by Florent Coupeau
Original gameplay "Paris vaut bien une messe" by Ben Hull
July 2, 1600, near the town of Nieuport in Spanish Flanders, the Dutch army confronts the
Spanish tercios.
1 General
1.1 – Scale
A turn is 20 to 30 minutes. A Hex is 150 meters
Units can be 200 - 1200 men depending on the type or 5-10 cannons.
1.2 - Définitions
- Wing: All units are assigned to a wing, an army has 3 to 5 wings
- Orders: At all times each wing has one of three Orders. They are in precedence order
Chargez!, Marchez!, and Ralliez!.
- Commanders: Each army may have one Army Commander and has a Wing Commander for
each wing.
- Morale status (see 12.2): Each unit (Infantry or Cavalry) has a Status indicated by whether
the unit is flipped to its front or back side or a Status marker. The Statuses are: Normal -
Counter front, Disordered - Counter Back, Shaken – Status Marker Front, Broken - Status
Marker Back
- Distance between two units (fire, interception, …): the hex of one unit counts but not that of
the other unit.
1.3 - Others
The game uses a 10 sided die (1D10) with 0 equals 0, not 10.
2 – Playing pieces
2.1 - Commanders
Commanders have a Command value (0, 1 or 2) and a Movement value.
A Wing Commander (WC) must always be stacked a unit of his wing (If he moves alone, he
must end his movement in a hex with another unit of his wing.)
The Command value is used for continuation, preemption, orders change, interception, close
combat and morale tests.
Infantry
S : Swiss, 600 men, 80 % pikemen, 20 % arquebusiers.
L : Germans/Walloons, 600 men, 60 % pikemen, 40 % musketeers
T : Tercio, 1200 men, 40 % pikemen, 60 % arquebusiers.
N : Dutch (after being reformed by Maurits van Nassau), 600 men, 50 % pikemen, 50 %
musketeers /arquebusiers.
M : manga of musketeers, 600 men, all musketeers.
2.3 - Markers
They are of several kinds and indicate :
• the order chosen by a wing (see 3.1 and 6.2) ;
• the preemption of a wing (see 4.4) ;
• a status of a unit (see 12.2) ;
• if a unit charges and/or is intercepted (see 11.3 and 8.3) ;
• if a unit is out of command (see 5.1.2).
3 Sequence of play
3.1 – Order Phase (1st turn only)
Players secretly chose the orders of each of their wings (unless specified otherwise in the
special rules of the scenario). They are revealed simultaneously at the beginning of the turn.
3.2 - Initiative
Determine which player is the active player, able to activate a wing first (see 4.1)
3.2.1 – Activation Phase
The active player activates one of his wings (see 4.2). When this activation is finished (after a
possible continuation, see 4.3), the second player can activate one of his wings (see 4.2 and
4.4). This phase is repeated until all the wings have been activated or until both players pass
one after the other.
3.2.2 - Details of the Activation Phase
A – Preemption attempt
Once a wing is activated, the inactive player may attempt to preempt this activation. If he
succeeds, he may activate that wing and perform actions and attempt continuation. The wing
that has been preempted is marked as “En attente” (bypassed) (see 4.4).
B – Order change
The active player can try to change the order of the wing he just activated (see 6.3).
C – Unit Action
Each unit of the activated wing (including the commander) may perform one of the following
actions: Movement (Fire is part of movement. see 8 and 10) or rally (see 13) based on the
restrictions of his current order (see 6.2).
Some actions may trigger a reaction movement from the units of the inactive player (see 8.2
and 10.3).
D – Close combat
Units adjacent to enemy units may engage them in Close Combat (see 11).
E – Continuation attempt
The activated wing may attempt to continue - go again (see 4.3). If it succeeds, go to A.
F - New activation
If the activated wing fails its continuation attempt or if the active player ends his activation,
the preempted wing (if there is one) is then activated (got to B). Otherwise, the players
determine which wing will be activated next (go to A).
3.3 – Rout Phase
Broken units must make a rout movement (see 13.2).
4 Initiative and activation
4.1 - Initiative
Determine which player will be able to activate a wing first.
The Player with the most wings of the orders of the higher precedence goes first. If there is a
tie, the side with the best Leader goes first. If that is a tie, then roll 1D10. The high roller goes
first.
4.2 - Activation
Players alternate activating their wings until all wings are activated, respecting the precedence
of the orders. (A wing cannot be activated if there are other wings with orders of a higher
precedence remaining.)
Example: Player A has two wings with a Chargez ! order and a wing with a Marchez ! order. Player B
has a wing a Chargez ! order, a wing with a Marchez ! order and a wing with a Ralliez ! order. Player
A is the first player (2 Chargez ! orders). He activates a wing with a Chargez ! order, then player B
activates his wing with a Chargez ! order, Player A activates his second wing with a Chargez ! order,
then player B activates his wing with a Marchez ! order and so on.
If player A had three wings with a Chargez ! order, he would have activated his second then third
wings with a Chargez! Order before player B can activate his wing with a Marchez ! order.
4.3 - Continuation
A player may attempt to continue with an activated wing (under a Chargez ! or Marchez !
order) a second time for a maximum of 2 activations.
The player finds the Wing's current order on the Continuation/Preemption table and rolls the
die, adding all applicable modifiers. If the result is equal to or less than the number indicated,
the wing is activated again. If the attempt fails, the wing commander is flipped to his Finished
side.
4.4 - Preemption
Once a wing is activated, the inactive player may attempt to preempt this activation. To do so
he chooses one of his non-activated wing (under a Chargez ! or Marchez ! order) and consults
the Continuation/Preemption table.
He finds the attempting wing's current order and rolls the die, adding any applicable
modifiers. If the result is less than or equal to the number on the chart, the wing is activated.
(The player can then attempt continuation).
The wing that has been preempted is marked as bypassed (“en attente”) and will be activated
immediately after the preempting wing is finished.
The marker is put on the WC.
A wing that has successfully continued may also be preempted and will not be considered
“bypassed”, but rather “finished” if the attempt is successful. The WC is flipped on his
activated side.
If a preemption attempt fails, the commander is marked “no continuation” (“Sans
réactivation”) and may not attempt continuation.
A Wing Commander marked No Continue may not attempt a preemption.
Note: A Preempting wing cannot be preempted.
5 Command
5.1 - Command
To move and combat normally, a unit must be in command.
5.2 - Commanders
A commander is the leader of a wing and commands all the units of that wing. He is activated
with his wing and can undertake one of the following actions:
• Movement: He can move normally and engage in reaction movement
(see 8.2). He must remain with the unit with which he is stacked if it advances after
close combat or engages in retreat or rout movement. He must always finish his
movement stacked with a unit.
• Rally: He can help in rally (13).
5.2.2 - Replacement
If a wing commander is eliminated, he is replaced by an “aide de camp” placed on any unit of
the wing at the end of the turn.
If the commander is eliminated before his wing is activated, the wing will not have the
opportunity to be activated.
An Aide de camp enters play with the same orders as the previous commander.
If all units of a wing are eliminated, the Aide de camp doesn’t enter play and the wing is not
activated anymore.
6 Orders
6.1 - General
At the beginning of the game, players give orders to each of their wings by placing the
corresponding marker on the commander. Active units are subject to the following restrictions
depending on the orders of their wing.
The act of changing orders during the game is not automatic, but depends on the wing's
current orders and its desired orders, as well as the wing commander's value.
6.2 – Types of orders
– Chargez ! : A unit under Charge Orders must end its movement at least one hex closer to
the enemy unit closest to it. If the unit is already adjacent to the enemy, it cannot move away
but can change facing and/or perform an offensive fire. No unit may rally.
– Marchez ! : A unit under March Orders may move but may not become adjacent to the
enemy. Units adjacent to their wing commander or stacked with him may attempt to rally (in
which case the commander may not move, see 5.2). A unit which is already adjacent to the
enemy may fire.
– Ralliez ! : A unit under Rally Orders may move but may not end its movement closer to the
enemy. All units may attempt to rally. A unit already adjacent to the enemy may fire.
7 Orientation
8 Movement
8.1 - General
Each unit has a movement allowance per turn defined in movement points (MP). To enter a
hex, a unit spends the MP indicated by the terrain (see Terrain Table).
Exception: Artillery can never move.
The movement of one unit must end before the next unit's may begin. A unit can only advance
on one of its frontal hexes. During its movement, a unit must respect stacking limits (see 9).
Simple units can counter-march (change facing by 180 degrees) at a cost of 2 MP.
Diagram 3
9 Stacking
9.1 - General
In general, stacking is limited to one infantry or cavalry unit per hexagon.
There cannot be interpenetration among units except:
Artillery: Any unit type can pass through or stack with an artillery unit. If a unit penetrates a
hexagon containing enemy artillery, that unit is eliminated.
Commanders: They must be stacked with a unit of their wing.
10 Fire
10.1 - General
Offensive fire is a function of movement and costs the firing unit 2 MP.
Defensive fire is free. (See 10.3).
Any unit with a fire capacity can carry out defensive fire or offensive fire on an enemy unit,
according to the following conditions:
– the targeted unit must be within fire range;
– the targeted unit must be in a fire zone (see 10.4);
– the artillery unit firing must have an LoS to its target.
If no unit or only one unit is at elevation: the LoS is blocked if it passes through a hex
containing a blocking element.
If both units are at elevation: the LoS between these units is always clear. Ignore the
blocking elements.
Offensive fire : fire costs 2 MP; a unit can advance then fire, or fire then advance, or any
combination of the two as long as it has the necessary MP.
Example: A unit with a March! or even Rally! order that is already in contact with the enemy
can change facing, fire, then move away from the enemy. Note: do not forget that actions in
an enemy unit's fire zone can provoke defensive fire (see following paragraph).
A unit can spend up to 2 additional MP to obtain a favorable die roll modifier (+1 for each
MP spent), even if the unit is already in contact with the enemy.
A unit can only execute one offensive fire per turn.
Defensive fire (or reaction fire): an inactive unit can fire when:
• it has been the target of fire coming from its fire zone;
• an active unit enters a hex of its fire zone (Precision: this case includes an attacking
unit that advances after close combat, retreats or becomes Broken);
• it changed facing in its fire zone;
• it rallies in its fire zone.
A unit can carry out an unlimited number of defensive fires as long as these conditions are
met.
Example: an infantry unit in the fire zone of an enemy unit is activated. It changes facing in
order to have this unit in its fire zone by spending 2 MP and provokes a defensive fire on
itself. It can then fire offensively by spending 2 MP, which provokes a new defensive fire from
the enemy unit.
Note: The infantry may never attack the cavalry in close combat, but only by fire.
- Artillery: Artillery can fire once in offensive fire and once in defensive fire per turn; it is
then turned to its “Tiré” (Fired) side. Since the artillery cannot move, fire does not require
spending MP and it does not need to be in command.
- Double unit : Each hex of this unit acts independently as two simple infantry units.
Example of fire: The Spanish player is active. A enters the fire zone of E, F and G who fire
defensively, and then A fires offensively at F who responds with another defensive fire. B
fires on D and on E who respond with G. C fires on D, and D responds.
10.5 – Fire procedure
Each unit that can fire has a fire value indicated on the counter. This information also appears
on the Fire Table according to the unit type.
The player rolls 1d10 and adds or subtracts any modifiers listed on the table. If the result is
greater than or equal to this value, the target must take a morale test.
This test is modified by the die result minus the unit's fire value.
Example: if the fire value is 6 and the player gets a 9, his adversary adds (9-6)=3 to his die
for morale.
For the artillery, the number to reach is based on the distance (expressed in hexagons) and the
same procedure then applies.
11 – Close combat
11.1 - General
Close combat takes place at the end of each wing's activation after the player has finished all
other possible actions with the units of the wing.
11.2 - Procedure
Active units with enemies in their frontal hexes can perform close combat. Inactive units that
have not been designated as participating in the combat and that have active units in their
frontal hexes can perform a reaction close combat. After all of these close combats and
reaction close combats have been performed, the reaction close combats are resolved first
(results are applied immediately and in the order chosen by the active player), followed by the
close combats performed by the active player.
The unit initiating the close combat is then called the attacker and the target is called the
defender.
Several hexes can attack the same hex; the attacker chooses the head unit (the others are
supporting units). The head unit is used to calculate the close combat modifiers; the
supporting units only add the modifiers for flank or rear attacks and for multiple attackers,
eventually the Charge and Leader bonus. An infantry can support a cavalry unit that is the
head unit when attacking an enemy cavalry unit. A Broken unit cannot support a close
combat.
The head unit must advance after combat if possible.
Unlike in fire, a double unit can attack or support only one hex (see diagram above). The
defender must occupy the central frontal hex of the attacking double unit.
When a double unit defends itself, it defends as a block even if the attacker is adjacent to only
one of its hexes.
Note: This represents the combat tactic of the Tercios. The pikemen formed a large central
block and the arquebusiers were spread out over the two wings.
In general, the active player chooses from which side of the combat line he wishes to begin,
then follows this line down (here from left to right).
The attacker rolls 1d10, adds or subtracts the various modifiers, and immediately applies the
result.
11.3 - Modifiers
Close combat modifiers are all cumulative and are as follows :
• Morale of the attacker minus morale of the defender ;
• Interaction of unit types (see Interaction table) ;
• Number of supporting units (+1 per unit, maximum of 5) ;
• +1 if a double unit attacks a simple unit;
• Number of flank or rear hexes from which the attack begins (+1 per hex) ;
• + value of attacking commander if he is involved in the combat;
• - value of defending commander if he is involved in the combat;
• Terrain of the defender;
• Charge bonus (+1 or +2 depending on the type). if a G or C unit advances a distance of
2 hexes in close combat without changing facing, they receive a bonus of +2. The
other types of troops can do the same for a bonus of +1. The bonus is shown by the
“Charge” marker and applies to the head unit and to the supporting unit (only 1
Charge bonus applies per close combat).
Example of close combat: The Spanish player is active and designates his close combats. B,
with the support of C, attacks D. A charges F. Since E and G are inactive units not designated
to participate in the combats and with an active unit in a frontal hex, they can perform a
reaction close combat against A. The combat sequence is:
- E and G attack A; G is chosen as head unit. The modifiers are:
morale difference = -1; interaction of units = 0; supporting unit = +1; no taking of the
flank; no commanders present = 0; terrain = 0; no charge bonus; total = 0.
- B and C attack D; B is chosen as head unit. The modifiers are: morale difference = +1,
interaction of units = +2; a supporting unit = +1; no commanders present = 0; terrain =
0; taking of flank = +1; no charge bonus; total = +5.
- If A survives the attack of E and G, it attacks F. The modifiers are: morale difference
= +2; interaction of units = +2; double unit against simple unit = +1; no commanders
present = 0; terrain = 0; charge bonus = +1; total = +6.
If the defender retreats or is eliminated, the attacker must advance to the liberated hex.
If the attacker retreats or is eliminated, the defender may advance.
Advancing units may change their facing by one vertex after entering a hex.
A double unit may only advance if the two hexes of the double unit do not change facing and
if one of the arrival hexes contains the defender. The double unit can pivot if the head unit of
this unit pivots in the hex of the defender. Otherwise, the double unit cannot advance.
12 Morale
Units have a morale value indicated on the counter. Artillery has a morale value of 6There are
four levels of morale: normal, disordered, shaken, and broken.
13 Rally
A unit that rallies can win back a morale level by being stacked with its wing commander
(automatic rally) or by passing a morale test. A unit can attempt to be rallied even when
adjacent to an enemy unit, but this provokes enemy reaction fire.
13.1 - Procedure
Rally is automatic if the unit is stacked with its commander.
The other units must take a morale test; those adjacent to their commander benefit from his
modifier.
A unit that passes its test wins back one level of morale; a unit that fails its rally test loses a
level of morale.
• Ralliez ! order
All the units of the wing can attempt to rally if the wing is active and has chosen the Rally
Order.
• Marchez ! order
Only units which are adjacent to or stacked with their wing commander may attempt to rally.
• Artillery
The artillery has only one status; it is eliminated if it fails a morale test.
FIRE TABLE
Unit type G C A S L T N M
Die results to hit - 6 or + 5 or + 7 or + 6 or + 5 or + 4 or + 4 or +
Success : Morale test = 1D10 + the surplus to the die result to hit
Example : the die result to hit is 6, an 8 is rolled -> + 2 to the Morale test die
Die Modifiers :
Original morale of 6 or less : -2
Original morale of 8 : +1
ORDERS CHANGE TABLE
DESIRED ORDER
CURRENT ORDER Chargez ! Marchez ! Ralliez !
Chargez ! 2 or less 5 or less
Marchez ! 4 or less 4 or less
Ralliez ! 1 or less 2 or less
Die Modifiers :
? WC’s Command Rating plus the AC’s rating if adjacent or stacked with WC.
+1 Commander adjacent to enemy unit (not Morale Broken)
-1 Cavalry Wing changing to Chargez!
+1 Cavalry Wing changing to Marchez !
-2 If changing to Rally when more than half the units of the Wing are Shaken, Morale Broken or eliminated.
ORDERS
Chargez ! : All units must end movement closer to the closest enemy unit. If a unit is already adjacent to an
enemy unit, it may not move away from it, but may change facing and/or perform offensive fire. No unit may
attempt rally.
Marchez ! : Units may move but not become adjacent to an enemy unit. Units adjacent to their WC or stacked
with him may attempt to rally (the WC may not move in this case, see 5.2). A unit already adjacent to an enemy
unit may fire.
Ralliez ! : Units can move but cannot end movement any closer to an enemy unit. All units may attempt to
Rally. A unit already adjacent to an enemy unit can fire.
Duration : 10 turns
Victory : After 10 turns, victory goes to the camp with the most victory points (VP):
- 1 VP per unit of morale 7 or less that is eliminated
- 2 VP per unit of morale 8 that is eliminated
- 2 VP if the commander of the enemy army is eliminated
- 1 VP for control of the following hexes: 1105, 0802, 0808, 0809
A double unit counts as two units (so a double unit with a morale of 8 counts as 4 destroyed
units). A hex is controlled by the camp of the last unit that occupied it.
Sudden victory : The game ends with sudden victory for the Dutch camp if all units (M and
T) of Spanish Tercios with morale of 8 are eliminated or for the Spanish camp if no Dutch
unit is east of the line, excluding 07XX.
Deployment :
Edge of the Dutch map: West Edge of the Spanish map: East
Dutch : Spanish :
Maurits van Nassau 1105 Alberto de Austria 2008
Vanguard : Francis Vere 1404 Vanguard : Mendoza 1704
Horace Vere: 1205, 1207 Tercios de mutineers : 1704-1705 (Shaken)
Francis Vere : 1404 (Disordered), 1203 Mutineers (Musketeers) : 1603
Hottinga : 1102, 1105, 1007, 1009 Mendoza : 1702
Gardes (de Maurits van Nassau) : 1406 Artillery : 2102
Lodewitz van Nassau : 1013 Center : Zapena 1806
Bacx : 1012 Tercio de Monroy & Villar : 1806-1807
Penny : 1011 M & Villar (Musketeers): 1706
Artillery: 1102, 1406 Tercios de Zapena & Avila : 1808-1809
Center : Everart van Solms 0809 Z & Avila (Musketeers): 1709
Domerville : 0808, 0809 Aragón : 1905
Suisses : 0710 Rearguard : Bucquoy 1810
Marquette : 0708 Tercios de La Barlotte & Bucquoy : 1810-
Solms : 0813 1811
Du Bois : 0812 B & Bucquoy (Musketeers): 1711
Rearguard: Olivier van der Tempel 0508 Prade : 2012
Ernst van Nassau: 0508, 0510 Nova : 1712
Hurchtenbrouck : 0606 Tielt : 1714
Ghistelles :0506 Masio : 1713
Balen: 0309
The wing of Zapena (Spanish center) has a Chargez! Order marker on the 1st turn.
All the other wings choose as indicated in 3.1.
Special rules :
- Army commanders (Maurits van Nassau & Alberto de Austria) : During each phase B, each
player decides to which wing his army commander belongs. They give their combat and
morale bonus to the unit of their camp with which they are stacked. They can be alone in a
square but are automatically eliminated if an enemy unit crosses them or engages them in
close combat.
Optional rules :
- Cowardice of Alberto : He can never be adjacent to an enemy unit and if he is must move
away during his movement, if possible.
- Bad day to fire : Any unit that fires toward the west has a penalty of -1. This rule simulates
the sun and sand in the Spanish soldiers' eyes and faces which prevented them from aiming
correctly.
Example: This applies if a unit in 1408 fires at 1309 or 1308.
- Spanish reinforcements : Beginning with turn 3 and during each end of turn phase, the
Spanish player rolls 1d10 and adds the number of turns to the result. If the final result is
greater than 12, the wing of Velasco arrives on the following turn by the eastern edge with the
order Marchez!.
2-BEFORE HIGH TIDE
This scenario allows players to see the placement of the Dutch troops at one o'clock in the
afternoon before the tide rises. Maurits de Nassau decided to transfer all of his cavalry under
the orders of Louis de Nassau toward the right wing. What will the players do?
Duration : 13 turns
Deployment :
Edge of the Dutch map: West Edge of the Spanish map: East
Dutch : Spanish :
Maurits van Nassau 0806 Alberto de Austria 2307
Vanguard : Francis Vere 1404 Vanguard : Mendoza 2003
Horace Vere: 1205, 1207 Tercios de mutineers : 2003-2004
Francis Vere : 1404, 1203 Mutineers (Musketeers): 1904
Hottinga : 1102, 1003, 1105, 1006 Mendoza : 1901
Gardes de Maurits van Nassau : 1406 Artillery : 2102
Lodewitz van Nassau : 1201 Center : Zapena 2106
Bacx : 1101 Tercios de Monroy & Villar: 2106-2107
Penny : 0801 M & Villar (Musketeers): 2006
Artillery: 1102, 1406 Tercios de Zapena & Avila: 2207-2208
Center : Everart van Solms 0809 Z & Avila (Musketeers): 2108
Domerville : 0808, 0809 Aragón : 2105
Suisses : 0710 Rearguard: Bucquoy 2210
Marquette : 0708 Tercios de La Barlotte & Bucquoy : 2210-
Solms : 0807 2211
Du Bois : 0806 B & Bucquoy (Musketeers): 2111
Rearguard : Olivier van der Tempel 0508 Prade : 2309
Ernst van Nassau: 0508, 0510 Nova : 2212
Hurchtenbrouck : 0606 Tielt : 2012
Ghistelles :0506 Masio : 2412
Balen: 0309
Units not listed have the same placement as in the historical scenario.
The corps of Mendoza begins with the order Chargez!
Règles spéciales :
- Army commanders: See scenario 1
- Tide : At the beginning of turn 3, all units in a XX01 hex are shifted toward the closest
XX02 hex. If this movement is impossible, the unit is eliminated (it disperses or surrenders).
Règles optionnelles :
- Cowardice of Alberto : See scenario 1
- Bad day to fire : See scenario 1
- Spanish reinforcements : Beginning with turn 6 and during end of turn phase, the Spanish
player rolls 1d10 and adds the number of turns to the result. If the final result is greater than
12, the wing of Velasco arrives on the following turn by the eastern edge with the order
Marchez!