tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post6552636657528484347..comments2024-03-28T16:32:41.081+00:00Comments on Battlefields and Warriors: Napoleonic rules from Perry MiniaturesNormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-33637589470271141722022-10-18T19:14:16.731+00:002022-10-18T19:14:16.731+00:00Hi Matt, the figures add increasing diversity to a...Hi Matt, the figures add increasing diversity to all the rabbit holes that we can explore :-) I imagine that Warlord Games will announce the next Epic period shortly and the hot money seems to be on either ECW or Rome / Carthage, both would be winners in my opinion.<br /><br />I think if you looked at napoleonics, these rules could serve you well, but for your ACW I am guessing that you are so comfortable with your own rules that there is no good reason to particularly change.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-26264554362695594452022-10-18T18:16:12.693+00:002022-10-18T18:16:12.693+00:00Thanks Norm I am increasingly thinking about those...Thanks Norm I am increasingly thinking about those warlord epic figures ? I may come back to these rules at this stage š¤Matt Crumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06841790422716738842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-2254122756143369762022-10-13T05:12:53.268+00:002022-10-13T05:12:53.268+00:00Hi Iain, there is a YouTube vlogger that has a lot...Hi Iain, there is a YouTube vlogger that has a lot of GdA content and as he does his replay, he goes through the rules, an easy way to get a familiarisation of the rule set. Here is one such example, but if you go into his video history there are a LOT! - LINK<br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gDcMuGCqvU<br />Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-9582123516860474802022-10-12T19:28:54.970+00:002022-10-12T19:28:54.970+00:00Great write up and I appreciate the thorough deta...Great write up and I appreciate the thorough detail you go into ( I know it takes time!) I'd downloaded and rapidly skimmed them before reading your article, I also bought General d armee off Graham, so I'm reading lot's of Napoleonic rules when I'm not painting Napoleonic figures! You certainly get your money's worth although I am torn between David's view of sticking to a ruleset I almost understand ( BP) or pursuing the holy grail!<br />Best Iain caveadsum1471https://www.blogger.com/profile/02174163740406928172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-66964616712034950152022-09-28T13:31:24.355+00:002022-09-28T13:31:24.355+00:00Ha, ha. Yes, we get what we paid for! There is ...Ha, ha. Yes, we get what we paid for! There is little return on investment in servicing a free good. Thanks for the response.Jonathan Freitaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07862373894196924886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-42754516626775723802022-09-28T13:16:54.045+00:002022-09-28T13:16:54.045+00:00Having played three times now, the system itself i...Having played three times now, the system itself is solid enough. I think where the issue may lay is that a small group of people were involved in the creation and development and that they were built up from the needs of that group, which were big games in a demo environment and the rules are certainly fine for that, but when they get applied by a wider audience to differing circumstances, such as me on a small table with, with just 2 brigades per side, then the unforeseen crops up. I have been really pleased with the communication side of things with the author and his enthusiasm to deal with such hurdles.<br /><br />Had the rules simply been advertised just as a big game demo set, then this would not even raise itās head and gamers would as they always do, just have to work something out for themselves to make it work for their own situation, but in wanting to engage with a wider audience (which many will be glad that they did), I think this sort of thing of a ruleset making the journey from the small group use to being written up for a wider audience just becomes one of those inevitable teething things.<br /><br />Also, it is all set against a background of them being supplied free, so we all get at least our monies worth on day one :-)Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-82296084328493240892022-09-28T12:42:34.463+00:002022-09-28T12:42:34.463+00:00Norm, your latest edit highlighting your conversat...Norm, your latest edit highlighting your conversation with the designer makes me question playtesting rigor when changes are considered so soon after release. Your thoughts?Jonathan Freitaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07862373894196924886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-36219330947348348392022-09-27T05:20:57.076+00:002022-09-27T05:20:57.076+00:00Hi Donnie, I think there are quite a few owners do...Hi Donnie, I think there are quite a few owners doing exactly that. I am not keen on the gap between figure blocks that occurs from 55mm strips being based on 60mm bases, so I nip off the 1mm excess base from each end of the figure and mount them on an MDF 55mm base, this ensures that when the bases go down, they stand shoulder to shoulder.<br /><br />28ās sure are beautiful, but a certain practicality comes from the Epic. I also think these rules work best with additional brigades on the table and Epic helps getting to that goal.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-80072974576386998842022-09-27T05:08:16.377+00:002022-09-27T05:08:16.377+00:00Excellent post Norm, a really good play through an...Excellent post Norm, a really good play through and good explanations of the rules. I think Epic lends itself to this rules quite nicely, I am really tempted into getting some of these boxes and give it a go, they lend themselves to getting them on the table straight away in the "raw" with the different coloured plastic, be great for me as I am a really slow painter!!Donnie McGibbonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04231467693466430436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-87428269041818906202022-09-26T14:29:48.628+00:002022-09-26T14:29:48.628+00:00Hi Stew, I like that community involvement that th...Hi Stew, I like that community involvement that the authors show. Yes WotR would be excellent.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-38581957886620286882022-09-26T13:18:48.343+00:002022-09-26T13:18:48.343+00:00Very nice overview Norm. Seems like the game has ...Very nice overview Norm. Seems like the game has a lot of potential. Free rules are a nice boost to any collection. <br />Maybe Iāll have a look when they release the WoTR version as that will translate easily to dark ages Iāll wager. šStewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00340930167419307092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-24385434526229797202022-09-25T17:19:38.866+00:002022-09-25T17:19:38.866+00:00Hi Jonathan, yes, exactly that, they were created ...Hi Jonathan, yes, exactly that, they were created to meet a demo / wargame show need and that heritage remains strong, but in making them so widely available, it is likely no longer their sole reason to exist.<br /><br />I think they would likely better suit a bigger game than I put down here, certainly something with more moving parts and I would like to try something a bit more in the middle ground, perhaps 3 brigades per side and then do a direct play comparison between these rules and say Black Powder.<br /><br />Speed of play would certainly be one measure, but so too would be depth of game / enjoyment / satisfaction / rate of rule referencing.<br /><br />The unpainted figures - I am in the camp of painted is better, but that we should also be pragmatic. The internet and self created āsocial media profileā can too easily give us an impression that most of us are in a picture perfect hobby, when in truth, as in all aspects of life we are not and I hope my small effort to āpromoteā unpainted armies will act as a counter to what over the years has become an engrained snobbery that tends to condemn such things, even when the gamer is striving to get there. I am sure we are missing some potentially superb blog type content because some gamers are reluctant to step into the spotlight with what they perceive to be ānot up to scratchā armies / table ā¦.. and that is likely to our loss.<br /><br />I am still committed to just one set of rules, or at least I will be when new things stop coming along š, but seriously, I just that the effort that went into these rules and the willingness to share freely, just deserves a bit of spotlighting.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-57608019061530724652022-09-25T16:25:37.602+00:002022-09-25T16:25:37.602+00:00Norm, thanks for the effort to produce such a comp...Norm, thanks for the effort to produce such a comprehensive and useful overiview for those considering a new set of Napoleonic rules. Takes a confident wargamer to field unpainted armies. For demo purposes, I understand. <br /><br />What happened to the notion of sticking to a set of rules so that players have a chance to become at ease with the rules and develop tactics and strategies? Like David, I think I will stick to what I (almost!) understand.<br /><br />With short rules, quick play, and programmed terrain placement, these seem geared toward tournamet-type or quick pick-up games. Is that your assessment?<br /><br />Very useful perspective on these new rules.Jonathan Freitaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07862373894196924886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-87273982969899221232022-09-25T07:53:17.595+00:002022-09-25T07:53:17.595+00:00Hi David, I can well understand that, you know BP ...Hi David, I can well understand that, you know BP so well and it always delivers for you within the time limits of play, so as they say, if it aināt broke, donāt fix it. <br /><br />As per a comment above, I would be very keen to run the same scenario with both these rules and BP and just see what sort of fundamental difference there is, given that I will always play a smaller game anyway.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-29613681229950045072022-09-25T07:25:32.511+00:002022-09-25T07:25:32.511+00:00An interesting read Norm but I will be sticking wi...An interesting read Norm but I will be sticking with Black Powder I think. I've read both the rules and the two WI pieces and not found any compelling reason I might change. No doubt Phil will like to try them at some stage, being a rules butterfly at heart. I'll stick to what I (almost) understand.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06985725848702292911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-29403283406078960642022-09-25T05:37:16.382+00:002022-09-25T05:37:16.382+00:00Hi Ben, I am guessing the rules will be a shot in ...Hi Ben, I am guessing the rules will be a shot in the arm for many Napoleonic painting projects (mine :-) ). <br /><br />Most post here will have an eye to solo play, as though I do play face-to-face, the bigger proportion of my gaming is solo, particularly with figures and so I donāt really buy into anything that is two player only, which is why I donāt really go for or care for card driven systems, though I do like card āassistedā games.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-27076118541959843902022-09-25T05:31:10.305+00:002022-09-25T05:31:10.305+00:00Hi Keith, look forward to that. I note that over t...Hi Keith, look forward to that. I note that over the past couple of days, the PDF has gone from v1 to v1.2, so it will be interesting to see what the differences are between the printed rule supplement and the current PDF. The Perry site does have a āpatchā document showing the changes, so it should be easy to use that together with the printed rules.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-30919363890401984872022-09-25T05:27:51.208+00:002022-09-25T05:27:51.208+00:00Steve, that is very kind of you, I was a bit conce...Steve, that is very kind of you, I was a bit concerned about the return of āthe longā post, but in this instance, I feel the subject has been worth the extra time at the keyboard.<br /><br />You have some good ready made Napoleonic scenarios and giving a good benchmark for rule comparison - the proof of the pudding of course would be what do your group think of them, but a strength will be completing a game in a single session and I suspect it is that attribute that will make these rules welcome to those running campaigns with friends.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-74452799020687200402022-09-25T05:21:39.878+00:002022-09-25T05:21:39.878+00:00Hi Renaud, I am smiling at the thought that many o...Hi Renaud, I am smiling at the thought that many of us can go to our shelves and pull half a dozen nap sets to browse ā¦ will we ever find āthe oneā :-)<br /><br />They are an interesting set, though I believe their roots were in trying to get through a demo game at shows and so imagine their first draft was heavily built on what they were commonly playing and then it took a life of its own.<br /><br />I doubt that they would ever want this to be a āpolishedā commercially viable set that would compete with BP, though I think it is a great step in the current financial climate of helping gamers to explore a new period by removing a cost barrier to buying figs and then more ā¦. on all of those rules books :-)<br /><br />I also like the notion that it supports the old school tradition of writing your own rules to get the game that you want.<br /><br />Apparently there are two articles in the next Wargames Illustrated magazine, one a scenario and the other a discussion on the rules, so no doubt we will learn more there. Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-32690390871408580462022-09-25T03:44:30.365+00:002022-09-25T03:44:30.365+00:00Norm, thanks for the excellent review. One of my ...Norm, thanks for the excellent review. One of my new projects is 10mm Napoleonics and I have downloaded these rules to try sometime in the future. Hopefully this decade š<br />As I play solo thank you for covering off this aspect in the report.Ben Catohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00132734496369774300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-19428636914268973442022-09-25T02:16:02.679+00:002022-09-25T02:16:02.679+00:00A great report Norm! My mate Chris, who is current...A great report Norm! My mate Chris, who is currently building up a couple of Epic armies, has received several copies of these rules and said he would pass one on to me. He, too, was pretty enthusiastic about them, after a brief read through. So, you never know, one day I may be writing my own AAR on a game using them!rrosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07316317334203888350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-62951376755661314192022-09-24T23:38:51.187+00:002022-09-24T23:38:51.187+00:00I re read this post again, Norm. This has to be on... I re read this post again, Norm. This has to be one of my favorites that you've done. Looks like Napoleonics are coming back to my table soon!Disgruntled Fusilierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10995610821904415726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-34636779665282521082022-09-24T23:15:53.171+00:002022-09-24T23:15:53.171+00:00As I'm currently reading at least half-a-dozen...As I'm currently reading at least half-a-dozen Nap rules, covering both tactical and grand-tactical scale, I was also quite interested when I saw V&F dropping unannounced. They look like they are competing for the BP and similar dollars (or pounds!), but I agree that there is more subtlety than might be initially apparent (and some rough edges too). I find it interesting that Austrian Grenadiers are in some way stronger than the Old Guard. I guess I'm probably underestimating the benefits of the Guard label (and Square over Battalion Mass). Renaudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01784933028434487976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-78658398621432740202022-09-24T19:14:21.982+00:002022-09-24T19:14:21.982+00:00There is a nice blend of design going on here with...There is a nice blend of design going on here with fire first and the move rate of x2 or just get a x1, but mix with other activity. Quite neat.<br /><br />Enjoy your Cotswolds day. I would love to be there, but it is a none starter for me this year.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-53130082125496812002022-09-24T19:00:55.361+00:002022-09-24T19:00:55.361+00:00As always an excellent review Norm and broad walk ...As always an excellent review Norm and broad walk through of the game. My first impression was that they are a mix of BP and HoW and I know some players of BP have switched Shooting to come before Movement. Certainly a set of rules with some interesting ideas and the cards could work easily well with BPII and other rulesets too. After the weekend I think I'll download them to see how they look.Steve J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12143308117853983963noreply@blogger.com