"Tell me about DBN" Topic

I forget what the letters stand for exactly, something in Latin. But I understand it is a set of computerized rules for Napoleonic miniatures, something like Carnage & Glory.

Can someone tell me about how it works, or point me to a detailed review? (Yes, I've been to the DBN site and have seen what it says about it.)

I'm particularly interested in knowing if it uses a fixed ground scale (and if so, what) and does it always define "units" as battalions and their equivalents, or can it be used for brigade units etc.?

Not sure about the ground scale, but it is fixed, though that never stopped me from modifying it as long as you modify the size of the unit represented by the elements. Infantry elements represent about 2000 to 2400 men, so more typical of brigade strength. Artillery batteries are abstracted into the infantry element's strength, with elements of Artillery representing a corp reserve of several batteries. The British OOB for Waterloo comprises only about fifty or so elements I believe. That is one of the strengths of the DBx system. It allows you to fight very large battles without having to paint a zillion figures, or devote several days of game time for the event.

Sorry,

DBN = De Bellum Napolenica, a variant of DBA (De Bellis Antiquitatis), not written by the author of the latter, but inspired by his work.

Ground scale is:
15mm scale – 25mm = 100 paces – line infantry element is 40mm wide

25mm scale – 40mm = 100 paces – line infantry element is 60mm wide

David

From an article many years ago in the old Courier, I believe that the author's original intent was to use a large stand with a goodly number of troops on each as the basic maneuver element.

Jim

The authors web site.

dbnwargaming.co.uk

Enjoy.

Sounds like it would work with my 2"x2" Grande Armee/FPGA (15mm) units, where each 2x2 stand represents roughly a brigade (or large regiment or small division) and only corps artillery and horse artillery are represented (except for the Brits, who didnt have corps artillery as such). would you agree?

As long as you're providing both armies I'm sure you could make the basing work. You might run into a few non-standard problems, as recoils are tied to base depth, but nothing insurmountable I would think. Certainly I would think the basing would enable you to try a test match to see if you like the system. Remember though, you really ought to have the core DBA rules, or at least some experience with DBA, if you are going to purchase the DBN rules.

For what it's worth, the new version of DBN (version 02) is supposed to be a stand-alone set of rules. However, the DBN authors are pretty honest about the inspiration they've gotten from DBA.

The only way I know that I can try them, is to buy them.