Over The Hills rules solo try

Had a trial run solo with newly acquired Over The Hills Napoleonic rules and jolly nice they are too.
Nothing particularly radical or innovative but they do work.
Game is geared towards a Divisional sized (maybe Corps on larger tables) encounter units grouped into Brigade/Regimental formations (somewhat akin in scale to Lasalle, Imperial Eagles or Napoleon At War)
First half of rule book is essentially the basics with a streamlined set of rules, the second half is Optional rules that add more detail and/or period flavour.
Very much up to players which Optional rules they adopt.
I left out the orders system (very like Gen De Brigade) but tried just about everything else.
I may or may not use the Optional movement rules (by flank, by echelon etc) whilst outside enemy engagement zone or use the simpler 'anything goes' system of the basic rules (very like Black Powders system)
The Combat and Shooting systems use a D10 which is bit different with you general having to roll equal to or under a base number which then yields 0-3 hits after various tactical factors are accounted for (again Options expand the number and effects of these.
Melee is conducted over a maximum of 3 melee rounds with Combat possibly varying between rounds.
Morale is fairly non-existent in Basic game (units are either Dead or in Action) but options introduce various Morale Tests and Wavering and Routing units and suchlike.
Units are rated by Fatigue Strengths which is an amalgam of Morale and Numbers and can be depleted or restored in several ways, again fairly intuitive stuff.
Infantry are also rated by Skirmish ability A - D class with A being best.
Usual formations are available and basing is fairly flexible.
Commanders are rated for Command Range, Rally Ability and Combat Influence/Charisma.
Movement is divided into segments of various rates with differing formations allowing varied numbers of segments.
For example a unit in Line might move 2 possible segments but suffer 1 Fatigue if it uses any part of second segment, whereas an Attack Column could move 3 segments with the third inflicting a Fatigue.
Moving through delaying terrain is either at full pelt but suffering 1 Fatigue or half rate without fatigue being suffered.
The sequence of play consists of several phases but it is essentially, Player A acts then Player B acts with one Moving before the other Fires and so on.
Some example historical OOBs included and a Points system but no Historical Scenarios (no doubt a supplement planned ?)

As I said nothing really earth shattering in how the rules address the various aspects of Napoleonic Wargaming but they do give an enjoyable game.

Only downside I found is that with Basic and Optional rules being split in the book it can get bit confusing searching for which rule you are applying or is updated/optional.
Also one or two key rules are kind of 'hidden' in the text and easily missed.
The QRS included is functional but I feel could be greatly expanded to cover more basic principles.
The set is well supported with a Yahoo Forum and Facebook pages and I had very quick answers to a few minor queries.

Overall a thumbs up for me for this rules set which is a nice alternative to use.


Cuirassiers clash with Prussian Hussars after emerging from a depression

Young Guard advance (rings indicate those still retaining initial volley bonus)

More Young Guard Battalions push forward, they have B Class skirmish ability so 2 bases of skirmishers to the fore (C class have only 1)

Prussian defend a cornfield

And some high ground

From approaching French

Overview of the field of battle

French center advances

French left wing across the river

More Piquet action.....

Had another blast with solo Piquet game over last few days (1-2 hours over succeeding evenings)

I played a few more turns of Les Grognards before (for reasons unknown !) I decided to reset the game using Command Piquet.

Used same table and forces but this time the Prussians fielded their full complement of troops whilst the French had 2 units of Young Guard and 1 of Middle Guard 'left out of battle'.

Both had similar Army Morale with Prussia obtaining an Excellent deck and a D12 Commander, French had a D10 Commander and an Average deck.

Play saw the Old Guard Brigade struggle for central village whilst a large Cavalry encounter took place on their left flank.

Young Guard brigades plowed forward against Prussian foot and gave their Grenadier Brigade a rough handling at least initially.

However the Prussians had a Cavalry Brigade in reserve which shored up the Grenadiers and then proceeded to destroy a Young a Guard Brigade opening a gaping hole in French line.

At same time two Prussian Dragoon Regiments bypassed their battling comrades to flank the village forcing the French Infantry into squares.

A 'feature' of CmdPK compared to FOB is the fact that when a unit Routs friendly units within it Defence Dice radius must test, I quite like this despite the extra dice rolls.

Of course a couple of routs proved disastrous for France whittling their strength down until they were out of Morale Chips thereby being unable to Rally and Hits or Routers.

Command Piquet also has a 'Hold Test' for units that suffer hits from shooting but I much prefer FOBs 'odds vs evens' system as much more streamlined method.

For solo game I found CmdPKs D20 vs D20 initiative to work fine though again the FOB system of Active and Reactive initiative is more 'balanced' for want of a better word.

All in all great fun using these older versions of PK for solo play although of course the use of Opportunity Chips is bit problematic especially in CmdPK which has a lot more and with options to not only fire but possibly have a sort of 'mini initiative' run.

End of battle

Meagre Prussian losses 

Severe French losses 

And even more....

Piquet Les Grognards game set up

Set up a solo game using Piquet: Les Grognards Napoleonic supplement.
I also used the Theater Of War system to generate the terrain, deployments and pre-battle set-ups (main outcome being the absence of 6 Prussian units !)
Only couple of turns done using the basic D20 Initiative System (works fine for solo games) but a few pics taken.

Lasalle more pics

More pics from ongoing Lasalle game