Board Size and "Army" size

[rexgator]

I posted this question at the end of the Pike & Shotte rules thread but I think it has been lost in the shuffle. So here are my questions.

1. What is the "assumed" board size in P&S if you are using 28mm figures? I am most likely limited to 6x4 and as much as I love the looks of the 28mm figures I am not going to be happy if the figure/ground scale distortion is too extreme.

2. What is the "standard" army size people are aiming to field. 3 battalia per side (assuming 3-4 units per battalia)?

Thanks, I am intrigued by P&S but I have zero practical experience with this era nor much meaningful understanding do the history or tactics as well. So I am really looking forward to any feedback from people who have demoed or play tested the rules and/or people who have experience gaming this period in general.

[grant]

Hey there,

As the rules haven't come out yet, no one really knows.

For table, I have plans to make a 10x6. About the biggest I can do in my garage. It will work for BP too.
I have a 4x6 now, but will have to expand it as it seems tight for most games now!
For army size, 3-4 battalia would be a good start.

[rexgator]

Do you play BP in 28mm on your 4x6?

If you do I would be interested in hearing how big your unit frontages are and if you modified the move and shoot distances.

[grecian1959]

i use a 9x5 and find it too small at times for 28mm-think 24 fig units in line-esp mine are based on 2p coins so prob a 14" frontage per unit.So that table width/length disappears rapidly

[RoughRider]

My next table will be 8x6 and will break down into 2 4x6 tables. My armies will be smallish though- probably just the boxed armies will a few extra figures.

[rexgator]

I pestered Steve Morgan with a few questions yesterday and he gave me some additional insight. I will paraphrase here along with my thoughts in italics for the benefit of everyone else.

1. The Pike Blocks and Shotte "Sleeves" are different units for purposes of the rules. So a battalia could be as small as one pike block and two sleeves of shotte. Standard Pike block is 12-24 models with a frontage of 4-6 and at least three ranks deep. Standard Shotte sleeves are 8-16 two ranks deep. So if we assume a 20mm per figure frontage, a two shotte, one pike grouping of units would have the same basic frontage as a standard unit in BP.

2. A "typical" army would have an advance battalia, main battlia and reserve battalia along with two cavalry wings. Number of units per battlia are going to depend on the scenario and army you are protraying. I am thining starting off I might just play out some engagements where the advance battalia of two sides have run into each other.

3. Standard infantry move is 6" standard cavalry 12". Seems that with the reduced movement, you could probably fit a decent size battle on 6x4.


I think that P&S is going to move in front of BP in my queue of next game to build an army.

[Sven Lugar]

If you look at the pictures on my Battle Report http://www.warlordgames.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=4488 using the new rules you'll see that we fought a a rather nice battle on a 4x6 battlefield. So I think you'll be just find. You could easily do a Battalia box on each side or even more. We fielded 9 infantry units(40 figures each: 16 pike, 24 shotte), 4 dragoon regiments (12 figures each), 8 Cavalry regiments (12 figures), & 5 sakers on the table between the two sides. I think that's a sizable game.
Skol,
Sven

[rexgator]

Thanks for the detail Sven. Your bat rep is nice. I definitely feel that this will play well with a smaller model count than BP at a Napoleonic scale. The only challenge is seeing if I can get one of my buddies to build an army. Not sure I can afford two at this point!

[Correus]

If you look at the pictures on my Battle Report http://www.warlordgames.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=4488 using the new rules you'll see that we fought a a rather nice battle on a 4x6 battlefield. So I think you'll be just find. You could easily do a Battalia box on each side or even more. We fielded 9 infantry units(40 figures each: 16 pike, 24 shotte), 4 dragoon regiments (12 figures each), 8 Cavalry regiments (12 figures), & 5 sakers on the table between the two sides. I think that's a sizable game.
Skol,
Sven

Thanks Sven!! This is excellent!!

[Sven Lugar]

If you look at the pictures on my Battle Report http://www.warlordgames.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=4488 using the new rules you'll see that we fought a a rather nice battle on a 4x6 battlefield. So I think you'll be just find. You could easily do a Battalia box on each side or even more. We fielded 9 infantry units(40 figures each: 16 pike, 24 shotte), 4 dragoon regiments (12 figures each), 8 Cavalry regiments (12 figures), & 5 sakers on the table between the two sides. I think that's a sizable game.
Skol,
Sven

Thanks Sven!! This is excellent!!

You're welcome - it was my pleasure - no go out & pre-order the Pike & Shotte rules & tell Paul how wonderful the maps are as well as how good the game is, LOL.
Skol,
Sven