Bandits and Villains - a Flashing Steel mini-campaign

Flashing Steel is now my preferred skirmish game for the 17th and 18th centuries. With a bit of tinkering very unique attributes can be given to figures. The rulebook also has a mini-campaign system, but in this case not too useful. 

What I'd like to do is a series of clashes between the bandits now taking shelter in Calvacasa's land, and a ruthless loyalist officer sent to destroy them. The loyalist army is not ready for a direct engagement,  especially after their recent defeat, but a larger number of provincials can be sent against the hundred or so outlaws. Word also travels slowly and the Parmigiano court might not at all be aware of the loss of the Civita Maria garrison. 

So here are a few outlines for my own future references, and ideas which may help someone:

Spoils

The Civita Maria council greeted the victors with grace. Their friendliness seemed most advantageous to Pietro di Calvacasa - not to be perceived an oppressor in a new strip of acquired territory could be more than benevolent to his cause. 

Pitch

Pietro di Calvacasa arrived near a farmstead close to the walls of Civita Maria. His small army was visible from the towers of the old fort, and the garrison commander was eager to march against it. 

'Sire, I think the rebels have acquired siege guns', a scout reported as the battalions assembled near the gate. 'We have spotted them on a hill, overlooking the western walls.'

'But Christ, those are the weakest of all', the General said, 'we better hurry and chase these traitors back to their hovels!'

Calvacasa's attack force consisted of two 120-men household battalions after the Varangian fashion, and a group of 80 militia. The culverins seen by the scout were actually logs painted black and placed on fake carriages. The count ordered some peasants to act like tending to the cannon. He hoped this increased threat would entice the very large mouse to scurry out of the tunnel and measure its strength against the very small cat.

Gaining Control

Pietro di Calvacasa writes in his diary: OC 1549, March 28, Monday. On the road between Dicalla and Trocca. Canonnade is heard from the direction of Chielli-Forte. It is important to coordinate our march with the other half of the army, but it is also important that I lead the main contingent. Captain d'Arson is well versed in the art of sieges and I have complete trust in him. Currently our movement across the country is hindered by nothing, yet I fear that loyalist spies from the villages we cross would tell the Civita Maria garrison of our plans prematurely. This ruse de guerre we are conducting seems to have an easy chance of failure right now.

Calvacasa's three companies of foot, about 400 men in strength, march on the main road towards Civita Maria, passing one smaller fort. The fort does not have the range to fire its cannons on the road and is only guarded by one company of provincials. A small detachment of dragoons and militia is screening every possible path across the woodland to prevent messengers to Civita Maria and notify Calvacasa immediately if the provincials take action. 

A mercenary Varangian unit, the rest of the dragoons and the Glambrian storming party besieges Forte Chielli, lying on the Flossian border at the foot of the Alps, in order to secure the hinterlands. this fort is garrisoned by one company of provincial Cacciatori and a half-company of provincials. The fort has only one ancient cannon. The siege is led by Captain d'Arson and his highest priority is to convince the company commanders that his plan will work. They have only one day to complete the siege and only one small-bore cannon. Fortunately there is an excellent firing position facing the fort's gate and the garrison is understrength to watch over the entire length of the wall.

Bandit Attack

A small group of provincial infantry and dragoons were escorting a cart to Civita Maria, the central town of north-eastern Quattro Formaggi. Lately the highway had been festering with highwaymen. The two do not necessarily go together everytime, but on occasions when the provincial army is too busy preparing for war with the vile rebel Calvacasa, they have little time to smoke these criminals out of the woods.

An Unlikely Ally

A few days after crossing the Formaggian border to offer his services to his old friend the Count of Calvacasa, Captain Pierre d'Arson of Armagnac has been captured in a cavalry skirmish and carried off to The Rock, a small fort in the River Orlo estuary.

Filippo Scolari, the famed pirate of the Glambrian Sea, has decided he would free d'Arson. The pirates have an extensive network of informators, so they knew where to find the Captain.

Background for the Calvacasa rebellion 3. - Logistics

Now that we are past the theoretical build-up of the background for the conflict, it is time to examine how many figures, tabletop accessories and other material evidence I have.

First of all, the rules. I think Sharp Practice with maybe a modified activation system and Flashing Steel for smaller actions. Using Sharp Practice, figures would represent more men (so not a 1:1 ratio).

Then, a campaign map. Fortunately I have just the same, printed in 1710, that Count Calvacasa used during the campaign. It's a big 28"x20" map, detailed to the requirements of its age. The Count could track enemy movements on this map with ease and plan the movement of his own troops.

Terrain: by now I have almost everything required to a varied and good-looking battlefield. I have just completed some accessories as well. I could use more period buildings actually, but those are easy to make, especially with all the paper and scrap wood I have lying around. 

I also have two small ships suitable for the period, which calls for amphibious action and I'm currently building one corner of a period fortress. Only one corner with an interior space of 30x30cm because the gaming table is too small for anything more.

Figures: a quick tally shows that I have 

14+8+8= 30 cavalry painted, 26 unpainted

40+48+24+8+30= 142 infantry painted, a good many unpainted.

10+4 cannon, two mortars, 8 horses for the artillery train, two carts, 22 gunners.

3 command figures, 5 civilians.

All in all, a big enough collection to start gaming.

Background for the Calvacasa Rebellion 2. - Sources

This will most likely be the shortest link in the chain, where I will briefly explain what sources, historical examples and literature I will use as inspiration for my games. 

I have at hand, won in a giveaway at Canister & Grape some time ago, Master Featherstone's War Game Campaigns, which is just the book for such things. I have read it once but I thought it would be worth reading again.

I have a series of Ospreys, of course, on the various rebellions and revolutions that occured during the 18th century. One quite evident thing is that Calvacasa's war is feudal, if I am permitted to say so, in nature: a fight between members of the ruling class, and not an uprising of the people, or an uprising against a foreign govermnent like that of the Jacobites. This also rules out the historical background for the AWI and even more the French Revolution, which does not mean I cannot (ab)use historical scenarios from these conflicts.

What is closer to me locally and in history, and bears a resemblance on Calvacasa's status, is the Rákóczi rebellion of 1703-11. It coincides with the WSS and Great Northern Wars' political sphere. But while Rákóczi was a young idealist (and a great admirer of Louis XIV), Pietro di Calvacasa is old, bitter and cunning. Yet he must face the same economical and moral challenges. What troubles me about the period is the little literature available online. Guess I'll have to visit a library.

Pietro di Calvacasa

I found a figure to represent the man himself. It is a Zvezda GNW Russian artillery train driver on a Swedish horse. I have added a sash from green stuff, cut off the string of his whip to create a marshal's baton, and created a frilly lace from GS on his hat.

The base features some pieces of bark and a long musket. I have used a three color method on the bright colors of his coat, the rest had only one layer of highlights.

Another figure from the same set is converted to a GNW Saxon general who will most likely play a part in Calvacasa's opposition.

Background for the Calvacasa Rebellion 1. - Initial Q&A

In a series of posts, I am attempting to create enough background for both the readers and myself for this new project. This first post is a correspondence with myself on how and what I plan on doing in broader terms.

Q: Where and when does the rebellion happen?

A: Beatrice Schiavona grabbed the throne in 1531 OC, nineteen years before the Störkburg Valley campaign, which I consider being the current state of the world. Calvacasa's rebellion started one year earlier in 1549 OC, but there is very little overlapping in terms of campaign events between the two nations. 

One thing to consider is that the Böhnstadt court knows that the Formaggians are busy with their civil war, thus they can safely reduce the troopers defending the southern border and send them to fight in the west. 

Calvacasa's initial base is close to both the Flossian and Schultze-Böhnstadt borders, but he is not strong enough to ask for any aid against the lawful ruler of the country; and any other country's diplomats would be hesitant to choose sides. As a result, this is an internal affair in Formaggia, and my plan is to confine the campaign events to a relatively small area - I will tell more in a later post.

Q: Who is Pietro di Calvacasa?

A: Pietro, Count of Calvacasa is 49 years old, a seasoned officer of the wars on the continent. He has become known as a cavalry leader, first as a captain of Glambrian Dragoons in the New World, then a cavalry staff officer in various armies, rising to the rank of Adjutant General in the Duchy of Armagnac. He has two teenage daughters and one adult son from his wife Lucia, whom he met in exile. He is of a large stature but plain looks, and he prefers a simple coat instead of the laced uniform of a general. 

The town of Calvacasa is a part of the northern Quattro Formaggi countries. (The proper spelling of the country's name was changed when one day the Chancellorette mispronounced it, then immediately issued an edict that Quattri Formaggi is, in fact, the proper way to mention the Alliance.)

The Count's title is relatively new: his great-grandfather was a silk merchant favored by one of the Parmigiano courtiers, and he was the one to gain nobility through a series of deals. 

Pietro and his father, Marco were exiled when the Chancellorette, by sheer luck and cunning, won the leadership of the country and they were part of her opposition. They have lost all their estates on paper, but the family home and the surrounding settlements were so neglected that upon his return everybody greeted him with joy. This occured in 1548 OC, and in a few months he was already organizing his counterstroke against Schiavona.

Q: What are Calvacasa's motives?

A: Beatrice Schiavona is a competent, but unjust leader. The Alliance consists of multiple city-states and the central government is not dependent on the masses, just like most monarchies. The Chancellorette does not recognize the dangers of ignoring the people of the country; one of the dangers is the fact that a charismatic enemy may alarm enough countrymen to commence an open rebellion.

The Count knows the Chancellorette's personal failings, and although he denies he is aiming for the throne, his ultimate goal is to force his own terms on Beatrice.

Q: What are his strategic goals?

In short term, to gain territory in northern QF, all the while converting possible opposing military forces and recruiting and training fresh ones from the insurgency.

In long term, to gain total control of the north-eastern valleys of the country, and with safe hinterlands march out to meet the otherwise dispersed and weak loyalist armies.

Q: What are the focal points of the campaign?

A: First, the personal struggles of Pietro: in my recent reading, a recurring point was that victory is something soldiers demand from a leader. Simply put, Calvacasa has to win his battles in order to survive. I wish these struggles to be closely monitored and detailed during the campaign; I want Pietro to face the realities of war, something he had less chance to do as an officer and nobleman as he has as a leader of people. 

Second, the scarcity of manpower and resources: Calvacasa begins the campaign by controlling some natural resources, but his base is a woodland with very little food to produce. He has a small core army, around which volunteers are organized in essentially militia battalions. But his base is too small, and the loyalist Formaggian army can redeploy and concentrate.

Q: Who are Calvacasa's allies and adversaries?

A: On his side are a select few foreign officers and local civilian leaders. Some foreigners are specialists, gunners and engineers, while others are experienced field officers. But he has to promote trust among his own fellow countrymen, and his officer corps is too small not to include dilettants who may or may not risk the success of the entire campaign as the plot advances.

On the loyalist side, there will be immediate enemies as he advances on loyalist strong points neighboring his, and as the rebellion gains momentum, more experienced and powerful players will appear in the game on the enemy side. Expect a lot of mustache twirling and the slashing of blades.