Typical Austrian Corps
All corps of all nationalities, except for the French Old Guard and the Spanish Army, will have the same combat and morale value as follows:
1 infantry brigade CA FB SC
2 infantry brigade CB FC SA
3 infantry brigade CB FB SB
4 infantry brigade CC FC SC
1 cavalry brigade CB
1 artillery brigade CB
C indicates the class of troops, used for morale
F indicates firepower, used for volley fire
S indicated skirmish ability
A are elite and will add plus 1 for combat or morale
B are trained
C are conscript and will be minus 1
In addition each casualty will deduce 1 for both combat and morale tests
In the past the same grades were used, but each brigade had a different combination of plus or minus for morale, volley fire or skirmish. This made it difficult to compare and identify different abilities on the wargame table. The order of battle sheet had to be consulted each time there was a combat or morale test.
In future the first brigade will be elite, and where possible grenadier figures will be used
They will be ideal for hand to hand fighting, average for volley fire and poor for skirmishing
The second brigade will be excellent skirmishers and jager, riflemen or light infantry figures used
They will be most suited for open order fighting, average for morale and poor for volley fire
The third brigade will be standard, trained infantry, line infantry figures used to represent them
They will be average for morale, volley fire and skirmish
The fourth brigade will be poor quality and landwehr or militia figures used when possible
They will be poor for morale, volley fire and skirmish.
This will make it very easy to allocate the most suitable brigade to each task, and also make it easier to identify them on the table.
This is the only exception, apart from Spanish infantry. They are the elite of the French army, but by 1813 were not on a par with the Imperial Garde before the Russian campaign. I wanted them to be different from the other corps, but I may change my mind about that after play testing.
1 infantry brigade CA FB SC
2 infantry brigade CB FB SB
3 infantry brigade CB FC SA
4 infantry brigade CC FC FC
C indicates the class of troops, used for morale
F indicates firepower, used for volley fire
S indicated skirmish ability
A are elite and will add plus 1 for combat or morale
B are trained
C are conscript and will be minus 1
In addition each casualty will deduce 1 for both combat and morale tests
In the past the same grades were used, but each brigade had a different combination of plus or minus for morale, volley fire or skirmish. This made it difficult to compare and identify different abilities on the wargame table. The order of battle sheet had to be consulted each time there was a combat or morale test.
In future the first brigade will be elite, and where possible grenadier figures will be used
They will be ideal for hand to hand fighting, average for volley fire and poor for skirmishing
The second brigade will be excellent skirmishers and jager, riflemen or light infantry figures used
They will be most suited for open order fighting, average for morale and poor for volley fire
The third brigade will be standard, trained infantry, line infantry figures used to represent them
They will be average for morale, volley fire and skirmish
The fourth brigade will be poor quality and landwehr or militia figures used when possible
They will be poor for morale, volley fire and skirmish.
This will make it very easy to allocate the most suitable brigade to each task, and also make it easier to identify them on the table.
French Old Guard
This is the only exception, apart from Spanish infantry. They are the elite of the French army, but by 1813 were not on a par with the Imperial Garde before the Russian campaign. I wanted them to be different from the other corps, but I may change my mind about that after play testing.
1 infantry brigade CA FB SC
2 infantry brigade CB FB SB
3 infantry brigade CB FC SA
4 infantry brigade CC FC FC
1 cavalry brigade CB
1 artillery brigade CB
The first two brigades are grenadiers, the last two chasseurs. So the elite skirmishers are in the third brigade. The fourth brigade are conscripts.
I have sufficient figures for four Spanish corps, but only enough cavalry for two corps. This was deliberate, because I wanted the Spanish to be weak in cavalry.
1 infantry brigade CB FC SC
2 infantry brigade CC FC SC
3 infantry brigade CB FC SB
4 infantry brigade CC FC SC
1 cavalry brigade CB
1 artillery brigade CB
At present I am using a completely different order of battle for the Spanish. This is because even in 1813 they were inferior to the French infantry, even to the conscripts. This will be very hard to replicate on the wargames table.
In addition only half of the Spanish corps have cavalry, which leaves them at a huge disadvantage.
To counter this I have increased their armies to four corps, rather than the three in all other armies.
They will also have the advantage of large bodies of guerrilla brigades to attack French lines of supply.
Once more I may change my mind about this after a period of play testing.
The first two brigades are grenadiers, the last two chasseurs. So the elite skirmishers are in the third brigade. The fourth brigade are conscripts.
Typical Spanish corps
I have sufficient figures for four Spanish corps, but only enough cavalry for two corps. This was deliberate, because I wanted the Spanish to be weak in cavalry.
1 infantry brigade CB FC SC
2 infantry brigade CC FC SC
3 infantry brigade CB FC SB
4 infantry brigade CC FC SC
1 cavalry brigade CB
1 artillery brigade CB
At present I am using a completely different order of battle for the Spanish. This is because even in 1813 they were inferior to the French infantry, even to the conscripts. This will be very hard to replicate on the wargames table.
In addition only half of the Spanish corps have cavalry, which leaves them at a huge disadvantage.
To counter this I have increased their armies to four corps, rather than the three in all other armies.
They will also have the advantage of large bodies of guerrilla brigades to attack French lines of supply.
Once more I may change my mind about this after a period of play testing.
Thistlebarrow,
ReplyDeleteI’ve found these last two blog posts of great interest, and they’ve given me a lot of things to think about with regard to my own Napoleonic collection, which I need to sort out and rationalise at some point.
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob
DeleteThanks for your comment.
A lot depends on how "historical" or complicated you want to make the process. There is a lot to be said for "national characteristics" in theory. Most feel it is "right" for British infantry to have an advantage in a musket fire fight, or for French to have an advantage in skirmish combat (except against British riflemen of course!). But how you apply this, and keep a balance, when the combat is decided by a dice throw is a different matter.
My solution is entirely to suit my personal preferrence and how I want to play my wargame.
Much more difficult for you to decide when you are applying the principle to a commercial set of wargame rules. You have to consider the preference, or even prejudice, of the wargamers who buy your rules. I don't envy you!
From all I read your rules are well accepted, so you are obviously doing something right.
best regards
Paul