"Any reviews of General De Brigade?" Topic

Hi All.
I'm interested in reading some reviews of the Rule set "GENERAL DE BRIGADE". I've been to the GdB web site:
generaldebrigade.blogspot.com
Quite frankly it's a shocker of an example of a online resource in support of a ruleset.
I've also looked at the review at Deep Fried Happy Mice, but that's quite "detailed" enough, (only rather general in it's assesment).
Can anyone advice me of a detailed review of theses rules?
Cheers

Hello Trailape:

Perhaps you could explain what you're looking for exactly? My site does not "review" the rule so much as just provide a detailed description of the scale, basing, mechanisms, etc.

I assume you mean whether they are easy to understand, give good results, handle skirmishers well or poorly, overrate or underrate cavalry and so on?

Mark "Extra Crispy" Severin
Owner, Scale Creep Miniatures
ScaleCreep.com
DeepFriedHappyMice.com

Kirklees gamers have a spot on their blog. The official blog has some comments on what is going on if you trawl through the posts. There is a playsheet link from the official blog.
Editor can you stamp down on cross posting?

Here's one that may help.

link

Or a discussion on the merits of GdB, compared with similar games (scroll down):

link

I`ve always found the General de Brigade forum to be one of the best .
generaldebrigade.greatboard.com
Regards,

I only played it once my complaint is that four hours of game time was equivalent to one hour of simulated time with six players each commanding a division two to three brigades each. I perfer a maximum one hour of game time to one hour of simulated time when pushing 200 to 400 castings around. Scale at 10 to 1 or 1,000 to 1 is not the issue. Generally the lower the scale the more time it takes of game time to represent simulated time.

Appears the game is slow and breaks down when approaches the corps level.

While you can have each player pushing three or more brigades, I believe it works better with less units per player. This is hardly unique to this set of rules. Many Napoleonic gamers want to push the envelope and run more units that their rules sets are designed for.

If you want to push more lead around the table, use larger units, not more of them.

scott,
come down for a game to sunny goulburn and we can run through a few games in a day.

cheers
matt

Hi Extra Crispy
I hope I didn't sound dismissive of the "review" of GdB at your site. It was helpful, but simply lacked the "nitty gritty detail" I'm after.
I guess a Game "walk through" would be ideal.
Ultimately, yes, as you stated:
"whether they are easy to understand, give good results, handle skirmishers well or poorly, overrate or underrate cavalry and so on".
Thanks

Save for a few minor tweaks, the best Napoleonic rules ever written. Credible results, comprehensive topic coverage. Best means of dealing with skirmishers I've ever seen. Playable, good structure and mechanism. The product of a great deal of thought and research. GdeB bloggers are a friendly crowd with a lot of experience, so there's backup available. The author also checks there regularly and will respond to queries, which is nice.

There's quite a lot to take in though, so you must be very familiar with the rules. People often say they are 'too complicated' or 'too slow', but it invariably turns out that the reason for that is that they haven't bothered to read them first.

Only one warning – they are aimed at 1-2 brigades per player. Any more and you will start to be overwhelmed.

I like the I go-u go approach to movement and firing based on initiative. Lets the French/British/Late Prussian troops get an edge (on average) over better quality but poorer doctrine troops.
Also gets rid of the simultaneous movement arguments.
The simple 6 man 8 man groups of skirmishers to reflect doctrine/quality again.

Hi
Useful comments all. I hear Version 3 is being worked on. Any idea if it's better to wait and buy Version 3, or get a copy now. Anyone got a second hand copy they want to sell???
Cheers

"Save for a few minor tweaks, the best Napoleonic rules ever written. Credible results, comprehensive topic coverage. Best means of dealing with skirmishers I've ever seen. Playable, good structure and mechanism. The product of a great deal of thought and research. GdeB bloggers are a friendly crowd with a lot of experience, so there's backup available. The author also checks there regularly and will respond to queries, which is nice.

There's quite a lot to take in though, so you must be very familiar with the rules. People often say they are 'too complicated' or 'too slow', but it invariably turns out that the reason for that is that they haven't bothered to read them first.

Only one warning – they are aimed at 1-2 brigades per player. Any more and you will start to be overwhelmed."

But if you want to play with more than 1-2 brigades per player they might not be the best Napoleonic rules ever written…

We play with 6-8 Brigades a player fairly often, and as long as you know the rules -it does help-the games bags along fairly quickly.

Timmo has a point, although these are assumed to be big brigades, so 1 player is probably handling 10 battalions, 2 batteries and a regiment or two of cavalry.

Peeler is right too. You can have more units per player if you have the rules off pat and are prepared to take a bit more time.

I've been solo playing my 3rd game now. Working fine. My table, fortunately is 12x6 1/2', so I can accomodate my 28mm quite easily. Typically I play about 12 battalions and 2 to 3 cavalry regiments, and no more than 3 batteries per side. 4-gun model batteries take a quite a bit of space!! Add limbers and wagons, even 12x6 can get tight.

But the rules are fine. Took me while to get used to the skirmish rules. Although quick, it took a while to get used to the idea of no modifications for range, cover, etc. But as its quick, I'm used to ignoring it.

Overall, I'm pleased with the command rules in particular. I know there was a lot of dialogue previously about command radius, but for these rules it works.

For 28mm, you need some space. I'm fortunate. My units may look a tad awkward at times as typcially I base mine at 30/1 scale, i.e. 24 figure French, 20 fig Brit. Most are based in 4s with some 2s and singles. But what the heck… looks fine on the table.

I'm hooked.

I play in 6mm at 1:20 and use a small table 4x3.
The rules are great , work well , take some time to learn though.
I'm doing some 15mm armies now for GdB.

Will finish my 28mm stuff for the new foundry rules , see how they go.

My mates and I couln't get on with them. We found them too disjointed, they didn't flow like some rules do (e.g. fire and fury). We gave them a fair crack of the whip, gaming every fortnight for 3 months, but we are now working on a modified version of WAB as the game mechanism is familiar to us. I know there are those out there who froth at the thought of GW but their rules have a simple basis and can be made as complicated as you want. They are still a work in progress but I can email a copy to anyone who would like them.

I'm definately going to buy the new Foundry rules and try them though.

We play GdB at 1:40 ratio and find them excellent. We have played some small and some big games and always find them a treat. We also use the guns of gettysburg and SYW versions as well. We have posted some pictures of our latest game on our blog battlelinescenics.blogspot.com I have played everything from Empire, follow the Eagle, WAB and fire & Fury to name but i few. Give me GdB any day.
cheers
Kevin

Hi Kevin,

I saw the pics on the blogspot. Nice gaming table too.

I bought the GdB rules and from what I have read so far I am very happy with them. I have mostly played GW games but am finding the game easy enough to understand (so far).

The book itself is well produced (I think).

I am yet to play a game although I have a mate lined up to have a go with the Frenchies! I am preparing for a FLames of War Tournament at the moment but after that! GdB full steam ahead.

Happy Gaming,

Allan

Has anyone written or posted a comparison of GdB vs. Black Powder?

Chuck

I did a tutorial a couple of months back that is still on my blog. It may give you a feel for how the game plays out. I acknowledge up front that I am a big fan of the rules. I like the 1:20 ration. It isn't a perfect set of rules, but I sure have enjoyed playing them over the years.

link

I very much fall into the General de Brigade are the "best Napoleonic rules ever written" camp. We Marauders have played these week in week out for many happy years. Are they perfect? Of course not! Are there sometimes freak results? Sure, dice are used. Do they give a feel of Napoleonic warfare? Yes they do.

So what's the rub? These are brigade level rules not Corps or Divisional level so they only scale up well with a massive table and plenty of time. We have both, we play every week with 5000-6000 28mm on the table top using these rules, no problems, we just indulge ourselves by immersing in the experience, it's like being at the theatre when we play, sumptuous and over many acts with intervals – totally immersive and excellent.

We have house rules to cater for more granular generalship abilities but otherwise straight out of the book.

The turn sequence is totally interactive with all players involved all the time.

One can play a Division level game in an evening which is very rewarding. If you want a multi division or multi corps game set up, played and over in an evening then BP might be for you. We have played loads of massive games of BP which is fun enough but for my money cartoony, displays extreme results too often and just doesn't give the same feel of command, it's too easy, too forgiving. But BP is designed for that, read the designer's notes.

You need to decide what level of game you want to play and the level of effort you want to invest. For us it's total immersion in the experience of Napoleonic command and control therefore General de Brigade, if you want a pick up game for an evening or a big game day go BP or Blucher etc.

Here's what we do,

link

hope that helps, enjoy your games whatever you chose, best wishes,

Jeremy