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| Cossacks https://wargame.ch/board/nwc/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=16546 |
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| Author: | Jeff Mathes [ Sat Feb 06, 2021 10:32 am ] |
| Post subject: | Cossacks |
I'm unsure if there has been much discussion of Cossacks here in the past, but I have a couple thoughts on potential flaws in their abilities in the JTS series. I remember the first time I encountered Cossacks in the Jena Auerstadt game: The Russians Are Coming. They were fragile units with a morale grade of D or E which allowed for some mass routs with a few good artillery rounds. When the Leipzig title was released, the number of Cossacks grew exponentially with all but a few units having a D morale rating; the Ataman regiment of the Don Cossacks have a B morale rating. The Cossacks only receive a 'charge bonus' when charging a hex containing a skirmisher, a routed unit, or artillery per the User's manual. My first point is on the skirmishers and routed units. I agree Cossacks would attack unformed units as that matched their abilities as irregular cavalry. However, what the game engine allows is a 'charge bonus' when the skirmisher or routed unit are in the same hex with a formed unit, either in good order or disordered which, in my view, would negate the charge bonus as the Cossacks would be unwilling to risk the losses historically. Using tactics to gain the Cossack 'charge bonus' are fairly simple with skirmishers and routed units; in the case of a skirmishers, charge with a Cossack platoon or squadron but do not overrun the skirmisher - just melee it, pushing/maneuvering it into a hex with a formed unit(s); then continue the charge but with additional Cossack units now also charging, all now getting the 'charge bonus' against the formed unit. The same can be accomplished with routed units, but more Cossacks might be required to push/maneuver the routed unit due to its size into an adjacent hex containing formed units in good order/disorder. My second point is why wouldn't supply wagons justify a Cossack 'charge bonus?' It seems that attacking supply wagons would be one of the Cossacks primary missions, so long as they were not heavily defended by formed units. It seems more logical that Cossacks would attack a supply wagon than an artillery battery. I'm unsure why artillery was included as one of the targets of a Cossack charge that provide a 'charge bonus,' but unless attacking from a flank it seems unlikely that even the temerity of the Cossacks would lead them to take such a foolhardy risk... As an Allied officer, I enjoy commanding the Cossacks as I've learned how to utilize them to maximum benefit. However, it seems they have more capabilities in this game series than they did historically. |
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| Author: | Christian Hecht [ Sat Feb 06, 2021 11:42 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Cossacks |
Charge bonus for artillery seems indeed strange, but maybe there are examples were they did go against artillery? That it's missing for supply wagon maybe not. 1. Does it matter? I mean do you really need a charge bonus for going against supply wagons? 2. The supply wagons may lead the cossacks to looting, and so a missing charge bonus is an abstract way of lowering their combat power because of looting. |
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