Working out my Campaign for the Peninsular

I`m really happy with the Sharpe Practice 2 rules, the character driven nature of the game, added to the fact that these can be linked in a series of games makes it ideal for a campaign.  Being a solo wargamer out here on Cyprus I need a campaign that links my games together, but one that is not map based or, frankly, one that is reliant on me putting any great amount of work into it.

My Peninsular Forces slowly taking shape.  Garden painting, I recommend it!

 

I have one more requirement for a campaign and that is an element of randomness.  The game needs to surprise me, and to spring surprises on me. 

Sharp Practice 2 has a number of mechanisms that help me here.  Firstly there are a number of random scenarios, either battles or missions that can be generated, half battles half missions.  Secondly is the presence of civilian characters, and in the Peninsular that can be the Priest acting as a double agent, the Guerrilla leader, or the afrancesados Count and his servants.  A random selection of these appearing  during a skirmish mission, or even on the battlefield, will personalise my game.  Of course I can recruit members of the Marshal Petain Gentleman's Club to generate some characters for me.

I intend to follow the fictional adventures of the 2^nd battalion 4^th foot during my Peninsular war.  More often than not they will be facing the 27^th du Ligne, but the focus will be on The King’s Own Regiment 4^th Foot, endowing its Officers with character, and following their careers during the war.  For example the first Colonel of the 4^th will be Colonel Courtleigh Manners, the politest man in King George’s army. 

The battles of the Peninisular war that involved British troops will be used as a campaign timeline.  For each of these battles the 4^th Foot must roll a minimum of three times on the scenario list.  If one of these is a “battle” scenario then that represents the actions of the 4^th Foot during that particular fight.  A second or third “battle result represents other actions undertaken during the fighting.  If no battle is generated the 4^th foot must roll again until a battle occurs.  I have added a list of separate missions that will be used if a mission is rolled more than once during the same battle.

So the first series of games would be based around Rolica.  I intend to use some of the great maps available online at peninsularwar.org.  A Mission might be to escort an Engineer to Obidos, contact the Spy hidden at Quinta Gruga before the French get to him (or her) or how about rescue the fictional Brian Wellesley, Arthur’s younger and much dimmer brother.

Within the SP2 rules are mini-campaigns, stretching the structure of those six basic games, and completed in order.  I intend to tweak them as per:
1.  Keep the young Ensign/Viscount alive over 3 games,
2.  Missions to support the Exploring Officer,
3.  Scour the Minor characers to discover the French Spy,
4.  Clear the Commander's dishonour,
5.  Support the Engineering Officer over three games,
6.  Working with our gallant allies, over three games,
7.  Capture an Eagle, in one of the next three battles,
8.  Find the missing banker, over the next three missions,
9.  The new colonel is a pompous arse, three games to get him killed..

The list of battles would look like this, with three or more games for each battle, although I suppose Roliça and Vimeiro could be combined:

Battle of Roliça

Battle of Vimeiro

Battle of La Coruña

Battle of Porto

Battle of Talavera

Combat of the Côa

Siege of Almeida

Battle of Buçaco

Lines of Torres Vedras

Battle of Barrosa

Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro

Battle of Albuera

Storming of Ciudad Rodrigo

Storming of Badajoz

Battle of Salamanca

Battle of Vitoria

Battle of Maya

Storming of San Sebastián
Bayonne
Orthez
Calvinet Ridge/Toulouse

I`m sure its a list I will add to, perhaps the retreat of Sir John Moore needs its own missions before La Coruña etc...

One of the great values of being a solo wargamer is that I can indulge in a project like this.