Large units

[Rod MacArthur]

One of the things I like about Black Powder is that the authors stated their preference for games based on historical scenarios, rather than a perfectly balanced game based on point systems. I therefore find it surprising that the rules state (on page 10) that most units should be of a standard size, with only exceptional units being large, small or tiny.

Historically such a structure during the Napoleonic era would probably have only applied to British armies, due to their deploying single battalions overseas, initially at strengths of 1,000 to 1,200, but rapidly decreasing by attrition to an average of some 600, and when reduced below 300 amalgamated into pairs as provisional battalions. Only the Guards and some Light Infantry managed to maintain their large size. Most of Wellington's battles had a few large battalions (those recently arrived plus Guards, 43rd and 52nd LI), most of standard size and a few small.

The French however deployed in multi-battalion regiments, most of which fielded 4 battalions, nominally of 840 men each, early in any particular campaign. As attrition set in the French reduced the number of battalions per regiment, so most French battalions were of a similar size of some 500 to 600.

The Austrians however fielded armies most of which comprised line Regiments of 2 or 3 very large battalions of some 1,200 men and were not normally in the campaign long enough for much attrition to occur. A historically correct Austrian army would not conform to the Black Powder large battalions rule. I would guess that the reason for this rule is that an army comprised mainly or entirely of large battalions would be too powerful. In my view this is because Black Powder does not have any of the historically accurate penalties for large units, which is that they were slow to change formation and slow to advance in line (the latter because the longer line hit more minor obstacles, thus requiring more frequent disruption of the line with the obstacle avoidance drill used by all armies). To avoid this British large units often divided into two wings, and Austrian large units into 3 divisions.

I would prefer to allow historically correct armies but have proper penalties for large units, which I would suggest should be some form of movement penalty when in line and slower formation changing (or the need for a better dice roll on changing formation) for large units.

It is interesting that Black Powder currently has disorder only arising from shooting and hand to hand fighting, not from movement. Hail Caesar however has no disorder from shooting or hand to hand fighting, but only from movement interpenetration or break tests. I do not know the logic for this variation, but historically the major cause of disorder in any era was from movement, particularly if it was over broken ground or too fast for the formation the unit was in, compared to their training.

Rod

[Cubster]

If you divided Austrian units into three 'small' units then, instead of one 'large' unit, as you suggest might be historically correct, wouldn't that recreate deficiencies in command due to having to roll extra command rolls?

[Big Al]

The other thing I like about BP is that it is more of a guideline than a set of rules and suggests that if you don't like something, change it. Now, while the rules on page 10 does indeed state that most units should be of a standard size, I believe it to be only a recommendation. The scenarios should drive it and should state the size of the forces used. I wonder if those comments were made for newcomers to the era? But then, following your comments, maybe the large units you speak of are classed as standard and the British units should be classed as small? I mean, the definition of standard is something that is regular. If the larger units were the norm, then they would be standard.

With regard to Hail Caesar, your units can be disordered by shooting and hand to hand combat. If a unit shooting rolls a 6 then it forces a break test, if a unit needs a 6 to score a hit, then a similar break test is caused by two 6's being rolled. The Break Test is for the disorder caused by shooting. The same thing for Hand to Hand combat. Units that lose the combat are obliged to take a break test (a different one to shooting by the way) and some of the results in the break test leave a unit disordered, in the same way as it does in Black Powder. The main difference is the disorder that can be caused by interpenetration and the Break test caused by the 6 in shooting. In BP there is no penalty for interpenetration and the 6 automatically causes disorder.

Rick will have to confirm, but the conclusion I draw is that since Black Powder, certain observations and comments were made by various players and he and his team appear to have taken them on board and made some amendments. So the rules have evolved and corrections made where it was deemed necessary. I know this was the case with the movement, because he said so. I know that some people were unhappy at the 12 inch move in BP and he changed the movement rate to 6 inches in HC.

[HobbitMiles]

Please remember that I'm no expert on Napoleonics but...

If large Austrian units didn't maneuvre well then make them "unreliable" or drop the staff rating. Hey presto, they generally get fewer moves. Or am I being too simplistic? (This ISN'T intended to be sarcastic BTW).

[grant]

Please remember that I'm no expert on Napoleonics but...

If large Austrian units didn't maneuvre well then make them "unreliable" or drop the staff rating. Hey presto, they generally get fewer moves. Or am I being too simplistic? (This ISN'T intended to be sarcastic BTW).

Yeah, I think that would work.

BP is crazy-flexible. If you don't like it - change it! I find it works really well.

[ScottWashburn]

For a good example of units of various sizes in BP, take a look at my AAR report in the Battle Reports section. We did a 1st Day at Gettysburg scenarios and we had units ranging in size from three stands to fifteen stands and it worked perfectly well. And yes, I'm very impressed with BP's flexibility. I was able to give the Union Iron Brigade it's legendary toughness by bumping up their morale and stamina one notch and it worked perfectly.