This document has been provided for the use of all players who strive to enjoy the multiplayer effort of participating in the Age of Napoleon. Yet the rules are flexible enough to facilitate one-on–one play for smaller scenarios and battles—especially corps versus corps engagements.
The authors of this script believe this drama can best be played in the recreation of larger battles, like Austerlitz and Eylau, in which there are a number of commanders for each side. If you are playing with just one other player; or just trying to familiarize yourself with the system; or even playing solitaire, then try your hand with one of the smaller engagements like Auerstadt or Halle. As you gain more confidence with the system, then you may want to escalate to the larger multi-player games where you will be able to experience the intrigue and symphonic dynamics inherent to La Bataille.
This is your script to become a character in a play and the theater is a battlefield in Europe during the early 19th Century. The emotions of tragedy and comedy; glory and humiliation; envy and self-sacrifice; and jealousy and compassion; are an important part of the politics and wars of the period. The authors passionately believe the interaction of human players is the only way to create this drama.
Musket and Saber is a set of free wargames rules for the Napoleonic Era. From teh introduction:
Introduction: This is a game of warfare in Napoleonic warfare in Europe using 15mm size model soldiers. Each model = 50 infantry in 3 ranks, 40 cavalry in 2-3 ranks, 8 artillerists, or 2 cannon. 1” = 30 paces (about 25 yards). Time scale is undefined.
Dice: 6-sided (D6). Distances: Inches. Troops: Infantry, heavy cav (HC), med. cav (MC), light cav (LC), and light, field, or heavy artillery. Light and field artillery may also be horse guns. Units are battalions of infantry, groups of 1-4 squadrons of cavalry, or batteries of 2-4 gun models, each with 4 crew models. Morale grades: A, B, C, or D. The rules measure damage by removing models (hits). Units are in play until down to 25% strength (shattered). Formations: Column (1-4 inf or 1-3 cav models wide), line (wider), square, limbered, manhandled. Pre-measuring distances is Ok. The rules will work with any reasonable basing system. However, if you mount your models at 3/8” width per infantry figure and 1/2” per cavalry figure, this will be the correct frontage for the ground scale. Each gun model should have a 1” frontage. Bases are usually 1/2” deep for infantry, 1” deep for cavalry, and 1.5” deep for guns. This is a 2-page set of rules; apply common sense.
Close Action is a set of free wargames rules for WWI and WWII:
This is a set of rules for playing simple squad level wargames set in WW1 or WW2. Each figure in the game represents one actual man. One inch represents 4 yards of actual distance, or roughly 50 yards to the foot. This is roughly true scale for 15mm figures, or half scale for 20-28mm figures. One turn represents a “pretty darn short” amount of time. You may play the game equally well with 15mm-28mm figures. The rules do not include any heavy weapons such as artillery or armor; they are meant for infantry-only games. You should mount your figures individually. All dice used are six-sided
In 1883, the citizens of Lijar, a small village in southern Spain were infuriated when they heard reports that, while visiting Paris, the Spanish king, Alfonso XII had been insulted and even attacked in the streets by Parisian mobs. In response, the mayor of Lijar, Don Miguel Garcia Saez, and all 300 citizens of Lijar declared war on France on October 14, 1883. Not a single shot was fired, and not a single casualty sustained on either side during the confrontation, but despite the anticlimactic war, Mayor Saez was declared “The Terror Of The Sierras,” for his exploit.
A full ninety-three years later, in 1976, King Juan-Carlos of Spain made a trip to Paris, during which he was treated with great respect by the citizens of the French capital. In 1981, the town council of Lijar ruled that “in view of the excellent attitude of the French,” they would end hostilities and agree to a ceasefire with France.
War duration: (1883-1981) Ninety-eight years.
Casualties: None.
Others on the list, such as the Great Paraguayan War are not so happy. Its all good fodder for gaming.
I’ve got a huge Boxer Rebellion figure collection. It’s a conflict that I’ve been interested in ever since I wrote a paper about it in the 5th grade. So I keep my eyes open for anything and everything about the conflict. Tuan is a set of Boxer Rebellion rules by Todd Zechiel, which was sold by Cellmate Miniatures. Now, they are available for free on the net.
Miniature Wargaming is part of the "adventure games" hobby, which includes r ole p laying and board games. Wargamers recreate battles on the tabletop with toy soldiers, like a more complicated game of chess. Models range in height from 6mm to 28mm tall, with 15mm and 25mm being the most popular. There also is a growing interest in toy soldiers and military models, such as the 1/32 and 1/35 scale plastic soldiers from Conte, and Marx.
The most popular miniature wargames are fantasy and science fiction based, such as Warhammer, Warhammer 40K, Warmachine and The Lord of the Rings. World War II games such as Flames of War and Axis and Allies are new favorites. Other favorite historical periods include Napoleonics, the American Civil War, and ancients, such as Romans or Greeks. Other gamers enjoy miniature naval wargames, recreating battles like Trafalgar, Jutland and the Coral Sea.
Hobbyists research historical periods and paint their tiny soldiers in accurate uniforms. Others develop "historically realistic" rules sets or build scale battlefield terrain using model railroad techniques.
For pictures, visit the gallery.
Some of the bigger hobby companies are Games Workshop, which produces Warhammer, Wargames Foundry and Old Glory Miniatures. Wizards of the Coast produces several lines of pre-painted miniatures games, such as the Star Wars and Dungeons and Dragons miniatures games, and a historical game with pre-painted miniatures: The new Axis and Allies game. Wizkids produces a fantasy collectable miniatures game, such as the Mage Knight and Heroclick fantasy games, the science fiction games MechWarrior and Rocketmen, as well as the quasi-historical Pirates of the Spanish Main.
