"Rulesystems " Topic

Hi all

I have declared that 2018 shall be my Napoleonic year. I have tried many times before in all the different scales BUT now THIS TIME I will do it!

But I want to play a battalion system were one unit is a battalion och regiment of horse or one artillery battery. But since I am just starting this up I don't want to paint 500 miniatures just to get a game going. My intention is to do the war between Sweden and Russia 1808-1809. I will try to get 3 battalions done per side and one battery a side. I have Lasalle, Napoleon at War, Napoleons Battles and General dīBrigade.

Any suggestions about rules were forces in this size could work relatively well. I know it is small numbers but the idea is of course to expand the armies as time goes. At the moment I am going for Lasalle partly because they had lists for Swedish troops.

/Conny

A three battalion game will not be very interesting in my mind. At those numbers, there is no independent maneuvering. The best approach at that scale is probably treating Sharp Practice units as companies and approaching it as a big skirmish.

You might like to try the approach where it is just stands that determine a battalion (my rules use 6 infantry figs on 3-4 stands per battalion. You then can field a corps or several divisions with 1/2 the figs.

Try the Brigade Game in Paddy Griffith's Napoleonic Wargaming For Fun (Ward Lock, 1980, but republished in John Curry's History of Wargaming Project.

Lasalle is great for smaller games like that. That is what i started out with as I slowly added more units to my collection. It's fun and easy to get a grip on.

I agree with Mick. Do more units with fewer figures for a better game and to encourage you to keep painting. I do this all the time. For WW2 I started with just 2 figures per base and over time built up to 4 or 5 per base. Once the base was done I did the flocking and grass. Allowed me to field larger units with very few figures. (Games did not look all that great at the start, but they were FUN and I could actually play).

And there's nothing wrong with filling in with paper armies or counters while you get there.

I am, as usual, the resident heretic. Three battalions of about 24-36 figures each about 24 cavalry and 2-3 guns per side--maybe 200 castings total--makes an interesting game with, say, Charge! False Against Steady Troops or suchlike. Base them individually, and keep painting. As numbers increase, make movement trays with cardboard and matchsticks to speed up the game--and then later to try out other rules. Mind you, there's no reason six figures can't be a company one game and a battalion the next.

A lot depends on scale. I'm thinking 1/72 and up. If you're 15mm or under, just be careful to use bases big enough to handle. But in any event, try not to lock yourself into a rules-specific basing until you're sure you'll want to stick with those rules for a while.

Thanks all for solid and good arguments on how to proceed. I want to recreate battles form the war and not just toss a bit of models on the board and have a go. My plan is to use the battle at Juutas as a starting point and in that battle there were only 3 battalions a side and a battery per side. But my idea now is that I will splitt the battalions in half battalions and therefore have 7 units a side.
But again thanks for all the input on the matter.

/Conny

As I have on many occasions, I recommend Carnage & Glory II computer moderated rules. Great for small engagements and especially for solo play. You also mentioned having Napoleon at War. I have played it at the divisional level and got a good game as well.

Half battalions (or wings) did get used on occasion. I think 7 elements will be vastly more interesting, The battle you described should really be termed a "combat"if one wants to get pedantic.

Ha ha ha Your right Mick! It was more of a little skirmish with about 1500 men a side. But since Sweden claimed victory we were fast to uppgrade it to a "Battle" to boost moral in the home country and in the army. But it gives me a good back dropp to work against.

Over the Hills would work taking that approach link