The last couple of secondhand books I had ordered arrived in the post this week. The Napoleonic theme of the books continues on my painting desk with a couple of Austrian units completed. My aim is to increase my Napoleonic armies by about 25 percent. This should keep me occupied while I ponder what is my next project will be.
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| Recent arrivals |
I have already started to read "Napoleonic Wargaming" by Charles Grant. While I will not be creating 40 plus figure units, it is most enjoyable reading how the thinking behind the rules and research that influences the Charles Grant's rules. I found it interesting to read the guiding principles for these wargaming rules are to be:
- completely workable
- as accurate a representation as possible of some tactic or manoeuvre
- and visual satisfying
In many ways the book follows the same approach as "Battle", his WW2 rules, working through the areas of the rules: infantry, cavalry, musketry, light infantry, melee, artillery, moral, terrain and orders. One thing it does not cover are any game reports which "Battle" did have. So far I am finding it is wonderfully written and packed with lots of details used to help define the rules.
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| An Austrian Line and Grenadier unit - Spencer Smith models |
As a break from English Civil War wargaming I decided to have a quick WW2 game and tryout a couple of rule changes. Using the existing tabletop setup with a few additional fields and woods a game was quickly setup with the Germans trying to force a river crossing against a quickly prepared defensive position.
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| German forces advance |
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| Reconnaissance units quickly cross the bridge. |
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| On the far bridge British units wait dug in on an overlooking hill. |
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| British HQ in the village coordinates the defence. |
Smart to use the same table layout for two different games. Who won this battle?
ReplyDeleteTwo good additions to your Napoleonic wargame library. Your copy of Rothenberg is a much older version than mine. Our versions of Grant are the same. Both good books.
The game went to the Germans who were able to secure both bridges and the overlooking hill.
DeleteI recently bought Grant's Napoleonic wargaming, which was a nice blast from the past and I do intend on using them, though I smiled when I saw the a unit goes into square by actually giving the flank companies greater movement allowance, so they can make it - our modern way is simply to put the unit in square - no measuring. A small but significant indication of progress.
ReplyDeleteIt is not one of those books I remember from my youth. Quite possibly the local library did not have had a copy. The library was the source of all my wargaming reading.
DeleteHave the Rothenberg book, well worthwhile, but not Grant.
ReplyDeleteUsing the same table for two games from different periods is efficient genius, considering the time used up by take down and set up! :-)
Having quickly flicked through the Rothenberg book I am looking forward to reading it. As for reusing the tabletop layout laziness was a factor.
DeleteGreat idea using the same set up, just don't allow Parliament to use those panthers! Lol.
ReplyDeleteIt was quite interesting fighting over a similar tabletop, but in a different periods. The Panthers will be packed away after the game.
DeleteGreat looking game as always. The Spencer Smith figures are wonderful - I seem to write that a lot.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I do find painting the Spencer Smith figures most enjoyable and not having to worry too much about detail as I go for a simple painting style with them.
DeleteGrant's book was one of my first books on Wargaming and its bottom up approach was very different from the approach of earlier influences from Featherstone or Lawford & Young. Its instance on adherence to groundscale and a bottom up approach messed with my mind for years!
ReplyDeleteThe rules certainly take a very set approach which as I read through are all well researched the considered. I will not be adopting the rules, I am presently somewhat sold on one-hour wargames, however there are lots of details to enjoy in the book.
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