Attack columns question

[zedeyejoe]

It is one of the problems of IGo UGo games, can the other player just storm across the board and crash into the enemy, whilst the enemy sits there and does nothing? It is this aspect of the games that has put some of the local players off these type of games.

On the other hand it seems that the really short range fire (from muskets) was the thing that counted - and that is covered in Black Powder.

One rule mod might be to allow the non-phasing player to shoot each time the enemy makes a move within their shooting range? That way units cannot just leap forward unscathed across ground.

[HobbitMiles]

When reading the following please bear in mind that I know almost absolutely nothing about Napoleonic warfare and I've only played BP for Napoleonics once but...

Are the defending player's tactics at fault? Have the advancing French been whittled down at all by artillery or light infantry? Are British cavalry in a position to force the French to form square or at least threaten a flank? This could cause some French units to become shaken or fall into disorder thus breaking up the attack and making it much more difficult to co-ordinate two columns attacking onto one line.

Just thinking out loud

[Rod MacArthur]

So there is no problem me stacking two attack columns on a line (we play with 24-figure units, lines 12x2 and attack columns 6x4)?

It wasn't poor dice that broke the British - it was the French being able to stack 12 dice with charge bonuses against 6 dice.

The problem is a common one in 90% of so-called "napoleonic" war game rules which permit historically incorrect tactics. In fact all real napoleonic battalion commanders ensured that they had sufficient distance around their battalion to deploy from column to line. Two columns would not normally therefore be able to hit a single line.

You can either play the rules as they are written and allow such historically incorrect tactics, or invent some penalty for doing so. I remember discussing this in proposed modifications to the Newbury rules, which we used at the Colours war game competitions at Reading in the 1990s, and our solution was to make columns disordered if they did not maintain deploying distance (because being too close would cause one or both battalions to try to move away from each other, with consequent disruption to their normal movement).

Rod

[zedeyejoe]

This page seems good on the use and abuse of Napoleonic column formation
http://napoleonistyka.atspace.com/infan ... ry_columns

[Comte Michel]

For BP Napoleonic games in 6mm I base battalions in columns on single bases large enough to allow for deployment into line. This means that I need to use counters to indicate formation, but it does force correct spacing in deployment.

In every set of rules I've ever used this same issue arises, maybe adopting a house rule for 28mm that enforces adequate spacing between units is needed.

[Comte Michel]

This page seems good on the use and abuse of Napoleonic column formation
http://napoleonistyka.atspace.com/infan ... ry_columns

Damn that's a good page. Thanks for posting

[Rod MacArthur]

This page seems good on the use and abuse of Napoleonic column formation
http://napoleonistyka.atspace.com/infan ... ry_columns

Yes, this page is an outstanding and well referenced summary of Napoleonic tactics.

Rod

[Cubster]

Cheers Zed, I couldn't finish it all yet but I'll pop back on that link and see if I can absorb it all.

Nice to see you back Rod.

[Big Al]

The problem is a common one in 90% of so-called "napoleonic" war game rules which permit historically incorrect tactics. In fact all real napoleonic battalion commanders ensured that they had sufficient distance around their battalion to deploy from column to line. Two columns would not normally therefore be able to hit a single line.

Rod

So, if it never happened, or if French Attack Columns always formed into line before they went into contact, why do you (anyone, not just Rod) think that most, if not all, wargames rules allow it? Is it just that they are all written by people who haven't done their research properly? Is it because they are following the wrong research? Or is it (Devil's Advocate here ) just that people don't like it when it happens in games and say that it didn't and shouldn't happen because it becomes too powerful a tactic to overcome and as they don't know how to combat it, they just say that it is notwhat happened without any real proof?

[zedeyejoe]

From reading the article (see link above) it seems that the column of attack aided moving and that line was better for shooting. So you move up to enemy fast, using column and then deploy to shoot, just outside of effective musket range. However in some cases, the enemy broke and ran before the column deployed.

So column helps you move faster and has morale advantages (we are after all herd animals). But does not aid in fighting.

I like the idea of being forced to have space around the column.