The Chronology of Battle!

I want to provide an event that is different from the usual ‘pick your 200 point list and try to beat the rest’ tournament. The players should be challenged to do something more than just write an army list that can take on all comers at 200 points but to build an army that can scout, take the initial battlefield and then have battle against the enemy.
My idea is that A Whiff of Grapeshot will try to emulate the chronology and ebb and flow of a real battle.

Scout the Battlefield! Game 1 (45points)

Game 1 will be a clash of the armies scouting forces. Players will need to form a ‘legal’ 45 point maximum scouting force – This is probably made up of 1 division but could potentially be 2. This is to be made up of any light or medium cavalry that are in the 220 point main list. It can be commanded by any of the list’s Divisional Commanders EXECPT the commander of the nominated Vanguard Division (see below). NOTE : this force may be a cavalry division that is already in the main army or may be formed by picking light and medium cavalry from various divisions within the army.

Game 1 - Details

Surprise Mission is used for this battle as both scouting forces bump into each other.
There is no CIC for this mission but 1 CIC cp pip is available every turn (it is assumed that the CIC is in range to deliver this cp).
The objectives that the player places on the map are the scouting objectives for that player. A player’s cavalry base must touch the objective to consider it scouted (not commanders base). Once scouted an objective can never be ‘unscouted’ eg there is no use trying to ‘recapture’ it
The winning scouting force will be considered to have scouted the area best and that player can choose table side for battle 2
Scouted objectives are worth 5 points each and attrition and losses are scored as usual. There is no break point to either force. If one force is totally wiped out then the game ends and the winner is considered to have achieved all three scouting objectives (even if they haven’t yet touched each one). The loser will keep the points for any objectives scouted up to that point.
As this is a small scale skirmish of purley Cavalry forces the tournament points scored will be half the normal values

The Vanguard's Clash! - Game 2 (90 points + Cav Scouts)

Game 2 will be played aginst the same opponent as game 1 . The game will simulate the vanguards of both armies jostling for the best tactical position on the battlefield and attempting to outflank each other.

Players will nominate one of their army's divisions to be the 'Vanguard Divison' of his force. This can be any division they choose, however the maximum points avalable for the CIC, Divisional Commander and the Division itself is 90 points. It can have Corps reserves added to it but the max point value is to be 90 points. Some army lists have Vanguard or Avance Guard type divisions – the player does not have to use these divisions for this role if he/she does not want to – but they are generally a good fit for this role.

Game 2 Details

Refused Flank Mission will be used for this battle as the Vanguards of both armies jostle for position
• Players will play against the same player as game 1.
The player who won game 1 will choose which table side they set up on.
The game will be played on the same map as game 1 .
Players will play the Refused Flank mission. The nominated Vanguard Division for each player will be deployed on the map and their newly created scouting division (from game 1 ) will come on as the mandatory flank march unit.
If Cavalry has been taken from the Vanguard Division to form the scouting force – it stays out of the vanguard for this battle and will come on with the scouting force in flank march.
The General in charge for the Vanguard Division cannot be the same General that is used in the Scouting force.
The CIC will be in play during this mission.
• The max points for this mission will be 135 (45 max Scouting Division) + (90 max Vanguard Divison & CIC)

Games 1 &2 should take us up to lunch time on day 1. After lunch the first 220 point game will be played. The umpire will roll a dice to determine the mission played by all players – the choices will be Battle / Attrition / Encounter
Battles 4 & 5 will be played on day 2

The tables will be set up for missions 1,2 & 3 on the morning of day 1. After playing missions 1 & 2 players will rotate to a new table for mission 3.
At the end of day 1 the tables will be reset for day 2 and players will rotate after game 4 so that everyone plays on a new table.
The mission ‘Assault’ has been omitted from play as there is a general feeling in the tournament playing players that it is unbalanced.

Battle is Joined! Games 3 - 5

The scouting is complete, army positions have been decided in blood by the Vanguard Divisions - Battle is now joined!

The final 3 games of the weekend are fullblooded affairs with each side able to field their full 220 point army's. The extra 20 points is to allow players flexibility to build their scouting and vanguard divisions without comprimising the intergity of the main army. Perhaps players will be able to field the odd exotic unit - Old Guard, Foot Guards, Guardes Du Corps, Royal Fusiliers anyone?

Games 3 - 5 Details

Players full 220 point armies will be used in games 3 -5
Cavalry taken from other divisions to form the scouting division will revert back to their parent division
The Umpire will roll a dice to determine which mission is played from : Battle / Encounter / Attrition. All players will play the same mission.
All three missions will be played once - there will be no repeat missions
All normal Bataille Empire rules will be played in these missions