Set is 'Balance Of Power' from Crusader stable of rules and are a very light set designed for large games (sort of very much simpler version of the 'March Attack' set from same author - Mark Simms) with units essentially Brigades/Divisions organized into Corps formations so very big engagements possible.
Designed to cover period of French Revolution through to about 1875.
They are a very slim set with no more than 8 pages of rules an example of play and a QRS and so do have a few 'gaps' but easy to fill in same.
Units are small (2 of my 40mm bases per unit) and rated solely by Combat Value with for example Regular foot being a CV of 5, Conscript CV 4 with Mounted usually 1 CV lower and Artillery similar.
No morale or rallying, skirmishing (nor voluntary backwards movement) but with bit more to the shooting and combat than first meets the eye, with reserves being key.
Movement is fairly quick with foot moving 8" and cavalry 12" and with facing changes allowed at start and end of move so pretty fluid.
However charging (alternating phases) comes before movement phase and only allowed to turn up to 45 degrees prior to charge.
Units can avail of standard Column, Line and Square
Firing, which is conducted simultaneously, is per stand using a D8 system to inflict CV losses (muskets fire only to 3") and Melee is a combo of CV and a few modifiers to generate a bonus to opposing D6 rolls with loser taking hits and falling back or Routed (ie destroyed) if CV level reached in losses
Therefore a column fires with 1 stand (as 2 deep) whilst a Line fires with 2.
Cavalry charging Line allows the Foot a chance to form Square and woe betide the Cavalry if they do as a whopping +6 modifier applies (+4 to Cavalry if foot stuck in Line) and foot gets to shoot prior to Melee resolution.
There is an Orders system for Corps Formations system but rather 'sketchy' with players basically deciding how detailed or simple they wish their orders to be, although Reserve and Retreat orders are specified and you do have to roll to change Orders modified by Commander quality.
I set up a scenario from said 'March Attack' based on Prussian 'Advance To Plancenoit 1815' which although it has but a single Corps a side I fudged making each Division equivalent to a Corps for game purposes (and worked fine).
Game was certainly devoid of much in way of specific Napoleonic (nor any other period covered beyond changes in weaponry) detail or chrome but was very fast and furious (despite controlling some 33 Prussian and 27 French units) and actually quite fun.
Lovely visuals. sounds like they would be useful for convention type games.
ReplyDeleteYes good for big games, sort of had a very simple Shako vibe.
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