"Rules that cover the use of topography well" Topic

Some commanders were masters at using topography to their advantage in order to conceal the strength (or weakness) of their forces. Is there a good set of rules appropriate for 19th century warfare that takes this aspect of tactics into account?

unfortunately I have yet to see one that does allow players to have near perfect helicopter recon even when using a index hidden unit card information system

If you mean rules that reward a player who is better at that than their opponent, then I suppose regardless of rules, you need hidden movement and an umpire.

If you mean rules that can give appropriate advantage to the side that was historically better at exploiting topography / concealment, or better at coping with the unknowns and less paralysed by uncertainty about the enemy's strength and locations, I suggest you try a set that uses a unit activation mechanism that can penalise the more hesitant side, and represent a dithering Bazaine or McClellan adequately.

(Yes, I do have one particular set in mind.) ;-)

Chris

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

Though I don't play it Crossfire seems to have a good sense of dead-ground.

link

Crossfire is all about terrain. Woods, rough, rock fields, boulder fields, thorn fields, in season field, out of season fields, streams, buildings, fortifications, walls, hedges, depressions, hills, contour lines, crests. Crossfire has it all. A 4' x 4' table will have about 50 terrain pieces on it. A 6'x 4' will have about 75 pieces.

My Crossfire After Action Reports have lots of examples of tables. All with a high density of terrain.

The attacker primarily uses terrain provide covered approaches for their troops are visible troops. Although visible to the enemy players the troops are often invisible to the enemy troops.

Only the defender has an opportunity to use terrain to conceal the strength (or weakness) of their forces. Crossfire uses hidden deployment for this. And once hidden they get ambush fire and surprise assaults.

Out of the box Crossire is is 20th Century but it can work for 19th Century. I have done a A Crossfire Variant for the New Zealand Wars called Tupara

Fantastic stuff Balagan. Gives the impression that every inch of terrain is fought for and that frontal assault is not a good option.

Wonder if there is a Modern/Cold War Hot variant?