|
Blucher
Jan 2, 2015 16:59:29 GMT
via mobile
Post by Richard on Jan 2, 2015 16:59:29 GMT
Does anyone know much about the soon to be released blucher rules from what I have seen they pretty good, and I like the idea that it comes with unit cards so you can try out the rules wile painting and basing your armies for someone like myself with very little time for my own army work this is a big bonus, any of you guys plan to give them a go.
Richard
|
|
|
Post by ian on Jan 2, 2015 17:19:29 GMT
Never hard of them, will look forward to hearing more
Ian
|
|
|
Post by tim on Jan 2, 2015 18:55:20 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Richard on Jan 2, 2015 20:15:45 GMT
Cheers Tim I will have a listen wile painting
|
|
yorkie
Active membe
Posts: 32
Favorite army: Austria 1809
Favorite battle: Aspern Essling
|
Post by yorkie on Jun 30, 2015 21:13:25 GMT
Hi all,
The Blucher rules have been out for a few months now, has anyone played them? Any thoughts?
I have the rules and ive been very busily rebasing all my stuff for the game on big bases. 6mm really looks better when based this way I think, ill post some pictures soon.
|
|
|
Post by tim on Jul 1, 2015 11:18:20 GMT
I have got them and read through but not played with them yet.
|
|
bradpitre
Active membe
Posts: 33
Favorite army: french républicans
Favorite battle: Marengo
|
Post by bradpitre on Jul 1, 2015 18:01:14 GMT
I have not really played because I made a version of hexagons, but some tests have been very satisfactory I liked ?? - Hidden placement - The order system - The management of artillery - The simplicity of the system, without being simplistic ...... a quick game, nervous and making us easily into the atmosphere of this exciting epopee
eric
|
|
|
Blucher
Jan 11, 2016 0:53:35 GMT
via mobile
Post by brighty on Jan 11, 2016 0:53:35 GMT
I have played few games of Blucher and it is lovely set of rules, even without reading the rules you can pick it up in 10-20 minutes. This is the first set of rules that I purchased to start playing Napoleonics, and I already have Austrian, French (early and late), Russian and with British, Ottoman Turk and Prussian in the pipeline. At our club ( we have 12 players at th moment) and others in the UK are using 60 - 30mm bases with either 24 infantry, 9 cavalry with artillery up to the individual, I base mine as limbered = horse artillery, limber and deployed gun = foot and three guns as heavy artillery. Generals as 3 figures for C-in-C and 1 or 2 figures for sub commanders on coins of various sizes. The BHGS are holding a competition in April this year. I have already won a competition in November last year using Russians. As you can see I am very enamoured by these rules and plug them whenever I can. If you want more info. I will gladly try to answer your questions.
|
|
|
Blucher
Jan 11, 2016 19:00:22 GMT
via mobile
Post by Richard on Jan 11, 2016 19:00:22 GMT
Sounds like the perfect rules for as not great with complex sets would love to read an aar if you get a chance
Richard
|
|
|
Post by ian on Jan 11, 2016 21:06:30 GMT
I have played few games of Blucher and it is lovely set of rules, even without reading the rules you can pick it up in 10-20 minutes. This is the first set of rules that I purchased to start playing Napoleonics, and I already have Austrian, French (early and late), Russian and with British, Ottoman Turk and Prussian in the pipeline. At our club ( we have 12 players at th moment) and others in the UK are using 60 - 30mm bases with either 24 infantry, 9 cavalry with artillery up to the individual, I base mine as limbered = horse artillery, limber and deployed gun = foot and three guns as heavy artillery. Generals as 3 figures for C-in-C and 1 or 2 figures for sub commanders on coins of various sizes. The BHGS are holding a competition in April this year. I have already won a competition in November last year using Russians. As you can see I am very enamoured by these rules and plug them whenever I can. If you want more info. I will gladly try to answer your questions. I have not played them but a friend that has liked them apart from the Artillery rules. The guns loose strength quickly due to firing and at a rate that seems to be out of line for all but meeting engagements. I would like to know your thoughts on this and if it's a mecanic to stop guns being too powerful or have you changed the rules to change this? Ian
|
|
|
Post by curlerman on Jan 11, 2016 22:03:48 GMT
|
|
|
Blucher
Jan 12, 2016 21:18:42 GMT
via mobile
Post by brighty on Jan 12, 2016 21:18:42 GMT
About the artillery fire, or lack of it is not to make artillery to strong. It works because firing lines get filled quickly so you run out of targets. Also units tend to get into combat relatively quickly and those in combat can not be shot at. I find the artillery rules work well as you have to retire the artillery unit when it runs out of ammunition so it does not become a sitting duck. When I use a 200 point army I use three massed units of artillery and four in a 300 point army, anymore than that I find reduces the army fighting abilities. You can attach artillery to an infantry units shooting factor by 1 extra élan point, but not extra for its combat dice. Again these are just my opinions and I hope they help.
|
|
|
Post by tim on Jan 12, 2016 22:49:04 GMT
I have also thought the artillery rules are a bit odd. No overhead fire..interesting if you look at Waterloo where artillery continued firing from higher ground most of the time until the last minute of an attack and at Hougoumont virtually all day. Running out of ammo, hmm I have never read of any instance of a battery running out in battle but I stand to be corrected on that of course.
Tim
|
|
|
Post by ooiittee on Jan 13, 2016 3:27:16 GMT
I have been looking into this rule set and as part of that listening to the Pod casts that Sam has posted on the Honor website, the second Blucher podcast talks of Artillery. www.sammustafa.com/honour/2014/11/blucher-podcast-number-2/To look at this we need to understand that mass artillery is used for bombardment and suffers the limit of resources discussed above. Batteries attached to units add to the units firepower and do not suffer this limitation (I may be hugely wrong as I have not read the rule book yet, but ordered it) I would expect that a bombarding Artillery unit will be firing a significantly larger amount of shots an hour than a Foot battery in support of its Division. I would imagine that the high firepower and limited shots is a trade off to balance the presents of Artillery, that leaves the option to bring on more guns without turning the battle its a navy style game where you sit back and shoot cannon all day at each other. Keen to give the game a go either way.
|
|
|
Post by curlerman on Jan 13, 2016 9:51:13 GMT
I have also thought the artillery rules are a bit odd. No overhead fire..interesting if you look at Waterloo where artillery continued firing from higher ground most of the time until the last minute of an attack and at Hougoumont virtually all day. Running out of ammo, hmm I have never read of any instance of a battery running out in battle but I stand to be corrected on that of course. Tim ootjee is correct in stating that artillery is represented in two ways in Blucher . The artillery represented by units is massed . ie 20 to 30 guns. The normal single batteries attached to divisions are included in the unit bases as a combat plus. (this IS a brigade level game.) Quotes of massed batteries participating in actual overhead fire are rare for this period. If you examine the battlefield maps and the positioning of the massed batteries there are clearly defined lines of fire across the valley between the advancing corps. Artillery actually preferred to fire from low elevations as firing from high ground the trajectory of the shot changed from a bouncing shot to plunging shot If you read this article www.napoleon-series.org/military/Warof1812/2009/Issue12/c_Artillery.htmlyou will find a quote that describes a british 6Ib artillery gun as being equipped with 144 rounds of all types in ammunition boxes and a caisson. Heavier poundage required two caissons. A well served gun could fire one or two rounds per minute. That's 72 -144 minutes of continuous fire. In Blucher thats about 2-4 turns. There is also the real problem of barrel overheating and expansion during continuous fire. This in itself says that artillery is employed in short sharp intensive fire concentrated on the point of attack. To keep firing massed batteries would need a resupply system. In Blucher in the case of massed batteries you may pay for an artillery commander who either helps to point the guns with a firing plus or he organises resupply. Most rules allow artillery to blast away every turn from dawn till dusk and at full effect. Considering the rate of fire and the eyes front mentality of artillery crews That feels wrong to me. Blucher has 15 possible turns per side in a full day and most artillery can fire for 5 of those without resupply. I would suggest thats a pretty good representation. Having played a lot of Blucher I think Sam probably is close to getting it right. We rarely used massed batteries unless we have 3 or 4 corps per side.
|
|
|
Post by bruce on Jan 13, 2016 19:40:32 GMT
I agree with Blucher’s ammunition rule. In the ACW, the Confederate barrage prior to Pickett’s charge on the final day of Gettysburg was 150 smoothbore "Napoleon"guns and could be heard for 100 miles. After 2 hours, Alexander informed Longstreet that he was desperately short on ammo, the assault would have to begin soon. Resupply from the rear would take over an hour and they would lose any advantage the barrage had given them. On the Federal side, Hunt had ordered his 80 guns to slowly cease their return fire one by one to save ammunition for the coming assault, and to make the Rebels think they had knocked out the Federal guns. With all the smoke, no one could see anyway and Alexander did not realize he had been firing long. Nobody had an endless supply of ammo. The terrible charge went ahead.
There have been many battles where ammunition supply was a factor and I like this both for Blucher and Neil Thomas, where I have added an artillery ammo supply chart for the guns. Now I sometimes hold my fire, consider my position more carefully, and try to plan ahead. I also think Sam got it right making this a factor. Bruce
|
|