Zoutpans Campaign - Scenario

I asked ChatGPT to make some small amendments to the campaign map, the main one being to reduce the scale so that the map now represents an area approximately 50 x 50 miles which is more manageable for the sort of game I want to play. I have discovered that the AI is not that good at editing a map as it tends to make other little changes you never asked for that can be hard to spot. However, here is the finally version of the Campaign Zoutpans map.

Next I fed the AI some criteria for the campaign objectives and asked it to write them up. Initially I received a three page detailed document on strategy, tactics and objectives but this was a bit too much so I asked for versions for each side of no more than 150 words. First the British:

WAR OFFICE — CONFIDENTIAL

London, November 1899

To: General Sir Alistair C. Wetherby, K.C.B.

By direction of the Secretary of State for War, you are instructed to undertake operations against the Boer forces under Commandant-General Hendrik Jacobus van Rensburg in the Zoutpans District.

Your principal object is the defeat and dispersion of the Boer Field Army, thereby preventing it from continuing to threaten British interests and communications in the region.

You will secure the mining towns of Dwaalfontein and Rooipoort, together with the railway connecting these places with Grootlaagte and Steenkampsdrift. Particular care is to be taken to protect the railway, telegraph and other essential communications.

Following the destruction or sufficient disorganisation of the Boer forces, you will advance upon and capture Zoutpansberg, the seat of the Boer administration.

The enemy's mobility and knowledge of the country must be anticipated. You are therefore granted discretion as to the conduct of operations, but the destruction of the Boer military organisation remains your paramount objective.

By Order of the Secretary of State for War

Now the Boers:

GENERAL HEADQUARTERS — ZUID-AFRIKAANSCHE REPUBLIEK

Zoutpansberg, November 1899
CONFIDENTIAL

To: Commandant-General Hendrik Jacobus van Rensburg

You are directed to conduct the defence of the Zoutpans District against the advancing British forces under General Sir Alistair C. Wetherby.

Your principal object is to preserve the Boer Field Army as an effective fighting force, while preventing the British from securing the railway and the principal settlements.

Every effort is to be made to delay and harass the enemy's advance, employing the mobility of the commandos and the broken country to advantage. The mining towns of Dwaalfontein and Rooipoort are to be denied to the enemy for as long as practicable, and the railway is to be disrupted wherever opportunity permits.

The British must be prevented from establishing a secure line of communication between Grootlaagte and Steenkampsdrift.

You will avoid decisive action when the enemy is strongly concentrated, but strike vigorously against isolated columns, communications and detachments.

Above all, the Long Tom and the commandos must be preserved.

Should circumstances permit, the British advance is to be turned into a costly and protracted campaign, until the enemy is compelled to abandon his attempt upon Zoutpansberg.

By Order of the Government of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek

So this all helps me to focus on the way the two armies should behave and using the AI is already taking things out of my hands by giving me some objectives I hadn't considered. In the next post I'll move on to the campaign rules.