Help me choose my next project

[Westmarcher]

The HoW forum has a number of WSS battle reports.

Meant to say "WAS" not "WSS." 

That actually raises a question, where in the line of battle would the flags and commander stand?

I couldn't definitively say but as an example of early 19th century practice, in Adkins's Waterloo Companion, there is a diagram of a British battalion in line which depicts the Colour Party right at the centre and within the body of the line (which makes sense considering that the colours are intended to be a rallying point). The officers and NCOs are distributed along the line and also behind the line in their respective companies.

[Chad]

I use 'Twilight of the Soldier Kings'.

Each base is 60x20, although I use deeper bases for artillery. Two bases for infantry and cavalry represent a Brigade.

For infantry each base has 12 figures two deep and represents a regiment. The command group of 4 figures sits in the centre of the base and consists of an Officer and Drummer in the front with 2 standard in the rear. The 2 standards have flags for the 1st and 2nd battalions.

For cavalry I use 5 figures per base with 4 troopers set towards the back of the base and an Officer in the centre set towards the front.

[John Cook]

Not entirely sure about the 18th Century but I can tell you what Napoleonic regulations say, and most of them originated in the 18th Century.  The Austrian Generals-Reglement 1769, for example, was in use until 1807. 
Colours were in the centre of the line, between the two central companies of the line.  Drummers were at the rear.  The supernumerary 'fourth rank' was formed by NCOs whose job was, amongst other things, to stop soldiers falling out of the ranks, keeping dressing, that sort of thing.  Officers led from the front when the unit was advancing, they moved to the rear if it was defending.  All regulations are pretty much the same.  Here is a rather good Knotel painting.  Its been a long time since I posted an image so I hope it works

[mmcv]

I use 'Twilight of the Soldier Kings'.

Each base is 60x20, although I use deeper bases for artillery. Two bases for infantry and cavalry represent a Brigade.

For infantry each base has 12 figures two deep and represents a regiment. The command group of 4 figures sits in the centre of the base and consists of an Officer and Drummer in the front with 2 standard in the rear. The 2 standards have flags for the 1st and 2nd battalions.

For cavalry I use 5 figures per base with 4 troopers set towards the back of the base and an Officer in the centre set towards the front.

That's quite a neat setup, similar to what I was thinking, though was thinking of maybe having the officer out front on a slightly deeper base, maybe 30 or 40. Undecided at his point.

I couldn't definitively say but as an example of early 19th century practice, in Adkins's Waterloo Companion, there is a diagram of a British battalion in line which depicts the Colour Party right at the centre and within the body of the line (which makes sense considering that the colours are intended to be a rallying point). The officers and NCOs are distributed along the line and also behind the line in their respective companies

Not entirely sure about the 18th Century but I can tell you what Napoleonic regulations say, and most of them originated in the 18th Century.  The Austrian Generals-Reglement 1769, for example, was in use until 1807. 
Colours were in the centre of the line, between the two central companies of the line.  Drummers were at the rear.  The supernumerary 'fourth rank' was formed by NCOs whose job was, amongst other things, to stop soldiers falling out of the ranks, keeping dressing, that sort of thing.  Officers led from the front when the unit was advancing, they moved to the rear if it was defending.  All regulations are pretty much the same.  Here is a rather good Knotel painting.  Its been a long time since I posted an image so I hope it works

The differences in position on defence and attack make sense and could be why I've sometimes seen conflicting information. So any troops that were in march attack/advancing/etc would have the officer out front while any of those in a firing position likely have the officer behind. That sounds like a reasonably sensible system then. I could represent a regiment with the colour or colours in the ranks, the officers out front and the drummers behind. I'll play with layouts once I get some figures, likely buy an army pack to give me a good mix. Will probably want most/all troops in the march attack pose and use some of the other poses as markers as required.

That picture has come up a few times, I wasn't entirely sure though if it was taking a bit of artistic license, but seemingly not!

[John Cook]

That sounds like a reasonably sensible system then.
That picture has come up a few times, I wasn't entirely sure though if it was taking a bit of artistic license, but seemingly not!

It was a very sensible solution!  When I say officers moved to the rear, they moved to positions in the line, rather than in front of it. Where exactly depended on their appointment, but that sort of granularity is not really relevant in a wargames context. Similarly they took up different positions when a battalion was going through the various evolutions, depending on which evolution it was.  Herbert Knotel is a pretty reliable artist, he produced a lot of paintings between the wars mainly, as I understand. it for German army officers' messes.

[mollinary]

It was a very sensible solution!  When I say officers moved to the rear, they moved to positions in the line, rather than in front of it. Where exactly depended on their appointment, but that sort of granularity is not really relevant in a wargames context. Similarly they took up different positions when a battalion

It was a very sensible solution!  When I say officers moved to the rear, they moved to positions in the line, rather than in front of it. Where exactly depended on their appointment, but that sort of granularity is not really relevant in a wargames context. Similarly they took up different positions when a battalion was going through the various evolutions, depending on which evolution it was.  Herbert Knotel is a pretty reliable artist, he produced a lot of paintings between the wars mainly, as I understand. it for German army officers' messes.

It was a very sensible solution!  When I say officers moved to the rear, they moved to positions in the line, rather than in front of it. Where exactly depended on their appointment, but that sort of granularity is not really relevant in a wargames context. Similarly they took up different positions when a battalion was going through the various evolutions, depending on which evolution it was.  Herbert Knotel is a pretty reliable artist, he produced a lot of paintings between the wars mainly, as I understand. it for German army officers' messes.

It was a very sensible solution!  When I say officers moved to the rear, they moved to positions in the line, rather than in front of it. Where exactly depended on their appointment, but that sort of granularity is not really relevant in a wargames context. Similarly they took up different positions when a battalion was going through the various evolutions, depending on which evolution it was.  Herbert Knotel is a pretty reliable artist, he produced a lot of paintings between the wars mainly, as I understand. it for German army officers' messes.

was going through the various evolutions, depending on which evolution it was.  Herbert Knotel is a pretty reliable artist, he produced a lot of paintings between the wars mainly, as I understand. it for German army officers' messes.

The Picture is actually by Carl Rochling, who died in 1920. Herbert Knotel, son of the famous military artist Richard Knotel, also did a lot of military painting,  and research into the history of military uniforms. He served in World War One,  and I think finally died in the 1960s. . 

[John Cook]

So it is.  Carl Rochling is also a pretty reliable artist.  Yes, I got my Knötels mixed up.  Teach me to rely on memory in future.  Richard best known, amongst other things, for the 18 volume Uniformenkunde series of plates, his son Herbert, a lesser artist, in my view, who produced material based mainly on secondary material, who is best known for Handbuch der Uniformkunde and the illustrations used in Elting's Napoleonic Uniforms.

[mmcv]

Armies of the Seven Years War arrived today, it's a good size book with what looks like lots of information. Also got the HoW rules book so that give me some weekend reading.

[mmcv]

Not a fan of the 7YW, but this is a useful book for uniforms and organisation of 17 nations, as well as some OOBs. Got to love a book with OOBs. 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Armies-Seven-Years-War-Commanders/dp/0752459236/ref=sr_1_2?crid=7LGLDM1GA339&keywords=armies+of+the+seven+years+war&qid=1659197115&sprefix=armies+of+the+seven+years+war%2Caps%2C97&sr=8-2

This was a great recommendation, thanks, really good collection of information so far. Pulls a lot of disparate information into one place for easy consumption. If anyone else is interested it's much cheaper here https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/313743356093 and they have a lot of other good books for historical wargamers.

[fsn]

You are more than welcome.