"Napoleonics: I Prefer to Command A..." Topic

What size unit do you prefer to command when playing Napoleonics on the miniature wargaming table?

Army with grand tactical rules, otherwise a division.

Army or Corps

I go in the other direction, a division size game with a BDE per player.

Corps or more…

I want to run a brigade or a smallish division--big enough to have formations and small enough for the formations to matter.

I liked Napoleon's Battles with a corps, although a division might fun. Lately, I like the idea of army size with easy play rules.

I play as Napoleon, all corps commanders, divisional and brigade generals at the same time.
So I get the full spectre of Napoleonics feelings.

Company plus supports in Sharp Practice.

Or a Corps/Army with Blucher.

Company

Corps or more, depending on nationality.

…section of Chosen Men.

I prefer to command about 8 units. If the rules are done right, I'd want to be an army commander. Otherwise, Division or corps commander for me.

Corps or more.

Army or corps commander

Corps or Army

Corps/Army.

Brigade

Brigade or less.

Army.

Corps or more

Well, since I want to play:

- a whole major historical battle, not a fraction of it, nor a skirmish, nor a made-up generic encounter;

- and usually with two or three players a side, so the game is social and not just raw one-to-one;

I suppose that means my answer is 'half an army' – usually at least a corps.

Chris

Bloody Big BATTLES!
link
bloodybigbattles.blogspot.co.uk

… a desk on full pay in a quiet, but nice area of Southern France.

Division, since that allows perhaps 3 Brigades per side and battalions can use a reasonable representation of Napoleonic formations (column, line square).

Rod

An entire army with each battalion and squadron represented, and capable of forming column, line and square. 2:1 gunz.

If I am playing a battalion scale game, I prefer one to three brigades. But no problem for me to handle up to two or three divisions.

If I am playing a brigade scale game, I prefer a division of three brigades. I can run a corps.

A cavalry corps of course.

Corps or more.

Platoon or less.

Given up on anything in between.

My preference is for a large division.

Regiment, but of course forced to do them all from battalion to Army

Infantry division with some supports (added cavalry brigade)

No particular preferences but the bigger the game gets, the sooner I'd rather be playing a board game.

So say about the regiment to division?

Interesting that no reply so far mentions if the unit/command is assumed to be combined arms or not. Given the general independence of cavalry from infantry below Corps level.

Prussian "Brigades" notwithstanding.

A brigade or two. I would like to play bigger games and command mighty armies but visually it just doesn't work for me. I want to see individual battalions and squadrons and I want to see columns, lines and squares. I can persuade myself that 36 figures looks like a battalion but I can't seem to persuade myself that the same 36 men look like a division or a corps.

…winning army.

Division/Corps

A mix of guns, horse, foot, representing 12K+ real men and play for 3-4 hours.

…tank.

Brigade or small division for me.

Corps

My rules preference is General de Brigade. So a Division is just right. Occasionally a Corps. Been doing this for about 8 years now, and as stated above, I have a penchant for the 36 figure battalions, 16-24 figure cavalry regiment, 3-4 cannon per battery.

1-2 brigades, so a division? On a 1-1, multiplayer, prefer a brigade.

Corps

A division with added supports or a corps.

Happily run a division for Black Powder (in 28mm) or a corps or two in Age of Eagles (15mm).

Korps,or Army.

Corp/Army, Napoleon's Battles makes this eminently possible 😛 .

A brigade.

Brigade or division at most! I always say I would have made a better field officer, I cant take in the whole picture but tell me to tae a hill or a town and Im in my element! Mixed arms only as far as either infantry and its artillery or cavalry and its artillery. I prefer one particular arm. I don't like complication.

A couple of brigades per side, tops. I like 1:33 ratio and my table doesn't fit anything bigger than a couple of brigades per side.