AC01 Ocaña (18 November 1809)

Historical BackgroundThe Central Junta organized a campaign to liberate the...

AC01 Ocaña (18 November 1809)

Hello Guys
This scenario introduces the idea of ​​a defensive maneuver, which changes the typical approach of the published scenarios. Both the attacking and defending players will have to adapt their strategies, as they will need to rethink many decisions. The number of marked blocks is based on the proportion of forces involved in the actual battle.

Here are some clarifications about the special rules.

Victory
13 Victory Points. French Side.

10 Victory Points. Spanish Side.
As this is a defensive maneuver, 80% of the Victory Points are considered a victory. This modification creates a much more balanced scenario and one that is closer to a real-life situation.

Special Rules
• The lack of leadership from General Areizaga and the resulting chaos are represented by the inability of Spanish troops to form more than two squares simultaneously using command cards. The tactical card "Hasty Square" can be used without being affected by this limitation.
This rule allows us to have 3 squares at once when we use the "hasty square" card, so that the Spanish player will always have 2 command cards in their hand.
• it is not necessary to stop on the green hexes to move out.
• Spanish units may not move backward except due to the effects of combat (retreat, exposure to ranged fire, and withdrawal from a potential melee attack).
• The Spanish guerrilla rule does not apply.

I hope you enjoy it
Thanks

the setup displays the French army deployed on the Allied side of the map, and the Spanish deployed on the French side of the map.

Is it intended that the Allies retreat towards their edge, through the French, and vice versa?

Identifying the leader that is King Joseph, I'm guessing that it is the French leader marked Jose I? What does " Will be signaled." mean?

I'm not really understanding the Defensive Maneuvre rule. Some terms I'm not clear on
1. Each complete Spanish unit, in its number of blocks, - does that mean a unit that has taken no losses?
2. This action must be executed when General Freire's cavalry units are facing a single block or have been eliminated. - what does this mean? Single block?
Facing?
3. Spanish units may not be positioned for a retreat beforehand - what does this mean, they can't move?

Hi Mark.
First of all, I apologize for the English if it results in a poor translation. I'll try to explain things point by point. The answer goes in quotation marks and, if possible, highlighted in bold.
By mistake put the English banners on the French side.
There's another post where I explain something. loco Ney.
I hope to explain it better.

the setup displays the French army deployed on the Allied side of the map, and the Spanish deployed on the French side of the map.

“The distribution of armies is based on historical and geographical context. I'm not using the colors of the format”.

Is it intended that the Allies retreat towards their edge, through the French, and vice versa?

“Allied Retreat. Move towards the green hexagons located on the allies' baseline”
“The allies retreat towards the green hexagons located on the allies' baseline. There are 3 forest hexagons near the green hexagons. Only units that exit through the green hexagons add up 1 VP”.

Identifying the leader that is King Joseph, I'm guessing that it is the French leader marked Jose I? What does " Will be signaled." mean?

“Identified, marked, with a French victory banner (for example). To find out where in the battle it is. His death is a victory for the Allied side.”.

I'm not really understanding the Defensive Maneuvre rule. Some terms I'm not clear on
1. Each complete Spanish unit, in its number of blocks, - does that mean a unit that has taken no losses?

“The units with the initial number of blocks add up to 1 VP. They must exit through the green hexagons to score. If they start with 4 blocks, they must leave the scenery with 4 blocks. Units with a number of blocks less than at the beginning do not add up to VP”.

2. This action must be executed when General Freire's cavalry units are facing a single block or have been eliminated. - what does this mean? Single block? Facing?

“Cavalry units must be eliminated or have only one block of the initial three.
Example:
2 units eliminated and 2 units with 1 block each. The retreat begins.
3 units eliminated and 1 unit with 2 blocks. The retreat does not begin”.
"The retreat begins. Allied units can move to the green hexes. Only units with the same number of blocks as at the start gain 1 VP".

3. Spanish units may not be positioned for a retreat beforehand - what does this mean, they can't move?

“Allied units cannot move to the green hexes except by the following actions:
Retreat by flag on the battle die
Avoid Range of Fire. Example: Grand Artillery Battery
Avoid a melee attack”

Pay attention to the number of blocks marked on the units.
These numbers represent the number of historical troops that participated in the battle, establishing a percentage of the total troop strength.

French wins in 9 turns 13-8

From the photo, it appears your playing follows the historical events, the French cavalry destroy the Spanish cavalry on the French left, and roll up the infantry from the left.

Did the various special rules make any impact on the scenario?

It does look like an interesting scenario, and not one covered by the Exp.7 battles.

Yes, but the first cavalry-to-cavalry attack was by the Spanish.
Once the Spanish cavalry was destroyed, the Spanish retreat through the three defined hexagons was not as significant (3 VP) due to the very rapid advance of the French infantry ( 3 Force March, 2 Bayonet Charge in 9 turns), despite the three squares the Spanish army was able to form thanks to the Hasty Square tactic.

Mis Generales!!!.
Les dejo las reglas en español para todos esos jugadores hispanohablantes.
Que disfruten!!

Victory

13 Puntos de Victoria. Bando Frances.

10 Puntos de Victoria. Bando Español.

Al ser una maniobra defensiva se considera como victoria el 80% de los PV.

Reglas Especiales

• La falta de dirección del Gral. Areizaga y el caos que se produjo, se representa con la imposibilidad de formar más de 2 cuadros al mismo tiempo por las tropas españolas con uso de las cartas de mando. Se puede usar la carta táctica “Cuadro Apresurado” sin que le afecte esta limitación, de tal manera, que se puede formar 3 cuadros a la vez manteniendo 2 cartas de mando.

• Las unidades portuguesas representan la unidades más veteranas y profesionales del ejército español. Combaten con las reglas portuguesas.

• Maniobra Defensiva. Gral. Zayas. Esta maniobra permitió al flanco izquierdo español retirar las Div. en orden.

Cada unidad española completa, en su número de bloques iniciales, dará 1 PV al lado español al retirarse por los hexágonos de color verde. No es necesario pararse en los hexágonos verdes para salir.

Esta acción debe ejecutarse cuando las unidades de caballería del Gral. Freire se queden con un sólo bloque  o hayan sido eliminadas. Son las 4 unidades de caballería del flanco derecho y dentro de un hexágono amarillo.

Las unidades españolas no podrán hacer movimiento hacia atrás salvo por los efectos del combate (retirada, exposición al fuego a distancia y repliegue ante un posible ataque a melee).

• Muerte Súbita. Si una unidad española da muerte al Rey José I, este gana inmediatamente. Líder del hex color azul. Se señalizará para conocer en todo momento su ubicación en el tablero.

• Todos los arroyos son vadeables.

• La regla de guerrilla española no tiene efecto.