"Where to place command figures" Topic

For a typical unit deployed in Line, where should I properly place the command figures? Colours, drummers, officers, etc. Somewhere once upon a time I had a very nice diagram of how it all went. Organization by company, including some of teh basic evolutions for movement and formation changes.

For ease of play, I place the command stand in the center of the Line, head of the column, and center mass when they rout. This may not be historically accurate, but it facilitates ease of play.

Well said DJCoaltrain.

Front and centre! :)

In some games I have played command stands are on one end of the line of each unit to show where one unit ends and the next begins. This is especially helpful in 18th century european warfare.

I'm with DJ. We don't have enough officers in our battalions to put them everywhere they were historically--unless you have a drummer or so per company, Dave? My "default" is 24 castings of which 21 are rank and file and one each officer, standard-bearer and musician.

If I have a choice flag, officer and musician in center and NCOs on flanks, if I have them. Many units do not have the full complement of command figures.

Front and centre looks best, in reality of course they would be behind the centre of the line…

Or occasionally ahead! (You Rogues! Do you want to live forever?)

In the British army in the 18th Century, colors were deployed in the head of the column when in column of march, and in the center of the line when deployed. Normally, the colours were in the first rank, with the colour guard (sergeants armed with halberds) immediately behind them. When engaged in combat, the colors would step back behind the firing line.

As noted, middle of the unit in line, at the head in column

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Okay – maybe the last unit is not quite so historical

Same as others, center of the line.

Front and center it is then. I usually follow this as the command stand is a helpful reference point rules and measuring wise.

I cheerfully ignore the fact that colors were frequently not carried in battle.

I use two flags and place them in the center. I place drummers on each end stand on both flanks as this is where drummers were placed. I also put an NCO on the end stand. Adding some officers and file closers at the back of the stand creates the illusion of a third rank of figures.

I love this method for rules with static unit sizes.

I usually play rules with stand removal, so I just have a single command stand with drummer/musician, officer, flagger(s), etc.

If based by Grand-division:

Subaltern:
- right flank
- firing: in-line facing down front rank
- other posture: half-step ahead

Drummer:
- right-flank
- covering subaltern
- supernumery rank

Senior NCO:
- left-flank
- supernumery rank

Troops:
- Two ranks
- front rank whole
- second-rank – semi-whole

Colour-party:
- Everyone:
- – Colour-bearers:
- – - Front rank
- – Escort:
- – - Second rank
- Russians:
- – Colour bearers:
- – - One in front rank left flank
- – - One in second rank left flank
- – Escorts:
- – - right flanking colours

From Duffy, diagram of a Prussian battalion of eight platoons showing NCOs, musicians, etc.: