Aaron and I didn't really coordinate, other than generally keeping an eye on one another, and agreeing that the lessons learned in Germany in 1813 should be adhered to (specifically the one about avoiding battles with the emperor, and advancing when he reveals himself to be SOMEWHERE ELSE). The opening moves saw Blucher and the to-be-avoided-Napoleon sparring North of Vitry le Francois. Aaron fended off a half-hearted attack by the emperor (who withdrew along the north bank of the Marne to Chalons-sur-Marne, before disappearing behind a cloud of vedettes). Meanwhile, I plodded my way Westward, keeping south of the Aube, towards Troyes. I tried to come to grips with Gerard, who managed to avoid destruction, slipping North over the river toward Sezanne. The French army concentrated at Sezanne throughout February, grouped roughly in an arc between the Marne and Seine. Napoleon didn't show himself as Aaron slowly crept West and North and I captured Troyes and pushed a large column under Barclay hard for Nogent-sur-Seine. Barclay crossed to the North bank of the Seine in mid-February, where he was discovered by French vedettes (I have to imagine to the Emperor's surprise, given his subsequent reaction). Within a few days, Napoleon, Murat and the bulk of the French army was at Nogent-sur-Seine and battle was joined. Barclay withdrew over the Seine (losing enough men to provide Napoleon with a critical victory), and burnt the bridge.
With the knowledge that the French concentration was in the South, Blucher shifted his supply to the North and surged Westward, capturing Reims and Soissons. The French hovered around the Seine for a few days before resuming their central position screening Paris. General Wrede's Corps from the Army of Bohemia captured Pont-sur-Yonne, but otherwise the Austrians stalled out, moving their center of operations West to Bray, covering the bridges over the Seine, and advancing with 80,000 men under Schwartzenberg to Sezanne.
Blucher, aware that Napoleon was marching North to confront him, nevertheless kept up his westward momentum, eventually closing on Paris from the Northeast and causing a panic (7+ strength points within 7 movement points of the city). Napoleon struck Winzengerode, in the van of the Silesian column, on the 5th of March with the bulk of his army. Blucher made a forced-march to support his lieutenant and a pitched battle ensued that saw roughly 16,000 Prussian casualties in its opening rounds (French artillery was lethal, and Chuck committed the Imperial Guard on two attacks). Aaron showed a lot of nerve, revealing Pitched Battle twice and taking a horrendously one-sided beating. Fortunately for the Prussian cause, Blucher had a 3-2 advantage in overall numbers and he was able to absorb the losses without breaking. The second French attack saw Blucher's patience rewarded (Chuck rolled a 6, the only number that could have resulted in a French loss). With the Guard staked, Napoleon's "pitched" choice switched to a retreat plus a morale loss. The battle was a critical one, and caused Paris to surrender. Aaron's Prussians were victorious! My Austrians could only shake their heads in consternation... they would be facing a resurgent Prussia soon, culminating in 1866. Napoleon, however, was put on a ship to Elba. Never to be heard from again (*coughwaterloo*).
This was my first time playing NaB, and it was every bit the treat I had expected. The Army of Bohemia was perfectly frustrating to play: large, dangerous but very unwieldy. The Prussians were hell for the French. I think that Napoleon has to bloody them right out of the gate, unless the Austrians expose themselves prematurely. With all the reinforcements the Army of Silesia gets, it cannot be allowed to march unmolested for too long (whereas Schwartzenberg can be allowed to creep along for a while with only token resistance at the Seine bridges). Chuck and Kurt had a strategy of slowly withdrawing westward, keeping between the Allies and Paris. That's not a winning strategy. The Allies have too much power, and can outflank any "line" the French try to establish. The French have to challenge the Coalition lines of communication, and any force, regardless of size, that reveals itself. Napoleon can whip any Allied army he meets, almost casually. He'll need the critical victories to win.
The Campaigns system is a real work of art. Can't wait to revisit it (though we're off to Leipzig next, returning to OSG's Library of Napoleonic Battles).
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