"Early dress army vs later dress army, do you care?" Topic

Is that something that annoys you?

You know, let's say your Prussians in 1806 uniforms faces-off against a French army dressed in 1815 uniforms.

I could'nt care less, but was wondering how others see it.

ArchiducCharles: I have 1813 armies and I will fight early years battles. The country that you can really see the different in is the Austrians when fighting different years. One has helmets and one has shakos. It is not a problem for me.

Just a note I have 15mm so it most likely not going to matter as much as if I had 25mm.

Larry

as long as the "army" is all from the same period it dosn't mater if the oposing "army" is from later or earier as long as it's the same conflict.

I have no problem with for instance Davout Corps from audsterdad fighting a russian Corps from borodino or a British corps from waterloo

I'm generally not that bothered – but I'm a 6mm Napoleonics man, so I can barely tell the sides apart anyway apart from their flags.

Austrian headgear had a "transitional" period, but was otherwise much the same, so I don't think it would be the most obvious "old vs. new" army. The Prussian look changed completely, and Kingdom of Italy changed uniform colors.

But I'm nitpicking. Either way, I don't think I would sweat the anachronism too much.

not that bothered either, many gamers desire to place early armies up against later ones for a "what if" style game. Let it happen I say !

It's one of the things that keeps me away from Nappies, to tel you the truth. Not that I would care myself, but I would constantly feel like I had to explain it.

I'd play it but I wouldn't buy it that way.

The majority seems overwhelming – but I would not put 1806-Prussians against 1813-French – aren't there enough 1813-Prussians?
But this is an extreme example. Other armies allow more flexibility.
Sorry, but I can't understand why to produce such anachronisms. Two well painted armies – but from different times, so that they could never have met in the respective uniforms – would never please my eyes. But this – the pleasing of my eyes – is my main objective …
On the other hand, it is all a matter of taste – and there is no argueing about taste, isn't it?

I would have a bit of a problem with 1806 prussians being fielded in 1813 as they are completely different armies altogether…god knows prettier than the 1813 prussians! but as for the austrians..all things considered there is a transitional period and the empire was in dire financial straights. the helmet could have easily hung about in various regiments. hell they were even having problems in 1813 getting trousers for the men. and it was the early 1800s in a time of war so change took time. go for it just play and enjoy. unlike my friend charles i am one of the few austrians who likes the shako. but as 'flashman ' pointed out…i would mot buy it that way. i am orthodox for myself but impose nothing on others. hoch kaiser franz!

If it's a choice between correct uniforms and actually getting a game, isn't it more fun to have the game?

I do 2mm and 6mm so this is a non-issue for me.

Ken

I would love to have beautifully painted armies in proper uniforms for all the phases of the Napoleonic wars, but I don't. Until that magical day arrives, I'll continue fighting Marengo with my 1809 French and Austrians.

Wouldn't faze me a bit.

I'm for using what you have. Most of our gaming is done in 15mm, so we've had Austrians stand in for Spaniards in the Peninsula, AWI figures appearing in the Vendee, etc.
If it's between consenting adults and done in private, I don't care what uniforms are, or are not, worn.

Wouldn't bother me.

Some people have too much time and money on their hands if they have an option of doing multiple time periods of a single army in any kind of significant numbers. So, we do what we can with what we can.

I am even mixing shako and helmeted Austrians because its what I have. I guess my Austrains will fall into that transitional period.

I would bet we would all like to have this ideal setup, where we can field large armies of well-painted troops for both sides at any point of the Napoleonic era, but until I win the lottery, that just ain't gonna happen.

Not only does it not bother me, but I also ignore any changes in battalion organization and game with troops as they are based. It's just as much a non-issue in 25s as in the smaller scales.

Rick

I prefer the dates of the uniforms to match and I prefer early uniforms so that you can use them for a longer period e.g. French 1808 infantry are good until 1814 (and at a pinch 1815). However, it's only a niggle, and I suspect that the new plastic Perrys will find themselves in my French army based on Friant's 1809 division.

I do 15mm Napoleonics and ACW. For ACW the more variation in quality of uniforms the more realistic.

For Napoleonics … I paint post-1809 figures because that is what my chosen brand makes but I prefer the Glory Years so I generally play 1806-1807. So goes, by Winter of 1807 there were a lot of French in Shakos so it is not that poor. Fact is, what is the other option? Spend a lot more on AB figures (considered it but don't have the budget), spend a lot more to paint troops from both periods (1806 and before vs late-1807 and after), or only play the suitable period?

So goes. I play 1809+ French in 1807.

Cheers,

The Bandit

I do 6 mm, so as noted probably less of an issue – by the by,
Weissenwolf, I am a shako guy as well for my Austrians – I am just painting up IR3 with those nice sky blue facings. I myself don't think it is too big a deal, but I do agree with the comment that 1806 Prussians and 1813 Prussians were totally different armies – the 1813 lot have precious little effective cavalry and hordes of poorly uniformed, poorly trained Landwehr

If I were rich enough to afford the variety of armies I'd need for multiple nations in multiple Napoleonic periods, had the money to have them painted, or a tremendous amout of time to paint them myself, and then if I had the space to store them….then I might worry about it.

But I don't have the time, money, or space, but I love the period, from revolutionary to Waterloo, and I love wargaming it. Sometimes constraints lead to compromise; I'd rather play.

raylev3,

YES.

Cheers,

The Bandit

Club game no, demo Yes!

- and I suspect that the new plastic Perrys will find themselves in my French army based on Friant's 1809 division. –

That makes two of us then! I'm building Davout 3e Corps (well, loosely based on) at Wagram and my division Friant will probably have a few Plastics French in Bardin uniforms in it.

I do care, I never would use the french Bardin uniforms before 1813 or bicorned troops after 1807

The game is the thing. I might even "reflag" units with "similar" uniforms to play a friendly game. Unless it is a demo game where looks are critical then 4mm on a 25mm figure at normal range of 3 feet. completely unimportant.

I would storm out of the room in out rage!!!
Actualy both my armies started as small 1813 armies and are slowly being grown with 1809 uniforms. :oP

I don't care. I am only really concerned with amjor changes in strategy and tactics. For example, if I build an 1812 Russian army it will be organised in corps. I would use the same figures, reorganised in columns, for an early war campaign.

Doesn't bother me at all. I always pick the uniforms I like best for that particular army regardless of what year they were used. Now I do 6mm so its not an issue anymore anyway.

frederick, hey remember that you can dress up the drummer in that regiment..IR#3..with a lot of tassle and color. its a nice break from the white, the sulfur yellow facing colored regiments also look nice when outlined. almost a pastel yellow. of course #'s 49 and 30 leave you just sayig ''eh''. but the plethora of reds are good.

Dennis, we did not have AWI figures in that Vendee game! There were some French & Indian War Habitant militia pretending to be Revolutionary Army thugs – it was those red hats. US War of 1812 militia stood in for some of the Vendee rebels. The French troops were Marie-Louises in greatcoats and shakos. The big men were a mix of Seven Years War and later Napoleonic.

Aside from that I'm a stickler.