"Napoleonic wargames rules "Controlling the chaos"" Topic

I have been playing these rules since the start of lockdown , and i was wondering if anyone else was using them ?

It looks like you have asked this before, Montbrun. I have never heard of these rules, but found them on the Elite miniatures website. The charts looked quite nice and relatively simple to use. Something I am always glad to see. Can you tell us something about your experience with these rules?

Always interested in new ideas and innovation, new perspectives, so I'm with Tortorella, what can you tell us about these rules Montbrun? What do they offer that you feel is different to other rules? What makes them interesting?

Never heard of them.

The rules are written by Pete Morbey of Elite Miniatures and used for his own battles. As such I would guess they are designed for big battles with big battalions and no doubt owe something to Peter Gilder's Grand Manner rules (as many will know, some of Gilder's Connoisseur range was designed by Pete Morbey).

Though I've not used the rules myself (currently use General d'Armee), like others on this post, I'd be very interested in the views of those who had. In particular, I'd like to know what the command and control mechanisms were like.

Actually they are not just for big battalions, big games I have been using them for a divisional sized action of eight battalions of infantry aside a battery of artillery and a brigade of cavalry, this idea that you need a 27 foot table to play them is a myth , my figures are from Elite miniatures so they are the correct size i.e French infantry battalions are 36 figures , my Prussian and Russian are 32 , the cavalry units are 24 figures strong but you could use smaller sized units , but that would affect their morale
and no i have not asked this question before , this is the first time i have written anything on TMP

GDA command and control is different , I have played these rules as well , but in COC clearly each force has a brigade General in charge of anything from 2 to 4 battalions or more , then a divisional commander in charge of as many divisions as you see fit, then if there are a number of divisions a corp commander and so on, each commander as a number of ADCs which add to the morale of the unit it is in base to base contact with, in addition the C in C if he is within 12 inches can add to their morale as well, the ADCs spread his area of influence to other units they are in base to base contact with, under his command, but there is a downside , if the unit is under fire or in melee their is a chance the commander or ADC can be rendered hors de combat Its the firing phase that is really different to any other rules i have played

Units have, depending on their quality a number of controlled volleys they can fire before the firing breaks down to firing at will,
An umber of average dice are thrown (4-1) depending on the units quality. After the controlled volleys have been fired the quality of fire will downgrade by one dice per move to 1 average dice. Controlled volleys can be reinstated when the unit has been stationary and not under volley fire for one move .
The average volley dice are thrown for each unit. This total, plus or minus volley factor (Moved, unformed , smoke etc), is the the dice throw total. This total on the casualty table, along with the number of figures firing , will give the casualties caused on the enemy.
First volleys are given a factor in particular the first volley at close range, which can be quiet devastating , as it was in reality

Thanks for the summary Montbrun.

If you've used In the Grand Manner rules then Controlling the Chaos will be familiar as Peter Morbey says since that is what this new set is based off of. I've read through them a number of times and the rules seem to be fine. Just waiting for an opportunity to have a game or two with them.

I like the limited controlled volleys idea and fire at will, then reinstating the volleys. A lot to track in a big battle though. Thanks, Montbrun

regarding the limited volleys and keeping track of them the rules come with a first class Roster sheet where all that, is just a tick box , I am not a fan of roster sheets but i have used them and like them a lot.
some of the charges systems are good too , if infantry charge infantry in the open, for instance , in reality these two bodies of troops would never come into contact , either the defender would run or the charger would stop and engage in a short range fire fight, this is reflected in the rules, you have to dice for the quality of volley , which makes all the difference if you want to stop them
If they are defending a linear obstacle or a town its different, again in a town you have to attempt to "Break in " before you can melee , the defence value of the cover downgrades with each attack,
I have played ITGM rules but controlling the chaos is a far different game I find it much slicker and easier to use , none of those incriminates for charges and melees, no reinforcing melees either , and as i have said before Generals and what happens to them play a much bigger role, in one of my games l lost two units from my left flank brigade because , the General was hit during a fire fight, the unit he was attached to had to do a morale check for its casualties lost it by one , its minus one if the General attached is shot down while attached to them, they broke and crashed into the unit deploying behind them , unforming them