Napoleonic Large Battles

Napoleonic Large Battle

These “home-brew” set of tabletop Napoleonic rules are inspired by SPI's board game "Napoleon at Waterloo", particularly the combat rules and use of a combat results table. These rules are aimed at gaming larger scale battles involving one or more corps, where each base generally represents a Brigade, but can represent a Division for particularly large battles.

Unit Types

In the game, various unit types serve different purposes:

Line Infantry - The backbone of any army, these disciplined troops move and fight closely together. Each base represents between 3,000-4,000 soldiers, providing steady firepower and a strong defence.

Light Infantry - Less common these units are capable of fighting in open skirmishes or close order as needed to harass enemy formations, screen friendly movements, and holding key positions. Examples include: Riflemen, Voltigeurs, Jäger, and Grenzers. Each base represents 500-1,000 troops,

Veteran Infantry - Elite guards and grenadiers known for their skill and bravery. Each base represents 3,000-4,000 veteran troops, bringing steadfastness and shock impact to crucial battlefield areas.

Cavalry - Highly manoeuvrable with powerful charges used to break enemy lines, exploit weaknesses, or threaten the enemy’s flanks. Each base represents 1,000-2,000 horsemen.

Artillery - Massed batteries support infantry and cavalry assaults. Each base represents 20-30 cannons, offering long-range bombardment.

General - Representing the General, along with their staff and signals. Its position highlights command focus for assaults and areas of tactical importance.

The basing of units needs to be consistent and represent a block of troops, cavalry, or cannon. I use 4 inch by 3 inch blocks for the units and a small base for the general. These work out well when playing on a 6 by 4 foot tabletop.

Sequence of play

Each player takes a turn to move and conduct combat with their units in the following sequence:

1. Movement
2. Combat
3. Eliminating units

Movement

During the movement phase a player can attempt to move some or all their units. A unit may move up to the distances listed below in a straight line unless they are following a road. Units within 3 inches of an enemy unit cannot move, and units being moved must cease movement immediately once they are within 3 inches of an enemy unit.

Unit Type Distance Moved

Line Infantry and Artillery     6 inches

Light Infantry and General     9 inches

Cavalry                                  12 inches

Unit Facing. Unit facing does not matter in this game, but during combat it is suggested a player turns their units to face the enemy unit they are attacking.

Terrain. Units are affected by terrain as follows:

• Woods. These are impassable to all units.
• Towns. These do not restrict the movement of any units, only infantry can end their movement in towns.
• Marshland and Lakes. These are impassable to all units.
• Rivers. These may only be crossed via bridges or fords.
• Roads. Units moving by road increase their movement distance by 3 inches providing their entire move is spent on the road.

Interpenetration. Only light infantry may pass through other friendly units which are not within 4 inches of an enemy unit.

Enemy Unit’s Zone of Control - Units must always cease movement within 3 inches of an enemy unit. This represents the enemy unit’s zone of control and once within 3 inches they are considered to be engaged in combat and may not move, other than pivoting to face the enemy they are attacking. Units remain in combat until there is no enemy within 3 inches due to all enemy units being: eliminated, forced to retreat, or the unit itself has been forced to retreat

Retreating Units - Units that were forced to retire the previous turn due to combat results will rally and cannot move until the next turn.

Combat

Any opposing army unit within a 3-inch proximity of an enemy unit must be subjected to an attack, even if this results in one unit confronting two enemy units. The exceptions are for units in built up areas and light infantry, they are not required to attack, but if they choose to do so, must attack all units within 3 inches.

All units, excluding artillery, have a range of 3 inches for combat. Artillery have a 12-inch range and can shoot over other units at targets. Artillery units bombarding at a range greater than 3 inches do not suffer any adverse combat results.

Note - No enemy unit may be attacked twice during a player’s game turn.

A combat results table is used to determine combat outcomes. Add up the total for all attacking units, then add up the total number of defending units, ignoring light infantry who only count if they are defending. Then modify each score in the following situations:

• Add one for any defending line infantry or light infantry units in buildings
• Add one for any defending unit on a hill (this also applies to bombardments by artillery)
• Add one for each veteran infantry unit
• Add one if the attacking units are a combined arms attack with a mix of line infantry and cavalry

Subtract the defending score from the attacking score to determine the column to use on the combat resolution table. Then roll the die to determine the combat outcome.

Combat Results Table

Combat Results

• A1, A2, A3, A4 - all attacking units takes 1, 2, 3 or 4 hits.
• D1, D2, D3, D4 - all defending units takes 1, 2, 3 or 4 hits.
• (R) all defending units must retreat 6 inches, moving pushing back other friendly units in the process if necessary. If the retreat is blocked by terrain (eg a river) or enemy units, then the unit is routed and removed from play. Any retreating unit must rally the following turn and cannot move. Artillery units are eliminated if forced to retreat.
• A1/D1 - all defending units and all attacking units take 1 hit.
• Artillery making a ranged attack beyond 3 inches will ignore any hits on the attacker.

Advance After Combat - If an enemy unit is forced to retreat or is eliminated, one of the attacking units, excluding artillery and light infantry, may advance 6 inches ignoring enemy zones of control.

Generals and Combat

Generals within 12 inches of an enemy unit being attacked can choose to direct the attack and improve the outcome of the attack providing it is not solely a bombardment attack by artillery. Roll 2 dice and select the highest value when determining hits on the combat results table.

Generals involved in directing an attack are removed from play:

• In the event of the attacking units having to retreat, the General is removed from play.
• If an enemy unit moves within 3 inches of the General.

Eliminating units

A unit that accumulates more that 4 hits is removed from play.

When a unit cannot retreat due to terrain, eg a river, or blocking enemy units, they are eliminated.

Artillery units are eliminated if forced to retreat.

Army Resolve

When an army has lost more than half of its units, then only veteran units or those with fewer than 3 hits can initiate movement to within 3 inches of enemy units. It becomes important to have fresh reserves later in the game if you want to capitalise on any attacking opportunities.

Examples of Combat

A cannon bombards one enemy unit, allowing two infantry to attack the enemy infantry with +1. The artillery bombards with 0, but will not be affected by any results because the range is greater than 3 inches.

The attack by one infantry and one cavalry unit will be at +2 because of the +1 for combined arms.

The attack by light and line infantry will be +1 as light infantry are counted when attacking. If the situation was reversed, then the attack would be with 0.