http://www.sammustafa.com/honour-forums/general-discussion-announcements/war-to-the-death-coming-soon/?PHPSESSID=f8117adddb41d744d14a1e3395e0fff6

First expansion set for Blucher covering the Peninsula War.

Feeling Giddy  

No excuse now for another Napoleonic Range - Spaniards

This wants me to have a go at at Blucher

Much more interesting

Excellent, that's the period of Napoleoics I want to do next.
(Since I have the figures, I might have to get the rules!)
What size are the bases Nosher?

Looking at the cards in the link it shows Bavarians and Cuirassiers in Spain, and also brigades deployed in 2 lines.  Can't argue with any of that can you?  

I wonder if it will change the use of artillery, or will it still use the massed battery method?   (For the British?  )

I suppose it depends on what you want out of your games, but blocks of British line on a base with massed artillery does not ring my bell I am afraid.  

(i recognise I will probably be burnt as a heretic for mentioning historical accuracy and not trending with the latest Nappy fad.  ) (If I was really piccy I would mention the plumes for Bavarians and Cuirasseurs are on the wrong side   )

I cant argue with the Bavarians but perhaps they are Badenese Infantry with the blue done too light?

They certainly do look Bavarian though.
There were actually Cuirassiers in Spains, as the 1st Provincial Heavy Cavalry, which were reconstituted into the 13th Cuirassiers and sent to the Danube in 1809. Moreover the unit stats and costs on that card are of French Dragoons and not of Cuirassiers so I don't know whats going on there, especially as they are labeled 'Late' which implies after 1809.

The cards are just depictions I'm not sure arguing with them being in 2 lines is anything more than pedantry.

Furthermore just like the normal game of Blucher I can't see any reason you couldn't use all your artillery as attachments to Line units instead of massed as artillery batteries.

Quote from: mad lemmey on 06 September 2015, 08:06:22 AM
Excellent, that's the period of Napoleoics I want to do next.
(Since I have the figures, I might have to get the rules!)
What size are the bases Nosher?

The cards are 9x6cm.

I've stuck with my 30x30 bases using four bases to represent the unit. Yes that's smaller than the card size but it doesn't affect game play too much.

Quote from: Rob on 06 September 2015, 10:01:14 AM
Looking at the cards in the link it shows Bavarians and Cuirassiers in Spain, and also brigades deployed in 2 lines.  Can't argue with any of that can you?  

The set is a full set of cards representing the armies as listed in the main Blucher Rule book so does include units that may not have been in the peninsula. Its themed on the penisula campaigns but allows you the flexibility to use the cards in other theatre's.

There will be a second set of cards representing all of the other armies not in the set to 'round the circle'

Hope that helps

Quote from: Rob on 06 September 2015, 10:01:14 AM
I wonder if it will change the use of artillery, or will it still use the massed battery method?   (For the British?  )

I suppose it depends on what you want out of your games, but blocks of British line on a base with massed artillery does not ring my bell I am afraid.  

Sadly you will never stop the power gamer maxing out on their army builds. Those of us who want historical accuracy will have attached artillery at best or none at all.

As per the previous post cards are included for all options as the set is meant to be flexible to use the lists in other periods

Quote from: Nosher on 06 September 2015, 11:40:44 AM
Sadly you will never stop the power gamer maxing out on their army builds. Those of us who want historical accuracy will have attached artillery at best or none at all.

As per the previous post cards are included for all options as the set is meant to be flexible to use the lists in other periods

Thanks for the clarifications. I did not realise there was an option for attaching artillery; I thought it was only depicted as massed batteries, so that is my mistake. My knowledge of Blucher comes from an on-line video of the game which managed to inflate my prejudices against this type of game.

Rob's Prejudices: I just cannot like a Napoleonic game that has troops in a block on a base representing all fighting modes. For a start it just does not look anything like a battle (or what I think it would look like). It's not just the Blucher rules, its also Volley-and-Bayonet and FoGN. I know these rules are popular, but I just don't like that type of game for playing Wargames of more modern sophisticated warfare. They are fine for ancients and up to say the Italian Wars, but later warfare has tactical nuances that I think are well worth capturing, and are part of the attraction of each sub-period.

It depends on what each individual wants from his games but; I just don't subscribe to the view that for larger battles you must deal with blocks of brigades and divisions on a base for the game to move at speed. What is required is different thinking starting point. I like my lines, columns and squares. I like cavalry to be able to charge in mass and sweep through lines of squares without being destroyed. If you are ever in Leicester give me a shout and I will show you what I mean.

Cheers, Rob    

Good points (and valid too) Rob.

I like the abstraction of Blucher but then again, I'm a lazy wargamer. 

Quote from: xccam on 06 September 2015, 11:29:48 AM
There were actually Cuirassiers in Spains, as the 1st Provincial Heavy Cavalry, which were reconstituted into the 13th Cuirassiers and sent to the Danube in 1809. Moreover the unit stats and costs on that card are of French Dragoons and not of Cuirassiers so I don't know whats going on there, especially as they are labeled 'Late' which implies after 1809.

Could be wrong here but I think that whilst there may have been up to two Cuirassier units in Spain at one time (based in Catalonia?), neither of them wore the cuirass. If so, if Sam is giving them the same fighting ability as Dragoons, it suggests he has got it right.

Quote from: Rob on 06 September 2015, 12:13:17 PM
I like my lines, columns and squares.

I'm still a fan of warmaster-like bases. 4 bases togheter can easily be formed into line column and square! None of that square stuff :p

Got hold of, and read, a copy of Blücher today.
As an army/corps level game, they look spot on to me, especially after trying to play multicorps level Principles.
75mm squares then, good thing that's my standard size base for 1870 and Leon knows it!
I will be building an allied and French force for Spain.
I can also see my HUGE Allied-Anglo-Dutch-Brunswick-Hannover force in 18mm being used for 1815.

Yes, if you like division and regiments/battalions it's not going to be your thing, but when. 6x4 table represents 4.5 miles, one stand is the zone of control of a division, so, yes, The British line would fill the first 10mm of that, but everything else behind would be secure!

Quote from: Rob on 06 September 2015, 12:13:17 PM
Rob's Prejudices: I just cannot like a Napoleonic game that has troops in a block on a base representing all fighting modes. For a start it just does not look anything like a battle (or what I think it would look like). It's not just the Blucher rules, its also Volley-and-Bayonet and FoGN. I know these rules are popular, but I just don't like that type of game for playing Wargames of more modern sophisticated warfare. They are fine for ancients and up to say the Italian Wars, but later warfare has tactical nuances that I think are well worth capturing, and are part of the attraction of each sub-period.

It depends on what each individual wants from his games but; I just don't subscribe to the view that for larger battles you must deal with blocks of brigades and divisions on a base for the game to move at speed. What is required is different thinking starting point. I like my lines, columns and squares. I like cavalry to be able to charge in mass and sweep through lines of squares without being destroyed. If you are ever in Leicester give me a shout and I will show you what I mean.

Cheers, Rob    

I'm curious - what ruleset do you use? I have the same prejudice as well.

I on the other hand am a Grand Tactical Player with little money, little space and little time to do Sparker RN type 28mm battalion is the maneuver element multicorps army level games.Not that those are not cool. But they are cool like Bugati. Either I give up on gaming, or I need to find lots of money ,time and space. I want the divisions! Brigades in depth or line is enough for me :p So Blucher seems good to me. But I want Liepizg. Not this Spanish stuff :p