BERTHIER CAMPAIGN MANAGER

Free software to help run wargame campaigns.

DESCRIPTION

Berthier is software that manages wargames campaigns for miniatures. Berthier allows two campaigners, without an umpire, to run simple strategic campaigns leading to tabletop battles. Alternatively umpires can use Berthier to run two sided campaigns. Berthier is suitable for historical, naval or fantasy wargaming in most periods but was developed with the Horse and Musket period in mind. Play by email (PBEM) is possible through sharing the campaign file by email between campaigners.

DOWNLOAD

Current Version: 8.0

Berthier may be downloaded from the link at the bottom page of this web page. See here for the download.

BERTHIER FEATURES

Berthier creates 'fog of war' by concealing the movement of the two opposing forces. Berthier does this by automating the movement and tracking of unit positions on any campaign map that has been overlayed with a map grid and given grid reference numbers.

Berthier allows each map square to be nominated as a specific terrain type with unit movement restricted by the type of underlying terrain.

Berthier accommodates up to 20 campaign units per side. Movement is alternate with each side moving all its units in its movement phase by issuing orders to units. Berthier determines the best route and moves the units. Units can also be ordered to transport other units. When opposing units enter the same square Berthier indicates that contact has been made. Contacts can then be gamed out on the wargames table or with Berthier's combat resolution function. Units can scout nearby squares. The campaign can be saved at any time and re-commenced later.

Screen Shots

Other features of Berthier include:

• Intelligence reports.
• Optional management of supply and attrition for units.
• Sending messages (couriers) between units - with terrain and distance delay, and potential capture by the enemy.
• Graphical representation of the map grid and strategic terrain with options to show unit positions and scouting contacts. The colours for terrain on the map grid are customisable.
• Units able to be hidden from scouting.
• Recruits/replacements added to existing units on nominated campaign moves.
• Customisable random event tables.
• Customisable look-up reference tables.
• Alarms which can be set to go off on nominated campaign moves.
• A simple "march to the sound of the guns" function.
• Optional Auto Save after each move.
• Logging and visual playback of moves to provide a campaign history.
• An optional, simple campaign economic model that calculates income from territory held.
• Ability to call up the image of the campaign map if it is computer based in BMP file format.
• The ability to attach annotations, and/or BMP images files, to any map square.
• Support for solo campaigns.
• Automated dice of many sorts.
• A campaign notebook.
• Play by e-mail (PBEM) capability through e-mailing the campaign files.
• Help and documentation.

GridMap Utility

• Berthier comes with a utility called 'GridMap'. With GridMap you can take a topographical map in BMP file format, mark it up very quickly with a Berthier terrain grid and then generate a campaign file that can be loaded by Berthier. This makes moving from a topographical map to Berthier campaign very easy.

OPERATING SYSTEM

Berthier is an small stand alone MS Windows program which should work "straight out of the box".

The Windows version of Berthier can be run using the Wine emulator under Linux. See here. There is also an older MSDOS version available.

FIRST TIME USER?

Berthier has lots of features and options that can be turned off and on. It is a campaign toolkit where you tweak features to simulate the particular style of campaign you want develop.

That means it can look daunting to the first time user. So I recommend that your first campaign be very simple –

• Use Berthier’s default options.
• Use just a few units per side.
• Don’t have too many types of units.
• Use a simple map that’s not too big – say 30 x 30 squares.
• Set movement rates in the range of 1 – 5.
• Don’t try to use advanced features such as supply.

LINKS

Berthier Frequently Asked Questions

Ways people have used Berthier

AWIRules - Computer moderated rules for American War of Independence wargames.

DOWNLOADS

LATEST VERSION OF BERTHIER (MS Windows)

Download Berthier (~1.8 mb)

OLDER VERSION (MSDOS)

Download older MSDOS version of Berthier here (~1.5 mb)

This is the much older and original MSDOS version of Berthier. If your operating system is MSDOS, Mac OS X, Linux or BEOS you can use this version. See here on how to do this for Mac OS X, Linux or BEOS in conjunction with the DOSBOX DOS emulator. The MSDOS version of Berthier can be run in a DOS window under Windows/95/98/ME/2000/NT/XP.

I really enjoy hearing about how people are using Berthier. Share your campaign files and campaign history with me - a fair trade for free software.

Tony De Lyall

August 2012