I have a simple system which over the years have given great service on the tabletop. Player can call the generals Aggressive, Slow, Deceive, Masterful… what ever, but I prefer a simple scale of 0 to 3, rated with four leadership position categories (in order of seniority), and a percentage rating. For example: 2 / 1 / 1 / 1 .8 means this leader has Cat #1 value of 2, Cat #2 = 1, Cat #3 = 1, Cat #4 = 1, and the percentage value is .8 or 80%.
A "0" rating means the general was of poor quality, a court promoted no experience flunky, was ill, or always lost his battles. This rating gives no positive morale or combative values to their units. He is a "placeholder" in reality.
A "1" is a typical general rating. The vast majority of generals have this rating.
A "2" is a general known in history, performs action, and wins. Think Lannes, Davout etc.
A "3" is the exceptional general. Only a handful have this rating. Napoleon in his good years, Wellington is another.
The four leadership rank Categories:
Cat #1 is general who commanded Corps or greater formation historically sometime during 1790-1820 period. I go to 1820 for the South American affairs.
Cat #2 is the rating for Divisional or Brigade commanders. Senior generals with Cat #1 rating also have Cat #2 in their "stats" line for when they were lower rank commanders.
Cat #3 is the radius of morale and command rating for senior commanders with Cat # rating. In general it is one less than their Cat #1 value, with a few odd omissions or extra reduction, Our group scenario games give all generals a 9" tabletop radius to give morale (if seen), and if attached to unit, the value directly influences combative action (shock).
Cat #4 is the radius of morale and command rating for divisional / brigade commander….. even a regimental commander if required in scenario. Like Cat #3, this value is generally the same or one less to the Cat#2 value. Rare is the divisional or brigade commander who merits a "2" in that command rank level.
The Percentage value is the most important value. On a scale of .5 to 1 (50% to 100%), this is the value which a player must roll equal or less than to give the general full ratings. If the d10 dice roll (or determined by computer program) is above the % or .X value, that general has a bad day… for any reason you can conjure up…drunk, sick, wounded previously in duel,,,,, and all his Cat #1, #2, #3, and #4 values are reduced one step towards and could become "0" (zero). Almost all generals can have a bad day from a battlefield leadership viewpoint.
Now, how did I come about the ratings……
The calculation formula:
Start with giving a leader or general his Percentage rating of .7 Base. Maximum adjustments to the .7 base is +/- .2 so the rating scale ranges from .5 to .9 values. Only a rare notable commander would rate a "1" or 100% rating as they would have to be near god like to their army, for examples; Napoleon in his grand years, Wellington, Davout, Lannes.
ADD
+ .1 to value if Winning or Veteran commander of battles. Think 80% ratio battles are won for the winning determination.
+ .1 If the commander has major titles, major military awards, promoted often, mentioned in dispatches, etc in the biographical record.
+ .1 if commanded cavalry formations larger than a regiment, or technical training like artillery or engineering.
+ .1 if French commander in service of France.
SUBTRACT
- .1 Old age, born before 1740
- .1 Losing record of battles, no battlefield experience, court flunky type, fortress governors. Lost more than half their major battle appearances.
+ /- .1 for specific historical comments found in the historical biographical record. Sort of a fudge factor.
For example: Start with a base .7, this general is French so plus .1. Next he won a lot of battles or was on the victorious side so another +.1. He commanded a cavalry division in his career so +.1, he was promoted fast and won major military awards to his bravery and battlefield success for another +.1, he was born in 1769 so no age adjustment. Final value is .9 as the maximum adjustment is +/- 2 from the .7 base value. Only then some typical comments about his career and links to the country ruler, no comments of note.
Next…. did he command military formation larger than a division…. if yes then he needs all four category values. If he never commanded multiple divisional force, then just the Cat #2 and Cat #4 values mentioned above. Our example commanded a French Corps so all four category values required.
Start with 1 / 1/ 1 / 1 .9 values. If this general is known to history, and his percentage rating is .9 or higher, then unless the comments adjustment states negative information, this general is assigned the values of 2 / 1 / 1 / 1 .9. Note I didn't raise his divisional or brigade Cat #2 or #4 values higher but is a possible candidate if his early years success on the battlefield warrants it (his values would look as 2/2/1/1 .9)
Now…. assuming the base Cat # value is "1", to raise to "2" the commander would have to rank high on his percentage…ie.. .9 or higher. Also, that general will be known to history for his battlefield wins and actions. Above 2 value, or a "3" ranking, the leader must be nearly perfect or godlike leader.
To find the biographical records, google the commander's name, search in google in the same language if possible. There are entire written biographical sites covering the major nationalities. It takes time, but after you read about the first hundred general of France, you quickly sense and spot the exceptional generals, you recognize their name, and you remember the battles which they fought and led the army. My list number 1200 generals just for France alone. Austria, Prussian, Russian, British, Swedish, Saxony, Spain, ….. even a ReichArmee of 1790 commander list. As a bonus, if I come across a portrait of the general, I save and use for my scenario rosters to personalize them. Each general in the leadership list has his portrait if known to exist or found with internet search or scanned from old texts, embedded into the leadership list.
How are these values used? Basically, if the general or leader is senior ranked on the tabletop battlefield he uses the Cat #1 and Cat #3 values after using the percentage rating to see if he has a "bad day" adjustment. If he commands only a division or brigade on the tabletop…. a battle scenario dated during his early years, then just the Cat #2 and Cat #4 values. Our group rules uses a d10 system for morale and scaled unit rating so the general plus 0, 1, 2 etc value is added to the unit rating for morale determination or combative results. Thats a bigger story but above is how I have rated thousands of generals who commanded during the French Republican wars and the later Imperial period.
paints his first three ships from the starter set.
