"What's different about the War of 1812?" Topic

Just looking at getting into this period.
What should a ruleset do that makes this period stand apart from the AWI (or the European theatre of the Napoleonic wars)?

For Napoleonics, the small scale of the battles.

Also vs. European Napoleonics: very limited cavalry, not infrequent gunboat support, often partially-forested terrain, …

Native Americans appeared on both sides (esp. around the Great Lakes), and need special rules to deal with their tactics and battlefield effects. There was nothing regular or disciplined about them, and they didn't really use "formations" or even operate in large groups, but neither were they always a poorly lead, fragile rabble like most militias. AWI rules often have special rules to deal with them; Napoleonics rules usually don't.

- Ix

If you are talking about the US War of 1812 I think there is more emphasis on Naval and/or Amphibious operations which many standard Napoleonic and AWI rules tend not to cover and as skeptic said limited cav and smaller engagements and skirmishes

A interesting array of regiments and troop types. In addition to Indians you get volunteers and militia as well as regulars. Shortage of supplies and cloth means variations in uniforms and colors of coats. Head gear could be stove pipe and tome stone shakos and top hats.

Battle are reasonable sized which fit well in tables. Very tactical in scale. Little cavalry. And you get rockets!

I use an AWI set modified for 1812 for the last 15 years. I felt that "The British are Coming" fit the mold with a few modifications for the period. Chris Hughes, of Sash and Saber, turned me on to these rules and helped sort out the modifications.
Thanks Chris.

I will be using these rules at Enfilade in WA over memorial weekend.

We used a casting equals 15 men for larger force battles. It allowed unit of 30 men to 60 men to be represented.
Skirmish actions are just that and easy to handle as a stand alone, not part of a larger battler, Action.

caliver books/partisan press do a wonderful scenario book for the period

RAOldham1812; Chris, is it possible to get a copy of the modified "The British are coming"?
Thanks
BTW what figure ratio do the rules use?

IronDuke, I think they are out of print. Chris had loaned me his copy and I found a copy back around 2005 but havent seen a copy since.
I try to keep the ratio about 15 or 20 to 1. Its all 28mm OG for the most part. I will be happy to answer any question about the modifications. I like to keep it simple to a point.

For a "starter" battle I would highly recommend playing the capture of Detroit.

Line them up and roll for the white flag. On any roll of 1 to 6 the American side surrenders.

Lots of skirmishes as well as brigade and division size battles. Ohio or NY raiders riding through the Ontario countryside pursued by the locals after burning mills and running off cattle. And probably vice versa (although we Canadians don't talk about that.)

It's perfect for tabletop wargames with figures: small forces, not much cavalry or artillery, variety of troop types/uniforms – and both sides (apart from French Canadians and Native Americans) spoke English, so sources pose few problems.

Both sides had some successes. The casus belli is no longer a hot political or moral issue, so one can happily play either side.

One can use one's Peninsular and/or Waterloo British; blue coated French or Prussians can proxy for American regulars if you don't want/can't afford to raise a new army if it's not your main period.