"What keeps you from starting Napoleonics?" Topic

I'm sure I COULD be interested in the period, but I'm getting a bit old to start a whole new period of gaming, especially one with as much research to do as Napoleonics. Plus the number of models and the sheer overwhelming breadth of the uniform types (which ARE quite nice stylistically) puts it right out of reach for me.

The Classmole Pedant Brigade is indeed annoying, but I'm sure they are a loud minority in the legions of gamers out there that play the period and hence would not stop me from joining in if I could get past the issues above.

The last few remaining vestiges of sanity. Hey wait on, I HAVE started Napoleonics.

Wibble.

It doesn't hold my interest enough to want to start getting in to it big time, especially as others in the group already have some napoleonic toys that could be used if they wanted to put something on. Besides, it's not like I don't have other stuff unpainted gathering dust already.

No tanks or helicopters.
Weaselhoffen.

Well, at least you didnt say, "No Orks" Natokina!

;-)

I'm trying to remain focused on what I've already started.

The first thing that kept me out of Napoleonics was that the first time I encountered them was at a con and over the entire weekend, I played about 20 different games of different things. And the guys playing Napoleonics started on Friday night and by Sunday afternoon, their forces had not yet made any meaningful contact and nothing much had happened on the table except that one group had moved forward a foot and a half into a village. I don't know what rules they were using, but damn, what an inefficient rules set. I just assumed most Napoleonics rules were like that.

When I heard about fast play rules like GA, I bought them at a local store and went to various places to get advice about basing, scale, manufacturers and whatnot. Holy crap. The responses I got were appalling. Old guys arguing who I should listen to and appealing to their "decades of experience."

Now I'm contemplating it again. I love the 19th century as far as history is concerned. I love the miniatures available.

I'm just going to not have anything to do with the existing player base. I've always been good at getting games going with new people, so I'll build both sides and invite people. It's worked for every other game system/period I've ever wanted to try, so why not do it again for Napoleonics?

Alas, I have to admit to having zero interest in the period whatsoever.
I haven't even pu the stickers on the blocks in my copy of GMT's "Command & Colors: Napoleonics", yet.
Sorry!

Napoleonics players

Boring saminess of the armies.

Some of the people who play it.

I first started and learned Column, Line and Square, Empire and Empire 4 – loved the detail and complexity – found if I had a group playing it weekly for a month and then regularly, the flow got fast enough to make an enjoyable game – versus constantly looking up rules. Too hard to keep a group focused on an ongoing basis to keep it flowing quickly – too many other enjoyable periods – though I love the period – I sold off my 15mm Borodino Armies, shortly after Napoleons Battles came out. Im still tempted to get into the Pennisular but have yet to be enticed.

If you haven't started and don't intend to…why are you here?

Too little Technology.

But many fun games with AoE recently and a small Austrian army to have some fun with.

perhaps peninsula one day when I run out of Tanks to build!!!

There seems an awful lot of wimps out there!

If you want to wargame – then wargame.

If some people don't like wargaming or the period, so be it – their loss

It you want to wargame Napoleonics – then wargame Napoleonics – don't let rules, scales or anyone stop you from having fun

As for all the shouting and bitching on forums – take it for what it is, a lot of shouting and bitching – again, don't let it stop you from doing what you want to do

In short – if you like the period and like wargaming – then stop moaning or worrying and get on with it – go on, you deserve it – have fun – you'll be the one with the smile on your face – unless you lose the game, of course

I have to agree with Gazzola. Man up, boys.

I started in Napoleonics back in High School, had fun and wanted to do WWII. Two games of arguments over armor thickness and gun millimeters, what should and shouldn't penetrate etc. etc. was enough for me. But hey, that was only two experiences as a high school student.

And then ACW. Loved gaming that, but there too were those who were incensed when the Stainless banners were seen being waved by troops in a 1863 scenario, or that the butternut color was too gray, or the Parrot gun was too small for the figures. Yadda, Yadda, Yadda.

And of course, there are those who game 18th Century wars who feel outraged that the figures are missing lace, or don't have the right lace…

In other words, every era of miniatures has it 'poltroons' and your experience of them depends far more on the situation and the particular people than anything to do with the era.

Having played Napoleonic wars for 40 years, I can only think of four 'poltroonish' incidents and three were at conferences.

Bill

Painting a lot of uniforms that are all largely the same.

I mean, painting brits: Prime gray, paint red coats. black wash. white crossbelts. If you get adventurous, collars, turnbacks, etc.

I need to paint HOW many of these guys? 40+ per battalion? Well, that's not too bad, I paint ~200 minis per side for Flames. Wait, what? I need HOW many battalions for a "small" battle?

So I ended up starting the Light Division, so I only have to paint mind-numbing quantities of French all in the same uniform. (Ok, Ligne versus Legere versus Artillery, but still!)

Waiting for an enterprising company to create high quality "top down" Napoleonic "miniature" counter sheets that are made to order.

Other than that, waiting for a release from the deathlock of corruption that the Baby Boomers have inflicted upon world culture and economy. Have a nice day :)

Feels like tea time…

Very simple. No opponents. I only know one person interested in any kind of historical gaming, he doesn't live particularly close, and doesn't have much time to play. If I knew people that played Napoleonics, I would play.

I had 8 years of false starts and miss fires in different scales and rules. All it took was one friend saying "One box? I was thinking of getting five!" …and I dove in head first!

We do 28mm General de Brigade.

The recurring theme here seems to be, EVERYONE despises Napoleonic gamers in general! lol!

I started once too,in 15mm. I'd do Austrians,and ONLY French allies: Hessians,Bavarians,Saxons,etc.Then,I HAD to get French regulars.Then Artillery, then cavalry…

THEN, I had nobody to game with so….

Bob

@95th,

:-):-)Think of Napoleonic gamers as Americans.

Nap gamers have bigger armies which are more flashy and overdressed. Nap gamers have more money so they can afford their bigger armies.

Any self-respecting Nap gamer has at least two armies, sometimes three or even four. Nap gamers have bigger games rooms to accomodate their bigger armies.

It is only natural they they consider themselves better than every other gamer put together and **** them all off.

Don't worry though, its just jealousy and all the other gamers would secretly like to be like Nap gamers:-):-)

Bill

Okay, I'll toss in my two copper.

I don't play Napoleonic because I am not a rivet-counter.

History is amazing (and the 18th/19th centuries are no exception!) but! If you get three different armchair historians in a room and ask them what went wrong at [insert battle here] you'll get five different answers.

Since some armchair historians are wont to publish their own brand of history, keeping up with what /actually/ happened and what people /claim/ had happened…

The chaff/wheat ratio seems rather hard to judge, and I'm not even mentioning the TMP pedantry.

Seamus

Try this quick quiz:
What is the effective rate of fire of the WWII antitank gun of your choice;
How many rifle bullets were fired in action per man killed in WWI and WWII;
What was the facing colour of the regiment which fought at Isandhwalana (Sp) and Rourkes Drift;
Taking each of the 4 to 6 major wars of the 18th century, how many ranks did the French fight in and what contribution did the rearmost ranks make?
What did the people who made up a Greek Phlanx wearand what is your primary source.

And you wonder why there is no consensus about what went on in the longest Pan European war of the H&M era?

95th:

Well, concerning that theme you see--take into account the thread question:

"What keeps you from starting Napoleonics?"

It's sort of like asking "Why don't you like Lady Gaga?"

Which folks will be prompted to respond and will her fans be given as one of the reasons? ;-7

Bill

@Grizzlymc:

You're simply detailing my case. We're both saying the same thing; your example illustrates why the situation is so convoluted.

Good Lord! This thread started back in December! I thought this was a recent poll. Well I like the topic. I can't find a set of rules I am happy with. Then there is the unit level.

Everyone in my club wants to do brigades (AOE) but I hate paining for brigades. I like battalions because they are easier to organize and paint (at least for me) and I find gaming at that level more interesting and realistic.

Napoleonic rules tend to be too complicated for my feeble mind. I hate dealing with skirmishers. In later periods like the ACW you just send your front regiment out into skirmish, easy.

But in Napoleonics you have to deploy them from you light companies and some countries do it and some don't at different times. Some rules abstracts them so they are just make believe and some actually make you send your light company out.

All I want is some simple rules that I can push my pretty soldiers and shoot. This is why AWI and SYW appeals to me more. Simpler and without all the baggage.

Our game club uses AOE which is F&F which I hate for the ACW. I don't care how much sense it makes to have two movement speeds, it unnecessarily complicates the game.
I hate fire points or whatever they call them. I get the concept, but why?