The Italian Campaign 1796 through 1797

[Fisherking]

A guide to your first French Campaign in Napoleon: Total War

France: Italian Campaign 1796 through 1797

Turn Length: 42 turns Early April 1796 to Late December 1797 inclusive.
(turns are two week periods)

Opponents: Piedmont-Sardinia & Austria

Neutrals: Papal States, Tuscany, Venice, & Lucca

Starting money: 3000

Starting Income: 1153

Starting forces:
1ts Army (Gen. Bonaparte, Heavy Dragoons, 2 6lbs. Foot Artillery, Grenadier, Fusilier, 2 Revolutionary Line Infantry, National Guard)

2nd Army (Gen. Sérurier, Chasseurs á Cheval (light cavalry), 6lber Foot Artillery, Chasseurs (light infantry), 2 Revolutionary Line Infantry, National Guard)

3rd Army [Nice Garrison] (Gen. André, Revolutionary Line Infantry, National Guard)

Starting regions: Alps Maritimes (Nice)

Campaign Objectives: Clear the way to Vienna (capture of Klagenfurt)

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Recommended Strategy:

Turn 1:
Send 1st Army east to attack 5 Austrian units north west of enemy town of Sovona then move into woods to block enemy approaching on the road running east. Genoa can not be reached and leaving the Austrian Army in your rear will cause you headaches. It should also give you the mission of building a supply post with the reward of a Grenadier unit.

Move 2nd Army north to capture Cunco then build a Supply Post in the town of Mondovi. This may also be a mission on turn 2 but the supply post is more important than waiting for rewards.

Dispatch 3rd Army to reinforce 2nd Army.

Recommended Builds; Barracks in Nice and Supply Post in Mondovi. Start Fusilier in Nice & Militia in Cunco.

Turn 2:
Send 1st Army on toward Genoa. Garrison Mondovi to prevent raids. Supply posts are essential to rebuilding lost troops. Strengthen your economy with buildings.

Turn 3:
Capture Genoa. Build second supply post in region. Build Supply Warehouse in Mondovi.

Turn 4:
You are on your own from here but be bold.

Advice:
Don’t loot captured cities. It will make them much too rebellious. Only loot cities you do not intend on holding.

You won’t need tons of troops to accomplish your mission. Reinforce Bonaparte and Sérurier until they have 16 or 18 quality units each. The rest of your cities should be safe with a unit of Militia or so.

When possible except surrenders.

Review your missions closely. It may be best not to accomplish each one ASAP. Particularly with the capture of Turin you may want another city or two first.

Watch for ambushes in wooded areas. It may be better to take the long way around.

Don’t forget diplomacy and trade agreements. Especially you are going to need and alliance and military access with Venice. Give them what they want for an alliance and if you must purchase military access for a number of turns. (20 would be more than enough by the time you need it) Chances are you won’t get either until you have eliminated Austria west of the Venetian regions but that still leaves you time.

You can fight them and everyone else in Italy but leave that for your next run through the campaign.