How to make russians super good at defence

[Gunfreak]

So I want my Napoleonic russians to just stand there and take fire, just closeing ranks and taking it.

I'm wondering how to simulate this, I guess you can give them sevral rerolls and other special rules, another option is to treat the russian standard units as large when it comes to stamina, but then you have to make them less effective in offence, So they only only get the advantage of the stamina, but still have no advantage in attack.

So mabye give them 4 stamina, but give them a special rule that take away some of their offencive capablities?

[Alan Charlesworth]

Well the suggestions already in the book are to make them Steady (re-rolls first break test) and/or Large units. Both of these will make the Russians more resilient.

I prefer a slight variation to these suggestions. The Russians were solid under fire, especially artillery fire. However, they weren't necessarily better at hand to hand or in shooting.

So you could have Steady - but only against shooting. You could also reduce the negative Morale modifiers against artillery to -1 at close and medium range and to 0 at long range. You could also ignore the -1 for being shot by artillery on the Break Test. I am not sure that all the foregoing should be used together as the Russians weren't supermen and too many national characteristics in rules create caricatures.

[charge the guns]

Obviously there is no right or wrong answer here, but just to share what we have been doing for the Russians. We've made all Russian foot troops stubborn and also generaly downgrade the Russian command to 7. This seems to have the general effect that the Russians don't hop about quite so much, but are tough to move from their position. Fighting against them with the French it then becomes a game of trying to use your better command to bring more muskets to bear at the crucial point. Feels right to us after a few games.

For me, National Characteristics are absolutely key to having a flavoursome Napoleonic where all the troops are essentially armed the same way. Perhaps it is just having been brought up on Quarrie's "Napoleon's Campaigns in Miniature" that means this element of the game is so important. Who can forget those casualty tables separated for 2 deep and 3 deep line .

[Greenjacket]

I love the idea of making Russians Command 7 and Stubborn! Really gets their character. Don't forget that Russians should get artillery. LOTS of artillery. But you need to be careful in altering the artillery rules, as two-gun batteries are impossible to charge with the existing rules.
Its 200 years since Borodino later this year, so I hope to get some 1812 themed games in (especially since the Perrys are producing some Russian artillery!!)
We find BP gets boring unless you pile on national characteristics and special rules with abandon (and a total disdain for being politically correct - so French have lots of elan and bonuses when attacking, while British get to have the feared "thin red line".)

[Jammers]

Oh i like that idea for making Russian infantry Stubborn but only able to be Ld7. Simple but elegant.

I'll suggest that to the CiC for our game next week.

Out of interest - what are people's view on national charcteristics for Bavarians?

Thanks

James

[ady2650]

Oh i like that idea for making Russian infantry Stubborn but only able to be Ld7. Simple but elegant.

I'll suggest that to the CiC for our game next week.

Out of interest - what are people's view on national charcteristics for Bavarians?

Thanks

James

Baverians ranged from average to semi uncontrollable in battle (highlanderish)