"Blucher at Cancon?" Topic

Am going to run a Blucher link competition at Cancon next year. I think they are the first set of Napoleonic rules since 1977 that have some chance of re-establishing a convention scene. This due to the points sytem, designed for pick-up games and the low barriers to entry.

Anyone want to help (or step up to run it I'll help you) or indicate interest in entering?

Cheers

Sheldon

miniscampaign.wordpress.com

I agree! Unfortunately, Cancon is too far from me so I will not be attending.

Big question,…
Figure scale and BASE SIZE?
Considering 15/18mm miniatures are based predominantly for FoGN or NAW ('spits') a base width of 80mm would work well.
That's two FoGN or four NAW bases wide.
60mm deep would be good also I'm guessing.
What if 28mm?
I can't see hoards of 6mm or 10mm armies popping up.
Until we get a standard basing system sorted (at least sabot wise) nap gaming in Australia will always struggle.

Either way, a decision needs to be made ASAP so participants can start preparing.

Like I say, I'd suggest 80mm wide by 60 to 80mm deep bases

Oh,..
Blucher rocks IMHO

My vote is for 3.5" (or close enough to 90mm) wide bases so that people can use unit cards or make sabot bases for two 40mm stands side-by-side with a little fat (for edge trim or whatever).

Base depth is not so crucial and could probably just be stipulated as anywhere between half a base width to one base width (i.e. square base) with anything in between being competition legal.

And if playing figures, 15mm would be my preference.

Oh yeah, and if it's a one-day event I'd definitely be interested in attending.

LOL!

So far I'm just talking to the same people as on the Blucher Forum. :P

Actually, we can be flexible on troop base widths within the comp. I'd be happy to accept anything from 75mm (the recommended base width) up to 88mm (the cards). I think they'd mix in game just fine. Maybe that would give a 2% game edge to the narrower bases.

For measurement purposes we'd use 75mm as a base width.

In terms of figure size, I'm thinking once you settle an army list, entry will require you to bring that list as cards or cards and based figures.

15mm figures preferred but bring what you like. If you and your opponent don't match in figure scale, use the cards.

How many tables? 8, 12, 16?

I think we can accommodate single days. I was intending to reserve a couple of tables for people to sit and try it out.

Maybe I could bring Ottomans and they can try and beat the Turk
What do you think?

My 18mm are al based on a 80x40mm stand.

But you're not coming :) You can stay at my place and I'll lend you an army if you change your mind. I'll even drive to Sydney to pick you up.

Wouldn't get too caught up in base widths ( anything close to the cards size would work ) …. front edge centre point is the important one anyway.

Yes, I agree. Anywhere between 75 and 88mm would be fine.

Ok
Well my 18mm will be on 80x60 bases

Hiya

For Blucher base size can't be glossed as easily as some other sets, you really want to set a standard, ie the cards. People with 40mm or 80mm (mine are 40mm) can use sabot or a card base-shape.

I'd be a maybe for Blucher at Cancon if playing with 15mm

regards

David F Brown

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the feedback.

Well, it would be simple enough to ask everyone to stick their bases to a poker card sabot.

It'll be nice to pay you back in a small way for all thos easter cons you organised.

Cheers

Sheldon
miniscampaign.wordpress.com

Mmm are you suggesting there has been no Napoleonic comp scene at Cancon since 1977?

Mmm are you suggesting there has been no Napoleonic comp scene at Cancon since 1977?

haha was wondering how long it would take hehe

Would have to admit Napoleonic's has been fractured for some time though. Think what Hohenlohe is trying to say is it's been awhile for anything new to take a foothold to any degree :-)

I've driven to Cancon once before, I think I'd do it again for a Bluecher comp. I'll have 6mm armies on 60mm square bases.

I'd suggest pop your minis on the cards for compatibility and bob's your uncle.

There has been a napoleonic miniatures comp at Cancon every year. I meant since the WRG comp ran out of puff. It started in 77 and ran through into the 80s (and I participated in years we weren't staging a battle) and transmogrified into later versions.

The old WRG rules are dated, and the rewrite of them (AWRG – I presume that's you frostydog) didn't attract enough players. I saw the comp when I switched to DBM for a broader range of opponents. That said, I haven't been to Cancon as a player for a long time now and maybe it has been growing.

Yes, there have been comps, but not a popular national scene with multiple events using a ubiquitous and common ruleset a la the DBM explosion. I don't know that Blucher will take us there, but it's a better bet than any I've seen previously.

Anyway, it's fun to play, comes with a points and army list system for convention play, and is very simple. So I'll give it a go.

Well, that's 4 and a day tripper so far.

Mmm tempted, I wonder who makes 1806 Prussians …….

Everyone…

TMP link

Yeah thats me I wouldn't say its been fragmented tasty no would I say there have not been enough players.
Anyway will give Blucher a miss and stay where I am.
I still hold that WRG is a better set and less dated than the old school gaming in Black Powder.
If your looking at Blucher for smaller scales say 18mm and down I probably won't impact on the WRGs who are staunch 28mm anyway. Might hit the NAW guys.

That's fair enough. I enjoyed 25mm while I was playing it.

WRG 1685-1845 is still being played? Not bad for its time if you wanted to play division-sized battles (I guess), though I'd probably opt for NAW these days for a faster-paced, more current rules set. However, I prefer to take the reigns of a corps or army in something grand tactical, like Blucher. Oh well, each unto their own!

Yes and why not for divisional sized games or even larger there is (controversial comment) that is better. May not be as pretty but if you follow the sequence it plays well. No cards or naff order dice. But as you say each to their own and I am getting very reluctant in my old age to shell out hard earned on rules that justifiy ther price with lots of pretty pictures.

Regardless of the it would be nice if Cancon would actually put the horse and musket players together, we have requested it enough.

I agree with the pretty pictures comment. It irks me too. Rules are just information. I dislike paying for pictures or paper quality, but I have to deal with the world as it is.

The 'naff order dice' are easier to deal with if you've played almost any other ruleset that has a command restriction. At the level of a few brigades, it's not a mechanic you really need.

I can't register until July. I'll let you know how I go.

Cheers

Sheldon

miniscampaign.wordpress.com

For my 15mm Napoleonics which are based for Napoleon's Battles and still actively used for those rules, I had made up 50 3" x 2" metal templates to mount figures for use with Blucher. I'm hoping Blucher will provide a quick Napoleonic game for a club night. The idea of a comp at Cancon is interesting, although attendance is not currently planned for the 2016 event. Playing with cards would be easy, but holds no appeal for me.