Napoleonic Wargame Club (NWC)

I've played HPS ACW games extensively, but have recently become addicted to the Napoleonic series. I'm still learning the mechanics, though, and I have a question:

The game manual stats the skirmishers in a hex in front of a unit does not block that unit's LOS, but does impose a penalty on fire through the skirmisher's hex.

My question is, do skirmishers impose this same fire penalty on units in their hex when they're at the 'top' (ie. front) of the hex?

Thanks in advance!

Cadet Roda
L'Ecole Militaire

Very good question. This is something I have never looked at and thus I set up a test scenario and the results are:

1. When firing thru a skirmisher hex the units in an adjacent (or further back) got a -20% benefit.
2. When the skirmisher was on TOP of the stack with the formed infantry unit there was NO benefit.

Thus in answer to you question: No, they do not.

If you want protection from skirmishers you must put them out at least one hex from your formed units/guns. And of course fire on skirmishers is reduced as well. Thus firing at skirmishers thru another hex of skirmishers would also incur the bonus for the light infantry screening the hexes behind them.

Good question and perhaps a few of us didnt know this one ...

Chef d'Escadron Bill Peters
Armee du Rhin - V Corps, Cavalerie du V Corps, 20ème légère Brigade de Cavalerie, 13ème Hussar Regiment
HPS Napoleonic Scenario Designer (Eckmuhl, Wagram, Jena-Auerstaedt and ... more to come)

[url="http://www.fireandmelee.net"]Fire and Melee Wargame site[/url]

Skirmishers in the same hex facing to the flank do negate the flank melee bonus against a line unit in that hex, though. Quite useful.

<center>
[url="http://home.arcor.de/dierk_walter/NWC/16thLD.htm"][/url]
Brig. Gen. D.S. "Green Horse" Walter
~ 16th (The Queen's) Light Dragoons ~
4th Brigade, Anglo-Allied Cavalry Corps
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~ 3rd (Prince of Wales's) Dragoon Guards ~
[url="http://www.geocities.com/militaireacademie/"][/url]
</center>

Thanks Dierk. Hadnt noted that one either! Wonder if facing the leader will help too! [:D] And the battalian mascot ... and the company mule ... and ... [:p]

Chef d'Escadron Bill Peters
Armee du Rhin - V Corps, Cavalerie du V Corps, 20ème légère Brigade de Cavalerie, 13ème Hussar Regiment
HPS Napoleonic Scenario Designer (Eckmuhl, Wagram, Jena-Auerstaedt and ... more to come)

[url="http://www.fireandmelee.net"]Fire and Melee Wargame site[/url]

I did a test today. The facing of Leaders or Supply Wagons to opposite hexsides of a formed unit in its hex will not deter the attacking units from achieving a flank modifier as skirmishers or formed units will.

Thus the facing of wagons and leaders is immaterial to the determination of a flank/rear bonus.

But knowing that skirmishers can deter a flank bonus is definitely useful.

I note that many folks breakdown their cavalry into squadrons, turn one of them in a hex to face the rear and thus avoid not only the flank bonus but also avoid allowing other cavalry to freely move by them. Just another tactical tip for new members.

Chef d'Escadron Bill Peters
Armee du Rhin - V Corps, Cavalerie du V Corps, 20ème légère Brigade de Cavalerie, 13ème Hussar Regiment
HPS Napoleonic Scenario Designer (Eckmuhl, Wagram, Jena-Auerstaedt and ... more to come)

[url="http://www.fireandmelee.net"]Fire and Melee Wargame site[/url]

For what's it worth (for the French members), do a search for "securing a flank" or some such subject wording in the Ecole mess hall. It's a post with pictures on several ways of doing that.

<center>
[url="http://home.arcor.de/dierk_walter/NWC/16thLD.htm"][/url]
Brig. Gen. D.S. "Green Horse" Walter
~ 16th (The Queen's) Light Dragoons ~
4th Brigade, Anglo-Allied Cavalry Corps
----------
~ 3rd (Prince of Wales's) Dragoon Guards ~
[url="http://www.geocities.com/militaireacademie/"][/url]
</center>

My dear Brigadier General (ex Marechal de France)

Thanks a lot my dear friend.
We lost a lot with your departure to the english army but thanks to help us despite it.

An Happy New Year to you and your family

Regards

Marechal Lamezec
Prince et Comte de Davout
French CIC