"Roll call for games were you command a Brigade " Topic

Good Day friends

I you have been checking out my blog I have finally done something I wanted to do for 15 years, entered 19th century 28mm wargaming.

Because I am 1) cheap 2) bored of painting the same uniforms (I have come to the conclusion that my limit is batches of 20-40 miniatures of the same uniform, then I must take a break or lose interest) 3) face space problems

I am looking at playing this era at the level where each player commands a brigade of 2-8 battalions/regiments, with the basic tactical unit being the company stand or the division of two companies.

I am thus doing a roll call of all the rule-sets available, for free or commercially that permit you to do this. They can be for a specific conflict, or they can be vanilla for the era.So list what you know about, and if you played it a couple of words. Hopefully future players will found the list interesting. Era can be from Later Napoleonics to let us say the 1880s or 1890s.

These games should let you play and have fun with "simple" scenarios like

a) Lunch an Assult!

b) Hold the line!

c) Protect the heavy guns!

e) Do a fighting retreat !

etc

The stuff I know about or have read.

1 ) Paddy Griffiths Napoleonic Wargaming for Fun: Brigade Level Game

Base Tactical unit is the section which represents half a company. Thus a 6 company French Battalion is 12 bases, 2 bases to a company. You can probably modify it so that the company is the tactical unit.

Scale is 1 figure to 10 men, 5mm to 2m.

2) 1859 Grand Tactical Rules Quarter Scale Variant

While created to fight the smaller actions of the 1864 Danish-German War, it could be used for any of the 1859/1866/1870 rules.

The basic basing unit is the company stand, with battalions made up of 4 to 6 stands, while battalions are the basic tactical unit.

For 15mm miniatures 1 inch= 50m, and turns are 15minutes of real time.

The old Rally 'round the Flag by Heritage(?)

Rusty's Rules

Complete Brigadier

1st two editions of Johnny Reb (I think you could do it in 3rd, but I think it is targetted towards the Division being the sweet spot--only ever played 1st)

Mr. Lincoln's War

Regimental Fire and Fury

I'm not aware of any of them having rules for Lunch, you'll have to write some scenario specific rules for that.

Happy Little Trees!

Indeed they do not! Considering how many battles have been lost due to an empty stomach that is a major omission do you not think?

Would you be a help and add some small snippets of information about those rulesets you added. Use my post as a template.

Definitely Regimental Fire and Fury!

On the Napoleonic side, I think General de Brigade works best with one person commanding a brigade. On the ACW side, Regimental Fire & Fury is the same. Both can and are often scaled up to a division per player, but they really work better at the lower levels. Rank & File by Crusader games is scalable and covers the entire black powder period, so that might give you a good toolbox (and it's a cheap pdf).

Cheers,

Christopher

As this was cross posted to the ACW Board. I guess "Longstreet" should be added as its specifically for Brigades.

I second GdeB for Napoleonic brigade up to division sized games. These are very realistic rules that are balance between fast play and tedious and time consuming, with no bookkeeping or cards.

I am looking at playing this era at the level where each player commands a brigade of 2-8 battalions/regiments, with the basic tactical unit being the company stand or the division of two companies.

Was going to say Lasalle, but the basic tactical unit there is the battalion.

The Space: 1889 Soldier's Companion (pdf copies still available) has the player maneuvering 20-man 'companies', with 4 'companies' per battalion and a battalion staff of 13.

You might like Peter Pig's Patrols in the Sudan, though there's not really a specified figure ratio. I like the changing terrain concept.

8 battalions with 8 companies each is an AWFUL lot for a single player to handle. Personally, I don't want to handle more than 12 maneuvering elements, which is 2 battalions of 4 double-companies, a couple cavalry troops/squadrons, and a couple guns from the artillery.

I would have thought General de Brigade's basic tactical unit was the Battalion of foot/Regiment of Cavalry:

"General de Brigade was designed to combine the appeal of battalion based games with the most important aspect of C2 from army level games" from the ruleset page 3 (The original pub, not the various 'gentlemen's versions' etc)

It is. And as the OP said … "I am looking at playing this era at the level where each player commands a brigade of 2-8 battalions/regiments" … thus commanding a brigade in toto on the tabletop, not brigades-as-units.

Yes, the tactical unit if you wish is the multi-stand battalion, preferably the combat company. The command unit is the Brigade or reinforced brigade. But here I would much prefer if people just listed any such games they are aware off, plus some brief info.

Carnage and Glory can do this. Computer based program instead of dice but manages everything and plays fast.

Link for C&G site
carnageandgloryii.com

Link to a good blog that gives details about gaming with C&G
link

Thank you CaptainKGL! Keep those suggestions coming

I like "lunching an assault". It was the game plan for 1st Bull Run.

I use the old Rally around the Flag rules with a few modifications. I have also added cavalry versus cavalry rule that are a lot of fun. Anybody interested, I'll send you a copy of them.

Thank you Billsfan!

3) En Avanat
Free rules for Napoleonic gaming

Game is dice-less with units gaining or losing modifiers due to formation and situation

Units of infantry are made up of 6 stands, though you could probably have fewer or more stands as they are representational as opposed to mechanic wise important. Cavalry is made up of 4 bases and Artillery is made up of two bases.

Commands are simultaneous and hidden until revealed. They are by unit. Skirmishers are included in their units with the only exception being small rifle units.

I have to concur with General de Brigade.