What period to choose?

[MiSiO]

Thanks. It helps a lot.

I read that Brunswick rifle had 300 yards of effective range while Minié rifle up to 600 yards. Is it a good idea to set different ranges for regular and rifle brigades or shoud I use the rulebook ranges 24" for all rifled muskets?

[Cubster]

Thanks. It helps a lot.

I read that Brunswick rifle had 300 yards of effective range while Minié rifle up to 600 yards. Is it a good idea to set different ranges for regular and rifle brigades or shoud I use the rulebook ranges 24" for all rifled muskets?

In most battlefield conditions, factoring in such vaguaries as human eyesight, weather, topography etc.. you'd be lucky to get anything like the maximum effective range. Some people like to micromanage every aspect of gaming, some people prefer to generalise. Take your pick really.

[MiSiO]

True. BP is a generic rule set.

[Invisible officer]

I would opt for different ranges for different targets. Against a column your chance to hit at extreme range is much better than against a group of men.
But black powder smoke obscure a lot on a 19th century battlefield.

Snap shots against fast moving skirmishers have little effect.

[MiSiO]

I am not sure if different ranges (or ever to hit) for different targets can work with Black Powder.

[BigMike]

I don't see why not, after all different formations affect morale save. You could try adding 6" to the range of a rifle armed unit's range if the target unit is in column.

[MiSiO]

I guess it is the thing I do not like the most about BP. I like rules to be set in stone. Changing rules as soon as something is not 'right' sounds to me like writing a different set of rules Still it is just a theory for me - no one to play with

I think that the idea of BP is to make rules simple. It would be better to add to hit modifier for shooting at a column but even now a column that was being shoot at is in a lot of trouble

[Invisible officer]

The BP rules are not written for one specific war. So they have to be flexible.

Many of my games are played with rules that are written by a group of friends and me. (In the 1980th/90th older editions had been on sale via a miniature trader and sold not bad so we may< claim them to be semi official )
They are written for specific conflicts and more detailed. But still very playable.
I enjoy playing the umpire, but I have not much to decide in this role. Most of the close gaming friends are old gamers and professional historians. That helps a lot. Often only two of us meet, so no umpiring. It works for 25+ years. I guess one of the main reasons is that we are all more interested in historical gaming than in winning a game. I like to loose in a good game against a friend and dislike to win in a bad one.

We use the more "official" rules like BP with strangers. Often people who want to win. In these games you need iron rules to avoid nasty discussions.

In every large town you find the local masters of a certain rule system. They know every rule and every loophole. They win. But a bad winner is worse than a bad looser. So we let them play with others.

[MiSiO]

Well, wargaming is about miniatures, history and winning. It is still a WARgame.

In every large town you find the local masters of a certain rule system. They know every rule and every loophole. They win. But a bad winner is worse than a bad looser. So we let them play with others.

I am that kind of a gamer (when I enter a tournament). I can not play a game without knowing how it works. How could I attack without being able to calculate my chances? But it works not only with rules. I also play only with painted armies (even if it means that I have to wait months to play). P.S. Knowing rules =/ knowing (using) loopholes. P.P.S. We do not have a single local store here:(

Still. It is better to loose a close game at high level that to win with someone who does not know half of the rules... No fun at all.

I guess the reason I like the official rules so much is my character. If I know the limitations of a system I can use it to the best of my abilities.

Many of my games are played with rules that are written by a group of friends and me. (In the 1980th/90th older editions had been on sale via a miniature trader and sold not bad so we may< claim them to be semi official )

I have never enjoyed house rules. No idea why...

[Invisible officer]

"I have never enjoyed house rules. No idea why..."

Guess you met only bad ones.