"Starting Napoleonics" Topic

I would like to start collecting the Napoleonic wars, looking for about a division a side. Unfortunately, my available table is only 3 feet deep, and while I love the look of 28mm miniatures, I don't think that I have the space to game with a division per side. Would 15/18mm be a better route (as I don't want to paint scales smaller than this) ? Thanks for any advice.

I have thousands of 15mm figures. Started in the 80's with them as I had a small apartment. I just built on the scale and now 30+ years later, game just about everything from ancient to modern in that scale (40K excepted). We have used Age of Eagles of late and really enjoy the rules. We have gamed in 25mm (beautiful figures, crowded table) and the last few games in 15mm (looks just right).
The beauty of 15mm is that if you do get more space you can create bigger battles!
Enjoy whatever you do.
Cheers

I'm with Kev, though I started a little later. 15mm covers nearly every army of the period (I think you need to go REALLY obscure to not find one).

Age of Eagles is a great set, I've run Convention games where most players need little help after 2-3 turns. It really shines with a Corps per player, playing divisions will move quickly but you may find you lack options. A Corps takes up @ 3 feet of table frontage. Most games/scenarios will start with forces @ 18" apart (extreme artillery range)

Another feature of 15mm is that your terrain can be used for LOTS of periods.

There is nothing wrong with 15mm Napoleonics. Most gamers do it in that scale. I have thousands of them also.

I think you need to go REALLY obscure to not find one

And if you don't find, you may simply order to produce these.

take a look at the Napoleonic rules by Neil Thomas…. and maybe try 6mm figs ?

See Bob Cordery's Wargaming Miscellany blog for details of his soon to be released Portable Napoleonic Wargame book, which will contain rules for brigade, division and corps level battles.

18mm AB Miniatures from Australia are beautiful.

15mm has been my choice for 38 years, there does seem to be a growing faster range of 1/72 especially in plastics.
But either of those would still be my pick if starting over.

If you are limited to that table size I would consider 6mm

I agree with 15 mm as good for the table size you have. I would not know what rules would be for a division level game. In the rules "Napoleon's Battles", with 300 figures per side, you could put a corps level battle on a 3 foot X 4 foot table. "Age of Eagles" is a newer set but seems to be good. You might want to look at YouTube Little Wars review of Snappy Nappy. It might not be what you want now since it is army level, but it would be a good comparison. You will find a lot of help here!

15mm with perhaps DBN rules? That would cover the smaller side of the gaming space.

I have a tendency to like a lot of figures on the table and at a 3' depth would probably lean towards 6mm. I have gamed 6mm Naps before and feel like a 3'x4' table would be plenty. If you like the looks of the 15mm stuff though I'd say go that route. Or collect 28mm and just find a club or different place to play. Have fun whatever you end up with!

Napoleon's Battles works on tables as small as 3 x3 feet, depending on the scenario. Specifically written for 15mm.

While I only do 25/28's there's nothing at all wrong with 15's. if you want to go top of the line, use AB figures, supplemented with other manufacturers as needed…. and use 10mm or even 6 mm buildings in groups for villages, etc.

The alternate advice to find a group or club is good, too.

There are many rules sets that will allow you to game in a small area and/or with small numbers of figures – Neil Thomas's 1 hour wargames, Snappy Nappy, Blucher, DBN, Bob Cordery's Portable Napoleonic Wargame, Grand Armee, and quite a few others.

Like Cooldude said, whatever you do… have fun!

Napoleonic reference books take up more space than anything else in my hobby area, and cost more. Keep that in mind.

You could also do DBN with 25s if you want to.

There is the option of 10mm. If you play rules sets such as ESR or Blucher, this scale does give you the massive feel of the armies but not really compromising on the detail aspect I feel you want to have with your games and miniatures. You can use the 10mm figures but base them for 15mm rules sets and have a nice visually stunning game but with the best of both worlds. Check out ESRs site as they have rules and miniatures.

Thanks for all the advice. I think I am going to go for 15mm miniatures.

You could buy some of Nappycat's painted 6mm forces that he puts up for sale here. They seem to be reasonably priced. Each unit is on a 60mm x 30mm base. You would have to say that line is the default formation and use formation markers to note units that are in column or square.