Russians and Black Powder

[Clarence]

Hello folks,

I saw the new plastic 1812-15 Russians and realised that I had been talking about starting a Napoleonic army for about 30 years now (yes, I was a very small boy when I first had the idea!). So I now have a box of said Russians and a tin of strong tone dip to help me get things on the table (works a treat as long as you touch in the white bits afterwards) but unfortunately my copy of Black Powder has been comandeered by my other half "for a Christmas present" as she never knows what to buy me.

My question is this; I want to get a few units of both Russians and French done fairly quickly so I can have a game and try to persuade my opponents to give Napoleonics a go. Unfortunately we are imited to a 6'x4' table (or even 5'x3' if banished to the kitchen) and so I was thinking of using a handful (6-8) battalions each of 24 figs per side maximum (plus a bit of cavalry and a few guns), based up on 40x40mm squares (2x2 figs). Will BP give a good game at these sizes?

Also when it comes to basing I am a complete novice at this period and my reference material is growing slowly so I would appreciate your collective opinion on basing up a 24 man unit as follows:-

(facing down the page)

GG MM MM MM MM TT
GG MM O S S D MM TT

G - Grenadier
M - Infantry/Musketeer
T - Tirailleur
O - Officer
S - Standard
D - Drummer

It doesn't quite fit the Russian model exactly but it is quite aesthetically pleasing and it fits into the 3 company musketeer/1company Grenadier/Tirailleur plan. I was thinking of putting the two centre bases on four half bases for flexibility. Can anyone spot any fundamental flaws in my plan? Any assistance or enlightenment will be very gratefully received, this period is quite daunting even for a long time Ancients wargamer!

[zedeyejoe]

The number of figures you use in a unit is not important. So I say go smaller and use 12's as your standard unit size. That gives you twice as many units and a more interesting game.

[DeanMoto]

I played my first BP game with 24-man (4 per 40mm sq) battalions classed as Regular sized. It worked well; although we played on an 8 X 5 table. I've since added a few 32 & 36 man battalions which will be classed as Large. I know folks like the look of 32-plus figure battalions (& indeed they do look good), but I wanted more units without having to paint more figures And, as alluded to above, allows for more interesting play IMO, as you have more units to manuever as well as more table space. Best, Dean

[grant]

The number of figures you use in a unit is not important. So I say go smaller and use 12's as your standard unit size. That gives you twice as many units and a more interesting game.

Nothing wrong with smaller units. I liked the idea of 8s with War of the Ring movement trays, but my local group wouldn't go for it; now everyone is stuck painting 24-32 man regular size units and complaining about it. I told them! Would they believe me? Not a chance.

[zedeyejoe]

The prophet is often without honour in their own land. Now all you have to do is resist pointing the finger and saying, I told you so when they start playing.

I am going to offend some I know, when I started playing I bought some ready painted units, arranged them in line, column and square formations. Took photos of them. printed the photos out and stuck them onto card. Lo instant armies!

[Clarence]

I like the look of 24fig battalions and I know a couple of people who already started armies for the Foundry's Napoleon rules before they abandoned them so I stand a chance of getting some of these resurrected if I can put on a decent show myself. Having said that I might go for 16-20 fig battalions for a test run just to get some soldiers on the table. I'm not sure I could go for 12, it would start to look a bit thin for me.

[zedeyejoe]

You are quite right, if the look is important to you then bigger units might appeal.

The biggest thing for me is getting a good game and when restricted for space, smaller units work best, Now of course it is simple enough to split a 24 figure unit into 2 12 figure units as the need arises.

[Greystreak]

I went with the 32-figure option for my Russian infantry in 'close order'. (View them on this thread: viewtopic.php?f=12&t=3013 )

We find that 6 or so battalions a side, with two regiments of cavalry and a battery works well on a 6 x 4 table, depending on how 'contrained' you make the terrain.

[grant]

I like the look of 24fig battalions and I know a couple of people who already started armies for the Foundry's Napoleon rules before they abandoned them so I stand a chance of getting some of these resurrected if I can put on a decent show myself. Having said that I might go for 16-20 fig battalions for a test run just to get some soldiers on the table. I'm not sure I could go for 12, it would start to look a bit thin for me.

Can't believe Napoleon is done already. Wow.

[grant]

You are quite right, if the look is important to you then bigger units might appeal.

The biggest thing for me is getting a good game and when restricted for space, smaller units work best, Now of course it is simple enough to split a 24 figure unit into 2 12 figure units as the need arises.

Great idea!

People need to be more open to those kinds of concepts; not everything has to be so set in stone!