Monday, August 31, 2015

Napoleonic Principles Of War game

Played a game today at Stephens using the Napoleonic Principles Of War rules.
We played these many many years ago but never this revised 2nd Edition set.
I used a 1813/14 French army against a late British Peninsula type force.
We both really enjoyed the game despite having to re-learn the rules.
A nice playable set and we like the variable terrain system.
Use of Commanders quite abstract but the Initiative/PIP and Orders system is fine overall (sort of a hybrid of Shako and General De Brigade).
Pretty much at same level as Field Of Glory with units representing Brigades or Regiments grouped into Divisions and we both fielded roughly a Corps.
Certainly much simpler than FOGN but possibly lacking some of its nuances.
Not the same feel for differences between Guard, Veteran, Average etc as units are based on Strength Points which equate to combat power and morale.
So for instance my Young Guard are 14 strength whereas my Line Infantry are 12 and Conscripts 10 but they all fight, shoot and test morale exactly the same only these strengths levels making any difference.
But it certainly works and flows well.
Units are 3 figures on 3cm x 1.5cm with 3 bases per unit in 15mm so we used 2 of our 4cm x 3cm bases as being closest to this (although they are double depth for Infantry) and this worked fine (same as Shako II units).
Couple of twists in Army lists for British with a Light Infantry Division (cam move in rough type terrain at full speed) and several tough Infantry at 16 strength.
I found the use of Movement Bases a bit cumbersome but it does allow a bit of Fog Of War until the dummy bases are revealed.
Interested to see how Age Of Eagles compares.
All in all a decent set that we may well revisit (along with the 18th Century set)



French Young Guard attack columns approach British lines







French Line and Conscript units hold right flank









Chevaux Legere try to hold the British








Young Guard en evant...............














The British lines await...............

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