Map of Europe
I know that a lot of wargamers
feel that scale is very important.
Whether it is to determine movement, ground covered by a battalion,
movement distance or firing range. I
have long since given up on scale, as you always have to compromise in order to
have a playable game on a reasonable sized table.
When I designed my current
campaign I was only interested in one scale.
The relationship between the campaign map and the tabletop. Because I was restricted to a table 6x6 foot
the size of each battlefield was decided.
This meant that I would have
to make a fictional map to ensure that each grid square on the map would cover
the same area as my wargames table.
This square, and my table, would represent one days march for a
corps.
Bayreuth Strategic Map
When I decided that I would
use 2x2 foot scenic squares to create my wargames table, it became necessary to
show these smaller and more detailed squares on the campaign map. There was not sufficient room on the map of
Europe, so I would have to create a smaller strategic map.
The one above is the strategic
map for the Bayreuth phase of the campaign.
You will see that it covers 3x3 squares of the map of Europe, with the
city of Bayreuth in the centre. However
there are now 9 smaller squares to represent the 9 scenic squares on the
wargames table. The city or town shown
on the larger map is in the centre of each of the 9x9 squares.
Each of the smaller squares is
7x7 miles. So the distance between each
town (three squares) is 21 miles. This
is the same as the map of Europe.
However each of these smaller
squares allows me to show the exact terrain features which will be shown on the
wargames table.
The 9 squares outlined in
white is the area of the battle of Kulmbach
The eight corps which will
take part in the battle are shown at the start of the battle.
Wargame Map
The strategic map is designed
to look similar to the Europe map, but with more detail. However the wargame map is designed to
transfer from the map to the table. It
covers the same area as the strategic map, but each square is numbered and
shows the exact terrain which will appear on the wargames table. The 9 squares outlined in white is the area
which will be shown on the wargames table
The number in the top right of each square is the same as the scenic
square to be used.
Wargames Table
The 9 squares shown on the
strategic and wargames maps now make up the wargames table. The four Russian corps are deployed on the
three centre squares, with the reserve corps behind the centre. The three squares nearest to the camera is
the “no mans land” between the two armies.
There are 12 moves in a
wargame, and each move is one hour. On
the strategic map each corps can move three squares per day, which is 7 miles
per square. On the wargames table it
takes a corps four moves to pass through one square.
2nd, 5th
and 14th French corps will arrive on the table at the start of move
one. 6th corps will arrive
at the start of move 5.
Thistlebarrow,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you about scale. It is one area where I am more than willing to compromise.
I really appreciate your explanation about how your campaign maps are translated into tabletop terrain. It certainly gave me a couple of ideas as to how best to use my own campaign maps.
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob
ReplyDeleteGlad that you found it useful.
The advantage of working up from the wargames table is that you can maintain the scale to decide the area required for each campaign phase (mini campaign). It is then easy to work back to a map of the whole country or even all europe.
I look forward to seeing how you use your campaign maps
best regards
Paul
Very interesting thanks for the post! Looks like a nice system. so do you have all the squares as detailed in advance as the Bayreuth map, or do you make these up as you go? And how do you decide what terrain will go in them, are you basing them on historical maps?
ReplyDeleteHi Chasseur
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment. Glad that you found it interesting.
The map of Europe and national maps are based on the AA Road Atlas. Each square shows a campaign area. The map of Europe only shows major cities, the national map shows major terrain such as rivers and mountain ranges.
There are five grand strategic maps, one for each army. They are north, central and southern Germany and north and south Spain. These maps show major road systems.
For each mini campaign there is a strategic map. This shows all terrain, but in a map like presentation. The tactical map shows the same area, but exactly as it will appear on the wargames table.
Cities and rivers are correct, mountain ranges and forests approximate, the rest of the detail is fictional.
regards
Paul
Ok thanks for the extra detail!
ReplyDelete