Huzzah
Bring on the frogs
DBN
Re: DBN
needs a bit of practice working things out and how to develop a force around the constraints of the PIP system, wondering if smaller more elite forces may work better with larger militia blocks basically as road blocks on the flanks and cavalry maybe as an actual reserve.
Frogs with the double elite Old Guard should, in theory, be brutal in combat, trick will be getting them there.
Artillery definitely seems to be "one is rubbish, two are good" though, that counter battery thing is worth a look as well.
the Frog light infantry seem interesting, 1 PIP to swap between muskets and skirmishers, but able to deploy as either so in effect able to change depending on the table and opponents force
Frogs with the double elite Old Guard should, in theory, be brutal in combat, trick will be getting them there.
Artillery definitely seems to be "one is rubbish, two are good" though, that counter battery thing is worth a look as well.
the Frog light infantry seem interesting, 1 PIP to swap between muskets and skirmishers, but able to deploy as either so in effect able to change depending on the table and opponents force
Re: DBN
Got hold of the rules, found a few interesting looking bits to experimentificate with
that counter-battery fire rule looks excellent, the "bombardment" option is interesting too for longer range, less accurate fire. one CAP to deploy a column to the line and back is useful, as is the march column stuff - three CAP for "move-move-deploy" maybe on the first turn, or at least to move up ready to deploy.
very interesting is the "Cavalry Charge Bonus" idea and the "field detachments" both of which look useful in some situations.
"sub commanders" also look interesting, but obviously not cheap
didn't realise you could actually target enemy commanders directly either
the "special ADC" rule looks a fun way to boost combats too
that counter-battery fire rule looks excellent, the "bombardment" option is interesting too for longer range, less accurate fire. one CAP to deploy a column to the line and back is useful, as is the march column stuff - three CAP for "move-move-deploy" maybe on the first turn, or at least to move up ready to deploy.
very interesting is the "Cavalry Charge Bonus" idea and the "field detachments" both of which look useful in some situations.
"sub commanders" also look interesting, but obviously not cheap
didn't realise you could actually target enemy commanders directly either
the "special ADC" rule looks a fun way to boost combats too
Re: DBN
Interesting bits on recoiling etc from combat
8.18 covers being attacked in the flank or rear, it also covers resolving recoils when attacked in the flank or rear - though the title doe not mention this.
today one of my Musket units got caught in the flank by cavalry. under 8.18 because they are not mounted they cannot immediately turn to face, this is pretty clear - caught in the flank, ouch.
when they are defeated is when it gets interesting. the wording here is interesting, and actually very clear
If the attacked Unit loses the combat it then ‘turns to face’ (if not already) and recoils
thus upon defeat the unit faces the enemy it was fighting (because thats the one it lost to) then recoils - i.e. moves directly backwards, which is not also directly away from the enemy.
had my infantry won and the cavalry had recoiled my infantry could then have immediately turned to face them, or any other attacker I'm in base contact with
also 8.18 clearly states whoever contacts first is the attacker, with other units contacting after as support.
the issue is largely one of the way the rules are written, 8.18 should really have a range of sub clauses, 8.18a 1.18b etc broken up a bit more, which would make finding this sort of thing a lot easier.
8.27 is worth a note - this is the one that explains why if you fight to the front with an enemy supporting in your flank you are destroyed - though its not stated as clearly as it could be - basically its not you being hit to the front and the flank and losing that kills you - its the recoil along the front edge of the supporting unit in your flank - but you are not destroyed until that recoil occurs - so if there is some edge case somewhere of a unit that never recoils, it won't die in this way (not aware of any such unit) - again this could be clearer - like so much of the book a few simple diagrams would be a huge help
8.16 is also worth a read, specifically the last sentence - the attacker conforms, but they don't get the conforming move for free - has to be within their movement allowance - can't do it - can't charge. note you can contact, rotate, then slide, and as long as at least 50% of the attackers front edge makes contact away you go
the bit about troops in a column taking casualties when the front unit is removed is 8.2.2.3 "Morale Hit Test" - some units are exempt, Frogs in 1815 get a nasty modifier to make it worse (as do militia)
a further point, concerning infantry skulking in Bag Going, if they want to shoot out they must be on the edge, not within it, if they are not on the edge, but within 100p of the edge they can however be shot at, between units in Bad Going its 100p - note this is "Bag Going", not certain types of Bad Going, its all of them, see also 8.11 which has a confusing title until you realise "open ground" is a terrain type - again examples would help. if any part of the front of a unit is "in" Bad Going the whole unit counts as in Bad Going, and it is noted this "front" has a depth of 5mm. so if you want to be able to shoot out the front needs to be clearly out (i.e. a position where you can be charge, its not enough to have most of the base out but a bit in to claim a charging unit has to enter the terrain to hit you - you are either in it for everything or out of it for everything, which makes sense) - see the firing factors reference sheet for the 100 paces bit
final one for tonight, Mr C. hasn't been doing this (because he can read), but while British Infantry are Elite for shooting this does not apply to Militia units. So normal British infantry are a +5, elite British infantry are a +5 as well, and Militia are still a +3
8.18 covers being attacked in the flank or rear, it also covers resolving recoils when attacked in the flank or rear - though the title doe not mention this.
today one of my Musket units got caught in the flank by cavalry. under 8.18 because they are not mounted they cannot immediately turn to face, this is pretty clear - caught in the flank, ouch.
when they are defeated is when it gets interesting. the wording here is interesting, and actually very clear
If the attacked Unit loses the combat it then ‘turns to face’ (if not already) and recoils
thus upon defeat the unit faces the enemy it was fighting (because thats the one it lost to) then recoils - i.e. moves directly backwards, which is not also directly away from the enemy.
had my infantry won and the cavalry had recoiled my infantry could then have immediately turned to face them, or any other attacker I'm in base contact with
also 8.18 clearly states whoever contacts first is the attacker, with other units contacting after as support.
the issue is largely one of the way the rules are written, 8.18 should really have a range of sub clauses, 8.18a 1.18b etc broken up a bit more, which would make finding this sort of thing a lot easier.
8.27 is worth a note - this is the one that explains why if you fight to the front with an enemy supporting in your flank you are destroyed - though its not stated as clearly as it could be - basically its not you being hit to the front and the flank and losing that kills you - its the recoil along the front edge of the supporting unit in your flank - but you are not destroyed until that recoil occurs - so if there is some edge case somewhere of a unit that never recoils, it won't die in this way (not aware of any such unit) - again this could be clearer - like so much of the book a few simple diagrams would be a huge help
8.16 is also worth a read, specifically the last sentence - the attacker conforms, but they don't get the conforming move for free - has to be within their movement allowance - can't do it - can't charge. note you can contact, rotate, then slide, and as long as at least 50% of the attackers front edge makes contact away you go
the bit about troops in a column taking casualties when the front unit is removed is 8.2.2.3 "Morale Hit Test" - some units are exempt, Frogs in 1815 get a nasty modifier to make it worse (as do militia)
a further point, concerning infantry skulking in Bag Going, if they want to shoot out they must be on the edge, not within it, if they are not on the edge, but within 100p of the edge they can however be shot at, between units in Bad Going its 100p - note this is "Bag Going", not certain types of Bad Going, its all of them, see also 8.11 which has a confusing title until you realise "open ground" is a terrain type - again examples would help. if any part of the front of a unit is "in" Bad Going the whole unit counts as in Bad Going, and it is noted this "front" has a depth of 5mm. so if you want to be able to shoot out the front needs to be clearly out (i.e. a position where you can be charge, its not enough to have most of the base out but a bit in to claim a charging unit has to enter the terrain to hit you - you are either in it for everything or out of it for everything, which makes sense) - see the firing factors reference sheet for the 100 paces bit
final one for tonight, Mr C. hasn't been doing this (because he can read), but while British Infantry are Elite for shooting this does not apply to Militia units. So normal British infantry are a +5, elite British infantry are a +5 as well, and Militia are still a +3