"Columbia Games' boardgame "Napoleon" - editions?" Topic

Hi,

I'm looking at using the classic "Napoleon" boardgame for an 1815 campaign. I have the original edition. Are there any significant differences between it and the newer edition? And, if so, is it worth the upgrade simply from the campaign management perspective?

Also, is there a roster somewhere on-line of all the parts for the first edition? I would like to check to see if I still have all the pieces.

Cheers,

Christopher

The third edition had blocks for each division, while the 4th Edition has some new rules for combat, but fewer units per corps.

To check to see if you have all the parts to the first edition, you might contact Columbia games directly.

Christopher,

There's a fair amount of info at boardgamegeek, especially in the files section:

link

Ed

Chris, I have the 1977 AH edition. On the last page of the rules is a roster of units.
Anglo-Dutch infantry 3 4 point units, 3 3 point. Cavalry 2 3 point, 2 2 point. Artillery 3 2 point foot, 1 2 point horse.

Prussian infantry 6 3 point, 2 2 point. Cavalry 4 2 point. Artillery 1 3 point, 2 2 point, 1 2 point horse.

French infantry 4 4 point, 3 3 point. Cavalry 3 3 point, 3 2 point. Artillery 2 3 point, 1 2 point, 2 2 point horse.

All, I was unaware that later editions changed the mix of units. In my opinion, the first edition game was heavily balanced in favor of the Allies once you'd played a couple games. Are the later editions more balanced?

Thanks guys. It seems that I do have all the pieces!

Since I'll only be using the board and blocks for campaign movement (and fighting the battles of the tabletop), I'm really only interested in the balance of the map movement system. The differences in the road types and their carrying capacity was just an elegant system, and I was curious if the later editions advanced that particular aspect. For instance, if the 3rd edition really had one piece per division and doubled the number of blocks, did the carrying capacity rules simply double as well, or were there additional twists?

Cheers,

Christopher

Okay, it seems that the latest edition (4th) went back to its 1st-2nd edition roots in terms of the number of units. Columbia Games has actually put their rules up for free download on their website, and you can also see the beautiful map and all the new counters there:

link

So, for the purposes of playing a campaign, it should be easy to see if there have been any rules or map improvements between the 2nd and 4th, and adapt accordingly (although it looks pretty similar at first glance). I'll have to keep an eye out for the 4th edition when I'm back in the USA this summer.

Cheers,

Christopher

Hmm, everything stronger than 1st edition, French markedly so.

But most folks seem to be saying the odds are stacked against the French in 4th edition.

That just based on my reading of the past few days (also considering buying a version of the game).

So far I have played 2 games of 4th ed with the French. Lost my first game but won the rematch tonight.

Next time I will try the Allied side.

I always liked the homebrewed version where movement was plotted and simultaneous. One of my best game experiences ever!

One of the solid aspects of Napoleon, and why it's lasted so long is that just when you think that having found the optimum strategy, the Allies can't lose, someone comes up with an unbeatable French strategy to counter it.

I've played the first, third and fourth editions and that aspect hasn't changed… I liked the third version because there were more blocks, each with a designated division, but the Fourth has some nice combat tweeks too. [And the three commanders!]

Hmm, maybe I should dust off my first edition. The most I ever came up with is a way to destroy the British, but a smart Allied player still has the Prussians around at the end of the game and wins.

Hmm, maybe I should dust off my first edition.

Way…way back when Campaign magazine was around, there were any number of articles on how to win with one side or the other. They even had names like "the Ghent Gambit" and "A Liege Too Far" strategy.

The victory conditions have changed somewhat with each edition. Keep that in mind. Mostly in how many Allied units are lost with the capture of Ghent, Brussels and Liege and whether the French win by capturing both Ghent and Brussels.