From: Marion Saha <newportlajolla@yahoo.com
Subject: revised sybmission: Jena-Auerstadt

AUTHOR’S NOTE - JENA-AUERSTADT - 12/6/05:

This old grodnard recently found the following unpublished “review and 
evaluation” with rules clarifications for Jena-Auerstadt in the bottom of 
a drawer.

God knows when I wrote this, but pass it along for what it is worth.
My experience and rules interpretations seem a little at variance with 
remarks by other experienced gamers on this site.  Oh well, I am humbly 
aware that while solitaire play is great fun it can also be, as with Ozawa 
at Philippine Sea, a one-way ticket to “cloud coo coo land”.
In any case I enjoyed and recommend the tactical and strategic challenges 
of this simulation -- even though at Auerstadt especially this game 
depicts what “should” have happened rather than Davout’s historical French 
victory.

-- M.S.


JENA-AUERSTADT – [SPI’s Napoleon at War Quad]

By Mark Saha
!

SPI’s NAPOLEON AT WAR quad is a well known classic that has been 
extensively reviewed, so in that this brief piece I’m going to jump right 
in and address the JENA-AUERSTADT quad.

What follows assumes you either know this game or, if not, that you have 
recently acquired it and can follow this with the game and rules in hand.

PART I: QUICK OVERVIEW OF WHAT’S GOING ON HERE

Shortly before this battle, the main Prussian army which had been deployed 
at Jena withdrew north to Auerst! adt, leaving a small covering force behind.
Napoleon entered the Jena map (at 0104) believing the main body of the 
Prussian army was still before him, and gave battle with his own main 
body.  He detached a smaller force (ultimately only Davout) to sweep 
off-map from Jena to the northeast and enter the Auerstadt map at 
0128.  From there Davout was to push west, then South, to enter the 
Transit Track at 1622 or 2122 – and return to the Jena map in the Prussian 
rear circa 2320.

When Davout approached Auerstadt he blundered into the main Prussian 
body.  His flanking sweep was now a dead letter, though Napoleon had no 
difficulty dispatching the Prussian rear guard at! Jena without his 
assistance.

Davout, however, was in serious difficulty.  But in an exceptional 
performance he rose to the occasion with his elite force and managed to 
put the superior Prussians to flight.  Retreating Prussian forces from 
Jena and Auerstadt became entangled on the same roads and the retreat 
quickly became a rout.

It is the above “historical” twin battles of Jena-Auerstadt that are 
simulated in Scenario A (called “Reinforcement Option A”) of this game.
Scenario B assumes the entire Prussian force remained at Jena where the 
only ba! ttle occurs.  Notice in this option no units deploy or enter the 
Auerstadt map.  However, Davout is assumed to have done so (unopposed), 
and arrives as Napoleon intended on the north edge of the Jena map on 
Game-Turns 11 and 12.  This is the battle Napoleon was expecting.


PART II: RULES CLARIFICATIONS

! (1) JENA-AUERSTADT GAME MAP

The compass rose on map is correct but can be confusing to those 
unfamiliar with this battle, as place names and hex numbers are printed 
“upside down”: Auerstadt is north of Jena.

(2) NIGHT TURNS [16.1]

Units in this game (only) cannot enter a Woods hex at night.  However, the 
French unit deployed in Woods hex 0606 may remain there, though it cannot 
enter another Woods hex, nor return to this one at night if it exits the hex.

(3) HALVED MOVEMENT IN FOG TURNS [16.2]

The designer’s intention with regard to halved movement is open to 
debate.  He says any resulting fractions are rounded down, which is the 
customary rule when fractional movement points have no legitimate use in a 
game.

However, Roads cost only ½ a Movement Point, bringing one to wonder 
whether the designer really intended to drop fractions.

If! a 3 MP unit is simply halved to 1 ½ MPs, it can move 3 hexes along a 
road.  But if, as stated in 16.2, it must be rounded down to 1 MP, it can 
move only 2 hexes along a road.  Literally, the rules as written state the 
latter, but I wouldn’t be bound by a possible misstatement unless play 
balance supports its being correct.

My initial play experience suggests that dropping fractions does most harm 
to the Prussians at both Jena and Auerstadt, as they have the greatest 
distance to travel on both maps.  I suspect fractions should be retained, 
since otherwise my Prussians are hard pressed to achieve the Jena map 
ridge defense advised in the Players’ Notes.

My suggestion is that players retain fractions in their initial 
games.  Dropping fractions may be used as a play balance option to assist 
a weak French Player.

(4) MAP EXIT AND TRANSIT TRACK RULES [17.0]

Players should be aware that, unfortunately for clarity, two entirely 
separate and distinct rules are lumped together and explained under this 
case heading:

[Rule 17A] EXITING THE MAP

Neither Player may exit a map section until one (either) player on that 
section is Demoralized.  Once that occurs, each player has the option to 
exit that map section on the edges specified for that player in 
17.0.  Exited units CANNOT enter the other map section, nor reenter 
the  exited map.  (A Demoralized player may want to exit units to avoid 
further losses.  The French Player may want to exit the Jena map in 
pursuit of the 125 Strength Points exited Victory Condition [19.1].)

[Rule 17B] FRENCH TRANSIT TRACK CLARIFICATIONS

The Transit Track is not subject to the above map exit 
rules.  Also,  units in the Transit Track are not reinforcem! ents and are 
not subject to [14.0] Reinforcement rules (see below).

The French player (only!) may use the Transit Track -- and may do so at 
any time whether one of the players is demoralized or not.

(5) DEMORALIZATION AND REINFORCEMENTS [18.0]

For clarity and completeness, Demoralization rules [18.0] should include 
rule 14.15 -- reinforcements arriving on a map section have the same 
morale status as friendly units already on the map.

(6) REINFORCEMENTS CLARIFICATIONS [14.2]

Some subtle distinctions to keep in mind:

(a) Reinforcements cannot be delayed.  However, if a player’s units on a 
map section are Demoralized, some or all of that player’s reinforcements 
to that map section may be permanently canceled [14.2].

(b) French units in the Transit Track are not considered 
reinforcements.  Their arrival can be delayed, even permanently, though 
they cannot return to the map section from which they entered the Transit 
Track [17.21].

PART III: PLAY NOTES FOR “JENA-AUERSTADT”

(1) SCENARIOS (“Reinforcement Options”) A & B [15.1]

Although [15.1] says it is the Prussian Player who chooses between 
Reinforcement Options A or B, these are in fact two entirely different 
games.  Therefore, I feel that players should mutually agree on which they 
wish to play.

Option A is the historical situation, and the more interestin! g one 
because both players have thoughtful alternative courses of action 
to  contemplate.

Option B assumes the Prussians did not split their force, so no units are 
on the Jena map and a massive slugfest occurs at Auerstadt.  This is the 
battle Napoleon expected and intended to fight, and is a rather 
straightforward and intense slugfest for players in the mood for that sort 
of thing.

(Players should be careful not to confuse Reinforcement Options A and B of 
rule 15.0, which are the two game scenarios, with rule [20.0] “Optio! nal 
Reinforcements” which are merely variant reinforcements.)

(2) COMBAT RESULTS TABLE

This table is slightly modified from NAPOLEON AT WATERLOO, and I rather 
like it because – together with the option to voluntarily reduce odds – it 
allows for quite a bit of creative flexibility and imagination on the part 
of the attacker.

Some examples…

3-1 odds are a sure thing unless you roll a 6, but here the Ex result is 
replac! ed with Ar so the attacker suffers no harm.  4-1 guarantees a 
successful attack but in this case a 6 = Ex.

If you have a 4-1 surrounded, probably you won’t want to “voluntarily” 
reduce to 3-1 and risk the enemy escaping on an Ar result – unless an Ex 
would Demoralize your force.  But if the defender is not surrounded, and 
you seek only to retreat him, a 5/6th chance of that at 3-1 is usually 
acceptable.

If you wish to disengage your own units by a self-inflicted retreat, you 
can safely reduce odds to 1-2 against yourself without coming to harm – 
but there is a 1/3 chance you will unintentionally “win” the 
attack.  Reducing odds below 1-2 risks an Ae elimination, so this should 
only be done if the unit will be lost anyway if it fails to disengage.
When firing ranged artillery you can reduce the odds all the way to 1-5 
with no harm to your artillery.  Occasion for this may arise if the 
artillery is soaking off a unit that would be helped by retreat, or a unit 
that you don’t want to retreat from an impending trap.

(3) FRENCH TRANSIT TRACK [17.1]

The French Player should not get too excited about this fascinating 
contraption, ! since most often it will (at best) merely serve as a 
threat, though as such it can force an otherwise undesirable defensive 
strategy on Auerstadt map Prussians and relieve pressure on the French 
there.  But at other times it can be thrilling indeed.

Basically, in the “historical” Game A, Davout’s French force at Auerstadt 
are going to be ahistorically “on the ropes” and hanging on by the 
fingernails.  The Transit Track allows the French Player to exit units 
from the Jena map to assist Davout.

The problem is that, unless the Prussians at Jena defend poorly, it is 
difficult for French units there to exit prior to Game-Turn 8 – which I 
feel is the last turn it is worth exiting units.  Such units do not arrive 
at Auerstadt until Turn 11, almost certainly on the Eastern Track at 
1022-1322.

By this time Davout’s French are usually pressed hard on the Auerstadt 
east map edge circa 0128, so Transit Track units arriving on Turn 12 will 
be of little use.  But units arriving on Turn 11 can enter at 1022 and 
1222, cross the stream (+2 MP), and place themselves solidly on the 
Prussian right flank.  Even if you only force the Prussian to peel off a 
covering force, this relieves pressure on Davout.

Better yet, if Davout still has offensive capability, he can prepare for 
the relief force by pulling the remainder of his army to the 0426/27 to 
0525 area.  From here he can attack toward 0825 in a threat to link up 
with the arrivals.  He should also seek to engage as many Prussian units 
as possible and pin them in French ZOCs for the last Prussian turn before 
Transit Track units arrive.  Then the Prussian right can be caught in a 
pincer attack which, if successful, will surely demoralize their army.
The first time I tried this, I didn’t support the Transit Track arrivals 
with Davout.  The Prussians responded to this solitaire play blunder by 
driving my arrivals off the map, demoralizing the French at Auerstadt.
On a subsequent game, Davout executed a successful disengagement from 
0128-0427 (a combination of intentional Ar’s and a sacrifice screening 
unit to prevent the Prussians from re-engaging), and threw this force into 
an assault on 0825.  Together with arrivals from 1022, this attack broke 
the enemy right and demoralized the Auerstadt Prussians.

I suggest the French send from Jena a mixed force of cavalry and infantry 
(i.e., both mobility and strength) of at least 4 units.

Keep in mind also that, should Davout win early at Auerstadt (highly 
unlikely but possible with bold play and skilful use of the CRT), he can 
take the Transit Track to Jena.  He isn’t needed! there, but can then 
contribute to the 125 Strength Points that score points for exiting the 
Jena map [19.1], or free other French units to do so.

(4) THE “WHAT IF” OPTIONAL REINFORCEMENTS OF [20.0]

These two plausible but “never happened” events are for play balance, one 
to help the Prussians and one the French.

Prussian Option [20.1] in my opinion should never be used in the Option A 
Game unless the Prussian Player is really bad.  Davout’s French are 
already on the ropes at Auerstadt, and t! his force arriving so early 
(Turn 3) simply assures destruction of the French.  Even adding French 
Bernadotte [20.2] would not even the balance, as he doesn’t arrive until 
Turns 10 and 12, by which time it should be all over.

However, using Bernadotte [20.2] alone may make Option A games more 
interesting.  Davout has a better chance of hanging on due to these last 
minute arrivals at 0128, exactly where needed.  Generally, it is only in 
the last few turns that the Prussian can deliver a coup de grace at 
Auerstadt, so this could be thrilling.

(5) AUERSTADT MAP PLAY

Despite an overall Prussian superiority of 2-1 on this map, Davout’s 
French can often hang on until the last few turns.  This is due to the 
constricted front between the river and two ridges, and the doubled 
defense of the town (Hassen-Hausen).  Moreover, due to the low Prussian 
Demoralization level on this map, if the Prussian suffers some awkward 
retreats due to bad die rolls on the attack, an alert French player may be 
able to deliver a riposte that breaks him.

But the French demoralization level is also low here, so on this map he is 
vulnerable.  The greatest danger is that by the time he is demoralized he 
will likely also be h! eavily engaged near the map edge.  Without “air” to 
disengage and then exit, his entire force can easily be destroyed or 
driven off-map for Prussian VPs.

Should the French Player judge that chances for his slim shot at victory
have passed, he may (cunningly) deliberately sacrifice a unit to trigger
his own demoralization. Light sacrifice units and terrain should be
utilized as a screen to prevent his larger units from being engaged.
These larger units can then exit the map next turn to escape
elimination.

Of course, if [20.2] Bernadotte is in play Davout should probably hang 
on.  With Demoralization levels so low here he may have an opportunity to 
wrest a late game victory.

(6) JENA MAP PLAY

The French should always be able to demoralize the Prussians on this map, 
the only question being when – and the sooner the better.
Following Prussian demoralization here, the French Player often finds  the 
number of remaining Game-Turns forces him to choose between two 
strategies: either chasing down demoralized Prussians to improve his 
casualty ratio, or attempt to exit 125 French strength points from the 
North and West map edges [19.1].

If the Prussians break early, you can attempt both.  If not, demoralized 
Prussians can draw you southwest while blocking the western exit until 
time expires.  This can force you to choose between eliminating enemy 
units or exiting the map.

If the French have been broken at Auerstadt, they will likely have a poor 
casualty ratio that can only be improved by Prussian losses at Jena.  But 
it will require almost the entire French force to exit 125 strength 
points, leaving little behind to inflict losses to improve the casualty 
ratio.  So that’s the dilemma.

Things the French Player should consider are:

First, late game French Jena reinforcements at 0104 cannot exit the north 
or west VP map edges anyway, so they should be used to pursue Prussians 
along the east-to-west road.  Second, I allow Bernadotte’s standard rule 
arrival at 0820 to promptly exit and count toward the 125 exited strength 
points.  (See below for legality of this.)

(7) COMMENTS ON REINFORCEMENTS EXITING MAP ON ARRIVAL TURN

Neither Map Exit Rule [17.0] nor Reinforc! ement Rule [14.0] make any 
mention of an arriving unit exiting the map on the same turn it 
arrives.  Providing only that map exit is possible due to at least one 
force on the map being Demoralized, it would appear to be legal.
The option of a Demoralized force’s Player to cancel reinforcement [14.21] 
“suggests” that arrivals must remain on the map at least for the turn of 
arrival – which might force a possible ambush against the map edge.  If 
Players choose to use this interpretation, French Bernadotte’s Jena 
reinforcements on Turn 10 would have two subsequent turns to exit again 
for VPs, but his Turn 12 arrivals would not.

So how Players rule on this affects Victory Conditions as 
well.  Personally I’m inclined to allow reinforcements to enter and exit 
on the same turn, since otherwise Bernadotte’s Turn 12 arrivals would 
appear to serve no purpose except under exceptional circumstances.


PART IV: GAME MAP PLAY AIDS SUGGESTIONS:

(1) HILLTOPS AND SLOPES:

Hilltops and crest lines can be confu! sing on this map, yet reading them 
clearly at a glance is vital to good play.  So I’ve borrowed a trick from 
Redmond Simonsen’s original PANZERBLITZ boards: using an orange felt pen, 
I’ve carefully drawn an orange line along the “high ground” side of Crest 
hexsides.  For example, along the 0510 side of the hexside shared with 
0409, and the two hexsides in 0209 with slopes.

Such orange lines are especially helpful along the line from 0811 to 0715, 
then back to 1113 and around to 0717, etc.  Another confusing but critical 
stretch is a line from 0112 through 0214.  And the two high round hexes 
flanking hex 1508.

But if you do this, I suggest doing it consistently on the entire game 
map, not just trouble spots.

SLOPES: This is a purely cosmetic option, but I’ve found Slopes stand out 
nicely from my orange Crest hexsides if you run a wide tip yellow felt pen 
along the length of Slope lines.  The “spattered” graphic art where Slopes 
dissipate stands out nicely against this yellow background.

(2) TOWNS:

It also helps play if Towns are more obvious to a strategic glance.
This is easily fixed, though I suggest practicing on a scrap Xerox copy of 
a map section to find the “look” you prefer.

Using a fine point black pen, I carefully outline the cluster of
irregular shapes depicting a town. I prefer as straight a line as
possible parallel to one of the outer irregular town blocks; where that
town block ends, I sharply cut the line inward, then outward again to
follow the next block. In this way, the town is neatly outlined with a
“natural” looking jagged appearance.

When done, you can make the town even more obvious on the map by filling 
it in with a yellow felt! pen – preferably a different shade than used on 
slopes.  (Dark yellow and day-glo yellow pens are available.)

(3) RIVERS AND STREAMS

Good play requires that you distinguish at a glance between Rivers, which 
are impassable except at bridges, and Streams which can be crossed at +2 
movement points.

If you’ve created the Xeroxed game map suggested above, use a fine point 
indelible blue felt pen to enhance the parallel lines that define Rivers.

(4) ENTRY/EXIT HEXES [NOT IN REGARD TO TRANSIT TRACK]

Reinforcement arrival areas and maps edges that French and Prussians can 
exit after a Demoralization are rather complex and not clearly 
marked.  Marking them makes play of the game much easier – it’s really 
nice to know what you and/or your opponent can or can’t do at a glance.

(5) REINFORCEMENT ENTRY HEXES:

I’ve typed these hex numbers in bold on my! computer and printed them out 
on sheets of green and blue paper.  Using a ruler and pen, I “box” each 
number and simply cut and paste it in the appropriate hex.  The color 
shows which side enters there with hex number easily visible.
Examples: I have a green hex number pasted in hexes 0129 and 2320, and a 
blue hex number in hex 0820.

(6) MAP EXIT AREAS AFTER DEMORALIZATION

Using fine green and blue pens, it is helpful to make a small arrow! of 
the appropriate color in a hex of a map edge to denote that a player can 
exit that edge.  Notice that both players can exit some edges, but only 
one or none at other edges.

(Personally I’ve photo-reduced the “arrow” sides of “fire/movement” chits 
from AH’s old TOBRUK.  These reduced Xeroxed arrows can be cut and pasted 
neatly on map where needed -- and are easily colored with a swipe of a 
felt pen.)

(7) ENLARGEMENTS & COLOR XEROX MAPS:

Personally, I liked this game enough to make a 129% color enlargement of 
the map.  This requires six oversized 11” x 17” Xerox sheets, which you 
then carefully cut, allowing one hexrow overlap for joining the sections, 
and assemble with paste.

Obviously, all the above suggestions can be applied to any other game in 
which it clearly improve ease of play and the pleasure of gamers.
I especially recommend color enlargements games with small maps such as 
these quads or SPI’s LENINGRAD.

But strongly suggest you avoid defacing the original maps -- or ! at least 
practice on a Xerox copy first.