"Absolute Emperor" Topic

I was reading an excellent blog earlier today by a guy named Norm (his online name?). It was a fair and balanced review of AE, but I noticed in the comments that there are many Napoleonic gamers that are opposed to being on Facebook.

So, I'm taking steps to make myself accessible outside of FB. Step one, return to TMP.

So, I've read commentary here on a couple of thread and am now ready to answer any questions you may have.

Got a link to the blog article?

TMP is good, but you may also consider IO:Group as well, its similar to the old Yahoo Group.

I have a copy of the rules and am beginning my analysis, the focus looks very good. I will probably have to get a pdf copy so i can quickly search for rules, but the printed rules looks rather nice.

Ok, so trying to decipher the OP …

Am I right to deduce Boyd Bruce that you are somehow connected to Absolute Emperor – you are the author? Publisher?

AE equals Absolute Emperor, got that. And these are new Napoleonic Rules. From memory of a post a few weeks ago these are army level, large battle rules.

You or somebody else have been promoting them on Facebook and you've now come here to answer questions about them?

I think I'd second the suggestion to put a link to the blog article. I'd also suggest that you might want to make a post about what differentiates these rules from all the others in that category. Whats different? Whats the unique perspective of these rules? Why should we buy/play them?

And then, yes, to promote them to the Napoleonic wargaming fraternity probably give some thought to where that group spends its online time. Think about the demographics of the audience, are they likely to be Facebook users or scorners? Where would this group likely get its wargaming information? And then go there.

(And if its here then think about approaching the owner of this site for his perspective on how you could promote these rules here? What he's comfortable with? Does he have a news section? How do you get space in that? etc, etc)

I am indeed the author. I posted here, as these are indeed Napoleonic rules. Why Facebook? I have a FB group mainly because that is where people can readily interact with me and each other to contribute to the rules in a positive way. I know there are many non-FB users that play Napoleonics, and I'm here to give equal access to those folks here, now.

I have been in this game since the 70s, and yes I am well aware of the demographics of our community. There are very few new people moving into Napoleonics these days, and frankly I find it a shame. Skirmish games make the barrier to entry so easy that rand and flank games suffer while the hobby industry overall is booming. These new potential gamers want to play, but they don't want to spend years painting enough miniatures to play even small battles. That is the driving force behind Absolute Emperor: Allow new people into the hobby while allowing old gamers a chance to play a quality game without bringing out their entire collection.

I have been here on TMP for years on and off.

Now, for the link:

link

And, I am here to answer any questions the good folks here may have.

Rome Bruce, thanks for the link and for offering aid. My copy of the rules arrived last week. Congrats, as they read well and look great. Having no FB or other social media handles, boards like this one, or publisher home pages, would be the places for me to follow discussions etc. The demographic issue is interesting, and I think you are correct in broad essentials, and so, making efforts to lower barriers for the young or for people generally with less disposable income is also welcome in this booming and thoroughly enjoyable hobby.

Hello Have the book but has anyone managed to find a QRS on the Osprey site? Not listed in the Gaming Resources section. Regards Alan

QRS on Osprey site now. Regards Alan

I liked the rules that much I played 2 games on the first day I got the rules and returned them for a full refund the following day. That is how good I thought they were

Reason?

I have a printed copy and a pdf version, so far they look good. I normally pull rules apart, create an examples document and any game aids i deem may be required and once i have a good grasp of the rules, give my fellow gamers a game. The quickest way to get turned off a set of rule is try to play a game with insufficient knowledge of the rules.

My initial comment is these rules are very much designed for new players. This can be a bit of a turn off for experienced players as its unusual, but it is the correct rules format. The idea is to grow the hobby, not provide new rules for an existing, and aging, population of gamers.

I do find the way the scenarios are created is interesting, the system i use for a number of different rules is a bit too complex, so i may steal some of those scenario ideas, especially the maps.

The hobby can be grown using paper models-that works very well for younger people beginning the hobby-or older ones. What you can't grow is a desire to paint figures. For that, you can show them your armies, and if it excites emulation, great. What I suggest is more hobbyists donating their time for school demonstrations and seminars (any level). That is the best way of all. As for rules, computer rules like Carnage & Glory are under-utilized by and large, and the best way to keep the flow and the detail manageable in demonstrations.

Norm is his real name. His blog output is quite good. He also cross-posts on Consimworld.com.

Questions for the author. After playing through a few games the following issues have arisen. Can you provide some guidance with these?

Very Large Divisions – are these still Halted from 2 shooting hits and degraded by 5 or does another threshold apply?

1812 Russian special rules – Infantry ignore one hit received from shooting "in the first engagement". Is an engagement just once a game or every time they are engaged by fire. If the latter with most units rolling only 2 dice for shooting they would be all but invulnerable.

Combat modifiers – regardless of modifiers a unit may always roll 1D6 for firing. Does the same apply to close combat?

Regards Alan

So, in the absence of any author comments I will just make my own amendments.

Alan,
Sorry for the delay.
Very large Divisions and exhausted are halted just like all other divisions.
1812 Russians only ignore in the first instance of coming under fire.
Yes, a unit can always roll 1d6 to its front in combat and shooting.

The one thing I encourage players to do is to modify the rules as they see fit. On VLD for example, I still think it is the degradation and loss of command and control that determine the staying power of a unit and not the number of battalions. However, some may feel that extra battalions mean extra stamina. I defer, as I'm not all knowing.

Pfmodel:
"My initial comment is these rules are very much designed for new players. This can be a bit of a turn off for experienced players as its unusual, but it is the correct rules format. The idea is to grow the hobby, not provide new rules for an existing, and aging, population of gamers."

Exactly! No one who enjoys hour long turns of CLS or Empire will like these rules. I'm fine with that. But no one playing CLS or Empire, for NB for that matter are going to entice non-Napoleonic gamers into our world of shakos and eagles.

Rome Bruce. Thanks for the response. I have drawn up a list of minor amendments for local play where units are brigades. I have treated Large Divisions/Brigades as in your response but with an additional D6 in combat and shooting. Regards Alan

Alan,

What amendments have you made to play with the units as brigades?

This would be my preferred scale to play also in 15mm as I have armies for Waterloo and Borodino already organized at the brigade level.

Thanks

Kim

Kim Sorry about the delay in responding . My server has been playing up. I have a page or so of amendments (don't panic…much of it is explanatory as to what the changes will achieve. What email should I send it to ? Regards Alan

Kim Sorry about the delay in responding . My server has been playing up. I have a page or so of amendments (don't panic…much of it is explanatory as to what the changes will achieve. What email should I send it to ? Regards Alan

kimryoung@yahoo.com

Thanks

Kim

Kim Amendments and some scenarios sent to the email. Hope you enjoy them Regards Alan

Thank you Alan!

I think this can make a good brigade level game that can have more appeal then the division level the rules where written for.

Kim

Hi

Any chance you can post a link to the QRS please? cant see it on Osprey site.

we are having a run out with the rules next weekend at Durham WG

cheers

John Can't seem to add the link but if you go the Osprey site. Select games from the LHS dropdown menu. Scroll down and and them select Gaming Resources from the LHS menu. That will take you to all the resources for all the published wargames. AE is the first listed. Regards Alan

Thanks Alan, I found it – not most straight forward to do, but got there in the end

link

cheers

I play mainly 6mm now. I have played NP and played alot of Empire when I was younger. In defence of Empire about 32 years ago I was 18 at a local club and the older guys all had the rules down so well that games went by like a breeze and were fun multiplayer affairs. Well 30 plus years later those guys are gone and I decided to get into Napoleonics again. I looked at a lot of rules and have decided on Absolute Emperor. I think they are very well written. i also think they will play in a way that I can talk other people into trying them out that are new to the period and the game can be picked up easily. I hope the author in the future decides to put out a second book of scenarios! I think it would be awesome but albeit a lot of work for the Author :)

But I have read them and am planning armies in 6mm for them. I really am excited as there are so many rules out there and they all have something I cant stand. But these seem to have passed my test of an easy going, non complicated good feel of a battle with playable rules. I personally like big battles. I went to 6mm mainly because I do not like multi brigade battles. I want the entire battle :)

Thanks again for writing the rules I hope they do well for you.