"The Great Redoubt" Issue #9

The Official Journal of JodieCon 2002 Borodino

June 2002

For more information about Borodino 2002, see www.jodiecon.org

EDITORIAL--#9

This issue includes our own report from the HMGS Cold Wars Convention regarding a couple of the many JodieCon Borodino related games and other activities which took place there. This annual event took place 19-21 April in Lancaster, PA. We held meetings, played games, ate meals together, recruited more players, and otherwise enjoyed ourselves. I appeared for the first time with my muttonchops as Russian Commanding General Kutuzov playing against Norbert Brunhuber as Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of the French. Many event staff and experienced Carnage and Glory players, including designer Nigel Marsh himself, appeared to tutor the newcomers in both C&G and Napoleonic tactics in general. If you'd like to meet some of the gang before September, don't forget the "Mother of all Wargaming Events" HistoriCon, coming up in July at the same location (for info see hmgs.org).

Also in this issue, the TGR Interview with Convention Director Pete Panzeri. Learn about how JodieCon got started, and why people have fun "Following The Major." And here's a salute to Pete and Jodie, who traveled all the way from their US Army duty station in Korea to be with us at the good old Lancaster Host convention center. JodieConners...salute! Ok--fall out. Smoke 'em if ya got 'em!

Charley

LESSONS LEARNED ABOUT CARNAGE & GLORY AT COLD WARS 2002

Here are a few more things I picked up while playing with Nigel Marsh himself as GM:

1. About the only "prop" Carnage & Glory uses is a "Pace Stick," marked off at different lengths like a ruler with paces (common footsteps of the period used in maneuvers). You will use it to note movement distances and firing ranges. Keep it handy!
2. Cavalry is at an impetus penalty if caught napping and entirely stationary when charged. So... if you think the enemy may come at you, move forward, even if slowly. In fact, remaining stationary is an invitation, especially to enemy cavalry, to have at you!
3. Your unit will be made up of several stands of figures. One of each will have a Unit ID# on a sticker to its left side. Always place this stand on the extreme left of your unit formation, so that you can easily read it (see #4 below).
4. When its time for a new turn, your Game Master (GM) or table umpire will ask you to read out all of your units' current formations. Read the unit ID (see #3 above) and then the formation you are in. Example: "Unit 742 in Line, unit 758 in column, unit 756 in open order skirmish."
5. If you need to have a unit change formation and move in the same turn (or vice versa), announce your intent to the GM/Umpire. He will check the unit based on various factors, and then tell you how far it gets to move. Its current status may limit it to a partial move!
6. Finally, and this is the big one, IF YOU HAVE TO LEAVE THE ROOM, for such unimportant things as bathroom breaks, to see if your wife has left you yet, etc., make sure to tell a pal nearby on your side what your intention is for the next turn. GMs must keep the game moving along, and if you are not there and no one knows what you had in mind, they will not try to guess. Units with no orders will therefore do...nothing (uh-oh)! I lose more Cossack cavalry that way...

TGR INTERVIEW: PETE PANZERI

Pete Panzeri is active in so many things, that if you knew about them all, we'd have to kill you! Currently a Major in the US Army (Infantry), he is our JodieCon Event Director, as he has been for all past JodieCons. As an instructor at the US Military Academy Prep School at Ft. Monmouth, NJ, he created an environment for bringing the learning and excitement of simulation gaming to cadets who will actually serve as officers in our armed forces. At hobby conventions he regularly runs games with miniatures in 54mm and 25mm, ensuring a presence even at boardgaming cons.

One of his most recent projects has been helping the Game Masters of the hobby get organized--not to be a political body, but to address issues of concern in order to support running games more easily. At the recent Cold Wars he produced the first written Game Master's Guide, in order to help new GMs and encourage others to give it a try. A well-known figure on the scene for years, Pete's many contacts with gaming, reenactment, and military groups has helped bring us all together in our common interest of military history, and created the synergy of a fruitful cross pollination of folks who often did not necessarily talk to each other before this. For example, more gamers have now had a chance to look at genuine military equipment and talk to those who know how it was used, and many reenactors today check out the joys of gaming. At the JodieCons staff rides of accessible US Battlefields, we sometimes tour the field with a professional military authority on the action. Due to this synergistic effect, the upcoming Borodino Event 2002, with all of its interconnected activities, should really be something worth seeing.

TGR: It seems to me that there is a "JodieCon Network" of people who spring up to help you put on these events. One group or club certainly couldn't do it. Are they all folks who you know through the wargaming hobby, or are your contacts in the military part of it too? Any other sectors I'm leaving out, like the reenactors who show up to put on their demonstrations?

PP: NETWORK is a good word for it. It takes many diverse and talented people to make these things happen. And in every case someone very talented has taken the lead role and been the GM in JodieCon events. Success has been a result of cooperation from people and contacts I have been able to enlist in this cause as a result of nearly 30 years of interaction with locals in nearly every US state and on five continents - reenactors, gamers of all venues, modelers, historians, authors, media people, and of course, military. Many, like me, fit all of the above categories.

Making these "big things" happen takes asking people to share a vision and goal (in our case a weekend-long single-themed event) and then being able to determine exactly who the best people are to participate and support that goal. Some people may have the same goal, but don't share your vision as to how to get there. Others may be inspired by the vision you project, but are not always willing to make the commitment all the way through to the goal. I learned much by supporting other people with vision. I did this with the great results supporting Jim Birdseye and other HMGS people at Historicon '86, Fred Hubig and Wally Simon at Borodino '92, and every HMGS Chapter or local club wherever I have been stationed since then. And if there was none, I started one.

The vision I have for every JodieCon was encapsulated by a statement made by one gamer in anticipation of the Crete JodieCon in 1999. He commented in an email: "What we are doing is MAKING history." The event not only recreated military history, but pioneered new methods to commemorate it!

TGR: Austerlitz and Borodino are big battles, and ambitious subjects to tackle! How did the Austerlitz experience last year help you pave the way for Borodino? How about Borodino 92?

PP: Big questions... I could list a thousand new things we've learned, but this will ALL be in the Borodino FAQ and scenario documents (which you will receive soon). I'll stick with the key points.

Borodino '92? Gaming there with Fred Hubig was where the JodieCon Vision and Goal started (we didn't know then it would be called "JodieCon"). We discussed "the next big event," possibly Gettysburg, but all was delayed when I was transferred to Arizona. The vision grew when Fred, Mark Zaslavsky and I began planning in 1997, and came into initial fruition with Waterloo'98 when Jim Birdseye and Jodie joined the team. Each of us brought to the program some indispensable talent.

What did we learn from Borodino '92? First, without it, we would not have the contacts we needed to have even the first JodieCon, much less ten more of them. Many VERY GOOD things became clear. Regardless of "game" progress, the idea of getting that many like-minded gamers together was exhilarating and was a catalyst for future relationships and something MONUMENTAL. Regardless of "rules preferences," the war stories of each part of the battle live on to this day. Some focus on the negative, and some on the positive. That will never change. Borodino '92 and '02 are not at all the same. Some differences in opinion were from lessons learned then, and some were just a matter of preference.

From Austerlitz? All of that is in the Austerlitz AARs (After Action Reports) on the website at www.jodiecon.org. There are some GREAT points made there, so I encourage all to look at them.

TGR: Who will decide what historical campaign factors will be a part of the Borodino wargame? Any suggestions on specific things to consider for either side?

PP: The Game Scenario details are decided with this method:

1. Fred Hubig is the overall Tactical Controller (not all things are computerized: some that are not include Army level communications and messages, initiative, and table-to-table movement.)
2. Nigel Marsh is the authority for tactical play, along with the umpires using Carnage and Glory.
3. Dr. Jim Birdseye is our Historical Scenario Advisor, writing the scenario. Historians from the MagWeb.com Napoleonic Panel are also consulted for historical input. Just like everything else I do, I take everyone's proposals and "facilitate" their deliberations to come up with a final product.
4. We'll do the same thing with the game itself. Table umpires may call on us for rulings (fewer with the use of computerized rules), but we don't expect to be overriding the calls made by table umpires.

TGR: We'll be fighting on the historical battlefield. Will this be restricted to the part of the field where the main actions took place, or will there be a chance for either army to shift a bit to the northern or southern flanks and change history?

PP: I'd like to address "historicity." We are "changing history" the moment we allow one unit to fire on the target of the player's choice rather than the historical target. As with any scenario, we must pick a starting point in time. Otherwise hindsight would allow commanders to go all the way back to Toledo to gain the best advantage. We have determined that the start time for the Borodino 2002 scenario will be Midnight on the eve of the 1812 battle. This would be too late for Napoleon or Kutuzov to have a change of plans and attempt a flank march. The Moscow river restricted the battlefield to the north, and forests restricted it to the south. What the armies do between those natural boundaries is at their discretion, but the battle is Borodino, and so we figured we'd better use the Borodino battlefield. :)

TGR: Will there eventually be "game rules" for players to download, or a manual of how to interact with Carnage & Glory, for players to use? Will there be anything else players can expect to get before the event in September?

PP: Yes, I shared on the Army groups that the complete scenario information for both Commanders and player decision making will be given to all. Same for a C&G Guide. Much of all this is on the JodieCon website already (www.jodiecon.org). However, the most productive method is for players to get C&G (see http://home.att.net/~npmarsh/ to get a copy).

TGR: Will the entire battle be fought in one physical space, rather than in several rooms as previously?

PP: All in ONE big ballroom, and YES, bring your binoculars! You commanders in the rear will need them most of all!

TGR: Is Napoleon really evil, or is he just drawn that way? Not that I have any personal bias...

PP: I was just looking at some drawings of Napoleon, and he looked to be drawn rather innocently to me. (TGR: Hey, that's not what he said the last time - obviously, massive amounts of francs have changed hands somewhere... oh well, guess the Event Director has to be impartial!)

TGR: What factors are involved in choosing a subject battle for a JodieCon? Can we send in our suggestions for future events to you?

PP: Subjects are considered and selected based on popularity and probability of success. Two things govern what is selected:

1. What is available/possible to do?
2. Who is going to do it?

And yes, suggestions are always welcome!

TGR: Are there any specific battles under consideration for future events?

PP: Antietam Campaign, Roman Civil War Campaign, Colonial Wars Campaign, and maybe a 54mm WWII Skirmish Campaign---if we could just find a GM for it with any figures. Know anyone? :)

TGR: Will we see coverage of wargaming conventions on The History Channel some day?

PP: No, but we will have our own channel: "The Wargaming Channel." I will host a weekly show called "Masterpiece Wargames." I've already produced the pilot episode. I'll have you on as a guest GM some time!

THE KUTUZOV REPORT ON COLD WARS

I enjoyed my first appearances as Kutuzov, leading teams of Russian players against the desperate French invaders at the HMGS Cold Wars 2002 Convention held in Lancaster, PA. I'm happy to say I had a chance to meet some of you during our games together. I had a great dinner with the evil Dr. Brunhuber (Napoleon) and other JodieConners, and a good Sunday lunch with Bob DaSilva, local pal, and good Russian player. At one of the staff meetings I expressed concern over Norbert's well being. Since it had been announced by Director Panzeri that if Napoleon dies the game is over, I noted in a mock Russian accent that "he'd better keep his doors locked at night from now on, as I have young men I cannot control." The evil Napoleon replied: "I'm not going anywhere!" Hah--you'd better keep that door locked, twisted Emperor of Deluded Garlic Eaters!!!

1. THE GREAT REDOUBT (GMs Pete Panzeri & Bob Kerstetter; rules Pete's new Napoleon Rules--variant of his previously published Santa Anna system. His Satanic Majesty: Norbert Brunhuber as the evil Napoleon).

My main role was to formulate a strategic plan, and then keep everyone on track. Mostly I had to reign in several players' natural propensity to get in there and mix it up on the open flanks. Its only normal, especially at a convention, to want to get out there, roll some dice, and stick it to the enemy! But I tend to play "realistically," as if the battle was actually occurring. So I had to keep our flanks tight behind the Redoubt itself, as victory conditions were occupation of the Rayevski Redoubt, period. As Rayevski himself (with Kutuzov cheering him on from the rear area), I had grand plans for ACW Joshua Chamberlain type counterattacks across the face of the Redoubt, hitting the French in flank after they had been bled by our artillery - but this was not to be.

The Russian artillery commanders did an excellent job of hurting the French as they advanced, be it in line, column, or even open order skirmish. Giving the artillerists every command bonus we could muster each turn, they blasted out on three sides, dealing death and forcing the evil garlic eaters back twice with the cannons alone. This went on for hours of real time. If there had been black powder smoke on our battlefield, one formation would not have been able to see the next one in front of it!

With only ten minutes to go, I considered it an overwhelming Russian victory at that moment. Then, as the Gallic Goatherders advanced yet a third time, our guns started running out of ammo. So we began to pull them back, and replace them with the infantry we had funneled up for support and possible counterattacks. Our most powerful formations of converged grenadiers were not able to go in unless the French made a penetration into the fortification itself, so they held back.

I had the discussed the scenario with its designer and GM Bob Kerstetter. (I used to confuse him with Frank Luberti when I first got to know the JodieCon gang, and I mentioned that to them both. Bob says he is the handsome one. Frank later rebutted that the girls seemed to have no trouble with his own appearance over the years). I got the impression that Bob had expected the French to get into the Redoubt and be thrown out several times. So I thought we'd done one heck of a job. However, the advanced elements of the Blue Coats now had partially penetrated our works, so Pete awarded a minor victory to the French. With a little more time, we might have thrown them out. Well, I thought they were just a "Forlorn Hope!" But honor was satisfied, and I hope we do as well in the Big Event in September.

2. POLES AT UTITSA (GMs Fred Hubig and Nigel Marsh, with assistants Pete Panzeri, Bob Kerstetter, and Frank Luberti; rules Carnage & Glory. His Satanic Majesty: Norbert Brunhuber as the evil Napoleon).

One look at the terrain while Fred was laying it down told me this was certainly not "Flechettes At Borodino," as noted in the convention program! But now the opportunity to make the counterattack which the historical Kutuzov originally planned but the historical Bennigson historically screwed up (see my TGR article "The Southern Shift" in a previous issue) appeared before me as a dream come true. I quickly decided to refuse our left (where I myself took over a couple of Cossack units just to push some lead) and crash through with our serious battle cavalry on the right (who I assigned to one of our younger Russian colleagues). This turned out to be the enemy's plan as well, and so as in many a historical linear battle, we were soon each trying to outflank the enemy on our own right flanks!

As the action began, I shouted "Deluded Polish workers of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains of oppression to the exploitive capitalistic French!" You gotta keep up the chatter; as some Napoleonic players tend to become mesmerized by the Grand Armee, like a chicken in the clutches of a hypnotizing snake, or a rabbit caught in car headlights on the road. But we had no problem like that in this battle. Our brave Russians fought like tigers, even on the defense. As for the Poles, Napoleon had clearly stuffed cotton in their ears. Too bad! Oh well. I then repeated to my subordinates the immortal words of Yul Brynner in Taras Bulba: "Put your faith in your swords, and your swords in the Poles!" Hah!

On our extreme left, my two Cossack units were outclassed by facing two enemy dragoon and one lancer unit supported by a horse gun. I held my ground while they came at me, planning to trick them into sweeping me off the field and pursuing right off the table and out of the battle. One of their units was in fact lost this way, disappearing permanently to the rear with my own defeated command! To the right of my original position, I'd bought time for the infantry to successfully form up a reverse slope defense just behind a small rise. This mound was practically our only defensive terrain on the whole front line, as the Poles came at us from the village of Utitsa on our left center. The right was totally out in the open - hence my overall plan.

Meanwhile our right was in motion, advancing an artillery line which opened a fearsome barrage as our infantry waited behind it. Our heavy cavalry during this maneuver rode enthusiastically long, long around some prohibited vegetation terrain off to the extreme right flank.

I directed reinforcements to the small hill which was now our left flank. These consisted of many units of Moscow Peasant Militia with their long pikes only! These could slow down the enemy on the left while our cavalry gained their launching position for a sweeping charge on the shot and shell battered enemy infantry on the right. The supporting infantry nearest this hammer blow had not kept up the march as tightly as I had wanted, perhaps being delayed by the artillery to its front.

But the cavalry struck home all by itself, smashing into the first enemy formation which routed backward, through the next, no doubt demoralizing it. Our fantastic cavalry now continued on, hurling themselves on this second enemy line, and destroying it as well! Hurrah!!!

On the left, we took heavy losses, and barely kept the hilltop, as the enemy massed in attack turn after turn. Shattered Russian units fled back in panic or staggered back reduced in strength, as I myself (playing the local commander again, rather than Kutuzov) now directly attached myself to a unit, risking personal danger to assist it. Several times we held out, as bodies piled up all around us. In the center, both armies pounded away, the Poles being more impetuous and taking greater losses in their more numerous assaults there.

Finally it was time to stop. Nigel had the computer total up the losses and morale states of all the both sides. We waited anxiously, unsure in this nail biter who had won. The French had just about taken our left flank. On the other hand, we'd crashed through theirs with cavalry which, even without infantry support, stood poised to roll up their next units in their center line as well. Nigel declared an immediate minor victory for the Poles in the Utitsa sector! Yet because their losses had been so high, he predicted that on the next day, given the general Borodino situation, they would lose and be forced to retreat back in this area of the field. Therefore we Russians were given the final victory, Praise To God! We won! We won! Church bells tolled, and I began to think about lunch.

Pete Panzeri was nearby, wearing a hat to publicize his new system which happened to be called Napoleon Rules. So I went over, banged my fist on the table, and declared: "I'm sick and tired of Napoleon Rules!" Hah! The French didn't win this time! Kutusov rules!"

*Congratulations to the brave Russian players in both games!*

But watch out--the French will no doubt be looking for blood at the upcoming Historicon in July!

IN THE TAVERN: ON JOYOUS SOUNDS OF OLDEN TIMES

Its finally summertime--so let's take a small cafe table outside our virtual tavern today! The grass is green, the sky is blue and the good sun (in French: Beau Soleil) shines down upon us. I'll have a Belgian Honey Beer today I think, in an extra large bottle. It's good stuff, although quite different from the mead the neopagans brew these days. But you can sip your wine, and pretend its a lovely day in southern France perhaps, which actually does look just like those Impressionist paintings.

Down in New Orleans, they have a Napoleon House, a structure dating far back to the 18th/19th Centuries. Supposedly there was a scheme on the part of some rich city fathers to invite Napoleon himself down to the Crescent City (so named for the bend in the river around where it grew in a crescent shape; our AMTRAK train down which was named for an older train was called "The Crescent"). If Bonaparte had lived through his exile, do you think he might have gone?

On my recent trip to New Orleans, I heard jazz everywhere. In Jackson Square in the heart of the French Quarter, even on tape in the aquarium, and of course in the jazz museum. In fact, the only time you get a break from jazz down in the Big Easy is when they play Cajun and its more urban dance form Zydeco.

"What's the difference between the alligator and the crocodile, mes amis?" asks the young swamp boat captain on the tour where we've seen swamp cypress with Spanish moss hanging on it, the palmetto (a palm tree top with almost no trunk under it), raccoons, egrets, and turtles. This son of a US Navy Seal looks at us with a twinkle in his eyes, as he leans over from a small platform on the side of the boat. "The Alligator speaks French, of course... ici, bebe, ici" he calls in a loud voice. Sure enough, here comes a small five foot alligator to taste some chicken our captain dangles out. The small reptile leaps out of the slow water like a dog, and takes the food. The captain seems to know just how far is safe when feeding the beast. "Now I know what you are all thinking, eh? If something happens to me, who is going to drive the boat back?"

Cajuns have their own sense of humor. According to New Orleans for Dummies by Kevin Forest Moreau (a New Orleans resident): "While jazz was born in the Crescent City, Cajun and zydeco music originated in the country--the wetlands around Lafayette settled by the Acadians. Cajun music and zydeco both started out with he Acadian folk music and French ballads, which then evolved into two distinctive new forms of music, native to Louisiana and heavily influenced by the cultural diversity of the American Indian, Scotch-Irish, Spanish, Afro-Caribbean, and German folks who also lived in the bayous and swamps near Lafayette. While both of these native forms rely on the accordion as a core instrument, Cajun music today generally retains a rustic sound and feel, while zydeco has evolved into a more urbanized sound.

A lively style reminiscent of bluegrass and country music, Cajun dance music is traditionally played on button accordions, scratchy fiddles, triangles, and rub-boards (or trottoir). Expect to have a great time dancing to it, but don't try to sing along. Many Cajun songs are still sung in the Acadian dialect of French or with such thick accents that you probably won't understand many of the lyrics.

Zydeco began as Cajun dance music, but was flavored over 150 years by the African, blues, and R&B traditions also enjoyed by the rural Creole populations. Influenced by the syncopated rhythms of Afro-Caribbean folk music, zydeco has a faster beat than Cajun, especially because funkier rhythms have been mixed in recently. Old school zydeco performers rely only on the accordion, drums, and trademark rub boards, but over the last few decades some innovative performers have introduced electric guitars and basses, saxophones, and trumpets as well. Some of the genre's elder statesmen good-naturedly compete for the title "King of Zydeco," which comes with a ceremonial crown."

I'm listening to Cajun/Zydeco right now, and its amazing what you can do with an accordion. I first learned that it wasn't for Lawrence Welk anymore at college in the early 70's, where my roommate Dave used to play "Born to Be Wild" on it! AIIEEE!

What famous fictional soldier played by national Canadian skiing champion Pierre Jalbert typified the quiet but competent swamp dweller? Why, 'Caje' on the TV show COMBAT!, of course. When the actor asked about his character, he was told by real life combat veteran and show developer Robert Pirosh "When I was in France, in my squad, I had two Louisiana Coonans (slang for Cajuns)... they were the best soldiers... and the best killers and they never spoke too much. They did their duty and they did their work and that was it" (COMBAT! by Jo Davidsmeyer, p. 24).

The two typically Cajun CDs I brought back with me from New Orleans are CAJUN AND ZYDECO JAMBOREE, with performers like Jo-El Sonnier, Chris Ardoin & Double Clutchin', Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys, Nathan Williams and Michael Doucet, Balfa Brothers, Beau Jacque & the Zydeco Hi-Rollers, John Delafose & the Eunice Playboys, Eddie LeJeune & the Morse Playboys, Buckweat Zydeco, and of course, Beau Soleil.

Beau Soleil's CD, my other score, is "L'amour ou La Folie," a Grammy Award Winner. Their names and instruments tell part of the tale: Michel Doucet (lead vocals, fiddle), David Doucet (vocals, guitars), Jimmy Breaux (accordion), Al Tharp (bass and banjo), Billy Ware (percussion, vibraphone), and Tommy Alesi (drums). Special guest stars who join them are Richard Thompson (electric and acoustic guitar), Augie Meyers (piano & vocals), Dr. Michael White (clarinet), Josh Graves (dobro), Bessyl Duhon (lap steel and electric guitar), Harry Simoneaux (sax), Tommy Conveaux (mandolin), Murnel Babineaux (pedal steel), and Dave Pellicciaro (piano and Hammond organ).

Liner notes on the signature tune say that "One of the favorite pastimes of perhaps all French descendents is arguing for the fun of it. Why do opposites attract, and why do they stay together?"

LOVE OR FOLLY

When I say "yes"
You say "no"
When I ask "why"
You say "that's the way it is"
I tell you "you're stubborn as a mule"
And you say "you're the one who married me."

When I tell you to turn right
You say "turn left"
When I say "I like the daytime"
You say you prefer the night
When I say "hand me a banana"
You give me a grapefruit, baby.

My pretty girl, you cause me pain
But that's life, love or folly.

When I say "winter"
You say "summer"
When I say "its one way" You say "its not so"
When I say "let's go"
You want to stay and won't budge.

If I'm hungry
You don't want to eat
If I want to dance a two-step
You want to waltz
When I want to start'
You say "stop, stop," baby.

My pretty girl, you cause me pain
But that's life, it's love or folly.