Napoleonic Wargame Rules

Draft Rules for Command Points

2012-01-12T13:37:00.000-08:00

Aim

I want corps commanders to have sufficient CP to be able to carry out their main tasks with a good dice roll, but not with a poor one. I want Gifted commanders to have an advantage, and Poor commanders a disadvantage.

I want full strength brigades to be able to carry out their orders most of the time when full strength. But to experience increasing difficulty with each casualty. I want A class to perform slightly better and C class slightly worse.

Commander in Chief

His main role is to issue orders to his corps commanders

He may also issue orders direct to brigade commander

He must be in base contact to do so

He will roll one average dice to determine Command Points

Plus 1 for Gifted CinC

Minus 1 for poor CinC

It will cost 3CP to issue orders to a Poor corps commander

It will cost 2CP to issue orders to an Average corps commander

It will cost 1CP to issue orders to a Gifted corps commandeer

It will cost 1CP to issue orders to a brigade commander

It will cost 1CP for each 16” move he makes

Corps commander

His main role is to issue orders to his brigade commanders

He must be within 8” of the brigade to do so

He may change his own orders if there is no CinC present at the battle

He will roll one average dice to determine Command Points

Plus 1 for Gifted commander

Minus 1 for poor commander

Plus 1 for each brigade

It will cost 3CP to change his own orders if he is a Poor commander

It will cost 2CP to change his own orders if he is an Average commander

It will cost 1CP to change his own orders if he is a Poor commander

It will cost 1CP to issue each order to a brigade commander

It will cost 1CP for each 16” move he makes

Brigade commander

He is not represented by a figure on the table

His only role is to issue orders to his brigade

He may issue a maximum of two orders per brigade per move

He will roll one average dice to determine Command Points

Plus 1 for class A brigade

Minus 1 for class C brigade

Minus 1 for each casualty

It will cost 1CP for each of the following orders

Artillery Limber/Unlimber

Move

Change formation

Skirmish

Fire

Attack

Major Review of Wargame Rules

2012-01-11T11:30:00.000-08:00

Reason for Review

These rules were designed to fight large battles with three or four corps per side, and with all brigades starting the battle at full strength. We have used them for this type of game for five years, and we enjoy the game they produce

However the PBEM campaign has resulted in more battles with just one corps per side, and often with heavy casualties at the start of the battle. This has created numerous problems with the rules, and for some time we have adjusted them to suit the new style of game.

The time has come now to review the whole rules to make them more suitable for the type of games produced by the PBEM campaign.

I want to keep changes to the mechanics of the rules to a minimum, and only bring in changes where absolutely necessary.

The two major problems at present are the use of Poor Card and use of the Command Points.

Review of Command Points

At present there is a real problem for the attacking player. The allocation of CPs are just too few to move and fight the six fighting elements. This is a pretty central part of the rules, and any changes will be far reaching. So its important to test play them to make sure that changing them does not create more problems than it solves.

The present rules are designed for five commanders per side, one CinC and four corps commanders. The CinC only commands the four corps commanders. Each corps commander commands six fighting elements.

The new games often have only one commander. He still commands six fighting elements, but they often start the game with casualties from previous games. Worse still at the end of the last campaign some commanders had to fight with just one or two fighting elements.

First Proposed Solution

Not only the corps commander, but also the six brigades, will roll for CP.

The corps commander CP will decide how many orders he can issue to his brigades.

The brigade CP will decide whether they can move, change formation fire or fight when required to do so.

The corps commander will get an extra CP if Gifted, and lose one if Poor

The brigade will get an extra CP if A class, but lose one if C class. In addition they will lose one for each casualty. So when full strength they will do most of what is required, but as the casualties mount they will be unable to do so.

This will create an interesting problem when the corps commander is planning his battle. He will have to consider where to place his best, and worse, brigade at the start of the battle. He will also be well advised to hold a reserve which will not lose CP due to casualties.

Introduction

2011-07-12T14:31:00.001-07:00

My wife and I have been wargaming for more than 40 years, and during that time have used many different rules. Some are memorable, such as “Charge, or How to Play Wargames”. This classic was our first set of rules. Then came WRG, followed by “In the Grand Manner” and finally “Le Feu Sacre”. These are the best professional rules we have used, and there were many more which we did not enjoy so much. They were also many amendments to those rules and quite a few attempts to write our own rules.

I would not attempt to say which rules are good or which are bad. You only have to read through TMP and similar forum to see how even the most popular rules are attacked or dismissed. Most wargamers, and particularly Napoleonic wargamers, have very firm ideas of what they want from a set of rules, and are often not very kind to those rules which do not meet their standards. I suspect that most professional sets of rules are well thought out, particularly those who have a large following. However it is striking that there has never been a set of rules which were accepted throughout the hobby. Even those which I have mentioned above, have only appealed to a large section. All have had their detractors.

Jan and I have wargamed together from the start. We have belonged to many clubs, and even run our own club for more than 20 years. We have always gamed regularly, so any rules we have used have come in for a lot of play testing and, not surprisingly, we found them to be wanting.

About seven years ago I discovered “Le Feu Sacre” by Too fat Lardies. They were completely different from anything we had used before and we both loved them. However from the start there were problems. These rules are designed to fight corps sized battles, and to use 12 figure battalions. I wanted to fight multi corps battles and to use my existing collection of model soldiers. I did not want to have to rebase them all, or paint a lot of reinforcements.

Just before we moved to Spain, five years ago, we decided that we would completely reorganise our wargaming. We knew we would have a permanent wargames room, and the table would be 6x6 foot. So that was our starting point.

We like wargames where there is space on the table to move and deploy, and have the opportunity to use cavalry against open flanks. I love to see large armies moving around a large table, such as we had used at Peter Guilder’s Wargames Holiday Centre. We have fought such games, using those same rules, when we ran the Salisbury Old Guard for 20 years in our garage on a 12x6 foot table. But our table would now be much smaller, and our armies would have to be reduced also to make it work.

I had been collecting and painting for 30 odd years and had assembled three large armies to represent all of the major powers of the Napoleonic period. One was in 6mm, a second in 18mm and a third in 28mm. They were organised in nationalities of about 300 figures each. The collection started with Airfix, replaced Hinton Hunt, then Miniature Figurines followed by Connoisseur and finally Front Rank/Elite. And that is just the 20mm, replaced by 25mm and finally 28mm. I now have a collection of 6mm Heroic & Ros, 18mm AB figures and 28mm Front Rank/Elite, and I could not face changing them yet again.

From experience I knew that for the sort of games, which we enjoyed, a 6x6 foot table would take about 150 28mm figures per side. So I worked out a new order of battle for my collection. The rest, more than half, went to new homes via Ebay.

The basis for our new wargaming would be a 6x6 foot wargames table and a collection of figures in three scales. There were sufficient figures to provide armies for France and her allies, Austria, Britain, Prussia, Russia and Spain. Each army consisted of 150 infantry, 32 cavalry and 4 guns and crew. There were five French and five Allied armies.

I organised a new 1813 campaign to make to cover both Spain and northern Europe. There would be five campaign areas, each area would have one French and one Allied army. The campaign would move from one area to the next.

The sole aim of the campaign would be to provide Jan and I with interesting and challenging wargames. And for that we would need a new set of wargame and campaign rules.

At this stage we were still using “Le Feu Sacre”, but it was apparent that they would not fit my new requirements. So I decided to write my own rules, using those elements of “Le Feu Sacre” which I enjoyed and changing those which did not fit.

We have used the resulting “house rules” at least three or four times a week for the past four years. So they have been pretty well play tested. They have also been amended on a regular basis, as we found errors or results we did not like. I have found in the past that if you change the rules to meet every problem found on the table, you create more problems than you solve. So we have tried not to amend the rules to meet every problem. More often than not we just agree to a “one-off rule”. If this is not possible, we just roll a dice to decide. But when we find a major problem we change the rule after a period of play testing.

I do not claim that these rules are the definitive Napoleonic Wargame Rules. Some may feel that the whole concept is wrong, or that they do not produce the type of wargaming they are looking for. They are written to produce the sort of wargames which we enjoy and in accordance with my understanding of what a set of Napoleonic Wargames rules should do. Within these very narrow limits they work very well.

I have published them as a blog so that anyone following our campaign blog can better understand the battle reports. However if you would like to use them for your personal use you are very welcome. If you have any questions I would be happy to answer them. If you would like to make any constructive comments they would be very welcome.

Rule 1 – Movement on Blinds

2011-07-12T14:29:00.000-07:00

Summary

Blinds are used to allow hidden movement at the start of the game

They can be either a card or a diorama base.

We use a line of skirmish infantry

One blind represents a corps in column of march

Two blinds represents a corps in column of attack two brigades wide

A corps can only extend by one blind each move until spotted.

Movement

Roll average dice for each commander

Plus 1 for Gifted commander

Minus 1 for Poor commander

Single base move 8” per pip

Multiple base move 4” per pip

Spotting Process

Any general can spot

Light cavalry can be detached from blind to spot

Roll 10 sided dice:

Target in line of sight

0 to 16” - Automatic spot

16 to 24” - Spot 7 to 10

Target behind blind or deployed troops

0 to 12” - Automatic spot

12 to 16” - Spot 7 to 10

16 to 24” - Spot 9 to 10

Target in woods, BUA or behind crest of hill

0 to 4” - Automatic spot

4 to 8” - Spot 7 to 10

8 to 12” - Spot 9 to 10

Deployment

When spotted figures are immediately placed on the table

They will be placed with their leading brigade in the same place as the blink

At least one brigade must be behind each blind

Any Command Points not used prior to spotting can be used to move brigades.

Rule 2 – Commander in Chief

2011-07-12T14:27:00.000-07:00

Role of CinC

The role of the CinC is to issue orders to his corps commanders and to spot the enemy.

Roll for Command Points

Roll one average dice and add

Plus 3 for a Gifted commander

Plus 2 for an Average commander

Plus 1 for a Poor Commander

Movement

16” move for each command point

Multiple move allowed if no enemy blind or figures within 4”

Change Corps Orders

Must be in base contact with corps commander

1 command point for a Gifted commander

2 command points for an Average commander

3 command points for a Poor commander

Take command of any Corps

He must be in base contact with the corps commander to do so

1 command point for a Gifted commander

2 command points for an Average commander

3 command points for a Poor commander

He can use the balance of his command points to command the corps

He may only issue corps commander orders whilst commanding the corps

It will cost the same command pointsw to hand command back to the corps commander

Take command of any Brigade

He may take command of one infantry, cavalry or artillery brigade each turn

He must be in base contact to do so.

He must remain with the brigade throughout that move

He may not issue any other orders and will not exercise a command radius

The brigade can only carry out one set of orders each turn.

Rule 3 – Corps Commander

2011-07-12T14:24:00.000-07:00

Role of Corps Commander

His role is to issue orders to his brigades in accordance with his orders

Command Radius

Spanish commanders must be in base contact with brigade

Other commanders must be within 8” of brigade

Roll for Command Points

Roll average dice

Plus 3 for Gifted commander

Plus 2 for Average commander

Plus 1 for Poor commander

Corps Orders

Must use all of his Command Points to achieve the corps orders

Actions costing 1 Command Point

Gifted commander change corps orders

Move and change face up to 45 degrees

Change formation or change face more than 45 degrees

Artillery fire, limber, move or unlimber

Infantry fire or skirmish

Actions costing 2 Command Points

Average commander change corps orders

Retire half move facing enemy

Half move and change formation

Artillery two actions of fire, limber, move or unlimber

Actioins costing 3 Command Points

Poor commander change corps orders

Swop two brigades (replacement brigade must be directly behind and within 4”)

Corps Moves

In certain circumstances the corps commander can move the whole corps for two Command Points.

Brigades must be within 2” of each other

All brigades must carry out the same move

Commander must be within 2” of centre of leading, or centre, brigade

Commander must use normal command points to move

Example of corps moves:

Move – all brigades move same distance, same direction and same formation

Change Formation – all brigades must change to the new formation

Skirmish – All brigades must skirmish with the enemy directly ahead of them

Fire – All brigades must fire at the enemy directly ahead of them

Attack – All brigades must attack the enemy directly ahead of them

Poor Card

When the Poor Card is drawn the next Poor commander drawn must change his orders to Halt.

Rule 4 – Corps Orders

2011-07-12T14:23:00.001-07:00

General

Only CinC may change orders (except for Halt)

Cavalry can always Opportunity charge

Move

All brigades must move towards objective

May not move closer to enemy than 4”.

Halt

May not move closer to enemy

Brigades may move to improve defence

Brigades may retreat out of artillery range

Hold

May not advance beyond the furthest edge of objective, except cavalry to recce

Cavalry may charge any enemy who approach within 8”

Infantry may skirmish or fire on any enemy who approach within range.

Must counter attack if forced to fall back

Engage

At least one brigade must move towards the objective

Cavalry may charge any enemy

Infantry may skirmish or fire on any enemy within range

Attack

At least one brigade must attack enemy if possible

All brigades must move towards objective

Artillery will move within canister range.

Cavalry will charge any enemy within range

Infantry will charge any infantry or artillery within range

Infantry who cannot reach enemy may skirmish or fire

Shaken or Disordered brigades do not have to attack

Infantry may skirmish or fire on any enemy within range

Rule 5 - Movement

2011-07-12T14:19:00.000-07:00

Movement on Blinds

Single blind move 8” per Command Point

Multiple blind move 4” per Command Point

Movement Figures on Table

Generals - 16”

Light cavalry column - 16”

Light cavalry line -14”

Heavy/Medium cavalry column - 14”

Heavy/Medium cavalry line - 12”

Horse artillery limbered - 12”

Foot artillery limbered - 8”

Infantry column of march (1 base wide) - 8”

Infantry column of attack (2 base wide) - 6”

Infantry line - 4”

Infantry Square - 2”

Manhandle medium artillery (6/8/9 pounder guns) - 2”

Manhandle heavy artillery (12 pounder guns) - 1”

Multiple moves

Allowed providing no enemy blinds or figures within

4” for Generals

16” for brigade or blind

Multiple moves allowed within 16” of enemy

Half move and change formation

Artillery two actions of Fire/Limber/Move/Unlimber

Difficult terrain

All brigades half move

Defence Zone

Infantry and cavalry have a 4” zone to their front.

No enemy may enter unless they are attacking or engaging.

Enemy may pass through zone to attack another brigade that same move, and in this case they will receive fire.

Rule 6 – Opportunity Charge

2011-07-12T14:15:00.000-07:00

Who can charge

Only allowed during the enemy move

Formed cavalry only

No Command Points required

What can be charged

Any Disordered or Shaken enemy

Any enemy in flank or rear

Cavalry in column

Infantry in column of march

Artillery limbered

Test to charge

Roll 1 d6 require 4 or more

Plus 1 - A class

Plus 1 - Commander within 4”

Plus 1 - Charging flank or rear

Minus 1 - C Class

Minus 1 - No commander within 8”

Minus 1 - Each casualty

Who Can React

Only formed troops can react

Cavalry form line, counter charge or intercept if pass test

Infantry form square if pass test

Gunners evade to nearby square if pass test

Test to react

Roll 1 d6 require 4 or more

Plus 1 - A class

Plus 1 - General within 4”

Plus 2 - Cavalry

Minus 1 - C class

Minus 1 - Poor commander

Minus 1 - Charged in flank or

Minus 1 - Each casualty

React Sequence

Target take reaction test when enemy have completed one quarter of charge move

All reactions take one half of charge move

If enemy reach them before reaction completed they will be cut down

Rule 7 – Artillery Fire

2011-07-12T14:12:00.000-07:00

General

Artillery must be formed to fire

Fire at the start of each move

Use 45 degree angle to determine if target within angle

May not fire if friendly troops within 1” of line of fire

Overhead fire if on higher ground and 8”behind friends

Bounce through if friends within 4” behind target

Movement

Guns may be manhandled forward or backwards, but not to left or right, without being limbered.

12 pounder - 1”

4/6/8/9 pounder - 2”

Angle of Fire

Determine whether target is within 45 degree angel

Determine a line the width of the gun base to the target

If there are any friendly troops within 1” either side of this width the gun cannot fire

Ranges

Heavy (12 pounder)

Short Range 0 – 10”

Long Range 10 – 20”

Medium (8/9 pounder)

Short Range 0 – 8”

Long Range 8 – 16”

Light (4/6 pounder)

Short Range 0 – 6”

Long Range 6 – 14”

Calculate casualties

Roll 2 d6

Plus 1 - A class gunners

Minus 1 - C class gunners

Minus 1 - Each gunner casualty

Minus 1 - Bounce through (up to 4” behind target)

Total required for a hit

Short Range

Infantry or Cavalry - 6

Woods or hedges - 7

Buildings or walls - 8

Artillery - 9

Long Range

Infantry or Cavalry - 8

Woods or hedges - 9

Buildings or walls - 10

Artillery -11

Rule 8 – Combat Quick Results

2011-07-12T14:10:00.001-07:00

Summary

This rule is designed to cover those occasions when a combat is so uneven that the outcome is not in question. However if a very low dice is thrown the outcome would be unacceptable.

Brigade caught in flank or rear

If unable to turn and face enemy will be cut down

Cavalry can not charge formed square

Cavalry must remain 4” from square

Disordered after hand to hand combat

All troops are disordered after hand to hand combat if not already shaken or in rout.

Infantry can not charge cavalry

If infantry column of march, line or square approach within 4”, cavalry must either charge them or withdraw to maintain 4” distance.

Infantry or Cavalry Column of March contacted by cavalry

If unable to change formation they will be cut down

Limbered artillery contacted by cavalry

If artillery unable to evade they will be cut down and lose all guns

Routers contacted by enemy

All are cut down

Rule 9 – Combat at edge of Buildings or Woods

2011-07-12T14:07:00.000-07:00

General

Only infantry and must have attack orders

Garrison must have occupied for a full move and paid 1 Pip

One brigade can attack each side of build up area

Garrison

Only infantry brigades can be a garrison

All movement within BUA is 4”

Once within the BUA brigade is Disordered

A garrison must have reached the far edge of the BUA and spent the next move preparing the BUA for defence.

Combat Factors

Plus 2 - Garrison

Plus 1 - Class A

Plus 1 - Charge Impact

Minus 2 - Outnumbered 2 to 1

Minus 1 - Class C

Minus 1 - Each casualty

Minus 1 - Disordered

Minus 2 - Shaken

Result

Winner roll 2 d6 plus difference in Combat Factors

Total 2-3

Winner Routs

Winner 3 casualties

Loser 1 casualty

Total 4-5

Winner retires 4” Shaken

Winner 2 casualties

Loser 1 casualty

Total 6-7

Draw both Disordered

Winner 1 casualty

Loser 1 casualty

Total 8-9

Loser retired 4” Shaken

Winner 1 casualty

Loser 2 casualties

Total 10 +

Loser Routs

Winner 1 casualty

Loser 3 casualties

Rule 10 – Combat inside Buildings or Woods

2011-07-12T14:05:00.000-07:00

General

Only infantry and must have Attack. Engage or Hold orders

Only one brigade allowed each side

When infantry meet inside, or garrison forced to retire from edge

Combat Factors

Plus 1 - Class A

Plus 1 - Skirmish A

Plus 1 - Charge Impact

Minus 1 - Class C

Minus 1 - Skirmish C

Minus 1 - Each casualty

Minus 1 - Disordered

Minus 2 - Shaken

Result

Winner roll 2 d6 plus difference in Combat Factors

Total 2-3

Winner Routs

Winner 3 casualties

Loser 1 casualty

Total 4-5

Winner retires 4” Shaken

Winner 2 casualties

Loser 1 casualty

Total 6-7

Draw both Disordered

Winner 1 casualty

Loser 2 casualties

Total 8-9

Loser retires 4” Shaken

Winner 1 casualty

Loser 2 casualties

Total 10 +

Loser Routs

Winner 1 casualty

Loser 3 casualties

Rule 11 – Infantry Skirmish

2011-07-12T14:02:00.000-07:00

General

Only infantry and must have Hold, Attack (see below) or Engage orders

Against gunners

Against infantry in the open, BUA or woods

Attackers halt at 4” and skirmish

Combat

Both roll 1 d6.

Require 6 to kill

Plus 3 - Skirmish A

Plus 2 - Skirmish B

Plus 1 - Skirmish

Minus 2 - Shaken

Minus 1 - Disordered

Minus 1 - Enemy in BUA or woods

Minus 1 - Deployed artillery

Minus 1 - Each casualty

Minus 1 - Infantry in square

Minus 1 - Outnumbered 2 to 1

Minus 1 - Garrison firing

Result

Any brigade with casualties must make morale

Infantry on Attack orders

Must attack enemy if within reach.

If they end their move out of reach, but within 4” of the enemy, they may Skirmish

Rule 12 – Infantry Firefight

2011-07-12T13:57:00.000-07:00

General

Only infantry and must have Engage, Attack (see below) or Hold orders

Against infantry in the open

Attackers must halt at 2”

Both exchange fire

Infantry on Attack orders

Must attack enemy if within reach.

If they end their move out of reach, but within 4”, they may Skirmish

If they end their move out of reach, but within 2”, they may Firefight

Combat Factors

Plus 1 - Fire A

Plus 1 - Better Skirmishers

Plus 1 - Line v Square

Plus 2 - Line v Column

Minus 1 - Fire C

Minus 2 - Outnumbered 2 to 1

Minus 1 - Each casualty

Minus 1 - Square

Minus 1 - Disordered

Minus 2 - Shaken

Result

Winner roll 2 d6 plus difference in Combat Factors

Total 2-3

Winner Routs

Winner 3 casualties

Loser 1 casualty

Total 4-5

Winner retires 4” Shaken

Winner 2 casualties

Loser 1 casualty

Total 6-7

Draw both Disordered

Winner 1 casualty

Loser 1 casualty

Total 8-9

Loser retires 4” Shaken

Winner 1 casualty

Loser 2 casaulties

Total 10 +

Loser Routs

Winner 1 casualty

Loser 3 casualty

Rule 13 – Infantry v Infantry Combat

2011-07-12T13:54:00.000-07:00

General

Only infantry and must have Attack orders

Against infantry in the open

Attackers advance to contact

Combat Factors

Plus 1 - Class A

Plus 1 - Charge Impact

Plus 1 - Better Skirmishers

Plus 1 - Better Firepower

Plus 2 - Line v Column

Minus 1 - Class C

Minus 2 - Outnumbered 2 to 1

Minus 1 - Each casualty

Minus 1 - Disordered

Minus 2 - Shaken

Minus 2 - Square

Result

Winner roll 2 d6 plus difference in Combat Factors

Total 2-3

Winner Routs

Winner 3 casualties

Loser 0 casualties

Total 4-5

Winner retires 4” Shaken

Winner 2 casualties

Loser 0 casualty

Total 6-7

Draw both Disordered

Winner 1 casualty

Loser 1 casualty

Total 8-9

Loser retired 4” Shaken

Winner 1 casualty

Loser 2 casualty

Total 10 +

Loser Routs

Winner 0 casualty

Loser 3 casualties

Rule 14 – Cavalry v Cavalry Combat

2011-07-12T13:50:00.000-07:00

Who can charge

Only formed cavalry in line

Must have Hold, Engage or Attack orders

Two types of combat, attack or skirmish

One brigade per side

Who can counter charge

Only formed cavalry in line

Roll 1D6, must have 2 or more

Plus 1 - A class

Plus 1 - Charge Impact

Plus 1 - General within 4”

Minus 1 - C class

Minus 1 - Each casualty

Combat Factors

Plus 1 - Class A

Plus 1 - Heavy Cavalry

Plus 2 - Line v Column

Minus 1 - Class C

Minus 1 - Each casualty

Minus 1 - Disordered

Minus 1 - Shaken

Minus 1 - Stationery cavalry

Result

Winner roll 2 d6 plus difference in Combat Factors

Skirmish – Engage or Hold orders

Total 2-3

Winner retires 8” Shaken

Winner 1 casualty

Loser 0 casualty

Total 4-5

Winner retires 8” Shaken

Winner 0 casualty

Loser 0 casualty

Total 6-7

Draw both Disordered

Winner 0 casualty

Loser 0 casualty

Total 8-9

Loser retires 8” Shaken

Winner 0 casualty

Loser 0 casualty

Total 10 +

Loser Routs

Winner 0 casualty

Loser 1 casualty

Full Combat – Attack or Hold orders

Total 2-3

Winner Routs

Winner 2 casualty

Loser 0 casualty

Total 4-5

Winner retires 8” Shaken

Winner 2 casualty

Loser 1 casualty

Total 6-7

Draw both Disordered

Winner 1 casualty

Loser 1 casualty

Total 8-9

Loser retires 8” Shaken

Winner 1 casualty

Loser 2 casualty

Total 10 +

Loser Routs

Winner 0 casualty

Loser 2 casualty

Rule 15 – Cavalry v Infantry Combat

2011-07-12T13:46:00.000-07:00

General

Only cavalry and must have Attack, Engage or Hold orders

One brigade per side

Infantry may not charge cavalry,

If infantry advance cavalry must charge or retreat to maintain 4” zone of control

Infantry Reaction to Form Square

Roll 1 d6 require 4 or more

Plus 1 - A class

Plus 1 - General within 4”

Minus 1 - Poor commander

Minus 1 - C class

Minus 1 - Charged in flank or rear

Minus 1 - Each casualty

React Sequence

Infantry take reaction test when cavalry have completed one quarter of charge move

Infantry take half of cavalry charge move to form square

If enemy reach them before square formed they will be cut down

If infantry form square cavalry will halt 4” from square

Combat Factors

Plus 1 - Class A

Plus 1 - Infantry in COA

Plus 1 - Infantry Fire A in line

Plus 4 - Infantry in square

Plus 1 - Light cavalry in line

Plus 2 - Medium cavalry in line

Plus 3 - Lancers in line

Plus 3 - Heavy cavalry in line

Minus 1 - Class C

Minus 1 - Each casualty

Minus 1 - Disordered

Minus 2 - Shaken

Result

Winner roll 2 d6 plus difference in Combat Factors

Cavalry Win

Total 2-3

Cavalry halt 8” from infantry both Disordered

Cavalry 0 casualty

Infantry 0 casualty

Total 4-5

Cavalry halt 8” from infantry both Shaken

Cavalry 1 casualty

Infantry 1 casualty

Total 6 +

Infantry Rout

Cavalry 0 casualty

Infantry 3 casualties

Infantry Win

Total 2-3

Infantry Rout

Cavalry 0 casualties

Infantry 3 casualties

Total 4-5

Infantry retreat 4” Shaken

Cavalry 0 casualties

Infantry 2 casualties

Total 6-7

Cavalry retire 8” Disordered

Cavalry 1 casualty

Infantry 1 casualty

Total 8-9

Cavalry retire 8” Shaken

Cavalry 1 casualty

Infantry 1 casualty

Total 10 +

Cavalry Rout

Cavalry 2 casualties

Infantry 0 casualties

Rule 16 – Cavalry v Artillery Combat

2011-07-12T13:43:00.000-07:00

Which Cavalry can Charge

Only formed cavalry can charge

Must have Engage, Attack or Hold orders

Artillery Reaction

Only formed gunners can test to react

If they pass test they can either evade or fire

Roll 1 d6 require 4 or more

Plus 1 - A class

Plus 1 - General within 4”

Minus 1 - C class

Minus 1 - Poor commander

Minus 1 - Charged in flank or rear

Minus 1 - Each casualty

Gunners Evade

Gunners take reaction test when cavalry have completed one quarter of charge move

If they pass they evade from start of second quarter of charge move

If cavalry reach them they will be cut down

Gunners Fire at Cavalry

Roll 2 d6 – require 4 for a hit

Plus 1 - A class gunners

Minus 1 - C class gunners

Minus 1 - Each gunner casualty

Cavalry Test Morale for Casualty

If cavalry take casualties they must test morale to charge home

If cavalry pass test all gunners will be cut down and lose guns

Rule 17 – Reaction to Rout

2011-07-12T13:40:00.000-07:00

Nearby friendly troops

Routed troops within 4” are removed from table

Shaken troops within 4” will Rout

Other troops within 4” will test Morale

All troops involved, or routed through, are Disordered

First move of Rout

Cavalry 12”

Infantry 6”

Move directly away from cause and pass through friendly troops

Second move of Rout

Move during movement phase

Avoid both friends and enemy

Test morale at end of move

Third move of Rout

Move during movement phase

Avoid both friends and enemy

Test morale at end of move

Remove from table if fail

Pursuit

Cavalry who cause Rout roll 1 d6

5-6 - All nations Pursue

4-5-6 - British Pursue

First Pursuit Move

Roll 1 d6

1-2 Pursue Routers 12” and cause another casualty

3-4 Charge nearest enemy within 8” and 45 degrees

5-6 Charge nearest enemy within 4” and 45 degrees

Second Pursuit Move

Return to nearest supports during move phase

Cavalry move at 12”

Infantry move at 6”

Halt Disordered when behind supports

Rule 18 - Morale

2011-07-12T13:36:00.000-07:00

Automatic Rout

Brigades or batteries will rout without testing morale when casualties reach:

Infantry - 6 casualties

Cavalry - 3 casualties

Artillery - 3 casualties

Grades of Morale

Formed

Disordered - removed at end of sequence

Shaken - must rally to become Disordered

Rout - must rally to become Shaken

When to test

Brigades or batteries must test if:

Receive artillery casualties

Cavalry want to counter charge

Initial Rout of friendly brigade within 4”

Routed

Shaken

How to test

Roll 1 d6 :

Plus 1 - Class A

Plus 1 - General attached

Plus 1 - Supports within 4”

Plus 1 - BUA Garrison

Plus 1 - Behind formed supports

Minus 1 - Class C

Minus 1 - No general within 8”

Minus 1 - Each casualty

Minus 1 - No supports within 8”

Minus 1 - Rout within 4”

Minus 1 - Routed through

Minus 1 - Disordered or pursuit

Minus 2 – Rout

Minus 1 - Shaken

Result of test

3 + - Make morale

1 or 2 - Shaken

0 or less - Rout

Rule 19 - Definitions

2011-07-12T13:33:00.001-07:00

Cavalry Stationery

If charged cavalry must make morale to counter charge

If they fail they fight stationery

Disordered

May not initiate a combat

May not count as support

Will become Formed at the end of a complete sequence, no CP required

Multiple Moves

Only allowed if no enemy troops or blinds within 16”

Rally

Brigade must pass morale test

Rout becomes Shaken

Shaken becomes Disordered

Retire

Move directly away from the enemy

Rout

May not initiate a combat

May not count as a support

Must attempt to rally each move

Becomes Shaken if rallied

Shaken

May not initiate a combat

May not count as support

Must attempt to rally each move

Will remain Shaken until Rallied by a general

Setting up a Wargame

2010-07-08T14:35:00.000-07:00

Prior to the battle the French have identified the British locations.
The British start the game with figures on the table
The French start the game with skirmish blinds on the table

Equipment

Each player will need the following equipment

One average dice

One 10 sided dice

A few six sided dice

A measure

An order sheet and order of battle

A card or poker chip for each commander

Place Blinds on the table

Hidden movement is important in these rules.

Each commander is represented by a “blind” This can be an oblong card 6x3” or it can be a skirmish base. It shows where the head of the corps is, and the width.

Blinds are placed on the table before the game starts. In a campaign game one side may know the location and strength of the other due to overwhelming cavalry superiority. In this case the “spotted” side will place figures on the table and the other side place blinds.

There are five blinds, six if you have a cavalry or artillery reserve.

One for each corps commander and one for the CinC. This is to make it more difficult for the enemy to guess where your real strength lies.

The blind is replaced with the figures when it has been spotted by the enemy (see rule 1)

The frontage of the corps is the same as the blind.

One blind means that the corps is in column of march.

You can extend by one blind each move, and the more blinds the wider your initial deployment.

Writing Orders

Each player writes orders for all of his corps commanders before the game starts (see rule 4).

These orders prevent the corps commander from reacting to what is happening on the table.

These orders can only be changed by the CinC during his move, and he must be in base contact with the corps commander to do so (see rule 2)

Commanders Cards

You will need a number of cards or poker chips to decide sequence of play

One card for each commander

One French Gifted card

One Allied Gifted card

One Poor card

The cards are shuffled and drawn one at a time.

When a commanders card is drawn he takes his turn

When a Gifted card is drawn any Gifted player may take his turn

When a Poor card is drawn the next Poor commander to draw his card must miss his go

Sequence of Play

All artillery fire

Morale for any casualties due to artillery fire

All movement

All combat

Morale for any casualties due to combat

Morale for any Routed or Shaken brigades

Command Points

Each commander, including the CinC, rolls an average dice at the start of his turn.

He adds 1 to the total if he is Poor, 2 if Average and 3 if Gifted.

These are his command points (see rules 2 and 3).

He must use these points to issue orders or to move around the battlefield.

He can only issue as many orders as he has command points.

The Armies

2010-07-07T14:24:00.000-07:00

These rules have been designed for use with my campaign order of battle.

However they could be used for any other order of battle.

You can read more about the organisation of all of my armies, and see photographs of each army and corps in 28mm, 18mm and 6mm here

http://modelsoldiercollection.blogspot.com

Each of my armies consist of 128 infantry, 32 cavalry and four guns.

All have different orders of battle.

Each has four corps of 32 infantry, 6 cavalry and 1 gun.

I French Armee

There are four corps in I French Armee.

1^st corps is the Old Guard

2^nd corps is the Young Guard

3rd corps is a French line corps

14^th corps is a Westphalian line corps

My wargames table consists of nine 2x2 foot squares and one corps fits comfortably on each square. This accounts for three corps. The fourth corps would be the reserve and could be placed in support of any of the three corps.

If the CinC wishes he may take cavalry brigades or artillery from one or more of his four corps to form a cavalry or artillery reserve. This can also be placed in support of any of the three corps.

Commanders 1 French Armee

There are six commanders in I French Armee.

Napoleon is CinC.

There are four corps commanders.

There is also one reserve commander , in this case a cavalry general.

3rd French Corps

This is a typical French corps, and this is the order of battle.

3 French Corps Average Commander
9 Line Brigade CA FB SB
10 Line Brigade CB FB SA
11 Line Brigade CB FC SB
12 Line Brigade CB FC SC
3 Cavalry Brigade CB Heavy
Corps Artillery CC 9 pounder

The commander is Average, he might have been Gifted or Poor

The first column is the class of the brigade. A is elite, B trained and C conscript.
The second column is firepower efficiency. A is good, B average and C poor
The third column is skirmish ability. A is good, B average and C poor.

The cavalry are cuirassier (heavy) and are trained.

The gunners are conscripts and have 9 pounder field guns.

Note that each brigade has different strengths and weakeness.
For example if you wanted to skirmish, 10 brigade would be the best choice. I
f you wanted to assault a building 9 brigade have the best morale.
12 brigade is the least experienced and would not be much use for either skirmish or firefight.

Care taken in planning which brigade to use in which role will often have significant consequences. If you can bring your best skirmish brigade against an enemy with poor skirmish capability you will probably win the skirmish battle.

It is also important to protect your best brigades in the early stages of the battle. If 9 brigade were to receive just one casualty as they marched into battle it would reduce their morale by -1

The Campaign

2010-07-06T13:19:00.000-07:00

1813 Campaign

The rules can be used without the campaign. But I think it will be easier to understand the thought process behind them if you have an idea of how my 1813 campaign works.

The campaign has been designed to provide interesting wargames using all of our model soldiers and model scenery.

There are two campaign strategic maps, one of Germany and one of Spain. These maps are based on the AA Road Atlas of Europe. Each grid square on the map is an area of 20 miles. This is also one days march for each corps.

There are three French armies in Germany. One fighting Prussians in the north. A second fighting Russians in the centre. A third fighting Austrians in the south.

There are two French armies in Spain. One fighting Spanish in the east. One fighting the British in the west.

Campaign Maps

There are three maps for each campaign. I will only show the Spanish maps to illustrate what they look like.

Strategic Map of Spain

First is the overall strategic map. The map has been copied from the AA Atlas of Europe. However most of it has been changed to make it more of a campaign map, and less of a road map. The geographical features such as rivers and towns are correct. The mountain ranges are little more than a guess. The roads in red are the main supply routes. They run between major cities. The yellow are secondary roads. They connect towns and villages within each region. This is the master map from which all other maps are copied.

Strategic Map for Valladolid Campaing

The second is a more detailed map for the strategic movement. This one is used for the Burgos campaign. It covers an area of 360 by 260 miles between Madrid and Bayonne and is used for the corps daily movement.

Extract from Strategic Map to make the Tactical Map

The third map covers an area 80 by 60 miles. This is the area which will be transferred to the tactical map. I have not yet made the tactical map in ProFantasy. I will use a hand drawn one from a previous campaign to illustrate.

Tactical Map

This is a hand drawn map which I used for the Tarragona campaign. Each square on the previous map has been converted to 3x3 squares on this map. Each one is scenery square for my wargames table. Each square is numbered for ease of identification. Three of these squares would be one days march. The nine squares inside the frame is the area to be transferred to the wargames table.

The wargames table at the start of the game.

The campaign is the background to the wargame. It provides a reason for each game, and also an endless supply of games without too much effort.