"A trip down memory lane…" Topic

I have just put up a battle report of my first Napoleonic battle, I had Prussians against the French, using Shako 2 rules.

link

Well done, sir.

Very nice write up and great photos!

Our group plays Shako 2 and have done for a number of years. As one of the play testers of Shako 2, I would like to help you a tad with the musketry rules.

Shooting from a non-staggered unit in line within 6" if you roll a 5 or 6 you can get a kill on your opponent. If your unit has not moved in the previous turn and is shooting point blank against a charging unit, it gets a +1 to the roll as well, so a 4,5,6 will cause a kill.

In all circumstances except for Russian regulars, 2nd rate (Landwehr/militia) and unreliable troops, a roll of 6 causes 2 kills.

If your unit is staggered it shoots with a -1 to the dice.

We've had games where a unit of line that was stationary will stand and shoot at light cavalry charging it with a +1. The chance of causing a stagger roll of 3,4,5,6 and a kill 4,5 or two kills with a 6, is pretty good. Then they get to roll melee with a +1 or 2 because of the cavalry being staggered and more kills

You stated that when your unit was in melee with 2 French units even though you rolled well, they still won and you unit was destroyed. Remember you have to roll morale for your unit after the melee, so if it is a 4 morale it's only if you roll a 5 or 6 it is destroyed. Unless the difference in rolling was greater than your morale/fighting value?

Shako has a Yahoo group for questions as well.

Glad to hear you are planning on playing Shako 2, I love it!

Cheers,
Thomas

@Ragbones thanks.

@wrgmr1 I did like the way the rules worked in the game, as I said it was my first time playing a Napoleonic battle, the rules seemed to give a good feeling of that type of battle.

The guy showing me the game had not played many times so was checking rules during the game, I guess he got the volley fire slightly wrong.. to be fair it didn't spoil it for me, it just seemed a bit odd.

Everything else in the game felt right.

"You stated that when your unit was in melee with 2 French units even though you rolled well, they still won and you unit was destroyed. Remember you have to roll morale for your unit after the melee, so if it is a 4 morale it's only if you roll a 5 or 6 it is destroyed. Unless the difference in rolling was greater than your morale/fighting value?"

The two units of French started on 6 each and then he rolled two 6's my unit was on 5 and I rolled 4 ( I think ) so not good for my Prussian infantry.

I don't have a copy of the rules yet, so can't check anything… but they are on my list of things to buy!!

Lonely Gamer – "The two units of French started on 6 each and then he rolled two 6's my unit was on 5 and I rolled 4 ( I think ) so not good for my Prussian infantry."

So the two French units were guards? Which is a 6. Yours was a grenadier or elite rated 5?
He has 12, you have 9 after die rolls, right? Difference of 3. You should have rolled a morale roll of 6 for unit to be destroyed.

If you need a set of rules, let me know. Our group has extra copies and can sell you one at a good price?

Cheers,
Thomas