This month at our club meeting we had three games going covering WWII FOW version 3, an ACW game and our initial go at Napoleon at War, a new set of rules and a range of figures from the guys at Man at War.
Rule Book - Cover |
In addition to describing our game I thought I would include my impressions. I should add that I am not an expert player of Napoleon at War, only having played two games, but I have played a lot of Napoleonics in thirty nine years of wargaming.
I will also point out that I have based my figures to this rule set, a collection of mainly AB's and Fantassin figures, but the guys at Man at War are producing their own ranges all prepacked with the bases to build the required brigades, and there is soon to be the launch of their first campaign book covering Waterloo and the 100 days.
Map of the terrain, 6' x 4' table, French and British placed objectives shown French start set up to two columns on from left facing British set up in the middle two columns |
During the game both sides test to bring on reinforcements to bolster their lines, and the picture below gives an impression of the initial set up (apologies for the quality of the pictures, done on the "Blackberry" because the camera batteries were out). The French are attacking from the left with two infantry brigades of eight battalions beyond the road supported by a battery of 8pdrs on the road. Whilst closer to camera we have another brigade of four battalions supported by a battery of 6pdrs. The French had a brigade of Chasseur a cheval in reserve.
The British defenders deployed an infantry brigade of four battalions beyond the road to dispute a parked waggon just visible behind their infantry, and placed the Guards brigade of two battalions in the farm and gardens just visible in the foreground. They placed the second waggon right behind the farmhouse to force the French to fight for possession of the complex to control the objective.
They placed a 9pdr foot battery to their rear on high ground to provide support and had an infantry brigade of four battalions (one highland) and a light dragoon brigade in reserve
The initial set up - French left, British right |
Guards lining the wall of the farm, another battalion was in support behind in the farmhouse |
Two brigades, eight battalions of French bear down on the redcoats |
View from the French phalanx |
French 8pdr battery in support |
Meanwhile on the other flank the French were trying to work out how to prize the Guards out of their stronghold. The arrival of the French cavalry in turn 2 allowed them to consider removing the battery of British artillery behind the main lines to enable their infantry to envelope the position. In addition the French 6pdr battery with its single howitzer started to shell the buildings.
The French prepare to assault the Guards stronghold |
This time the combat was slightly less one sided as we allowed for both units being in the terrain, however after a short combat the other French unit was ejected from the farm.
With the British line brigade getting mauled in the open by 8pdr artillery and French musket volleys, the French piled on the misery in turn four, and with the British continuing to have a bad day with the dice gods, we see a very satisfied French commander surveying the field of battle following the departure of the exhausted British troops who failed their Force morale test.
Nathan looking very happy with French forces in possession of the first objective |
The battle for the farm is well under way as the cavalry melee in the foreground |
The British gun line turns its fire in the victorious French masses to their right |
I suppose I am what is commonly described as a "Grognard", in that I am of "middling years" and have played Napoleonics since 1973 when I cut my teeth on WRG, Bruce Quarrie's and Peter Gilder's rules. My impressions of Napoleon at War is they are a set of rules that give a fast action, fun game that can be played to a conclusion in an afternoon at club or in an evening at home. The rules suffer slightly from being as I understand things, a translation from Spanish into English. The layout of the sections requires a bit of application, but I really like the subtle qualities of the rules with their national characteristics, I like the fact that although this is an I go, you go system the non phasing player still has things to do, like return fire on units that have fired at them. I also like the look of the game with units in two lines of figures and batteries of three or four guns.
The guys that played our game all said they would be happy to play the rules again, and I think we still have plenty to master with this game in applying the subtleties, and we will be playing more Napoleon at War.
Thanks to Ian, Nathan Steve H and Will for a fun afternoon
Jon
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