a team can buy more than one cannon.This represents the procurement decisions taken by the ministry of war.

2. Evaluation and Doctrine

The players now drop a level in seniority and become the planning staff in entirelydifferent countries (swapping with a country played in the first phase). They are giventheir Doctrine briefing. One player has to devise the infantry doctrine, one has to devisethe artillery doctrine.They have to write this doctrine down.At this point they can test the gun/s and line up the toy soldiers to try out doctrine, but noton the battle terrain (we use the floor or a spare table for this). The players may notevaluate the cannon using the lives of their toy soldiers. However, they can create papertargets etc to test accuracy.

Once the doctrine has been written down by all teams, we can move on to the war fighting

phase.

3. Battle.A war has broken out between various of the powers represented. This is theiropportunity to see how their procurement, doctrine and planning will pan out.As it happens, the frontiers of these countries include a number of key passes, which arerepresented by the tables with terrain on.

Setting Up the BattleFor each battle you will need a table per team and enough cloths, trees, buildings etc toset up a simple and fairly open terrain on each one. To ensure the entire game isplayable in a reasonable time, it is best to have multiple tables though it could be playedout several times on the same table.

The terrain should not be elaborate andcover should be fairly sparse, like this:

Before the battle the players getdemoted again and re-arranged oncemore. The player writing the infantry doctrine becomes a junior front line artillerycommander, and the player writing the artillery doctrine becomes a junior front lineinfantry commander. If you want to create a further challenge you can get them to swapnationality once again too.

The player then have to read their written doctrine (which they didnt write) and must fightthe battle accordingly.

The battlefield is set out something like this.

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The Battle Rules explain how the war is fought.

Game OverAt the end of the game, there are no winners as such, but there should be a livelydiscussion about which doctrine was superior. With any luck they will also moan

continually about the poor purchasing decisions and the daft doctrine handed down bytheir superiors.

Summary of Briefings:There is one document, called Arms Bazaar which has briefings for each country forphase 1 of the game. There is also the document Weapons which is a guide to how youmight describe your model guns though you may have to produce your own version.

There are separate documents for each country, each one consists of the briefings for theInfantry and Artillery evaluation teams in Phase 2. Namely, Albionia, Bosrovia,Freedonia, Ruritania and Sylvania.

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SCIENCE Vs LUCK

THE BATTLE RULES

EQUIPMENTAt least one working matchstick firing cannon model.A collection of 50 or so plastic 20mm or 25mm figures (Airfix will do fine but they needto be able to stand up unaided, so you might have to make small card bases for some ofthem).Tape measure or rulerDice10 Matches or cocktail sticks per cannon.Model terrain such as trees/lichen etc and a cloth.

LAYOUTA wargame terrain is laid out, featuring undulations in the ground, trees, lichen etc. Avoiddense terrain and hedgerows, as this will skew the game.

The cannon is placed at one end of the table and is controlled by one player, the figuresplaced at the other end and controlled by the other player.

SEQUENCE OF THE TURNEach turn has two phases:

1. The Attacking Player's PhaseIn this the attacking player (in command of the figures) moves all his figures in

accordance with the rules below. He has a time limit of 2 minutes (or less as directed bythe umpire).

2. The Defending Player's Phase.In this the defending player (in command of the gun) fires as many matchsticks of

his allocation for that turn as he can in one minute.

MOVEMENTFigures may move 6" (15cm) at the walk or 9" (22 cm) at the run.Figures may not move and fire.Movement speed and policy about taking cover must be according to doctrine as laiddown in the appropriate latest version of the attacking forces Infantry Manual. So, forexample, running will not be permitted unless it says so in the Manual.

Guns may move 6" (15 cm) during their phase - and lose 2 shots penalty for the timetaken.

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FIRING

If infantry get within 12" (30cm) of the gun they can (if doctrine permits) open fire on the'crew'. Roll 1d6 & score 6 to hit.If they start firing within 6" (15cm), roll 5 or 6 to hit.

Each 'hit' takes one shot from the guns allocation on the subsequent phase.

Cannon fire is simple. Fire a matchstick and if a figure is knocked over it is a casualty.Casualties are NOT REMOVED from the playing area.

If due to mishandling the matchstick does not properly leave the barrel of the gun whenfired (=misfire) then that shot is lost for that phase.

MORALEThe gun will continue firing until overrun or all its shots are destroyed by infantry fire.

The infantry take a morale test on very simple lines:

Every time 10% of the total start strength are hit in a single turn, roll 1d6:

Score Result5-6 Continue unaffected3-4 Pause - no forward movement next phase (may fire if in range)1-2 Recoil - must move away on subsequent turns (either behind hard cover orincrease the range). Must take successful morale roll to stop recoiling.

FACTORS: Company Commander Obviously Leading +1Bugler Still Playing (if doctrine requires it) +1Still Adhering to doctrine in manual +1

Below 50% strength -1Out of sight of cannon -1

Note: The Company Commander can be regarded as the player - and as such need notbe affected by morale results if he wishes.

MELEEIf any attacking infantry reach the gun, it automatically loses one matchstick per figurethat reaches it.

WINNING AND LOSINGThe gun wins if it beats off the infantry.The infantry win if the gun loses all its matchsticks; ie. it is destroyed.

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ANNEXES : THE TEAM BRIEFINGS

Print out the following pages separately, one for each team there are enough for sixteams, though they all follow a pattern so you can easily create your own additionalfictional countries.

There is a list of made-up guns that you can use to describe your toy matchstick cannons or you can use your own descriptions.

The first batch of player briefings are the national briefings for the 1859 Arms Show inGeneva.

The second batch are the letters requesting development of new artillery and infantrydoctrines, again, specific to each fictional country.

The final page is the Extract from the old infantry training manual that the infantry doctrine

player is supposed to update. The is is the same for everyone and each infantry doctrinedevelopment player gets a copy of this.

It is most important that the players do not see any of the game structure, or the gamerules above prior to the game because, as in real life, they cannot know what battlefieldconditions are really like until the war starts.

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** G E N E V A 1 8 5 9 **

THE INTERNATIONAL EQUIPMENT

EXHIBITION

Field Artillery Weapons Exhibit

Manufacturer Description

KRUPP Lichte Feld Kanone 'K'. 8.5cm.

ARMSTRONG 'Acme' Mk2 12pdr Horse Gun.

WHITWORTH Type D Field Gun (18pdr).

VICKERS 4.7" Heavy Howitzer.

FN Belgium QF 75mm Field Gun.

BOFORS The 'S' Gun. 105mm.

CREUSOT 60mm Canone de L'Infantrie

RHEINMETALL 7.6 cm Feldkanone.

OERLIKON Light Field Gun Mk IX. 80mm.

ROYAL ORDNANCE FACTORIES 25pdr Gun/Howitzer.

Advertisment:While you are visiting the show, why not visit 'La Cantiniere'restaurant andsample the delights of Modern French Military Cuisine?

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INTERNATIONAL ARMS BAZAAR

GENEVA 1859

You are representatives of the Silvanian

Government.

Your mission is to select two new artillery

pieces for your military. Your primary

objective is to achieve best value for money and

at the same time purchase the most impressive-looking

equipment to maintain your standing among other arms

purchasing nations.

The military worth of your purchases is, obviously,

important so you need to decide whether the equipment

looks effective too.

The precise military value of the hardware you buy will

be assessed by others.

In this exercise, you are to procure for the governmentat least one, and preferably two prototypes of new field

artillery pieces.

You should spend as little of your budget as possible.

Where there is competition between buyers from other

nations, the time-honoured method of competitive bidding

will be used. You will be issued with which to do this.

You can also indulge in side deals if this seems

worthwhile.

Good luck, and good hunting!

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GENEVA 1859

You are representatives of the Bosrovian

Government.


pieces for your military. Your primary objective is to

achieve best value for money and at the same time

purchase the most impressive-looking equipment to

maintain your standing among other arms purchasing

nations.







artillery pieces.






worthwhile.


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GENEVA 1859

You are representatives of the

Ruritanian Government.

Your mission is to select two new

artillery pieces for your military.

Your primary objective is to achieve best value for

money and at the same time purchase the most impressive-

looking equipment to maintain your standing among other

arms purchasing nations.







artillery pieces.






worthwhile.


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GENEVA 1859

You are representatives of the Freedonian

Government.


pieces for your military. Your primary

objective is to achieve best value for

money and at the same time purchase the

most impressive-looking equipment to

maintain your standing among other armspurchasing nations.

The military worth of your purchases is,

obviously, important so you need to decide

whether the equipment looks effective too.



In this exercise, you are to procure for the government

at least one, and preferably two prototypes of new field

artillery pieces.





You can also indulge in side deals if this seemsworthwhile.


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GENEVA 1859

You are representatives of the Albionian

Government.


artillery pieces for your military. Your

primary objective is to achieve best value for money and

at the same time purchase the most impressive-looking

equipment to maintain your standing among other arms

purchasing nations.







artillery pieces.






worthwhile.


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GENEVA 1859

You are representatives of the

Latverian Government.


artillery pieces for your military.

Your primary objective is to

achieve best value for money and at

the same time purchase the most

impressive-looking equipment to maintain your standingamong other arms purchasing nations.






In this exercise, you are to procure for the government

at least one, and preferably two prototypes of new field

artillery pieces.





You can also indulge in side deals if this seemsworthwhile.


Jim Wallman 1990 14


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MINSTRY OF SUPPLY

Government Buildings

20-28 Central Avenue

Hedar 3410

The Director Our Ref: S/Sup1/38/21

SCHOOL OF ARTILLERY

Hawkhill Range Your Ref: -

Eldershot 1120

Date: 7 July 1860

Dear Director

WEAPONS EVALUATION TRIALS

As the process to modernise our armed forces continues, a number of Arms

manufacturers have made it known that they have some new and highly destructive

artillery weapons available for purchase.

We have examined the technical specifications of all those on the market, and

two prototypes in particular have been selected for more detailed evaluation.

These weapons will be delivered to the School in the next few days for you to

evaluate them.

You are to conduct trials and write a short report on which of the two shall

become our main artillery weapon into the 1860's and beyond.

You are to consider the following factors:

a. Ease of reloading and relaying.

b. Rate of fire.c. Smart appearance for ceremonial and public display.

d. Weight of shell.

e. Range.

f. Manoeuvrability

g. Sustainability under field conditions.

h. Accuracy.

Having made recommendations as to the best weapon, and subject to Ministerial

approval to the purchase, you are to revise the Manual of Artillery Tactics for

the employment of the new weapon - in particular in the anti-infantry role.

Features to consider are:

a. Range at which effective fire should be opened.b. Recommended rates of fire.

c. Preferred method of fire (ie. low or high trajectory etc).

d. Conditions under which the employment of the gun is most and

least effective.

e. Hints on the operation of the weapon itself.

These revisions will be in the form of short notes which will form the basis of

future training courses for the whole army.

I look forward to receiving your initial reports with all dispatch.

Matthew PanasonicMINISTER OF SUPPLY

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MINSTRY OF WAR,

DIRECTORATE OF ARMY TRAINING



Hedar 3410

The Director Our Ref: D/Inf/38/21

SCHOOL OF MUSKETRY

Bayonet House Your Ref: -

Eldershot 1120

Date: 7 July 1860

Dear Director

REVISION 23 : INFANTRY TACTICS MANUAL 1860

1. You will be aware that all our neighbouring nations are busy

re-equipping their armies with new and more powerful artillery

weapons. This, in the view of the Chiefs of Staff, necessitates a

revision to the new Infantry Training Manual 1860 now in the

process of production.

2. I would therefore be grateful if you would provide me with an

outline draft chapter for the manual on Tactics On Assaulting GunPositions. I attach a relevant extract from the 1855 Manual for

ease of reference.

3. This draft, if accepted by the Chiefs of Staff, will form the

basis for all Army training on the subject over the next 10 years

at least.

4. Giving the printing and distribution time lag, I look forward

to your earliest response.

Major Gen. Arthur Dedshott

Director Army Training

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MINSTRY OF SUPPLY



Zephyr 1101

The Director Our Ref:S/Sup1/38/21

SCHOOL OF ARTILLERY

Sparrowhill Range Your Ref: -

Central Barracks

Willowshot 2430 Date: 7 July 1860

Dear Director


As the process to modernise our armed forces continues, a number of Arms manufacturers have

made it known that they have some new and highly destructive artillery weapons available for

purchase.

We have examined the technical specifications of all those on the market, and two in particular

have been selected for more detailed evaluation. These weapons will be delivered to the School in

the next few days for you to evaluate them.

You are to conduct trials and write a short report on which of the two shall be our main artillery

weapon into the 1860's and beyond.



b. Rate of fire.

c. Smart appearance for ceremonial and public display.

d. Weight of shell.

e. Range.

f. Manoeuvrability


h. Accuracy.

Having made recommendations as to the best weapon, and subject to Ministerial approval to the

purchase, you are to revise the Manual of Artillery Tactics for the employment of the new weapon

- in particular in the anti-infantry role. Features to consider are:a. Range at which effective fire should be opened.

b. Recommended rates of fire.


d. Conditions under which the employment of the gun is most and least effective.


These revisions will be in the form of short notes which will form the basis of future training

courses for the whole army.


Dr V. VayneMINISTER OF SUPPLY

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MINSTRY OF WAR,




Zephur 1101


SCHOOL OF MUSKETRY

Matchlock House Your Ref: -

Willowshot 2430

Date: 7 July 1860

Dear Director


1. You will be aware that all our neighbouring nations are busy re-equipping their armies with

new and more powerful artillery weapons. This, in the view of the Chiefs of Staff, necessitates a

revision to the new Infantry Training Manual 1860 now in the process of production.

2. I would therefore be grateful if you would provide me with an outline draft chapter for the

manual on Tactics On Assaulting Gun Positions. I attach a relevant extract from the 1855 Manualfor ease of reference.

3. This draft, if accepted by the Chiefs of Staff, will form the basis for all Army training on the

subject over the next 10 years at least.

4. Giving the printing and distribution time lag, I look forward to your earliest response.

Major Gen. Hiram J Thunderdog


Jim Wallman 1990 18


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MINSTRY OF SUPPLYGovernment Buildings20-28 Central AvenueASHUR 3410The Director Our Ref: S/Sup1/38/21

SCHOOL OF ARTILLERY

Whizbhan Range Your Ref: -

Central Barracks

Pharoot 2430 Date: 7 July 1860

Dear Director




purchase.








b. Rate of fire.c. Smart appearance for ceremonial and public display.

d. Weight of shell.

e. Range.

f. Manoeuvrability


h. Accuracy.



- in particular in the anti-infantry role. Features to consider are:








Prof Hiram Z. Hackenbush

MINISTER OF SUPPLY

Jim Wallman 1990 19


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MINSTRY OF WAR,DIRECTORATE OF ARMY TRAININGGovernment Buildings14-18 Central AvenueASHUR 3410


SCHOOL OF MUSKETRY

Shako House Your Ref: -

Central Barracks

Pharoot 2430 Date: 7 July 1860

Dear Director






manual on Tactics On Assaulting Gun Positions. I attach a relevant extract from the 1855 Manual

for ease of reference.




Major Gen. Horace Smyth


Jim Wallman 1990 20


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MINSTRY OF SUPPLY



Zweisetig 3410

The Director Our Ref: S/Sup1/38/21SCHOOL OF ARTILLERY

Finchhill Range Your Ref: -

Beechot 1120

Date: 7 July 1860

Dear Director




purchase.We have examined the technical specifications of all those on the market, and two in particular







b. Rate of fire.


d. Weight of shell.

e. Range.

f. Manoeuvrability


h. Accuracy.



- in particular in the anti-infantry role. Features to consider are:

a. Range at which effective fire should be opened.

b. Recommended rates of fire.

c. Preferred method of fire (ie. low or high trajectory etc).d. Conditions under which the employment of the gun is most and least effective.





Sir Peckham Rye

MINISTER OF SUPPLY

Jim Wallman 1990 21


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MINISTRY OF WAR,




Zweisetig 3410


SCHOOL OF MUSKETRY

Shako House Your Ref: -

Beechot 1120

Date: 7 July 1860

Dear Director






manual on Tactics On Assaulting Gun Positions. I attach a relevant extract from the 1855 Manual





Major Gen. Hyde Parke


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MINSTRY OF SUPPLY



Footar 3410

The Director Our Ref: S/Sup1/38/21

SCHOOL OF ARTILLERY

Tithill Range Your Ref: -

Willowshot 1120

Date: 7 July 1860

Dear Director



made it known that they have some new and highly destructive artillery weapons available forpurchase.



the next few days for you to evaluate them more fully.

You are to conduct trials and write a short report on which of the two prototypes shall become our

main artillery weapon into the 1860's and beyond.



b. Rate of fire.


d. Weight of shell.

e. Range.

f. Manoeuvrability


h. Accuracy.


purchase, you are to revise the Manual of Artillery Tactics for the employment of the

recommended new weapon - in particular in the anti-infantry role. Features to consider are:








Prof Q. Quentin Quail

MINISTER OF SUPPLY

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MINSTRY OF WAR,


Government Buildings14-18 Central Avenue

Footar 3410


SCHOOL OF MUSKETRY

Backback House Your Ref: -

Willowshot 1120

Date: 7 July 1860

Dear Director





2. I would therefore be grateful if you would provide me with an outline draft chapter for themanual on Tactics On Assaulting Gun Positions. I attach a relevant extract from the 1855 Manual





Major Gen. Hewlett Packhard


Jim Wallman 1990 24


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EXTRACT FROM THE INFANTRY TACTICS MANUAL 1855.

C H A P T E R 17

TACTICS ON ASSAULTING GUN POSITIONS

231. The tactical employment of the standard 50-man infantry

company requires that all infantry action is offensive in nature,

and this is especially so in the attack on Artillery positions.

Speed and Aggression are the watchwords in this sort of operation.

232. The Company Commander should, wherever possible, ensure that

the route to the guns are clear of significant obstacles, and if

this is not the case, to ensure that his men have the means tocross said obstacles.

233. The Company should form up out of sight of the guns, in the

standard 2-deep line open order formation (ie. with one man's

space between each man).

234. On the given Order from the Company Commander, The Company

shall fix bayonets.

235. On the given order the Company shall advance at a steady and

determined pace towards the guns. Steadiness is regarded asparamount for ensuring that the enemy are intimidated to the

greatest extent.

236. Once within 50 yards of the objective the company bugler

shall sound "The Charge" and The Company shall overrun the gun

positions.

237. Casualties are not to be assisted until after the assault is

complete.

238. Engaging in musketry against gun crew is not regarded aseffective, the bayonet being the primary and decisive arm on the

battlefield.

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