Editor in Chief Bill | 24 May 2017 2:51 p.m. PST |
Napoleonics is far more popular than gaming other wars in the same time frame (such as American Civil War). What makes it so popular for you? |
David Manley | 24 May 2017 2:53 p.m. PST |
Cool looking ships Heroic naval commanders The romance of sail |
14Bore | 24 May 2017 3:07 p.m. PST |
Uniforms, lots of countries to pick from to build armies.Still basic weapons ( smooth bore small arms and cannons, swords, lances) |
tigrifsgt | 24 May 2017 3:15 p.m. PST |
Being able to paint hundreds of figures exactly the same way. |
ZULUPAUL | 24 May 2017 3:20 p.m. PST |
Great diversity in uniforms. |
zoneofcontrol | 24 May 2017 4:17 p.m. PST |
The camaraderie shared by close friends discussing the correct equipment and colors of uniforms. |
Hannibus | 24 May 2017 4:18 p.m. PST |
I like the idea of ranked combat, even into the age of gunpowder. Uniforms can be really unique as well. Still like the ACW more, but being a southerner has a lot to do with that. |
Old Glory | 24 May 2017 4:23 p.m. PST |
Great diversity in the types of troops, both foot and mounted-- just one of the many reasons. Regards Russ Dunaway |
rvandusen | 24 May 2017 4:26 p.m. PST |
Uniforms and "rock, scissors, paper" armies. Everyone looks different, but they're pretty much using the same equipment and similar organizations. |
cavcrazy | 24 May 2017 4:31 p.m. PST |
The look of hundreds of beautifully painted figures with a high gloss covering a table……Stunning. |
Winston Smith | 24 May 2017 4:37 p.m. PST |
If you have to ask….. But don't ask me. I started and sold off 15mm British Napoleonics twice. I did it to be social with the groups I was in and got bored by them and went on to other stuff I was really interested in. |
wrgmr1 | 24 May 2017 4:52 p.m. PST |
I'm with rvandusen, rock, paper, scissors, and lots of great looking uniforms. It looks fantastic on the table. |
rustymusket | 24 May 2017 4:55 p.m. PST |
After beginning with AWI and ACW in later grade school, I discovered Napoleonic warfare in high school. The balance, as I see it, of horse foot and gun requires a commander to carefully put together the battle tactics. Larger armies required more flexibility in tactics. It is still somewhat formalized like earlier musket wars but has more variety in troop types and formations on the battlefield. |
Ed Mohrmann | 24 May 2017 4:58 p.m. PST |
The people of the era. There are sooooo many stories which have naught to do with fighting or diplomacy, but are absolutely fascinating. One of my favorites is Henry Paget, Lord Uxbridge (of 'By God sir, I've lost my leg' fame). Paget was married and the father of 8 children. Nonetheless, he eloped in 1809 with Lady Charlotte Wellesley, who was at the time married to the Iron Duke's brother, Henry. That led to a pistol duel at Wimbeldon, Paget against Colonel Henry Cadogan (the Lady's brother and there are sure a lot of Henrys in this tale). Anyway, Cadogan missed and Paget refused to return fire. Wellington was ordered to take Paget to France in 1815 and did so, but objected. Lots of wonderful historical personages and great stories in the Napoleonic era. |
Coyotepunc and Hatshepsuut | 24 May 2017 5:37 p.m. PST |
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robert piepenbrink | 24 May 2017 5:38 p.m. PST |
In some ways, ultimate in miniature warfare--a great variety of uniforms, organizations, tactical systems. A critical piece of history, and it plays well at multiple levels with lots of historical engagements to choose from at each level. By the Second Empire, tactical options are fewer and wars less well known. And forward of Second Empire, you sink into dismounted cavalry, cased colors and "uniforms the color of mud." You really can command armies--as opposed to just pointing them in the right direction--and historically important battles are still small enough to be visible on a tabletop. I've built a lot of armies and Lord willing will build more. But my first army--and I expect my last army will be smoothbore muzzle-loaders in bright uniform coats with standards unfurled. There's nothing else like them. |
USAFpilot | 24 May 2017 5:41 p.m. PST |
Big difference between Napoleonic and ACW warfare; a lot changed in the half century between the two. Napoleonics has a balance between infantry, cavalry, and artillery. By the time of the civil war we have replaceable parts, better guns, mass transportation in the form of rail, mass communication in the form of the telegraph. The ACW generals learned that Napoleonic tactics no longer worked. Near the end of the ACW, we see battle fields that foreshadow WW1 with long rows of trenches. Rifled barrels, breach loaded weapons with faster rates of fire advanced the defensive versus the Napoleonic bayonet charge. No longer a need for infantry to form square. Cavalry used on the flanks and as scouts, but no longer main battlefield role. Cavalry as a whole was on the decline and artillery was on the rise. |
Nine pound round | 24 May 2017 6:05 p.m. PST |
War was cruel and glorious, but not yet cruel and squalid. |
Bandolier | 24 May 2017 6:21 p.m. PST |
Mainly because of the hats. |
Sobieski | 24 May 2017 6:28 p.m. PST |
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79thPA | 24 May 2017 6:42 p.m. PST |
The Spanish, and the Austrians, and the Russians. |
optional field | 24 May 2017 6:52 p.m. PST |
Bright uniforms & the knowledge enough distance (historically) that the wars are not remembered as the inhumane slaughter of (for example) World War I. |
torokchar | 24 May 2017 7:19 p.m. PST |
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miniMo | 24 May 2017 8:18 p.m. PST |
So much more fun to paint than ACW! And so many more armies to choose from. |
21eRegt | 24 May 2017 8:26 p.m. PST |
Fascinating personalities, dynamic change, return to the old ways, huge battles with colorful armies, beautiful ships from 120 gunners down to cutters, beginning of modern war and the rise of nationalism. What's not to like? |
KSmyth | 24 May 2017 9:06 p.m. PST |
Because the War of 1812 is related to the Napoleonic Wars, and I can stake a minor claim. |
attilathepun47 | 24 May 2017 9:29 p.m. PST |
1. Virtually every nation in Europe (plus some of their colonies) involved at one time or another, so many choices for an army. 2. More than twenty years of nearly uninterrupted warfare with a huge number of historically significant battles to refight or serve as inspiration for hypothetical games. 3. Only insignificant differences in weapons ranges and rates of fire between nations, therefore simpler game combat charts and a more even chance between opposing forces of similar size. 4. Because of short weapon ranges and close-order tactics, a large battle can be gamed on a reasonably sized table area. 5. An interesting variety of unit types and colorful uniforms to choose from. 6. Although uniforms evolved during the wars, there was no important change in weaponry and only moderate evolution in tactics and organization, so a gamer with strict limits on time and/or money can build a force and use it for battles throughout the period, if not too fussy about trivialities in uniform details. |
Marc the plastics fan | 24 May 2017 10:18 p.m. PST |
Uniforms Leaders – Murat especially Perceived glamour of the period (a combination of the first two) Great figure availability Airfix, Esci, Italeri, HaT, Zvezda, ACtA, Strelets and Franznap – all have made wonderful figures to enable pretty much every nation and every day it to be recreated Waterloo – the books and films Humbrol Authentic colours – the Naps range was just so strong colour wise |
Sobieski | 25 May 2017 2:29 a.m. PST |
If Airfix figures are wonderful, what counts as mediocre, not to mention bad? |
Ssendam | 25 May 2017 4:05 a.m. PST |
Lots of unit types and roles on the battlefield. Colour Scale (battles big and small) Epic historically defining battles (in a short time period) Number of countries involved. |
Shark Six Three Zero | 25 May 2017 9:11 a.m. PST |
The variety is incredible. Light troops, grenadiers, line, dragoons, hussars, cuirassiers, lancers. The theaters were also numerous, Egypt to Russia to Spain. |
Frederick | 25 May 2017 9:26 a.m. PST |
Speaking as yet another ACW gamer who discovered the joy of Napoleonics later, great uniforms – and a chance for cavalry to do something while still on a horse! |
Marc the plastics fan | 25 May 2017 9:45 a.m. PST |
Sobi – Airfix made figures for a child's imagination – wonderful at the time. And the RHA still stand the test – dynamically posed and carefully detailed. What is bad or mediocre? Any pumpkin headed, sausage fingered, cartoonishly proportioned 28mm figure. I will leave it to you to choose your favourite… |
holdit | 25 May 2017 10:09 a.m. PST |
Uniforms Variety of unit types Tactical variety Low-tech weaponry Larger-than-life and often outright eccentric generals The Imperial Guard ('nuff said) Battlefields from sunny Spain to snowy Russia and most places in between |
Ooh Rah | 25 May 2017 10:47 a.m. PST |
Definitely the uniforms. Also, the availability of superb miniatures from multiple manufacturers. I started with ACW miniatures, got bored painting blue and gray, so decided to try something completely new with lots of options. I paint slower than molasses in January, but it's been fun. |
Flashman14 | 25 May 2017 11:45 a.m. PST |
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Tankrider | 25 May 2017 3:56 p.m. PST |
For the simple grandeur of the tabletop spectacle! :) |
Khusrau | 25 May 2017 5:12 p.m. PST |
More than two sides, better uniforms, and more tactical variety. |
Lion in the Stars | 25 May 2017 8:49 p.m. PST |
Sadly, I lost the copy of the original post I'd made to a topic like this several years ago, but it was something like: The lines of brightly colored uniforms executing parade-ground maneuvers to the skirl of pipes, bugles, and thump of drums, punctuated by the rippling pops of musketry and the thunder of artillery. In short, for the spectacle! |
mysteron | 26 May 2017 5:59 a.m. PST |
Colourful Uniforms ,flags and plenty of colourful cavalry . What nationality they are doesn't matter as they are all colourful. |
John Miller | 26 May 2017 6:04 p.m. PST |
In addition to the color, and many of the other features of the era mentioned above, I have always enjoyed the interaction between the three combat arms that seem to have been less in play in the previous and later eras. |
cosmicbank | 27 May 2017 5:25 a.m. PST |
Germans don't win just by showing up |
Ottoathome | 27 May 2017 2:17 p.m. PST |
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