cavalry v infantry

[grecian1959]

gamed a napoleonic battle last evening and unless we missed something in the book--a cavalry breakthrough occured against infantry which can only stand -yet it was 6 dice v 6 for the cav??? correct and in our came the cavalry then lost due to bad rolls is that right insecure unprotected infantry not in square caught by surprise
also do shaken and disordered units provide/get support
thanks peter

[Mike Target]

Ok, first of all, and I know my own grammer isnt up to much, but something to indicate the end of sentances is much appreciated.

I assume your using the basic unit profiles as given in the book?

Unmodified I feel that the basic stats are too weak for a lot of Napoleonic cavalry, but this is easily solved. Cavalry got a lot harder hitting in the early 19th century compared to the previous century so perhaps give them 7 or 8 attacks, dont forget they hit on 3's on the charge, and perhaps give them the Tough Figheters rule or one of the others that allows rerolls to hit, or a bonus to combat resolution.

Maybe try out the suggested stats on p122/123?

Of course if your using lighter Horse than I wouldnt be surprised if infantry in line sent them packing, it certainly happened a lot in the 18th century and even happened in the Crimea!

The thing about cavalry is that its not actually that powerful: it looks impressive and scares the hell out of raw recruits but its only real effectivness is to persue a fleeing foe, screen the army from enemy cavalry and mess around on the flanks..so dont expect miracles.


I believe that cavalry in historical games is usually described as "Moves like a butterfly, Stings like a Butterfly" ...and like a butterfly their main purpose is to look pretty....

[Alan Charlesworth]

Well if the cavalry had only six dice then they must have been some sort of light cavalry like Hussars. The cavalry would have been hitting on 3s and the infantry on 4s. So the cavalry do have the advantage. And of course because the infantry were contacted during a Sweeping Charge by the cavalry they have no Closing Fire.

If you feel that this slight edge for the cavalry is not enough you can modify it by a house rule. But remember light cavalry were not considered to be 'battle cavalry', although of course they did often take part in set piece battles. Most 'battle' cavalry like dragoons and cuirassiers will have 7 - 10 dice, making life much more difficult for the infantry when not in square.

Shaken and/or Disordered units can give support and be supported.

[Greenjacket]

Try cuirassiers or British dragoons charging infantry who haven't formed square

[Mike Target]

I still wouldnt expect them to win though...I once managed to get the 4th Dragoon Guards (8 attacks, 3's to hit, with rerolls) to perform a flank charge against a regiment of french infantry in march column...and somehow lost the Dragoons!

[HobbitMiles]

I think that an important point in the first posting is that the cavalry lost due to poor dice. Almost anything can happen if the dice don't like you - it doesn't mean that the game is broken!

How many 1s did we manage to roll Alan?

[Alan Charlesworth]

I think that an important point in the first posting is that the cavalry lost due to poor dice. Almost anything can happen if the dice don't like you - it doesn't mean that the game is broken!

How many 1s did we manage to roll Alan?

Ouch! Don't remind me

I played a game with Trev last weekend where at critical moments he manged to roll 4 and 5 sixes at a time. Such are the whims of fate

We must sort another game sometime Andy. e-mail me if you want to fix something up. Hopefully I will see you for Lutzen if not before?

[trevor allen]

I think that an important point in the first posting is that the cavalry lost due to poor dice. Almost anything can happen if the dice don't like you - it doesn't mean that the game is broken!

How many 1s did we manage to roll Alan?

Ouch! Don't remind me

I played a game with Trev last weekend where at critical moments he manged to roll 4 and 5 sixes at a time. Such are the whims of fate

We must sort another game sometime Andy. e-mail me if you want to fix something up. Hopefully I will see you for Lutzen if not before?

Just making up for your 1's.

[Alan Charlesworth]

To be fair the luck did even out

[JLH]

Historically for the period a solid and steady line of infantry wasn't a "sure thing" for Cavalry, particularly Hussars or Chasseurs, to break by a frontal charge. Having Cav hit on 3+ and Inf on 4+ is pretty reasonable.

But perhaps there is room here for the "infantry charging cavalry" rule (that the former get counter-charged, lose their charge bonus, and become disordered), to be applied in such circumstances - make the infantry that is not in square automatically disordered, ... thus Cav hitting on 3+ and Inf on 5+?