Quick Napoleonics

• An army of nicely painted troops for each side.
• · Enough six-sided dice so that each player may have one and spares to use when "all the good luck" drains out of any particular die.
• · At lease one ten-sided die to test for officer casualties.
• Fire markers that are placed on a unit to show that is under artillery fire. The Jackson gamers use Red Triangles to represent artillery fire.
• Markers to show elite units (we use yellow rings).
• Markers to show that a unit has been "hit" by artillery (we use black discs).
• Markers to show disordered units (we use blue discs showing "disordered")
• Markers to show breakthroughs (we use green arrows)
• Markers to show blown horses (we use white discs showing "blown" on them)

Organization

The Jackson gamers use the following organization for their 25 mm armies. Our infantry battalions for this game consist of four stands, each about 1.75" wide b 2" deep. So a battalion in line is 7" long. The same battalion in column of march is 8" deep and 1.75" wide. An attack column is 3.5" wide and 4" deep. Three or four battalions make up a brigade. Two or three brigades along with a battery make a division. Two divisions along with an artillery reserve of two batteries make a corps. A cavalry division may be attached to a corps.

We use cavalry stands about 2" deep and 2" wide, four of which make up a regiment. Two to four cavalry regiments make a division. Two cavalry divisions, often with a horse battery, make a cavalry corps. In our games, cavalry corps are rare, cavalry divisions usually being attached to infantry corps.

We mount one gun and two gunners on a 2" x 2." Two stands represent a battery. Batteries are usually attached to infantry divisions or corps. The guns used in this game represent "position" or "reserve" artillery batteries. The small "battalion guns" are not represented on the field, they are assumed to be adding their firepower to the infantry battalions.

It is possible to have artillery batteries "stripped" from their divisions and made into a "grand battery." If this is done, the battery must stay intact and in the same position for the entire game.

If your troops are organized differently, it will not matter. We eliminate troops by stands.

Sequence of Play

1. Attempt to re-order disordered units of both sides. Officers may be moved during this period.
2. Fire simultaneously both sides' deployed artillery batteries. Place "artillery hit" markers on all units which were hit.
3. Dice for Initiative - high dice has initiative and must move first.
4. Side with initiative moves units, or moves units to contact, or deploys units, or rallies units from disorder. Shooting by infantry is incorporated into the melee procedure. Officers may move again along with troops.
5. Units that were moved to contact with defenders now go through the melee procedure.
6. This ends the first half-turn.
7. Second side now has initiative and moves units, or moves units to contact, or deploys units, or rallies units from disorder. Shooting by infantry is incorporated into the melee procedure. Officers may move again along with troops.
8. This ends the second half-turn
9. Test all cavalry units that were involved in melee in this turn for "Blown Horses." (optional rule)
10. Side with initiative moves breakthrough units (except for those with "blown horses" to contact with enemy units, or back to his own lines. Second side now has initiative for breakthrough units (except for those with "blown horses" to contact with enemy units, or back to his own lines.
11. Test officers who were "in danger" during the turn. Remove if killed or unhorsed.
12. Test "Staying Power" of units that have lost a stand in this turn.

Staying Power

Units that have lost a stand in the turn must roll a die to see if they will remain or flee the battlefield. NOTE: Units locked in Melee do not test staying power till melee is over.

• Elite Units: Flee 1, Remain 2-6
• Line Units: Flee 1-2, Remain 3-6
• Militia Units: Flee 1-3, Remain 4-6

Modifiers: -1 for each stand lost after the first one lost, -1 Brigadier killed , +1 no enemy units within 24" +1 effective Brigadier attached to unit.

Movement

Infantry: deployed into line 5", Attack column 10" column of movement 15"
Cavalry: deployed into line 15"column of movement 25"
Field/Position Artillery: limbered 8", Hand push 1" (after unlimbering)
Horse Artillery Limbered 15"
Brigadiers: 25"

Notes on movement:

• Melees are resolved after each half-turn's movement is completed.
• Only a half-move is allowed for infantry or cavalry units when they deploy from column to line. They may move half then deploy, or they may deploy then move half.
• Disordered units may not deploy. They must re-order first.
• Once deployed into line, these Infantry or Cavalry units remain in line for rest of game, unless no visible enemy within 24"
• Units may not move THROUGH enemy units.
• Units may move THROUGH friendly units at half-move without either becoming disordered.
• Units may move THROUGH friendly units at full move rate or charge through friendly units but one unit, either the one moving or being moved through, must become disordered.
• Units may move THROUGH already disordered friendly units with only the previously disordered unit being disordered by the move.
• Artillery (unless horse artillery) may not move again at limbered rate, once unlimbered. Previously unlimbered artillery may be "hand pushed" 1" in lieu of firing. Horse artillery may limber up and move ½ move and still fire.
• · Previously unlimbered artillery may pivot the guns up to 180 degrees in lieu of firing.
• Disordered units = ½ move. Disordered infantry units may not charge. Disordered Cavalry may charge 1/2 move if it has an officer attached to it.
• Artillery may NOT move and fire in the same turn (unless horse artillery)

Artillery Fire

• The result of any artillery fire on the enemy is resolved with an artillery hit check.
• Artillery units may NOT move and fire in the same turn (unless horse artillery).
• Artillery must be unlimbered to fire.
• Artillery ball range is 48".
• Place artillery fire marker(s) on units that are target of artillery fire, one marker for each battery firing on the unit.
• Roll D6 to determine if a hit results. Use modifiers shown below
• If a hit results on a unit which does not already have an artillery hit marker on it, place an artillery hit marker on the unit.
• If a hit results on a unit which does already have an artillery hit marker on it, remove one stand of troops from that unit.
• The Officer commanding the target unit(s) rolls the die testing effect of artillery fire.

Effects of Artillery Fire Checks

Results of Artillery fire check:

• 1-3 No effect.
• 3-6 Place artillery hit marker on target unit.

MODIFIERS to morale test due to FIRE:
+1 The target unit is in column (or limbered Artillery)
+1 The target unit is disordered
+1 for each additional battery firing on the target unit, after the first.
-1 Target unit is behind hedge, wall, or in woods.
-1 Officer attached to target unit
-1 Target unit is unlimbered Artillery
+1 Firing unit is Artillery within 8 inches of the target unit (cannister fire).

Overhead Artillery Fire

Artillery units on elevated positions may fire over friendly units or villages as long as the target is 10" or more past the friendly units or villages.

Artillery units on the flat may fire over friendly units or villages, at targets on elevated positions, as long as the firing unit is 10" or more behind any friendly units or villages.

Arc of Fire

• Infantry units' fire is part of the melee procedure.
• Artillery has a cone of fire, 30 degrees off the facing direction of the battery. If any portion of the target unit is inside that cone, it may be fired at.

Charges and results

The result of any movement to contact the enemy (a charge) is a melee which is resolved with one or melee resolution checks. Melees are resolved after each half-turn's movement is completed.

Both sides in the melee roll one D6 die, the score of which will be modified.The highest total wins the melee. The loser removes one stand and falls back to the starting position (if the attacker) or one move to the rear (if the defender). Both sides become disordered.

If the modified die scores are equal, then the melee continues to the next turn or half-turn. Both sides become disordered and lose a stand.

MODIFIERS to the die rolls:
+1 British defending in line.
-1 The unit is already disordered
-1 Target unit is Infantry in melee with Cavalry. Infantry in square or other specialized anti-cavalry formation or infantry or artillery protected behind wall or hedge does not take this penalty.
+1 for each additional unit after the first on your side.
-1 Lighter cavalry testing, in melee with heavier cavalry.
-1 Cavalry with blown horses. (optional rule)
-1 Unit has an artillery hit marker.
-2 Target unit is charged from flank/rear
+2 Target unit is behind field works - Cavalry may not charge units in field works.
-1 for each stand the unit has lost.
+1 Officer attached to unit - Note that this endangers the officer.
+1 Defending unit is unlimbered Artillery charged through firing arc.

Misc. Notes on Charging/Melee

• Disordered units may charge if they have an officer attached - Note that this endangers the officer

Terrain Effects

Through WOODS, through ROUGH, across MAJOR obstacle is:
Infantry 1-2 no movement, 3-5 lose ½ movement, 6 lose ¼ movement
Cavalry 1-3 no movement, 4-6 movement halved.
Artillery - no movement across rough terrain, woods or Major obstacle.
Across MINOR obstacle is:
Inf. and Cav. 1 no movement, 2-3 movement halved, 5 lose ¼ movement, 5-6 no penalty
Artillery - 1-2 no movement, 3-5 movement halved, 6 no penalty

• Light Infantry units move through woods or across obstacles/rough with no terrain penalty. Light cavalry treat all obstacles as "Minor."
• Only a half-move is allowed for infantry or cavalry units when they deploy from column to line. Once deployed into line, these units remain in line for rest of game, unless no visible enemy within 24"
• Artillery (unless horse artillery) may only move 1" per turn once unlimbered (the gunners are pushing the guns by hand). The guns may not fire while being hand pushed. Horse artillery may limber up and move again, or may limber, make ½ move, unlimber, and still fire.
• Disordered units = ½ move. Disordered units may charge if they have an officer attached.
• Disordered units may not deploy. They must re-order first.

Units that charge may add 50% to their movement.

Effect of Morale Checks

Players who have the initiative must test morale for all units that they wish to move. Units that fail morale test do not move. They may not deploy or change facing.

Roll a D6 for each unit. Results are as follows:

• 1 = fail, Unit may not move.
• 2-6 = Morale good, unit may move.

MODIFIERS to morale test - to try to move. Modifiers are cumulative :
+1 Unit is in column (or limbered Artillery)
+1 Officer is within 6" of unit
-1 If enemy in sight, no friends within 12"
-1 (additional) as above, enemy outnumbering testing unit 2-1, no friends within 12"
+1 Unit in woods (not at edge) Position of FRONT of unit is important here.
-1 For each stand lost by the unit.
-1 Infantry unit outnumbered by enemy cavalry within 24"
-1 Unit is unlimbered Artillery
-1 Unit is disordered
-1 Cavalry with blown horses. (optional rule)
-1 Enemy to rear within 12"

Effect of Officers

Officers not "attached" to units cannot be harmed. Just move out of way of enemy troop movements. If an officer is "attached" TO the unit under fire, or in melee, he adds his +1 modifier to the unit during the turn. However, this results in his being "in danger."

Officers who were "in danger" during the turn test in phase 10 by rolling a D10. If the result is "0" then the officer is killed. If the result is "9" then the officer is unhorsed and is taken to the rear. After the next turn, he may be placed back with his troops. Officers who are unhorsed in melee are captured if their side loses the melee and has to fall back.

Officer with unit can remove disorder. See below under "Disorder." Brigadiers may only be attached to and influence units of their own brigades. The divisional commanders may influence any unit which is part of their division. Corps commanders may influence any unit which is part of their corps. Army commanders may influence any unit in the army.

Aides-de-camp, artillery commanders, or such other officers as you may see fit to commission may influence any units placed under them.

Misc. Rules about Disorder

• Elite units may self-rally without an officer attached, if they roll a 6. Remain disordered on 1-5.
• Elite units may rally with officer's aid on die roll of 2-6 - roll of 1 unit remains disordered.
• Line units may rally with officer's aid on die roll of 3-6 - roll of 1-2 unit remains disordered.
• Militia units may rally with officer's aid on die roll of 4-6 - roll of 1-3 unit remains disordered.

Units that do not rally from disorder, remain disordered, may attempt to rally from disorder on later turns. Disordered units that move may not attempt to rally.

Disordered units attacked by enemy troops:

• Disordered Cavalry attacked by enemy Cavalry fight at -1 to die.
• Disordered Cavalry attacked by enemy infantry fall back one move, without loss.
• Disordered Infantry attacked by enemy Infantry fight at -1 to die.
• Disordered Infantry attacked by enemy Cavalry fight at -2 to die.

The Game-Master

TThe Jackson gamers almost always have an "umpire" or "Game-master" who runs the game but is not a player. He makes final rules interpretations, and these interpretations stand during the course of the game even if patently wrong. He decides what terrain is a major or minor obstacle. He adjudicates any hidden movement or hidden deployment. His word is law during the game.

Misc. Rules

Infantry may not fight in march column.

Disordered units = ½ move. Disordered infantry units may not charge. Disordered cavalry units may charge half move if they have an officer attached.

Optional Rules

Elite & Militia The game-master decides what proportion of units may be elite, or must be militia. The players may then decide which of their units actually ARE elite or militia. Both sides must know which units are elite, but there is no need to inform your enemy as to which of your units are militia. This may be left as a pleasant surprise.

Hidden Units & Off-table units The Game-Master may allow either or both sides to have hidden units or off-board units. He may allow movement around flanks and may construct special rules for this as needed. Hidden units or off-table movement should not be used without a Game-Master.

Aides de Camp Players may allow the army commander one or two "Aides de Camp." These are extra officers that may replace officers which have been killed or unhorsed. They should stay next to the Commander-in-Chief and be sent to specific units for specific tasks, returning to the C-in-C when the task is complete.

Blown Horses At the end of the turn, each player rolls a D6 for each of his mounted units which were involved in a melee or a charge (even if for some reason a melee did not result). If the die result is 5 or 6, that unit's horses are "blown" and it will move at half-rate until if has stood motionless for a turn. Blown units may not take advantage of breakthroughs.

Notes by authors

This set of rules is considerably modified from our "quick Tricorne" rules set. This was written By Fr. Aelred Glidden and appeared in an issue of MWAN.

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