Napoleonic Wargame Club (NWC)

Salute everybody!

I have a question for those who apply night rules, for example, as it is described below (at Waterloo):

-Night turn from 10:30 (No hostilities) to 4:45. Once night turn is upon us NO FORWARD movement beyond current lines, No hostilities.
-Movement to re-organize formations is permitted until 11 pm  ( i.e. reserves and supplies can move forward ). Beaten or retreating armies can move back.     
-No movement between 11 pm and  4:45 am.
Resuming of hostilities at 5AM

As you can see on this map, how to apply night rules with surrounded units? For the moment it is 9.00pm but I'm not sure to have thoroughly cleaned the ground in time! And also, there other places in that huge battle which can be concerned.


Do I have to let them sleep soundly or may I abbreviate their sufferings even after 10.30pm?
Thank you for your advices, I think it can be useful for everybody (who applies night rules )

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Général de Brigade Christian Rizo

Salute!

Hi Christian,

I often use night rules in my games as well.
I typically use the following standard: Once the turn shows night there is no more combat (except for units that are surrounded - as you point out); and no advances into uncontrolled territory - movement on roads only (LoC) within friendly territory until midnight.

No movement until turn shows Dawn, and then only along friendly LoC; with combat operations beginning at Day light.

Reinforcements which arrive between midnight and Dawn have to remain in arrival hex.

There are of course many variations one can apply to this as you see fit.

I've also played where anything goes through out the night turns.

I would think that the main reason to apply night rules is to simulate the necessity for troops to rest.
Night combat can be difficult enough as troops do not undisorder as easily as during the day, and as in reality, combat operations at night can be fraught with many perils...

Join me for a libation, sir...

Regards,

Under those circumstances I'd say it was fine to finish those units off - neither side is going to pitch tents in that situation. So it's more realistic and not at all gamey. Note to all readers: No it is not one of my disasters. If I had been in that dreadful situation I daresay I'd have surrendered at this point.

For those situations I usually permit firing but no melees except for over-runs.

_________________
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

Yes, that's sensible

Concur with Ed's position. Adjacent units may continue to fire but no melee after 1 hex visibility. Don't run low on ammo

Good topic as it is one that needs to be negotiated and agreed upon in the multi-day games prior to beginning hostilities.

_________________
Feldmarschall Jeff Freiherr Mathes von Krain
50th (Stein) Infantry Regiment
Dritte Brigade
Austrian Korps

I think Ed's suggestion has merit...

_________________

What do you mean? It's true that we didn't talk about it before starting the game but, then, in a mail, I proposed night rules (as it is written in italics in my initial post) and you agreed.

Another thing:
Is it exact that units in line systematically become disordered during night turns?

_________________
Général de Brigade Christian Rizo

Salute!

Christian asked: Is it exact that units in line systematically become disordered during night turns?


Yes, that is a function of the game engine.

Christian also wrote: What do you mean? It's true that we didn't talk about it before starting the game but, then, in a mail, I proposed night rules (as it is written in italics in my initial post) and you agreed.

As long as it exists as an agreement between the players, it does not matter when rules are discussed/proposed.

Regards,

If you don't decide together of rules for the night before the game or if those rules are not specific I am sorry to say that it's the same than having no rule.

_________________
Général David Guegan

3ème Régiment de Grenadiers - Bataillon d'élite du 3ème Légère
2ème Brigade
Grenadiers de la Réserve
Réserve
La Grande Armée
--------------------------
"From the sublime to the ridiculous is but a step."
Napoléon Bonaparte

Military justice is to justice what military music is to music.
Groucho Marx

Salute

As long as the rules exist in an email showing both players agreed to them the rules as stated therein are valid

Regards

Then why having a discussion here? It's a private matter between 2 officers. If it's unresolved they contact their commanding officer and try to resolve the problem away from the forum.

_________________
Général David Guegan

3ème Régiment de Grenadiers - Bataillon d'élite du 3ème Légère
2ème Brigade
Grenadiers de la Réserve
Réserve
La Grande Armée
--------------------------
"From the sublime to the ridiculous is but a step."
Napoléon Bonaparte

Military justice is to justice what military music is to music.
Groucho Marx

Salute

I thought this was a discussion about Night Rules and what constitutes an agreement between players


This is something that players should understand and be familiar with

Regards