What is Austerlitz PBEM? A Play By E-Mail wargame loosely based on the Napoleonic Wars. Sixteen empires (players) compete against each other, building their economies, forming alliances, making enemies and engaging in warfare until only three are left standing. The game, developed over twenty years ago in the days of regular mail, offers room for creativity and imagination not usually available in other web games because of the combination of diplomacy, economics and warfare Players don't compete against a computer, but against other players in their effort to claim one of the 3 winning positions. Alliances are formed, exploited and unmade while backstabbers reveal their true allegiance at the most crucial point and turn the tides of wars.

The simulated battle function allows the players to bring the armies they have built face-to-face with the enemy for a showdown on the field of battle. Whenever enemy armies meet, each consisting of more than 100 battalions, a simulated battle occurs. Each players issues orders for his army, and receives the battle report with his next turn report. (When small armies meet, a mathematical battle occurs where no orders are issued - the winner is decided by the troop numbers & statistics of the opposing armies)

The sim battles utilize the strengths - and punish the weaknesses - of various troop types: grenadiers, line infantry, cuirassiers and uhlan to name a few. There are specialized troops: the Ottoman and Moroccan Sipahis who carry both cuirassier armour and lances, France has the Old Guard infantry to match up with the Prussian Avantgarde, there are pioneers, carabiniers, and more. Artillery of course: light, mounted and heavy to pound the enemy troops .All troop types require training or risk quick flight from the line of battle.

If you are new to Austerlitz you will have to download the Simulated Battle Graphic User Interface here, and then go to the battles and archives page to download the battles themselves. Go to the information link below for an explanation of what you are seeing as well as a brief description of the various troop types.

For more information on Austerlitz, to learn more about simulated battles and download the sim-battle GUI that you will need to view the battles, visit www.Austerlitz.biz

More sim battles are greatly appreciated. Send yours here
Please include the .sbs and .sbr files; comments are welcome too.
You can contact the administrator at the same link.

The Simbattle Site