Emperor of the Battlefield game.

Game with Stephen today and I choose to try EOTB rules which we briefly tried once last year. 

Just went with a basic points based game (rules include points system but only single generic list) at 650pts which is enough for a decent Corps sized game (Shako/Glory is Fleeting vibe).

I used Spring 1813 Prussians and Stephen the French.

There is quite a lot involved in the set up and deployment particularly with your chosen Order Of March and relevant placement of Divisions (a sort of game in itself) and you generally start game with several Divisions off table/enroute that you can only attempt to bring to field one per turn.

These reinforcing Divisions arrive in March Columns in a fairly condensed arrival 'box' although one can bring them on deployed but at increased risk of failing to arrive.

We found that Divisions remained in such fast moving March Columns for quite a long time certainly compared to just about any other rule set we have used, well that is until Artillery gets in range.

The movement/shooting and combat systems are all slick and the interactions between Column/Line/Square have good Napoleonic feel.

Whilst we did not complete game (too much discussing the various deployment/points options) we encountered only one or two rules issues (eg wording bit ambiguous re Rallying) and nothing game breaking.

Think these will be used again

Only a couple of pics as engrossed in proceedings

Defender gets to set up bulk of terrain but restricted by 'legality' of distribution 

I did get a Cavalry Brigade to arrive deep on right flank on second turn (aided by an ADC and road) which forced French infantry to deploy in to squares, but cavalry alone cannot deal with same

Infantry Divisions face off in early stages (we both later brough Cavalry on to this side of battlefield)

Later I set up St Nicolas Farm (for Saturday at club with PzGr) so as I could sort what terrain items I need to bring.

Chain of Command 2 rules arrived today (PDF obtained yesterday) only a very brief skim through but some really nice pics of WWII kit stand out, will get fuller read of actual rules in due course.

Emperor of the Battlefield test game

Tried out Emperor of the Battlefield rules today at Stephens with his French facing my Prussians (550pts each).

I do not have the rules (but have played authors SYW set - King of the Battlefield) and Stephen not played them before (hence the play test) so a few things to absorb especially re the set up and deployment of forces which is quite involved (roads entering table more important than in most sets).

Forces are very like standard Shako with each player fielding a roughly a Corps (4-6 Infantry Divisions and/or Cavalry Brigades) and indeed 15mm unit sizes are same as in Shako (ie 2 stand units each stand 40mm wide) which perfectly suits our armies.

System hinges around Morale Tests which occur as the (only) result of declaring a shooting target or units engaging in close combat (unusual use of a D8 counting positive and a D6 counting negative along with various modifiers to generate an result) with failed tests generating a Waver marker.

Combat/shooting potentially very bloody as most units Rout upon suffering 2 Wavers (1 for Raw and 3 for Guard) and are removed but can cause cascading morale tests on any units routed through. 

Another interesting facet is charges can be preceded by a preparatory firing phase in attempt to force target to temporarily 'flinch' (minus factor in any ensuing combat).

Formation changes require a Control Test (modified 4+ on a D10) to be successful.

Several optional rules (we did not use any) covering an Orders system and Rallying Router and suchlike.

All in all a interesting set with decent unit interactions and points system (if you like that sort of thing) but lacking army lists and any national traits (again if you like that sort of thing).

Believe they were used at recent Warfare show for a small competition and they seem well suited to such.

Only real criticism is that the QRS and the rules seem to be at odds on couple of things but nothing major.

Liked them enough to order a set although was it ever in doubt I could resist !!?? 

Only couple of pics as busy trying to fathom how things worked

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