Napoleonic Wargame Club (NWC)

Ok so Mark has given me a bee in my colpack, some thoughts on using low grade infantry.

Low grade units
- should be kept in reserve for counter attack purposes or for a sudden surprise attack

- When using them in attack do so in mass with other complimentary combined arms forces of better quality to prevent him counter attacking your counter attack

- Create layers in this attack so that if he does counter a rout your mighty farm boys you have formed units at the back to hit him again.

- Do not use them on defence unless no choice (because routs happen on defence not attack)

- Leave a gap of several hexes between them if they are defending and your reserves so the routs don't disrupt your whole line

- On defense employ them in line or square formation, with officers (if possible) with units on their flanks. This will boost their morale and when they get pushed back you can reduce the chance of them being fired in the flank. Think of Hannibals army here. They often put the low grade units in between high grade ones. So quality on the flanks of the rubbish.

- Avoid them being in an exposed position as once surrounded they will be routed easily and given certain rules setting eliminated at great cost (isolation rules/nme)

Remember if you are playing Waterloo you have the numbers over the French. The allied player must be patient and agree a house rule about the Brussells exit hexes. Ie remove them from the game :-} replace with 500vp. Muddy and I did this once.

The French guard can be hit over and over with superior numbers which ultimately generates high fatigue. The real secret here though is to attack the weaker parts of the French army as much as possible.

Final key tactic if you are Prussian Landwher - On sighting old guard crap yourself and run away, a very historical situation (reference Plancenoit, 2 old guard btns saw of '16 of the Prussians)

Now to my French brothers don't worry better posts coming in Pierre's soon!

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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"

Not sure I understand, don't the exit hexes help the French? They would already seem to be at a disadvantage because of numbers and perhaps inferior cavalry (certainly compared to pre-1812). More guns though.

Hi Andrew
My view is you can explode through the allied lines in the big map and waterloo historical scenarios essentially ignoring the Prussians and go for the exit hexes, which makes it very tough for the allied player.

Replace the exit hexes with 500 vp value and then like Napoleon you cannot ignore the right flank of your communications.
Anyhow just a thought.

As for cavalry in Waterloo 815 the ADN's cavalry is superb in my view.

regards!

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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"

Bautzen is a good test case for massed of low quality infantry. I am playing it my second time (both as the French) and the game plays almost like a different game.

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Yes Bautzen is interesting Jim I think with the lack of cavalry playing allieds will be easier.

The French army is not really that good and you would need to think carefully about how to use those massed D graders.
Have you developed any thoughts on best practice with them? I need to study Bautzen more.

Perhaps you and I should play with me as French. Could be a good game and we have not played for a number of years.
I am a '1 turn a week man now days though.

Regards
Colin

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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"

Colin, send me a message. I have sworn to not take on any more large games, but one game a week with a chance for revenge? Hard to pass up!

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