La Chanson de la Victoire (The Song of Victory): La Petite Arpenteuse (Non, SV, you are a General of France in the Napoleonic War!)

[Plausbius]

Also I noticed that Military skill is almost everywhere. If we max that out with the help of our Int, we could gain reroll in so many battles and their preparations.

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Obligatory Glass Half Empty post: a reroll on failure just means another chance to fail!

And yeah, Military is just for general military knowledge, so it's quite flexible on the battlefield.

 

[Sturmi]

I am sorely tempted to press on and attempt to completely route Brunswick's Army even if doing so would do away with our defensive and survey bonus.

On the one hand, doing so could turn this from a significant strategic victory into a decisive one but it will also significantly escalate the conflict as well as leaving Mayence open to storming in a worst case scenario, leaving the door to France proper swinging wide open.

Regardless, I do recommend scare tactics. It is beyond crucial that we make allies in the Holy Roman Empire and elsewhere that actually like us instead of being held at gunpoint so they don't flip sides the moment it becomes convenient and maybe later we can become the leader of a state within the maybe Confederation of the Rhine while actually being liked by the people.

Reputation is everything people, imagine if Spain remained an actual ally instead of becoming a bleeding ulcer for Napoleon, tying down 200k troops for the whole time between 1807 and 1814 or if the Confederation of the Rhine had stuck with Napoleon to the end. We've got first impressions to make on the German people still and this is a good chance to start it off strong.

Also I would like to mention that I'm absolutely enamored with the roll system that's been designed. The artificial crits make it much easier to replicate the dumb stuff that just happens in real life where even incompetent commanders would somewhat frequently stumble into great positions or just have plain old luck and vice versa. Rerolls aren't a basically guaranteed yay since the result could still be significantly worse if it misses the threshold for the artificial crit. All this while still managing to preserve the feeling that stat increases are in fact important.

 

[Erumpet]

I say we stick with defend, as going on the offense drops our roll bonuses outside of stats from +50 to +20 (going on offense from defense, the bonus from Nous Ne Tombons Pas goes from +20 to -10). Also, regarding enemy policy, take Status Quo. A bit less reputation boost than than Scare Tactics (and no gratitude from the Germans, but that is not worth the risk of having people report our fighting style to other German generals so that they can take measure to counter us), but additional wealth is always a good thing.

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I will be the first to admit that I am not a master strategist but I prefer the scare tactics approach. It has the most opportunity for glory which want. it also seems to be the option the could result in the lowest causality's on both sides. Also in the future we can simply change our battle tactics to throw off other German generals. my only concern is what our potential critics back in France would say of us being soft on of foes. I could imagine something along the lines of how our "female constitution" not fit for the harsh reality's of war

 

[Plausbius]

Reputation is everything people, imagine if Spain remained an actual ally instead of becoming a bleeding ulcer for Napoleon, tying down 200k troops for the whole time between 1807 and 1814 or if the Confederation of the Rhine had stuck with Napoleon to the end. We've got first impressions to make on the German people still and this is a good chance to start it off strong.

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Imagine a world where Napoleon isn't a harsh, ruthless man of great ambition he's not known for his tact in handling dissenting elements, let's just say...

Also I would like to mention that I'm absolutely enamored with the roll system that's been designed. The artificial crits make it much easier to replicate the dumb stuff that just happens in real life where even incompetent commanders would somewhat frequently stumble into great positions or just have plain old luck and vice versa. Rerolls aren't a basically guaranteed yay since the result could still be significantly worse if it misses the threshold for the artificial crit. All this while still managing to preserve the feeling that stat increases are in fact important.

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Thanks! It's borrowed from Telamon's Napoleonic Wars Quest, though he's moved onto other topics in recent times. I might make some modifications as I go, but the core should be the same!

I will be the first to admit that I am not a master strategist but I prefer the scare tactics approach. It has the most opportunity for glory which want. it also seems to be the option the could result in the lowest causality's on both sides. Also in the future we can simply change our battle tactics to throw off other German generals. my only concern is what our potential critics back in France would say of us being soft on of foes. I could imagine something along the lines of how our "female constitution" not fit for the harsh reality's of war

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Ah, the Scare Tactics option was inspired by Genghis Khan's whole "Join or Die" thing, with less of the "Die" part. Something like leaving the tattered remains of their armies running back to tell others of your deeds. Certainly would draw all kinds of attention, both friendly and hostile. Also makes things dramatic.

Thérèse will obviously try not to be a softie, but there's always going to be some opposition to you no matter what you do or who you are, so keep that in mind.

 

[Kicker]

Imagine a world where Napoleon isn't a harsh, ruthless man of great ambition he's not known for his tact in handling dissenting elements, let's just say...

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If we go the more merciful route, we could do the 'Good cop, Bad cop' routine with Napoleon if we're Empress

 

[Plausbius]

If we go the more merciful route, we could do the 'Good cop, Bad cop' routine with Napoleon if we're Empress

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"So tell us, where is the cache of Prussian crown jewels? We know you were transporting them."
"..."
"SO YOU WON'T TALK HUH? FRANÇOIS, GET THE CANNON!"
"Woah woah, not so fast dear. You see, he's murderous when he's hungry, and right now, he's hungry for your information. So unless you want to have a higher than recommended serving of lead in your system, then I suggest you start talking, and he'll be less hungry, okay?"
Gulps "I don't know who's scarier here..."
"Good."

 

[AvidFicReader]

A Last Supper

Captain Denis Severin of l'armee du Rhin feels a shiver run down his spine in spite of the fire and warm coat he wears. Battle would soon be upon them, and men would die under his command. The Prussians had been sighted, and messengers from the northern bridge had delivered news of cavalry actions earlier in the day. Chamans was getting stuck in, while Severin was waiting for the Prussians to march on his position. Taking a slug of liquor to steel himself, he reviewed the knowledge passed down the Severin line through the generations of the Prussians. If his family had anything resembling an ancestral enemy, it would be the Prussians. His great-grandfather returned from Sweden in time to fight the hard-fought defeat at Malplaquet, where he had killed or wounded a dozen Prussians. Denis' grandfather had fought the Prussians in the Rhineland during the War of Polish Succession, and Denis' father had fought the Prussians in Europe during the Seven Years' War. The Prussians would come, and their advance would be relentless. As they push the French back, they will grow overconfident. That will be the time to strike. And where else would he be but the front? Severin always found comfort in the sound of bullets - if you could hear them, then it meant they hadn't hit you.

That evening, Severin ordered extra rations for the men at the front. Their Last Supper, if one were to be poetic. They were likely to die, but they would die hard, and the Prussians would bleed for every inch. He also instructed the artillery to give the bridge a salvo if it looked like the Prussians would overrun it. No sense in not having a back-up plan, in case his plan went awry. So Severin laughed and drank with the men who would soon be dead, they broke bread together and shared ribald jokes. He owed them that much. He was going to trade their lives for victory, after all.

 

[Random Member]

[] Plan Kill Them All, Let Reason Sort Them Out
-[] Now: Rest is for the weak! Push now, while they are on the back foot!
-[] Keep all as is.
-[] No Prisoners: They're soldiers, and so are we. If we are willing to die for our ideals, should they not be, too? (---reputation, +++Republican Sentiments, ---Monarchist Sentiments, will become notorious, which brings great fear; as useful as it is a burden)

 

[ThatGuyWithIdeas]

[] Plan Stay The Course
-[] Defend
-[] Keep All As Is
-[] Status Quo

 

[theproducer4]

[X] Plan Stay The Course
-[X] Defend
-[X] Keep All As Is
-[X] Status Quo

 

[Kicker]

Moratorium guys

 

[SzechuanSauce]

You know, Chamans dialogue when he returned kinda took me out of the story for a bit. His words just sounded so modern, he sounds less like a late 18th century military man and more like a frat boy celebrating a successful panty raid, but besides that, great update.

 

[Magoose]

During the battle with Servin:

The Artillery were hammering their position greatly. He was quite sure that the positions were zeroed in and the German artillery would be ceasing it's firing soon, as the infantry prepared for their assault. He was unsure how they would march forward, but that would soon be a problem that his men would have to deal with.

"Steady!" He shouted as he waved his sword. "FORM RANKS BEHIND COVER!"

His men quickly fell into the pattern that was instinctively drilled into them. They quickly came to their feet with weapons shouldered. The Prussians were on the march, their black and green uniforms coming closer to the bridge like night encroaching on the evening.

His soldiers may look frightened now, but when the battle began, they would forget their fear. They Would look beside themselves to their fellows and friends and steel themselves for the creator would allow them to win this day.

"Don't fire until I give the order!" He shouted. The barricade covered much of the width of the bridge, and the trenches before it were filled with spikes and caltrops to prevent the enemy cavalry from storming across.

But the scouts were right, infantry and artillery made up the bulk of the enemy army. And there was a thousand Prussians coming towards them, ready to die for their Princes beliefs.

"Let them come close!" He shouted, taking a position on the edge of the barricade, near the center of the lines.

The boots were now audible, as they touch the stone structure.

The audible cue. "FIRE!"

Guns erupted as rifles unleashed their volley and men walked back behind the line, and the second line to over to take aim. "READY! AIM! FIRE!"

Another Volley erupted, as another line of German soldiers fell, their comrades still marching across the bridge. "Lieutenants! Your orders!" He shouted, leaving the volley into the commands of his lieutenants.

"Fire!" A lieutenant wailed

And what he saw from one soldier was sloppy. "Corporal!" He shouted, his voice carrying. "Stop jerking the fucking trigger! your bullets will fly over the enemy's head! Squeeze the Trigger gently! Shoulder! Aim! Squeeze! KILL! RELOAD! SHOULDER! AIM! SQUEEZE! KILL! Do you understand me!?"

"Yes, Captain!" His men shouted in return.

"You will not die today!" He shouted over the gunfire." Lieutenants! My order!"

"Captain's orders!" His officers shouted.

"FIX BAYONETS!" He shouted.

The Germans were closer now… they were maybe a hundred or so meters away.

"Bayonets!" His lieutenants repeated.

Servin grabbed his saber and his hat sailed off his head. "Fire!"

His men fired again. More germans fell. "Fire!"

"FIRE!"

The Germans kept coming across the bridge, the bodies of their comrades not stopping them at all.

As the germans finally formed ranks to fire. Severin shouted. "CHARGE! DRIVE THEM ACROSS THE BRIDGE!"

 

[Plausbius]

A Last Supper

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Very grim but also hopeful! +10 for you!

You know, Chamans dialogue when he returned kinda took me out of the story for a bit, his words and phrasing just sounded so modern, he sounds less like a late 18th century military man and more like a frat boy celebrating a successful panty raid, but besides that, great update.

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Yeah, I tried making him sound much more relaxed and wild, since the rush of combat hadn't worn off yet. To be fair, he's still 24
I'll see if I can tweak the dialogue to make it sound less jarring, though. Thanks for the feedback!

During the battle with Servin

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Another one! +24!

[X] Plan Stay The Course
-[X] Defend
-[X] Keep All As Is
-[X] Status Quo

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Right, Moratorium is in effect for another 11.5 hours!

 

[perfectgeneral]

Plan Voting!

[x] Plan Hammer
-[x] Now!
-[x] As is, but:

• Severin in north attacking
• De Lisle helps with cavalry in pursuit
• Southern forces seek to pin enemy movement at every bridge and river they can reach

-[x] Scare

Notes

Spoiler: Details of plan Hammer

"When should we attack, if we do?"
Now: Rest is for the weak! Push now, while they are on the back foot!

"It looks like we are on the advantageous side this fight. Any last minute reassignments?"
"My forces will help where possible, fixing the bridge and securing the surrounding countryside." – d'Oyré

• Keep the city lightly garrisoned
• fix the bridge
• secure the bridgeheads
• patrol the surrounding countryside

"I can afford some to guard the southern flank, or to give chase to the enemy." – De Beauharnais

• Give us all the cavalry and any infantry you can spare
• Use them as the spearhead as these are our freshest troops

Chamans – Cavalry

• Advance on the flanks of our attacking infantry
• support closely to force use of square if they hold against us
• If the enemy break under infantry attack then pursue them
• seek to pursue them into their southern forces to spread the panic

Severin – Southern Infantry, relocating north

• Attack the enemy across from the north bridge with cavalry close flank support
• Advance at them in column swiftly
• Charge if they break and pursue
• Pass prisoners - leave to the rear rank and keep charging

De Lisle – Cannons (reserve cavalry)

• Advance the lighter cannons to the north to support the attack
• Keep half the guns advancing while the other fires
• suppress any enemy cannon
• switch to advancing the others whenever they separate too far
• fire all when the cannon are well placed to support the infantry
• use our most tired cavalry unit as a reserve to guard the cannon
• commit the reserve to pursuit only

De Beauharnais and d'Oyré will be moving independently but will support you.
Beauharnais will take over Severin's current position, and send a portion of his troops under his officers to aid you.
D'Oyré has begun cleaning the countryside to the west and south as well as the bank to secure the city, thanks to no siege being started.

How about…
Advance the Anvil

• secure the bridge over the Main river beyond the south bridge
• stop any forces attempting to cross the river

"What of our policy towards the enemy?"
Scare Tactics: We should try to scare them as much as possible into surrender. Breaking their morale is enough. Breaking their bodies beyond what is necessary is ludicrous. Those who surrender will be allowed to go without their weapons. They've done enough for this battle, and will spread word of what happened. (++reputation, may be seen as soft by some, but will gain the gratitude of some German people)

 

[theproducer4]

[X] Plan Stay The Course
-[X] Defend
-[X] Keep All As Is
-[X] Status Quo

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Change my vote to plan: Plan Hammer

 

[Plausbius]

Change my vote to plan: Plan Hammer

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Plan Voting!

[x] Plan Hammer
-[x] Now!
-[x] As is, but:

• Severin in north attacking
• De Lisle helps with cavalry in pursuit
• Southern forces seek to pin enemy movement at every bridge and river they can reach

-[x] Scare

Notes

Spoiler: Details of plan Hammer

"When should we attack, if we do?"
Now: Rest is for the weak! Push now, while they are on the back foot!

"It looks like we are on the advantageous side this fight. Any last minute reassignments?"
"My forces will help where possible, fixing the bridge and securing the surrounding countryside." – d'Oyré

• Keep the city lightly garrisoned
• fix the bridge
• secure the bridgeheads
• patrol the surrounding countryside

"I can afford some to guard the southern flank, or to give chase to the enemy." – De Beauharnais

• Give us all the cavalry and any infantry you can spare
• Use them as the spearhead as these are our freshest troops

Chamans – Cavalry

• Advance on the flanks of our attacking infantry
• support closely to force use of square if they hold against us
• If the enemy break under infantry attack then pursue them
• seek to pursue them into their southern forces to spread the panic

Severin – Southern Infantry, relocating north

• Attack the enemy across from the north bridge with cavalry close flank support
• Advance at them in column swiftly
• Charge if they break and pursue
• Pass prisoners - leave to the rear rank and keep charging

De Lisle – Cannons (reserve cavalry)

• Advance the lighter cannons to the north to support the attack
• Keep half the guns advancing while the other fires
• suppress any enemy cannon
• switch to advancing the others whenever they separate too far
• fire all when the cannon are well placed to support the infantry
• use our most tired cavalry unit as a reserve to guard the cannon
• commit the reserve to pursuit only

De Beauharnais and d'Oyré will be moving independently but will support you.
Beauharnais will take over Severin's current position, and send a portion of his troops under his officers to aid you.
D'Oyré has begun cleaning the countryside to the west and south as well as the bank to secure the city, thanks to no siege being started.

How about…
Advance the Anvil

• secure the bridge over the Main river beyond the south bridge
• stop any forces attempting to cross the river

"What of our policy towards the enemy?"
Scare Tactics: We should try to scare them as much as possible into surrender. Breaking their morale is enough. Breaking their bodies beyond what is necessary is ludicrous. Those who surrender will be allowed to go without their weapons. They've done enough for this battle, and will spread word of what happened. (++reputation, may be seen as soft by some, but will gain the gratitude of some German people)

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I'm loving the enthusiasm, but please respect the moratorium! I'll let voting start a tad early, around 6pm EST, or in about 7 hours!

 

[Sentient Tree]

To the mob-ruled, misguided revolting subjects of the French monarch.

Your timely surrender will expedite the process of retrieving some semblance of order to the chaos that you created, and which we must clean up. If you abandon the city of Mainz and surrender yourselves to a proper ruler, then we will come to an understanding and no harm will come to any of you.

Failure to oblige will result in little mercy shown to your side.

--Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand, Prince of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Duke of Brunswick Lüneburg, Generalfeldmarschall of the Kingdom of Pru—

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To the pompous prussian pansy with delusions of having the upper hand.

Nuts.

-- Therese Auclair

Plan Hammer looks pretty good to me.

 

[VagrantHero]

I am surprised, I expected their commander to keep pushing forward, but if he knows he has reinforcements coming, I reckon that would explain the decision to fall back along with the beating he's taken in the initial push. That said, our plans were for a siege, and they've overperformed from what I expected given our utter thrashing of their cavalry force. As it stands, I'm sorely tempted to keep the pressure up on them, but we'd be neglecting our defenses when their reinforcements come, and we may end up losing the force advantages we gained. Don't want to underestimate our opponent after just one good show. I think we can bloody them better when they come back in force.

Edit: rip, just saw other people doin it

 

[Foxwood]

@VagrantHero We've still got about five hours on the moratorium, Chief.

Looks like it's coming down to Stay The Course or The Hammer. Tbh, I got a good feeling about attacking ASAP, fellas.

It's not so much underestimating the enemy commander as it is seeking to break the enemy's morale while it's wavering. The best way to defeat a force or forces larger than your own is to destroy it in detail, or attack while the enemy's detachments are isolated from one another. This is likely to be our only opportunity to make the rest of this battle easy on ourselves.

 

[Plausbius]

Alright, voting's open! Though some of you've already started voting beforehand... ahem.

 

[Gingganz]

[X] Plan Hammer

De l'audace, encore de l'audace, toujours de l'audace.

 

[Kicker]

[x] Plan Hammer

You guys sure are excited to vote

 

[Sentient Tree]

[X] Plan Hammer

It's Hammer time! 🔨

Edit:
What do we get from reputation, again?

 

[QTesseract]

[x] Plan Hammer