"Foundry Napoleon review - nice book, shame about the rules" Topic

For what it's worth, my review of the book can be found here:
link

I certainly wouldn't call the game unplayable, and there are a lot of things that seem odd, but if you read all of the rules (or if you played a game), they would make more sense. On the other hand, there definitely are some instances where a rule is contradicted, sometimes by an example meant to show how the rule works. And there are some poorly worded and confusing sections of the rules.

That's a really good review.

Albino,

Great review. I have a copy coming with a friend from England. The review confirms what I thought, the rules are designed to attract new gamers who will buy lots of figures.

Whether they have some historical connection to Napoleonics is yet to be seen.

Nevertheless, Napoleon is a great addion and I think will help the hobby.

One Irony, the title is Napoleon, the cover has the Rifles on the cover. One would think the British could overcome their Xenophobia sufficiently to have some French on the cover. It was afterall the Age of Napoleon not Wellington.
But then I have the advantage of 3000 miles.

Good gaming.

Bob Coggins

[One Irony, the title is Napoleon, the cover has the Rifles on the cover.]

I've been thinking that, too, ever since I saw the cover. Why name a game "Napoleon," and then have no image of… well, you know.

One would think the British could overcome their Xenophobia sufficiently to have some French on the cover

General de Brigade is a British rule set, and has a picture of a French hussar on the cover, so at least some have "overcome their xenophobia".

Why are there always some people wanting to stoke the fires by making these kind of generalizations?

The rules are named after Napoleon, and the pictures shows the soldiers of his enemies. I see nothing wrong with that. The Age of Napoleon yes; but he wasn't the only man doing the actual fighting.

The rules are actually very French-centric (the author seems to have a love affair with Marshal Ney). And the cover depicts KGL riflemen, not Britsh, I believe.

Yeah Bob I have to say that is rather an unwarranted comment.

You have to admit, though, it was a bit odd to name the game "Napoleon," and to do the whole ad campaign for it with images of him and the slogan: NAPOLEON IS COMING!

…and then to have a couple of Riflemen on the cover.

That would be like me naming a game ROBERT E LEE, and then the cover features a pair of grinning African-American soldiers in blue Federal uniforms.

Perhaps, but it's one heck of a big leap from taking issue with the cover of one rule book from one manufacturer, and then going on to make a broad statement like "One would think the British could overcome their Xenophobia sufficiently to have some French on the cover".

A pointless and silly remark IMHO.

I'm British and I like France and the French. No Francophobia (a slightly more accurate word) here.

It's worth noting that we didn't invent 'Freedom fries', or suggest that French wine should not be bought either

link

Im Irish and i like the freedom fries ;-) especially if Bob NEY is the republican gettng upset by french fries-should someone tell him he might have a french ancestor :-))))

I'm sorry I even brought it up – the use of Xenophobia was intended as a gentle nudge for the cover's irony not a condemnation.

If I lived in Britain I'd put British soldiers on the cover of my rules. Covers sell games and books.

I am sure the EU has reinvented natoinalities into Europeans
who would never think of warring against each other. I would, however, note Christopher Duffy wrote in his book, "The Military Experience in the Age of Reason," that "All classes were united in their contempt for foreigners…There was nothing exceptional about the hatred the English bore against the French…The English hated everyone else as well…"

Good gaming.

Bob Coggins

I think its a change NOT to have French on the cover, I should think 90% of Napoleonic rules have a French ish title, just as 90% of WWII rules have a German ish title. When a friend of mine was talking to publishers about a title he was writing, he was told, quite forcefully, that to sell anything in the States, it had to have, and I quote, 'Nazis, or Napoleon' in it, or preferably, on the cover. I think thats very sad.

John

I don't care what you put on the cover.

But simple logic dictates that whatever you put on the cover ought to bear some relationship to: (A) the title, and (B) your entire marketing campaign for the product to date.

Gabbo is coming!

John54,
You shouldn't trust the words of a single American to represent all….unless it's me, or course!

See ya'
Ray

to sell anything in the States, it had to have, and I quote, 'Nazis, or Napoleon' in it, or preferably, on the cover.

Would including both make it even more succesful? I'll better be quick in obtaining a trademark for my planned "Nazi Napoleons Don't Surf" rules if that is true.

BTW: doesn't one of the riflemen in the cover of Napoleon look pretty much like Bryan Ansell? I think that putting to the cover a drawing of Bryan Ansell posing as Napoleon might not have been totally succesful.

Griefbringer

Regarding covers, sometimes you have to be bold and different if you want to set your rules apart from the usual…like the title says:

Snappy Nappy: Simple, Subtle, and Ultrafast Miniature Rules for the Napoleonic Era

And the link to the cover…

picture

As an Englishman I must state for the record that my race does not suffer from xenophobia (fear of foreigners) rather we are prone to xenopili (pity of foreigners).

As Cecil Rhodes once observe "To be born English is to win the first prize in the lottery of life". It is hardly surprising then that the English should feel sorry for all the runners up. (The runners up include not only foreigners but also those less fortunate types with whom we are forced to share some islands – the Scots, Welsh and Irish)

If the authors had been completely true to these islands "Foundry" would have called the book 'General di Buonaparte'

Please do not bring up the fact Wellington was Irish – as he himself stated "Being born in a stable does not make one a horse".

We've played a couple of games of Napoleon now and really enjoyed the rules. We had to do a bit of work to clarify a few things.

I'm sorry; that's just not acceptable. We are not interested in reviews of games by people who've actually PLAYED them.

hehe , sorry :)
We now return you to your normal program.

Keithandor – was the bit of work you did just clarification or did it include rules changes ? Are you happy playing a Napoleonic game where artillery is more effective against infantry in line than in column ?

We mainly needed some clarification to the rules , the game's system and ideas are good. It's not for the serious grumpy wargamer , but I think they are refreshing and fun to play.
A few typos here and there and bits just simply left out need to be clarified.

I've asked about the 4+ to hit line vs the 5+ to hit a column but no answer yet :(
You could swap it around if it bothered you , I'm sure your gaming group could decide for yourselves.

I plan to play a few more games and maybe make a tweak here and there , but so far we are pretty happy with the unit interactions and results. Fast , simple and fun would be the best way to describe the rules.

All of this controversy over a simple game…

It is a game isn't it? Does it really matter what the modiefiers are or how powerful one element is versus the other if at the end of the day (1) the rules attract new gamers into the Napoleonic genre, and (2) the people playing the game have fun doing so?

- the people playing the game have fun doing so? -

Hear hear! That's really the only thing that matters.

Just a note on the artillery problem we have a nice FAQ/clarifications being developed over at the OzNapoleon group.
In summary a column or square at effective range takes 2 casualties from a foot battery rather than the normal one.

I'm looking forward to my next game :)

Well read the rules at least. Surprised no army lists prior to 1089

Well read the rules at least. Surprised no army lists prior to 1089

That's some stretching of the Napoleonic period!

Well, finally got Amazon's Email that it has been shipped.

So should have it in the next day or so at the latest.

Russ "And the link to the cover…"

Pipings are the wrong shade of maroon on that Chassaur mate.

Well, that came out of the blue. Let's see, where to begin:

1. I change my moniker every month or so because it's fun. Nobody ever seems to have trouble figuring out that's it me, probably because I often sign off as "Sam," or respond to direct questions.

2. I didn't start this thread. But if somebody wants to do a Napoleonic tournament, and I'm two months away from releasing a set of rules specifically geared for Napoleonic tournaments, well… Duh.

3. As far as I can tell, everybody uses TMP to flog their latest figures, products, blogs, and rule sets. Just in Napoleonics, for example:

TMP link
TMP link
TMP link
TMP link
TMP link
TMP link
TMP link
TMP link
TMP link
TMP link
TMP link
TMP link
TMP link

Or, in your case:
TMP link
TMP link

In my case, my last shameless plug occurred on 27 July, to announce the launch of the all-new website. I got over 1200 hits in three days, nearly one thousand of which were referred from TMP. So I recommend that instead of complaining about the fact that TMP is a good way to drum up interest… keep using it, yourself, and be happy. The people who are potentially interested will show up, and those who aren't, won't.

4. No idea what you're referring to with the "attacking / savaging other points of view" bit, nor to whom or what you're referring. I think this thread – and indeed the huge majority of threads of late – have been quite civil. The only thing here that could be construed as an attack is your last post.

Sam

PS – I'm bored with this screen name, and will soon change it. Either deal with it, or ignore it. But either way, you've been warned.

PSS – My students call me "Dr. Mustafa." I'd prefer my peers to call me "Sam." (Homeland Security calls me something else, but that's none of your business.)

PSSS – if you're genuinely interested in Lasalle, and not just stoking an argument, then surely you could get your questions answered more readily on that website:

sammustafa.com

Hmm. This wasn't my comment. I am not sure how this happened. I will post a review of napoleon again later.

-Pete

The infamous TMP Bug snatched my response from another thread and copied it here.

Bug Happens.

Recieved the e-mail today from Amazon that my copy has now shipped. Should be with me in two days. Then I can make proper comments.

Until then, here are some impropper ones!

Yes, the Rifleman on the cover is indead Bryan Ansell. What's the problem with that?

I only plan to play these rules on odd numbered thursdays in the month of Smarch (darn that chilly Smarch weather) with people I know, but have never played miniatures with. Like Allen (among others)!

Fargames Wactory will be my prefered choice of miniatures, as their new 5.87.23th scale guys are far superior to all other figures.

I will only paint my figures with items purchased at a grocery store. One can of Cheez Whizz goes a long way. And Hellmann's Mayonaise is a much bette shade of white than Miricle Whip is!

Back to work now in the land of fruits and nuts!

Binky
Oink-oink

Will you be my very special friend?