Operational Studies Group News DECEMBER, 2009 Page Three

GAME QUESTIONS: Napoleon at the Crossroads

I'd like to ask you something about CoO and SS: In NatC Napoleon
attacked the Austrian Supply Source + Center of Operations in Teplitz. I
find weird this situations, but let me know if it's because I lack
knowledge or it's a misunderstanding of the rules: 

1- By Exclusive [35] & [36] the Supply, being captured, can return at
next friendly Admin Segment. What I can't understand is why changing
voluntarily the Supply Source [33] costs the Austrian 1 turn without
Movement Commands and using 0 in attrition, and also 1 AP [95], and
capturing the Supply lets them at start of his turn in supply, no
negative consequences. Shouldn't have the same consequences? (wait 1
turn, no supply, 1 AP wasted in the change) 

2- The CoO must flee [128] & [129]. Where he must flee? Zwichau is free
of enemies, and the SS at his left (the one in the road to Kommotau) is
also free. Should he flee towards one of those 2, or exit the map? I
think the rationale is fleeing of the map, toward the main SS (Wien,
Prague), but the rule says it should go to another SS. 

3- If the CoO flees off map: by [130] If displaced off the map, the
Center of Operations may return to any friendly Supply Source hex during
the friendly Movement Phase after the Supply Source hex is cleared of
Enemy forces. But, if disbanded voluntarily [96], it cost 1 AP.
Shouldn't cost als 1 AP making it flee? 

4- And lastly: if had an Austrian Force, during retreat through Kulm,
arrived to Teplitz but had to retreat still 2 more hexes.. where should
he had to go? I think that "Off map", towards the main supply source,
but you can't retreat off map unless there is no another way. Is this
the case? Should it go off map or stop on the Supply Source, or continue
towards another place? 

Answer. The sense of this rule. is not to reward the player for
capturing a supply source. On the map edge (as opposed to a depot within
a city) there may be no facility. It is spread out. This is, in the
game, a concretization of a more abstract function. Maybe, in fact,
there is at the most a depot, a magazine and some stores. Anyway, I do
not want the game to revolve around the capture of the Supply Source, or
to reward a player for doing so. 

The reason I do not give a benefit for capturing it is because
historically there was never any question of capturing something that
did not exist- it was not a part of the landscape. Still, for a game
design, which does have a map edge, having a supply source on the map
edge seems to follow logically. The Austrians should feel free to move
off and on the south map edge at all times, as they did historically.