"EMPEROR, Wargame Rules" Topic

Many years I look for suitable napoleonic rules for me.
But at the end I am forced to write this by myself.

Now I begin issuing this rules.
Step-by-step.
Introduction is ready..

youtube.com/watch?v=X-dJLXYhssw

I just watched your video. A very interesting visual presentation of your ideas and introduction to the rules, about which I would certainly like to learn more. I like your ideas.

However, the grammar and punctuation of the captions is often poor and creates an unfortunate impression, which might give viewers a false idea of the quality of your rules, and suggests the text of the rules may contain similar errors. I presume English is not your first language and you did not get the text proof-read by someone fluent in English.

Perhaps I could assist you? I taught English for 34 years in several preparatory schools and proof-read for a publisher of wargame books. Contact me at arthur1815@yahoo.co.uk if you like.

Looks great! Very good ideas. Maybe even enough to inspire me to finally do that Napoleonic project to!

It's great you have created something that you like

But don't put a morgage on the house and publish this because every year 4 or 5 companies publish a sets napoleonic rules, and these companies take a bath on poorly designed rules. What makes it a napoleonic set of rules, if I replace Prussians with my Zulus is it still a Napoleonic game. A factor here and a factor there does not make a napoleonic set of rules. Columns lines and squares and linear divisonal formations. Blocks of figures attacking each other can be zombies and Zulus, even though they where napoleonic uniforms

Well Yankees, Sho Boki has created rules which he says are suitable for him so apparently what you believe constitutes a Napoleonic battle is not the same as his.

He clearly states that he wants to fight the significant battles of the time without needing thousands of troops or giant tables. I'm not sure how you can relight Waterloo on a 6x4 table using a 1:20 ratio and do it in less than 4 hours.

Thanks for good words, guys! :-)

Let's clear some things.

Yes, I am very bad in foreign languages. My friend work as professional translator and I usually let him check my google-translated writings. But recently he says, that all my last text was correct.. and I went to a proud and not bother him with this Introduction texts.
What a terrible mistake.. now I must remake all Introduction.

I don't put a morgage on my house. This rules will be free. I'm going to publish them on YouTube. Nobody has done this before..

Zulus and zombies can take part in the battle, but only as napoleonic era Zulus and zombies, not as Prussians. Every base get his individual or typical characteristics and You may design any base as napoleonic zombies with or without muskets, if You wish. Zombies will be probably similar to unexperienced and untrained peasants militia, but with very high "moral".

I am not sure, that I want refight Waterloo in less than 4 hours. It is possible (if Prussians don't come and d'Erlon are successful), but I like much longer games.
And, as gameboard is relatively small, it may act as beautiful room decoration for long time. Like chessboard. We played our last testgame (photos in the end of introvideo) a half years by internet.. one turn on week.. and gameboard stays all the time on my table, on usual place for espressomachine.

Sho Boki, is your translator friend a wargamer, and does he/she have any knowledge of the Napoleonic Wars? It helps a great deal if the translator understands the subject matter, as well as the language. If I can help in any way, don't hesitate to get in touch.

Your YouTube video seems an excellent way of prmoting/publicsing your rules, and demonstrating them in action. But will you also make the rules available as a pdf, for example, so that viewers can download and print them off for their own use? You might also consider submitting them to a magazine, such as Miniature Wargames with Battlegames, and receive some financial reward for your efforts as well as reaching a wider audience.

Good luck with this project!

I'm going to publish them on YouTube. Nobody has done this before..

Just "publishing" on YouTube is not a good idea.

Zulus and zombies can take part in the battle, but only as Napoleonic era Zulus and zombies, not as Prussians.

I'm afraid you completely misunderstand the point that Yankees is making.

Thanks, Arthur1815.

Pdf was my first idea.. but then I realize, that internet is everywhere. We may just check Youtube in computer or mobilephone, if we need. And one picture is worth of thousand words.

But after making videorules, I may create .pdf too, of cource.. if there are interest. And then I sure will contact with You, because my friend don't have any knowledge about Wargame indeed.

Major Bumsore, it is possible, that I misunderstand the point that Yankees making.
I understand, that he say, that replacing on tableboard Prussian with Zulus, no difference will be noticed.
What is wrong. At first, Zulus cannot have battlevalues of Prussians. They are not capable for European battleformations.. columns, lines and squares etc. But they may participate on battles as themselves, as Zulus.

Sho Boki I believe you understood Yankees just fine!

Hmmm…. 24 figs to a Corps……

It wont be for everyone.

Volley and Bayonet and Grande Armee (fast play?) spring to mind…….. 2" square for a base of 2,500 men in official reduced scale, Borodino on 6 x 4 foot table.

Would 6mm or even 10mm figs give you a better visual appeal?

How far do you go before its just as appealing to see blocks of wood or cardboard counters?

Just Sayin'

link

link

link

Full set of 8 pics on flickr, by clicking on one of the above linka.

Yes, 1815Guy, all this are usual counterarguments.
Especially blocks of wood and cardboard counters. :-)
And of course it wont be for everyone.

6mm and 10mm figs are far better arguments.
But.. they don't give mutch better visual appeal.
Better understanding about distances – yes, thanks to shorter figures. But beauty of uniforms – no. They are extremely difficult to paint.
And replacing 3 18mm figures with 6 6-10mm figures are'nt worth the loss of beauty. Tested and proved.

But of course everyone may choose his loved size. And even more.. there are two version of rules. Standard 1:400 for me and DeLuxe 1:100 for them, who love and have big amount of figs with gigantic tables. The only important difference between them are in speed of Mini Battles. In Standard version Mini Battles will be fought without moving figures.

P.S. Thanks for links. There are exactly, as You say, blocks of wood and cardboard counters.. with extremelly small figures.

What I think Yankees was trying to say is that claiming a set of rules is "Napoleonic" is more that just move distances and combat factors. It's about helping the players to react to a game situation in a "Napoleonic" way, to get into the mind set of a general of that era. That is not easy …

It's got nothing to do with Zulus.

Of cource ""Napoleonic" is more that just move distances and combat factors". You are absolutely right.
All thing must be balanced.

I agree that publishing a set of rules via Youtube is strange at best. Advertising or explaining game play using it is a good idea. I also believe you are wrong about 6-10mm figures not being visually impressive. You also say they are difficult to paint. Neither is correct. You also describe a figure ratio for your units.

I am getting the impression that perhaps you may either be somewhat inexperienced as a gamer or unaware of what Napoleonic rules are currently available. Tactical level rules are really the only ones that have a figure to representation ratio any longer. Grand tactical sets have moved on from that years ago.

I applaud anyone creating their own set of rules. More power to you. However, there is a reason why some things are done the way they are.

Thanks,

John

"Hmmm…. 24 figs to a Corps……

It wont be for everyone."

You got that right because to me 24 figures are just a Battalion.

9-12 of these will make a Division so that is 216-288 figures just for a Division and that is only the infantry figures.

No this set of rules is not something that I would do.

Thanks, John Leahy.

I am aware about difference between grand tactical and tactical sets. But I want both in one game.. and as nobody tell me, that this is "impossible", I just did this.

6mm may be visually very impressive, but only "en masse". I like small things very much and using 6mm figs with EMPEROR rules are welcomed. I even create such things..

But when I compose my rules, I bear splendid AB 18mm figures on my mind and I tried to bring out all the beauty from them.

But about "You also say they (6mm) are difficult to paint. Neither is correct."
Can You prove this?
I am relatively good in painting small figures, but I am not capable to paint 6mm figs with same quality as 15mm figs. This is very difficult.

EMPEROR did not presume tons of lead "en masse", but are designed for close look on small table.

Dear Mithmee, You have absolute rights to play with 300 figs for a Division. If You want. I don't argue.
For me.. well.. this is a bit difficult to put 300 18mm figs on 5cmx5cm board with different battle formations.
And, what is more important.. I just don't have 16.000 well painted figures for full battles.

If your interested in that scale, then just check out DBN on youtube, they have two very impressive battles of Borodino and waterloo.

6mm and 10mm figs are far better arguments.
But.. they don't give mutch better visual appeal.
Better understanding about distances – yes, thanks to shorter figures. But beauty of uniforms – no. They are extremely difficult to paint.
And replacing 3 18mm figures with 6 6-10mm figures are'nt worth the loss of beauty. Tested and proved.

I have started doing 54mm. two men to a 70mmx 50 base, the bigger figures look really good and there are 12 men to a French unit + officers and drummer, have about 8 French units so far and 6 Prussian. three to a 95mm and in units of 4 bases and a couple of British so far + some art.. looks good when laid out on a small 3x4 foot table.
once I have them painted all up I'll post a picture.

Of cource ""Napoleonic" is more that just move distances and combat factors". You are absolutely right.
All thing must be balanced.

And that depends what you meanby "balanced".

Interesting. I am working on a hex-mat set of rules and came up with a hex = 400 yards and the basic unit is an infantry brigade of ~ 2,500 bayonets, cavalry brigade of 1,250 sabers and artillery battalions of 12 – 16 guns. Similar scale.

Very nice work on the video. I'd take up Arthur1815's offer of editing. There's nothing terrible but it is clear from time to time that you are not a native English speaker.

If your rules don't count figures, if it resolves combat on a stand-by-stand basis, then I'd specify that the number of figures used is a suggestion and not a requirement. People are much more likely to try your rules if they don't have to re-base.

Thanks, True Grit, very impressive battlefield landscape indeed. I like this.

Bill Reed, good luck! For me 54mm are too big, but I wait to see Your results.

Major Bumsore.. we cannot understand and decide that before I montage all my videoclips.

Vtsaogames.
There are two versions of rules, STANDARD for BIG battles/SMALL bases and DELUXE for all other existing basing systems. But in Standard version we may use every existing quadrangular base as well.. but mostly in pairs. Because 2-wide/1-deep ratio must be followed for infantry bases.
I specify the number of figures by 1:400 ratio, as minimum edge for 15-18mm figs in Standard version. Essentially there are 1200 bayonets on infantry base, 800 sabres on cavalry base and 400 artillerists, train and other logistic men (with 16 guns) on battery base.

I montage clip about command system now, and I decide to explain difference between Corps system and pre-Corps system in Game through the example of Austerlitz.

I don't much interested about Austerlitz in detail before and convert Austerlitz orders of battle to EMPEROR first time. Bloody small battle! Like Waterloo.

But here it is.. Austerlitz 1805 with EMPEROR units.

boki.ee/Wargame_Miniatures/Austerlitz/Austerlitz.htm

And Arthur1815.. after I finish clip, but before uploading, I will send to You script for corrections.
My friend translate even Wargame to War game. :-)

we cannot understand and decide that before I montage all my videoclips.

Pardon? You don't understand about "balance"? How is that relevant to what you do with the video clips?

Because 2-wide/1-deep ratio must be followed for infantry bases.

Why?

Pardon? You don't understand about "balance"?

I know and understand of cource. I was just being polite, saying "we" – You and I. It is You cannot judge before knowing..

Why?

For easy understanding what You see on Table, of cource.

Pardon? You don't understand about "balance"?

I know and understand of course. I was just being polite, saying "we" – You and I. It is You cannot judge before knowing..

What do you mean, you cannot judge before knowing? You cannot judge before knowing what? You say "all things must be balanced" but what exactly do you mean by that?

Why?

For easy understanding what you see on table, of course.

I'm confused. You say 2-wide/1-deep ratio must be followed for infantry bases, for easy understanding what you see on table? Please explain.

Incidentally, your ideas about figure representation are nothing new. I wrote a set of Napoleonic rules several years ago in which a battalion is represented by 5 6mm figures on a frontage of 20mm. Figure representation about 1:150. Ground scale is 20mm = 150yds. (1/6858)

Dear Major Bumsore.
You say.. "react to a game situation in a "Napoleonic" way".
I have no clue, what exactly You have talking about, what is in Your mind.. but I am sure, that all this things in game, about what You may talking, must be in balance.. not partially hypertrophied, partially neglected.

Why infantry figures must be stand on at least 2w/1d bases, are shortly explained in Intro – to avoid seeing thin lines as deep columns on table. Basing system are targeted to bring out maximum beauty, playability and usability at minimum amount of 18mm figs.

And of cource there are nothing new in this thoughts. All "new" is forgotten and reinvented "old".

I wrote a set of Napoleonic rules several years ago

Good to hear this. Can we read this somewhere?
Are players able there "react to a game situation in a "Napoleonic" way"?

Sho Boki, Please feel free to send anything you would like proof-read. You already have my email address. Gald to be of help in any way I can.
Interestingly, in the early days people referred to 'war games', but nowadays we write 'wargames'. I think it is just the tendency of English to create compound words, rather than continue to write separately or hyphenate; thus, 'deck-chair' and 'post-box' became deckchair and postbox.

I have no clue, what exactly You have talking about, what is in Your mind.. but I am sure, that all this things in game, about what You may talking, must be in balance.. not partially hypertrophied, partially neglected.

When I say "react to a game situation in a "Napoleonic" way", I mean that the player, acting in the capacity of a Napoleonic general, must be able to react to the situation in a similar way to his Napoleonic counterpart. Nothing more, nothing less. It has, as I said before, nothing to do with "balance".

Are players able there "react to a game situation in a "Napoleonic" way"?

Quite possibly, since they are based on von Reisswitz' 1824 Kriegsspiel.

Having watched Rod Steiger's portrayal of the Corsican Tyrant in the film Waterloo many times, I feel confident I can 'react to a game situation in a Napoleonic way' – I can smile enigmatically, make derogatory remarks about my oppponent, boast, shed – or pretend to shed – tears, pace up and down with my hand inside my waistcoat, stamp my feet, scream, shout and sulk very well!

I feel confident I can 'react to a game situation in a Napoleonic way'

Not every wargamer has your in-depth knowledge of the Napoleonic period, Arthur.

the player, acting in the capacity of a Napoleonic general, must be able to react to the situation in a similar way to his Napoleonic counterpart

Like Arthur1815 already alluded, we don't know which level of reaction You have in Your mind.

For me mentioned "napoleonic" work this way – players may react to the situation as they like and want, but results mostly will be "napoleonic". This means – acting like napoleonic general will be more useful than acting the "wrong" way.

@Arthur1815

Or Christopher Plummers portrayal of the overrated Irish tyrant

For me mentioned "napoleonic" work this way – players may react to the situation as they like and want, but results mostly will be "napoleonic".

How can you define results as "Napoleonic"?

How can you define reactions as "Napoleonic"?

Results are much more easier to deal with.
Columns and squares are better targets for ranged fire than lines, chain of sharpshooters on open are easy prey for cavalry.. etc.

Results are much more easier to deal with.

How is that more true of Napoleonic than say ACW?

Columns and squares are better targets for ranged fire than lines

That is also true in other periods. It is not specifically "Napoleonic".

chain of sharpshooters on open are easy prey for cavalry.. etc.

Not sure what you mean by "sharpshooters" in a Napoleonic context. The only troops that could remotely be referred to as "sharpshooters" would be the Baker rifle armed British 95th and 60th Rifles. But again this is not specifically a "Napoleonic" feature. There were sharpshooters aplenty in the ACW (for example). And the only reason they were not easy prey to cavalry is that rifled repeating weapons could lay down a much heavier fire than smoothbore muskets.

This is why there are many successful rules that are "horse and musket" but not specically "Napoleonic". Black Powder is a good example.

It is not specifically "Napoleonic".

What is specifically "Napoleonic" for You?
It is much easier to understand what You have in Your mind, if You tell us..

Divisional&Corps system development? Staffs? Concentrated artillery?

Of cource most of napoleonic is also true for other close periods and good large scale rules must cover all this periods without specific add-ons.

Divisional&Corps system development? Staffs? Concentrated artillery?

All of that and more besides. Perhaps the quintessential Napoloeonic tactical reaction (usually to the presence of enemy cavalry) is an infantry unit forming square. The other decidedly Napoleonic tactic is the use of columns and lines. However, we should avoid falling into the (now largely discredited) view that the French always attacked in column …

As Yankees said in his original post: "Columns, lines and squares and linear divisional formations."

But it's not so much about what a set of "Napoleonic" rules allow but rather what they prohibit. For example, a good set of Napoleonic rules should not allow a player to deploy many infantry units in open order. Only certain units were trained to do this as a whole unit. Mostly it was just the light company that were so trained.

Of course most of Napoleonic is also true for other close periods and good large scale rules must cover all this period without specific add-ons.

Why only large scale rules and why without specific add-ons?

I have not mortgaged my home in order to get published because both of my "Old School" sets have been published by "Create Space" (Amazon's publishing arm) which operates by "print on demand". My ACW rules, Some "Wore Blue, and Some Wore Gray" have been on sale at Amazon for over a year. My latest work, "Classic Napoleonics," has been at Amazon since this Memorial Day Weekend.

My goal in publishing both sets of rules, has not been to get rich or even make money. My rules are just another part of my legacy. I have been a true miniature wargamer since 1958, and I want to keep "Old School" gaming alive. Thus my rules, my miniatures, my books and almost everything else that I own has been placed in a trust which has the goal of fostering miniature wargaming after I move on to an "after life"--hopefully, not earlier than a quarter century from today. (Although I am 72 years old, my elders have lived to their 90s and 100s, and had sharp minds and relatively healthy bodies)

Hi Sho Boki. I enjoyed your rules introduction. Very interesting ideas. The concept of having large formations but also skirmishers on the table appeals to me!
Look forward to next vid.
The only thing is can we avoid the coloured makers
on the table? Other wise your games look good.
Max

Thanks, Maxshadow. :)

Coloured markers? Do You mean wooden barrels, plastic bridges/houses and paper rivers/roads on photos? These are not game markers. I just don't have proper landscape elements and train carriage figures yet.

Some unit condition markers will be on table.. but as battlefield elements.. standards and flagbearers, drummers, couriers, skirmishers.. etc.
And as every unit have individual battlevalues, then there are choice for players.. write this values on notebook or put little camouflaged labels under bases.
..

YouTube accept 15min vids.. I have assembled 12min from next chapter.
..

Major Bumsore.
I hope, that now I understand, what You mean..
You ask from me, whether I build the brick house with bricks?
The answer is – yes, with bricks.

Many thanks to Arthur1815!!!
I have now an Intro with corrected language. I feel like a schoolboy. :-)

youtube.com/watch?v=NfwUiDhVW2A

And here are the raw material of Chapter 1. "Chain of Command".
Final battle scene and more Help must be made and added.

youtube.com/watch?v=W7eVA7y0PB8

You go, Mr. Sho Boki. Right on! It's your game and you can play it anyway you want. Hope it's fun. There aren't many uniform books on the Zombies. Maybe a couple on the Zulus.
So can they really say you're wrong? No, no they can't!

Oh, one more thing. Are the Napoleonic Zombies the Revolutionary French, the Russians, or the Austrians? Does it really matter?

So confusing.

Cheers,

The Bandit

You need to add about a half inch in depth to your bases. Some people use other poses besides marching. My British are almost all firing. I could not use those size of bases and form a proper march column. This is a common issue I have with the basing of some rules.

This is a tough crowd but there are some valid points being made. Perhaps you may just want to use these as your house rules for a while.

Firing and running figures are useful for skirmishing and en masse units. Like turks, revolutionary bands and mob. (Yes, for Zombies and Zulus too, if anybody wants them. :)

Firing figures are mostly helpful markers in this level of napoleonic. They takes too much space and cannot be used for standard units in line.
But..
You are free to add depth to bases, just add proportional frontage too and You may build perfect unit with grouping two of Your existing square-shaped bases.

inspirational