Napoleon - Foundry ruleset - Immediate impressions

My [signed] copy of the new Foundry rulebook arrived a couple of hours ago. Here are some initial comments.



Aesthetics
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The book itself is handsomely produced. Good quality binding and a high standard of layout. Text is clear, colours are balanced. Quite a few illustrations from Knotel. Very many pictures of miniatures – with it has to be said a wide variety of quality in respect of the paint-jobs. All the pictures used in the painting section are of beautifully painted figures – some have very good-closeups of difficult to paint portions of a figure [e.g. face]. The same cannot be said for the shots showing units in a game environment – many are frankly badly painted. The terrain and scenery is also quite poor. A bit of a disappointment that as I want all such pics to be aspirational.

Unit and Army Concepts
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An infantry battalion is 6 elements with a recommendation of 4 figures on 40x40 bases. Light cavalry 12 figures on 6 bases. Heavy cavalry 16 on eight [both 40x50] and artillery batteries having four guns [50x80]. That seems to be the same for all nations – except Austrians who get bigger units [8 element inf battalions]. I can see no specific mention of base sizes for 15mm above the usual statement about 'anything goes as long as both sides are compatible'.

The game allows different formations – line, column [of attack, and of march], square etc. Interestingly [for a Nap rule nerd like me] the column is 2 wide and three deep rather than 3x2. Advanced rules allow ordre mixte, divisional squares and the like.

In respect of forces an example is given of a small starter-sized game army having 6 battalions, two skirmisher detachments, one battery and one unit of cavalry. This is given as a force with a value of 250 points. The army lists imply that much larger forces can be used but I can't immediately find a specific recommended points value for a ‘standard' game – ala 1500 for WAB. A figure of 500 is mentioned in the army lists, but not explicitly as a suggested standard size. If 500 is intended as the standard then based on the example given I estimate a force as being about 300 infantry figures, 30 cavalry and 8 guns with crew.
Army lists are by ‘campaign' [year/theatre] and take up about half the book! No Ottomans. Some French allies are covered –Bavaria, Silesia, Saxony.

A division is typically given in the army lists as up to 5 battalions. 2 regiments in a cavalry brigade – two of which can be combined into a division. Elite formations and artillery are a [in numbers] function of line divisions taken. A few random points values from the French 1813 list. Marie-Louise's – 10 points. Line infantry – 15. Old Guard – 40. Foot Artillery – 60. Dragoons – 40. Guard Heavy cav -55.

Rules
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The main rules themselves only take up thirty pages [of 226]. Turn sequence is:

Initiative
Artillery
Resolve Command Cards
Movement
Skirmies
Volleys
Combat
Morale

Of those, the one that seems to have the most originality is the ‘Resolve Command Cards' segment in which units in engagement distance [2x move]of the enemy are given VERY specific instructions [e.g Charge!, Stand and Fire!, Run!] by use of command cards which are hidden from your opponent until this phase. The cards are available as a download on the Foundry webbie.

Players alternate moves by divisions. Volley fire has a range of 15 inches. Artillery 48". Columns can fire ineffectively. Units have a quality rating from militia-line-elite-guard. Skirmies don't appear on table in the basic rules but are factored into the rules for firing.
Each nation has some specific rules to benefit/hinder it as a means of generating flavour. Examples: British cavalry have command penalties, Russians get discounted artillery, French divisions may get ‘free' moves at the beginning of the game.

My general impression here is of simplicity and quickness. Whether you think those are bad things is up to you. To me they're not.

The Hobby Material
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The book contains an extensive section on painting figures. Inevitably I am reminded of the Dallimore book, but I can't spot any direct recycling. Interesting sections on mass production quickly and also on improving specific parts of your figure painting. As per the Dallimore book the colour guides exclusively reference the Foundry paints. Each nation gets some specific advice and a short description/examples/origin/role of a good range of troop types.

The potted history covers the entire period. Fairly basic but covers the main campaigns. The information on formation structure is well done and would be very helpful to someone new to the period.

Immediate Conclusion
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I have no strong opinions on the rules as yet – but I'm certainly going to give them a try. No regrets about handing over my money so far.

Michael.

Aspern 2009

Initial deployment
Aspern Essling.

Willy's sand table again, such a great resource, every club should have a 12 foot sand table.

Using Shako 2, we set up and played to a conclusion with a dozen players, and booze.

The Austrians stuck mostly to the same plan as Archduke Karl - take the towns, then cut off the river, and 'Cannae' them. Right down to the rousing speech about sons of Austria, and toasting death to the tyrant. Significantly, explicit orders were given to mask and burn, rather than assault the granary.

The French deployed St Hilaire and Claparede in place of Lassalle's light cavalry as the forward screen between the towns, but otherwise followed a similar set up to said Tyrant.

We also had a smaller 'side table' set up for displaying the bridges themselves.



This was played out as a mini game - with the same historical result. After a couple of smaller barges knocked gaps which French engineers were able to repair, the 'windmill' succeeded in destroying a major section of the bridge.

Major tactical decisions were taken as follows:
The initial pressure on Lannes at Essling drew off Lasalle's light cavalry behind the town. This coincided with the first knock to the bridges, at which point Karl formed the main Austrian battery in the centre, and brought forward his cavalry reserve.
This in turn drew in all of the French heavy cavalry and the Guard, who committed themselves far further forward than was probably wise - given their bridge of retreat was suspect to say the least.



Lannes performed prodigious feats defending Essling before being overcome, at which point, Massena confirmed he had also been forced out of Aspern. Bessieres and Lannes had been broken as effective forces, St Hilaire was similarly broken, and Claparede was under severe pressure. Meanwhile, the Guard, Nansouty and D'Espagne had also been pulled forward to protect the French centre - and failed to make headway before the untouched Austrian holding force, while the Austrian Grenadier Division had yet to be committed.

With the French rear open, both flanks now turned, and the reserve fully committed forward to the middle, a clear Austrian victory was declared.

An absolutely cracking game, and well worth adding to the 'great games' file.

Victory

Auerstadt 2006

In 2006, on the anniversary to the day of the battle, we did a display game at Kirriemuir's show for Auerstadt.

The rules for this were the excellent From Valmy to Waterloo, and the figures were all 6mm Adler, with Timecast buildings.

On the drive up to the show, there was fog on the roads, just to add to the flavour.

Austerlitz 2005

We also did Austerlitz in 2005, at Simon's.

The rules used were Grande Armee, with Regiments instead of Brigades.

Some more pics.

The Pratzen

Waterloo 2000

At the millenium, Simon hosted a series of games baed on the 100 days.

for 2000, we did Waterloo.

Some more old pics.

Placenoit

Prussian Arrival

Eylau 2007

In 2007, Willy hosted an Eylau game.

Sand covered in flour to make the snow, a good time was had by all.

Here are some old pictures.

Phoenix Napoleonics

Prompted by the closure of Geocities (and general slackness for over 6 years), Phoenix Wargaming is moving its club website to a series of period related blogs.

This one is for Napoleonic Games.

As an evening club, we tend to play smaller engaagements in the club, to get a finish.

But the big games are our true favourites, and we are lucky to have access to both Simon and Willy's sand tables and wargaming hut for these.

Rules in use include Shako2, LFS and Grand Armee.

Most members have a personal preference, as the posts will show.