Napoleonic Wargame Club (NWC)

While we are on the discussion of cavalry some general tactical tips for less expererienced members

Generally
- Use mass don’t spread your cavalry out in penny packets
- When you launch a charge have backup sqds to support you units in a 2nd and 3rd wave
- When charging enemy infantry consider using cavalry in the same turn in waves. This allows you first wave to disorder and turn them then your 2nd wave to hit them in the rear and disordered with some of your first wave following up
- Use cavalry as part of a combined arms force with some infantry and horse artillery in support
- Manage your stacking carefully to ensure you cavalry does not get driven onto an infantry unit. By splitting your sqds to achieve maximum counter value in a stack you also spread out fatigue when melees occur
- Operationally - as a general rule cavalry is best used towards the flanks and in the right terrain.

When meleeing other cavalry

- always try to attack their stack in the flank. This has a considerable 40% bonus
- Hunt out his small stacks not his big ones
- Get momentum in a cavalry fight by hitting his lowest morale units. Remember if you lose a melee you must take a morale test. Even if you pass it you will still be disordered.

Salute!

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Marechal Knox

Prince d'Austerlitz et Comte d'Argentan
Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur

"What is history but a fable agreed upon"

Evening Colin

Thanks for that
I have often wondered what benefit "tribalism" !
In the old days (twelve years ago ) people would do Guides open to all Armies which allowed the player to benefit from and apply others experiences. Thus levelling the playing field.
I have often considered a "doubtful practice" thread, but would I be shooting myself in the foot

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Jim Hall
Field Marshall
Commander Anglo-Allied Army

Colin,

Thanks, now this is the stuff we need to help further our gaming!!

Maybe it isn't I hate horses but just never understood them........

Great post! Cavalry are also great for isolating units while you bring up guns and infantry to destroy them... I learned the hard way.

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Field Marshal Sir Edward Blackburn, 1st Duke of Aberdeen K.G.
85th (Buck's Light Volunteers) Regiment of Foot
16th British Brigade
7th Division
III (Peninsular) Corps
2nd Battalion, Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards

General Hodl & I just applied these exact cavalry tactics in our MP Leipzig game against Moss and Friedman a few days ago.

We haven't heard "boo" from them since then...

My compliments, Colin.

This is what I have been stressing for quite some time, and what I envision as the future of our club. We should be one band of brother gamers before we are anything else. Our uniforms are fictitious and should never stand in our way of being brothers in arms. Our various uniforms exist to add 'flavor' to our club, and provide a general structure to facilitate role playing. We must never forget that the role playing is not real. Our brother gamers are.

Sharing such tactical tips in the open make us a club, and the club is infinitely more important than the individual armies or sides.

One band of gaming brothers. That is what I have always envisioned as the greatest hope for our future. Thank you, Colin, for stepping up and helping to show these guys the way.

Now does that mean that my Hanoverian persona is ever going to cut you Misguided Minions of the Corsican Fool any slack?

Not on your life.

But it does mean that your elected President values each and every one of you for my brother gamers that you actually are.

Hey so this is not Pierre's damn I walked into the wrong place.
I will however reserve my best posts for that said abode

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Marechal Knox

Prince d'Austerlitz et Comte d'Argentan
Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur

"What is history but a fable agreed upon"

It depends...
If you are playing an embedded melee phase style, which is, I say it again and again, is the most, you can't launch a 2nd and 3rd wave...
Or you have to prepare your charge very very well!

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Général de Brigade Christian Rizo

Maybe, maybe not!

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Général Mark Oakford
Duc de Smolensk, Comte d'Autun
Commandant
Réserve de Cavalerie, La Grande Armée

Sorry. I was busy rounding up horses that were running the wrong way.

(Actually real life got in the way. Turn sent this morning though.)

Oh, but even with MOE rules, you can launch successive waves of attacks. You just have to think one melee ahead when you are moving and charging. Remember, cavalry can melee twice under MOE rules before all other melees have to occur. Use some imagination.

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FM Sir 'Muddy' Jones, KG
2nd Life Guards, 1st Squadron, Household Cavalry
1st Duke of Uxbridge & Anglesey K.G.

Yes Muddy is right but generally speaking yes embedded melee slows down the wave aspect a little. The rest of the tips are valid though.
I generally play 0 min turns now days. I think they preclude the need for embedded melee

Helga a round here for the Mudmeister

_________________
Marechal Knox

Prince d'Austerlitz et Comte d'Argentan
Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur

"What is history but a fable agreed upon"