Napoleonic virgin!

[getagrip]

Thanks to Rob for introducing me to Napoleonic gaming; my Austrians resoundingly slapped his French as he very kindly charged my lines.

To be fair, this was more of an induction rather than a "serious" game and, had he wished, Rob could have mauled me after I decided to send my elite into a village (this isn't Warmaster or WW2 and, generally speaking, tactical brilliance is really hard; brigades are BIG!!!).

Look forward to more games and nice to find a local gamer.

Thanks again Rob.

[Fenton]

What rules were you using?

[getagrip]

Home grown I think...Rob will have to clarify that one...

The hand-out says "Bayonet and Musket"; mean anything to you?

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Welcome to the Dark Side.
Pass the cookies!

[getagrip]

Welcome to the Dark Side.
Pass the cookies!

Yep,  I can feel the orders writing themselves...

[Fenton]

Home grown I think...Rob will have to clarify that one...

The hand-out says "Bayonet and Musket"; mean anything to you?

Nope

[toxicpixie]

Cracking, well the chaps in white!

Might I guess the rules are a "Muskets & Tomohawks" retread for "proper Nappies"?

[Steve J]

Never really been of any interest to me, but due to play some games later on this year with Dave Fielder. At least that's the plan...

[getagrip]

Never really been of any interest to me, but due to play some games later on this year with Dave Fielder. At least that's the plan...

Weirdly, I've read a great deal about the period but never played it.

I really enjoyed the game though.

[Techno]

That's the main thing, Gareth.....Nice to see you back !
Cheers - Phil.

[Rob]

Thanks to Rob for introducing me to Napoleonic gaming; my Austrians resoundingly slapped his French as he very kindly charged my lines.

To be fair, this was more of an induction rather than a "serious" game and, had he wished, Rob could have mauled me after I decided to send my elite into a village (this isn't Warmaster or WW2 and, generally speaking, tactical brilliance is really hard; brigades are BIG!!!).

Look forward to more games and nice to find a local gamer.

Thanks again Rob.

Sorry for the late reply to this one.  

Gareth you are very welcome. Likewise it's nice to find a gamer 5 minutes away.

It is a change to think in brigade and division terms rather than battalion level isn't it?   However, you certainly did give those Frenchies a thrashing ; they'll get you next time.

Having a game re-lit my napoleonic mojo and I've gone and bought some more bits from Leon . I also put the tanks away and have started again on the painting of those Bavarians

Cheers, Rob  

[Rob]

What rules were you using?

The rules are home grown, its part of the hobby for me. They were not created from scratch, they are a development of an earlier set of rules I wrote that were published by the Guardroom way back in 1989 – "Napoleon at War". They are written specifically for 10mm as this then gives advantages of scope allowing higher level actions when using a normal 4 by 6 foot table.

Briefly; the rules force you to act as a corps commander or equivalent. You cannot get by moving your force battalion by battalion, you need to form your brigades and/or divisions into a formation and then move that. Some planning is required to disrupt or at least weaken the point of attack as generally if you assault steady formed lines you will be repulsed.

There is nothing written down and no casualty removal, and processing of a cycle/turn is quite quick. A cycle is 15 minutes. 30mm is 100 yards.  


Cheers, Rob  

[Fenton]

Thanks Rob

Personally I just don't p!ay Napoleonics any more where  a stand equals a regiment or battalion any more. Just  find it too fiddly

[Rob]

Thanks Rob

Personally I just don't p!ay Napoleonics any more where  a stand equals a regiment or battalion any more. Just  find it too fiddly

I know the type of game you mean. Each to his own preferences. 

I'm completely the opposite. I can accept a single block of ancient Gaul's which in reality would be a series of tribal / family groupings (probably), but horse and musket style battles have a certain geometric style i.e. column, line, square and skirmisher, all providing their wing / brigade / division with different defensive and offensive properties and also moving at different speeds. It turns me off completely to see a few figures stuck to a base and being given a running commentary of probably what they are doing now and what formation they are in. It seems soulless to me.

The rules I use not only have separate battalions and regiments but have more than one base so that the various formations can be represented. The commands formed then have different target categories and move at different speeds depending on command formation e.g. a brigade line of attack columns moves relatively quickly and can negotiate obstacles better than a brigade line of lines, but is a better target for artillery. The command is the game level item used for activation and morale purposes with component battalions and regiments acting as a block within that envelope and having little independence.

All the best, Rob