Napoleonic rules

[steve_holmes_11]

Thanks for that Steve.  It makes sense to me, my units have sub units representing about 100 real men - 10 figures.  But this applies to all units from medieval, which is as far back as I go, through the 18th Century, Napoleonics to ACW.  I chose the 1:10 ratio I use because units look like battalions when they have about 60 figures in them.  With this number of figures in a unit you have to use several bases.  The idea of having to rebase is the stuff of nightmares!

I agree wholeheartedly with that last statement.
Life's too short (and there's too much unpainted lead) to start wasting it on rebasing.

[Chad]

I am still fundamentally 'old school'. Figure to man ratio and ground scale is what I prefer. Also given the inherent problem of the 'correct' representation of unit depth when basing, I have yet to understand the present trend to base figures two deep on a base for games where lines are the predominant formation.

[hammurabi70]

Other than the aesthetic why bother with figures at all?
I think that aesthetics is the ONLY reason to use figures.  Why not use counters instead of 28mm figures or any other scale?  I started wargaming in 1966 and at an early stage was using paper top-down unit markers when suitable Airfix figures did not exist.  In 2020 I acquired my very first Napoleonic figures - 2mm - for the very specific reason of using them for ZOOM gaming of Commands and Colors.  They replaced hurriedly created top-down paper armies.  For me the basing was quite simple: what fitted on the hex grid.  I think the same dilemma exists for other periods: for WWII are you fighting skirmish level or at a much higher unit level?  Pike & Shot have to cope with integrating different weapon types into one unit.  The popularity of Napoleonic warfare, it would seem, just increases the number of voices in the market place.

[steve_holmes_11]

I am still fundamentally 'old school'. Figure to man ratio and ground scale is what I prefer. Also given the inherent problem of the 'correct' representation of unit depth when basing, I have yet to understand the present trend to base figures two deep on a base for games where lines are the predominant formation.

Where there's a manufacturer sponsoring the rules, there's the opportunity to sell twice as many little men.


I think Naps is a good example of rules explosion.
We know an awful lot about the uniforms, weapons and even the progress of campaigns.
Gamers seem to all have their favorite pieces, and support rules that allow control over those aspects.

So you have different expressions of the essence of Napoleonics.
Some believe it lies in deploying your lines and delivering a crashing volley.
Some prefer to manoeuvre higher formations and fling mass at the point of decision.
Others want tight control over their artillery.
Others believe victory lies in timing the decisive cavalry charge.
Yet more will argue that the secret lies in preserving your grenadiers until the enemy is seen to waver.
And another bunch will try to convince you that the flank marching detachment was the real force of decision.


There are probably even more rules for the second world war, some with a focus on tanks, some on infantry, some for platoons, others for armies.
However basing isn't such an issue on the empty battlefield.

[Raider4]

Where there's a manufacturer sponsoring the rules, there's the opportunity to sell twice as many little men.

Cynic! 

[steve_holmes_11]

Cynic! 

I identify as a sceptic.

You'll find the cynics down the corridor on the left.
They're the ones nodding sagely as they tell you why Black powder irregulars have to form at least 4 ranks deep.

https://99u.adobe.com/articles/6412/skeptics-vs-cynics-problem-solving-with-a-bias-towards-resolution


For a long read on the underpinning "big ideas": https://thinkingdeeply.medium.com/absurdism-vs-nihilism-explanations-and-differences-of-both-philosophies-cf571efe75e9

[DecemDave]

I found it easier thinking about Nap basing   

[steve_holmes_11]

I found it easier thinking about Nap basing   

There "Naploeonic Basing made easy" - all part of the service. 

[Dragoon]

There are more players using Age of Eagles rules than any other regularly played rules than any other.
There is the rules book and a supplement to enable the rules to be played from Marlborough, Great Northern War, 1st Silesian War, seven Years War, Revolutionary Wars, Napoleonic Wars, Seven Week War, Sleswig Holstein War, Franko Prussian war, and early WWI. The ACW is covered by Fire and Fury.
Most of the set piece battles that aren't in the rule and supplement books are available free from Col.Bill Gray's website.
Www.fireandfury.com
Forum is fire and fury.io

If you mount 10mm. Figures 6 in 2 ranks on a 20mm wide base each base = 360 men for infantry. 25mm wide base for 3 (or 4) in 1 rank for cavalry they will match the 15mm figure basing. I've seen a game using the 15 and 10mm figures and no one noticed until after the game finished. All it means is your bases being the same size as a 15mm bases but your 8 base cavalry brigade will have 24 figures and your opponents brigade of 15mm figures will have 16 figures.

However if you want a smaller table you could halve the base sizes to 10mm wide for infantry, that's 4 figures in 2 ranks and 12.5mm wide for cavalry wit 2 figures each infantry figure will represent 90 men as will each cavalryman.
You can then fight all the large battles of the 19th century. By the way there are about 4000 users worldwide and a high percentage live in the UK.
There's even 1 in Rhyl 😎