General de Brigade (2nd Edition)
David Brown
ISBN: 1-85818-532-7
68 pages + 4 page card playsheet
210mm x 297mm (A4)
Paperback
£14.99
General de Brigade Napoleonic wargames rules use infantry battalions, cavalry regiments and artillery batteries as the basic tactical units. The figure scale is 1:20.
General de Brigade was designed to combine the appeal of battalion based games with the most important aspects of command and control from army level games. It was important therefore to base the game at the correct level within the military structure in order to achieve this. The division seemed the most suitable level. When players field a division they are in command of a number of brigades and it is to this level that most wargamers are suited. This is because after spending hours researching and painting our armies we want to manoeuvre each and every unit, overseeing their every volley, melee and morale test, At brigade level this is exactly what is expected of the commander – he would be concerned with deployment, formation and when to fire – here formations such as column or line do matter! However the use of brigades and brigade orders introduces a command and control factor that limits the 'nippy little battalion' syndrome and restricts the wargamer from doing whatever he wants with any unit whenever it suits him. General de Brigade allows wargamers the freedom to command and manoeuvre each battalion or squadron but also includes higher command decisions such as brigade objectives, the timing of assaults and the deployment of reserves.
Deliberate effort has been made to keep the rules simple. Most wargamers want to enjoy a game with model soldiers and not spend their valuable wargaming time checking through fine print and arguing over minor points in the rules. Obviously simplicity means that not all aspects of Napoleonic warfare can be covered and players should therefore try to resolve any problems in a sensible and friendly manner.
The Battles
General de Brigade comes with several battle scenarios that include historical information about the battle, the protagonists' missions, deployment, orders of battle, terrain and reinforcement schedules.
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Vimiero (August 21, 1808): Wellington's British face a French army in Portugal under General Andoche Junot.
-
Borodino (September 7, 1812): This scenario covers Russia's defence of the Raevsky Redoubt against Eugene's IV Corps with reinforcements from Marshal Davout.
-
Waterloo (June 18, 1815): The big clash between the Duke of Wellington and Napoleon Bonaparte.
The rules book includes:
- Standard Rules and Optional Rules with numbered paragraphs for easy reference.
- Historical orders of battle for 12 armies that fought each other in six battles.
- A points system allowing gamers to design their own scenarios.
- Roster sheets and order markers.
- Game markers.
- Explanatory chapter on Napoleonic troop types, their grading and tactical formations.
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Amendments to the latest version
PAGE 10
CAVALRY FORMATIONS - LINE
WAS:
For game purposes the standard cavalry formations are line (three of more squadrons wide); column of divisions (two squadrons wide) and column of squadrons (one squadron wide) – these were the normal formations adopted for charging.
NOW:
For game movement purposes all the following cavalry formations are classed as “Line”:
· Line, (cavalry deployed in a single rank);
· Column Of Divisions (two squadrons wide) and
· Column Of Squadrons (one squadron wide)
These were the normal formations adopted for charging.
N.B. Column of squadrons or divisions will count as a column target if four or more ranks deep.
PAGE 10
SKIRMISH ORDER
WAS:
E.G. Russian Jager battalion deployed in full skirmish order, with one company acting as the command rally point.
NOW:
E.G. Russian jager battalion deploying its maximum permitted strength of 50% in skirmish order with two companies forward in skirmish order and two companies to the rear in close order.
ALSO NEW DIAGRAM FOR SKIRMISH ORDER
PAGE 27
Formation Change Table
WAS:
Deploy/Recall Brigade Skirmish Screen/Light Battalion = 1
NOW:
Deploy/Recall Brigade Skirmish Screen = ½
Deploy/Recall Brigade Light battalion = 1
PAGE 32
Close Order Inf Modifiers Table
WAS: Skirmishers -4
NOW: Skirmishers/Grandes Bandes -4/-2
PAGE 33
Artillery Modifiers Table
WAS: Skirmishers -4
NOW: Skirmishers/Grandes Bandes -4/-2
PAGE 33 Last Paragraph.
Limbered Artillery
WAS:
Counts as a normal close order target with no modifiers
NOW:
Counts as an enfiladed target, applying the +2 modifier.
PAGE 35, Line 6
2. Light Battalions Deployed In Skirmish Order
WAS:
May deploy either all or half the battalion in skirmish order
NOW:
May deploy up to a maximum of half the battalion in skirmish order or all the battalion in grandes bandes
PAGE 35, Line 28
Deployment
WAS: requires a full move to do so
NOW: requires ½ a move to do so
PAGE 35, Line 28, 2nd column
Light Battalions Deployed In Skirmish Order
Deleted all 3 paragraphs , including the example, down to the last line of p35.
REPLACED WITH
BATTALIONS DEPLOYING INTO GRANDES BANDES
· Light battalions are restricted to deploying a maximum of 50% of their strength in skirmish order. (This was the standard amount usually deployed, I know that occasionally more were committed to the skirmish line but that was rare, so for the sake of simplicity and realism, we’ll keep it to 50%.)
· Any Light Battalion deploying more than 50% of its strength is classed as in Grand Bandes, (Open order) and not as skirmish order.
· Any infantry type, (Line Light, Grenadiers, etc) may also deploy into Grande Bandes (Open order). Only Light infantry may deploy in skirmish order.
· Grandes Bandes is regarded as a close order formation in “open order” and not skirmish order. There must be a minimum of half-base width between each base. All companies are placed in the line; there is no command base to the rear.
· 1 Turn is required to form or reform from Grandes Bandes. Must reform into line formation prior to any other formation change.
· Target modifier = -2.
· Fire as close order infantry.
· May charge/stand in melee as normal without restrictions, but may not evade.
· Classed as formed infantry for movement purposes – except Grandes Bandes move at column speed.
· Classed as formed for all morale purposes.
· Classed as an unformed unit for all melee purposes, when opposing close order troops, (including artillery).
· Skirmishers treat grandes bandes as close order troops for all purposes. (I.E. skirmishers may not charge units in grandes bandes.)
· Grande Bandes use the Light Battalion Recall Table. All French units from 1796-1809 receive a +2 modifier. French, British & Prussian infantry receive a +1 modifier from 1810-1815.
PAGE 36
Deploying Half the Battalion as Skirmishers – 1st bullet point
Added – ( If your figures are on close order bases each base must be deployed at least 5cms [3”] apart.)
PAGE 36
Light Battalion Recall Table
Added after the very last line –
+2 If Grandes Bandes – French 1796 to 1809
+1 If Grandes Bandes French/British/Lt. Prussian 1810-1815
PAGE 45
Brigade Morale Test Table
Added extra line – Brigade has previously broken = -2
PAGE 47
Double Six Table
WAS: And may require the nearest enemy general to roll on the Risk to General Table
NOW: And may require the nearest enemy general within 15cm [9”] to roll on the Risk to General Table.