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Post by bruce on Apr 12, 2017 18:48:45 GMT
Most of us have our favorite armies and battles. I am fascinated by Wagram, but also find it overwhelming to think about setting up a game regardless of which rules I use.
What battles, big or small, have given you the best games and why? Do you prefer generic scenarios or historical battles?
Bruce
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Post by davidsh on Apr 12, 2017 19:01:40 GMT
I too have a liking for Wagram. Big, lots of varied units, and could have gone either way - especially if Archduke John had arrived.
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Post by Sho on Apr 13, 2017 0:26:55 GMT
Wagram - blue against white. Waterloo - blue against red. Borodino - blue against green.
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Post by twr on Apr 13, 2017 6:36:17 GMT
An interesting question.
I enjoy both fictional and historic refights. Historical games are very helpful in understanding the challenges to commanders, the impacts of terrain, command and reinforcements. Some of my most memorable games are refights of these historical battles. Fictional encounters can create some fascinating challenges and often have a few surprises.
Of my Napoleonic games I have fought all four battles of the Hundred Days. I will fight all of these again, but probably enjoy Q Bras and Ligny the most. That said the battlefield of Waterloo is fascinating, especially after walking it. One day I would like to play Wavre and Waterloo on the same (long) table.
Of the 1809 Campaign I have fought several many times, though not as yet Wagram. Several in Italy such as Sacile are very interesting but Aspen Essling is a great challenge.
I haven't refought many from the Peninsular, but of those I've fought Salamanca and I found that enjoyable.
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Post by Richard on Apr 13, 2017 7:44:05 GMT
I'm still building an army for Waterloo , has always been my favourite battle also intrigued by ligny with the Prussian position being so defensive im sure I could turn the French French line !!
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Post by bruce on Apr 13, 2017 15:52:39 GMT
You may be right Richard! There are some great what if's to the Waterloo campaign, and this is one of the fun aspects of the historical battles as a framework for changing history.
I recently gave Archduke John at Raab some sage advice about reinforcing his left before the French cavalry arrived to roll up his line. Indeed, this saved the Austrians, who managed to fight the French to a draw. I then imagined them withdrawing in good order and rushing off to Wagram, helping to defeat Napoleon and forcing him to abdicate to the Bourbons. The Archduke's statue would then appear in cities all over Europe, with Wellington going home early and straight into politics. Only to return in 1812 to campaign in America, creating some great new scenarios while defeating Andrew Jackson. And giving us another army to paint!
I have found the generic scenarios in Neil Thomas' One Hour Wargames to be quite handy in setting up some fictional encounters. They are mostly based on situations from historical battles of several eras and many can be adapted. Small in scale of operations and with interesting objectives, they allow you to recreate the feel of the many smaller actions that occurred during the Napoleonic era. Bruce
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Post by perthpete on May 10, 2017 12:36:09 GMT
Dresden for me 😀
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Post by bruce on May 11, 2017 3:13:32 GMT
Agreed. Dresden has a lot of interesting factors and settings - the city, fortified positions, rain, the river, and a great cast of French and Allied characters. Large armies - if I can just get those Russians and Prussians done, it will open up a lot of scenarios for me. Bruce
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Post by perthpete on May 22, 2017 4:21:27 GMT
Yes I'm in the same situation Bruce I have total painters block 🙁
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Post by bruce on May 24, 2017 13:22:11 GMT
I spent about 5 years only painting French and Austrians, had a routine but I am just slow. I am going to look into some speed painting ideas online to see if there are any compromises I can live with. Bruce
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Post by perthpete on Jun 6, 2017 21:44:49 GMT
My problem is if there is detail there I want to paint it I need to find a happy medium!
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Post by bruce on Jun 7, 2017 19:13:26 GMT
I agree, this also happens to me. I am using 3mm for my travel wargames and painting to much detail even for these. It seems to me that if 6mm is about representing masses of troops, there must be a middle ground to achieve this in a reasonable timeframe. B
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Post by profjohn on Jun 25, 2017 0:26:48 GMT
Hi, I'm still stuck with Waterloo can't resist all the what ifs. But I've departed for a while into 15/18mm and building big forces for the Egyptian Campaign so maybe in a few months time it'll be The Pyramids. I've added 15mm gunships (HMS Mutine and an Ottomna felucca) and a French balloon (although they all went down in Aboukir Bay I couldn't resist making one). When you're used to 6mm painting the larger scale doesn't come easy - takes forever!
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