Bob Coggins has passed away

From a post in the Napoleon's Battles Yahoo forum

"This is just a brief note to make all the members aware that Robert Coggins, the co-creator, with Craig Taylor, of Napoleon’s Battles passed away this afternoon. He had been ill for several years and this past Wednesday he suffered a stroke as he was preparing to go to Historicon. The stroke precipitated a fall sometime on Thursday evening or early Friday morning and he was admitted to the hospital on Friday afternoon. He passed away at Union Memorial Hospital today, Monday July 21, 2014, in the late afternoon. He is survived by his brother, Richard. The funeral arrangements are not complete at this time. His brother will be making all the arrangements."

Living at the two opposite shores of the Atlantic ocean, I do not personally met Bob Coggins. However, I had with him some rich discussions about some points of the Napoleon's Battles rule-set. With his death, both creators of Napoleon's Battles rule-set are now passed away

It is a sad day and also a great loss to the world of wargaming. He will be missed.
Requiescat in Pace

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In the middle of the Leipzig's bicenntenial

We are now in the middle of the bicentennial of the Leipzig's Campaign, the reason behind this blog.
After the end of the Armistice of Poischwitz (August 16, 1813) and with the incoporation of the Austrian Empire to the 6th Coalition, the Allies began the implementation of the Plan of Trachtenberg, avoiding direct confrontation with Napoleon, retreating if necessary, but attacking his lieutenants whenever they were in inferiority.
This plan was successful, and the Allied victories followed one after another, until the Allied armies encircled and defeated the Emperor at Lepizig (16-19 October 1813), forcing him back to the Rhine and thus finishing a campaign that would eventually end with the Napoleon's abdication, when the Allies went into France in the winter of 1813-1814.
I have solo playedt many of these battles, along with some other real or ficiticious minor engagements. The 'big' battles were played at brigade great-tactical scale with Napoleon's Battles (NB), whereas the minor engagements were fought with my own tactical divisional or regimental version of NB or with Lasalle, the ruleset I have finally adopted for these divisional-size affaires. Song of Drums and Shakos, the last incoporation to my rulesets, is being used for skirmish combats.
Whereas this blog is mainly used for the day-to-day description of my wargaming activities, the full AAR's and pictures, can be found at the main web site Wargaming with Napoleonic Miniatures. The list of played battles and combats is large, and although the bicentennial of the Campaign of Leipzig will end the next december, I expect to increase it in the next years to come. Visit the following links for the Scenarios played with Napoleon's Battles, Lasalle and Song of Drums and Shakos
Below you can see pictures of some of these old games played at three different scales

Dresden (1st day) played with Napoleon's Battles

Connewitz (Battle of Leipzig) played with Lasalle

Surprise at Kosen (Austrian Grenzers vs. French Chasseurs) played with Song of Drums and Shakos

Enjoy!

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Craig Taylor passed away

From a post in the Napoleon's Battles Yahoo Group

"Bob Coggins asked me to let everyone know that Craig Taylor passed away this week. Cause of death was undetermined at this time, but will be available later, I'm sure. Bob's computer is down at the moment so he will not be able to respond to any questions on line. We will let everyone know more details as they become available. Craig was a prolific and successful miniatures and board game historical rules writer and co-author of Napoleon's Battles. I've known him since his Avalon Hill days when I was one of the staff playtesters on Avalon Hill's version of the Austrailian Napoleonic game "Empires in Arms," which Craig sheparded through the redesign effort and publication. His integrety and willingness to go the extra mile in game development was well known. He was an amazing game designer and developer with a long list of titles to his credit. The hobby has lost a true professional, a true friend. He will be missed."

The above is the Craig's signature in my Napoleon's Battles (3rd. Ed) copy.

Requiescat In Pace!

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A new section in the main website

I have added a new section devoted to Song of Drums and Shakos (SDS) in Wargaming with Napoleonic Minitures, the website acting as big brother or permanent repository of this blog.
With the addition of SDS, there is now a preferred rule-book for each level of Napoleonic wargaming: Napoleon's Battles for grand-tactical (brigade based), Lasalle for tactical (battalion based) and Song of Drums and Shakos for skirmish (squad based). Only the strategical level remains without assignation, because still I have don't found an adequate Napoleonic boardgame (but in Spain we say that hope is the last thing to be lost!).
 

From now onwards, you can find see the information about SDS: rules, modifications and scenarios by clicking the 'Song of Drums and Shakos' in Wargaming with Napoleonic Minitures

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New Scenarios for Napoleon's Battles 3rd Ed?

Lost Battalion Games has published 10 "New" Scenarios for Napoleon's Battles 3rd ed. (NBIII). The Scenarios have been designed so their look is consistent with the new NBIII. Some have been published in previous editions: NBI and its expansions (Red and Blue books) or NBII, so actually only 'Medina de Rioseco' is new!
I have made a complete (I hope!) relation of the "official" Scenarios designed for Napoleon's Battles and endorsed by Coggins and Craig:

Scenarios included in NBIII
1 - 1792 "Valmy" Scenario #9 of Red book. Published in NBII
2 - 1799 "Novi" Published in NBII
3 - 1800 "Marengo" Scenario #3 of NBI. Published in NBII
4 - 1806 "Auerstadt" Scenario #4 of NBI. Published in NBII
5 - 1809 "Raab" Published in NBII
6 - 1809 "Talavera" Scenario #6 of NBI. Published in NBII
7 - 1811 "Albuera" Scenario #24 of Blue book. Published in NBII
8 - 1812 "Gorodetschna" Published in NBII
9 - 1814 "Craonne" Scenario #16 of Red book. Published in NBII
10- 1815 "Quatre Bras" Published in NBII (and in "The General" magazine (See The Un-official Napoleon's Battles web page)
11- 1815 "Waterloo" Scenario #8 of NBI. Published in NBII
12- 1813 "Lutzen" Scenario #25 of Blue book. Published in NBII

New Scenarios available now for NBIII
1 - 1794 "Revolutionary Ardor" - Scenario #1 of NBI. Hypotetical battle
2 - 1807 "Eylau" Scenario #5 of NBI
3 - 1808 "Vimiero (Vimeiro)" Scenario #22 of Blue book
4 - 1809 "Corunna (La Coruña o Elviña)" Scenario #11 of Red book
5 - 1809 "Aspern-Essling" - Scenario # 12 of Red book
6 - 1812 "Salamanca" (Los Arapiles) Scenario #14 of Red book
7 - 1812 "Borodino" Scenario #7 of NBI
8 - 1813 "Leipzig" Scenario #15 of Red book
9 - 1815 "Ligny" "The General" magazine (See The Un-official Napoleon's Battles web page)
10 - 1808 "Medina del Riosecco (Medina de Rioseco)" NEW

Other published Scenarios not available (still) for NBIII
1809 "The Austrians at bay" Scenario #2 of NBI. Hypotetical battle
1807 "Friedland" Scenario #10 of Red book
1809 "Ocano (Ocaña)" Scenario #13 of Red book
1814 "A 400 point demostrantion game" Scenario #17 of Red book
1805 "Austerlitz" Scenario #21 of Blue book
1809 "Wagram" Scenario #23 of Blue book

Edited:
By indication of Ed
1812 "Villa Costa", Published in "The Courier" magazine

There are many other un-official Scenarios available in booklets (as the published by Brian Robinette) or in internet (See the yahoo group, my main site and any of the links for Napoleon's Battles)

The Malcom's Maxims

Directly from the web page of Malcolm Mccallum, read some of his Maxims for Napoleon's Battles, devoted to Infantry:

XXI
Always leave 2-3" minimum between infantry formations front-rear to allow for possible combat withdrawals. Similarly, an infantry column should always have enough room on each flank to allow it to deploy from column to line as required.

XXII
If a firefight is sustainable, take the time to form line. Only if it is not, or speed is the prime concern, should a combat be attempted in column. Infantry columns are not an arm of decision but rather maneuver. For decision, use infantry lines, cavalry, or arty. If , on the other hand, a win in column can be fairly guaranteed and there is no serious counter-attack threat, it would be the preferred formation for attack since the unit would be properly deployed to take advantage of any gained breakthroughs.

XXIII
The addition of multiple infantry units into a melee mostly just provides more opportunities to get a good result. With two units, there will be two rounds at least. Therefore do not commit multiple units to a bad or excellent situation but only where the issue is in doubt and a win is more decisive than a loss or two.

Napoleon himself would endorse these sentences!

By the way, the Malcom's page is full of good material, not only about Napoleon's Battles (go to the 15 mmm Section) but also about campaigning in the Napoleonic era.

See a sample of his After Action Report of a refight of the battle of Talavera (with a surprising ending!) whose bicentenary we celebrated the 27-28th july.

Austrian OOB for Lindenau

The Austrian OOB shown in a previous post (see below) was true only on the paper. In the actual battle, Gyulai divided his command in three 'ad-hoc' columns.

The flanking columns were mainly composed from light infantry (Grenzer and Jagers), some battalions of line infantry and a small number of light guns, and would attack Lindenau from Leutzsch and Klein-Zschocheranu (B5 and B1 respectively in the attached table-top map) . On the contrary, the central column, including the remaining infantry, the heavy batteries and the cavaly, would attack directly Lindenau and the earthworks (A4).

Gyulai spread the light units of the attached Liechtenstein's 1st Light Division amongst the three columns, and assigned the command of the left and right columns respectively to Generals Hessen-Homburg (commander of 3rd division of his own III corps) and Czollich (commander of the 1st brigade of the 3rd division), while maintaining the control of the central main body. In addition, the Austrian C-i-C made several detachment to cover his flanks, so the actual force used in the attack amounted only to 20,000 men.

The Napoleon's Battles scenario for Lindenau includes three variations: (1) The 'non-historical easier way' using complete brigade and divisions of the original OOB and whitout detachments, (2) the 'semi-historical way' similar to the previous but using detachments and (3) 'the historical way' identical to the actual used by the Austrian general. Moreover, in order to increase the Gyulai's chances, there is also the possibility of 'calling the reinforcements'.

More information int the main web-site Battle of Lindenau (1813)

The battle of Peterdohna is finished!

The battle of Peterdohna is finished. Barclay de Tolly, the Allied C-i-C, has realized the presence of Napoleon himself in the battlefield so, in compliance with the Tranchenberg Plan, a general retreat has been ordered.
This wise decision has ended nine hours of bloody fight. The losses of both sides have been enormous (15,000 - 16,000 men each) and the Allied were allowed to retire unmolested by Napoleon, because of the bad state of the French infantry.


See the full narrative at the main web site

Peterdohna is finishing

The presence of Napoleon has been noted by the Barclay's staff, and this last General has ordered the retreat in compliance with the Trachenberg Plan. Napoleon hesitates to use his precious heavy cavalry regiments, so the Prussians are allowed to retire under the protection of their artillery and cavalry.

More problems for Napoleon

The French line is broken!
The Klux's 9th brigade of the Prussian Kleist's I corps has finished the last French resistance in the area, the Claparede's 43th Division. The two French wings, XIV and I Corps, are now separated and the Prussian tide is menacing to break throught. The last and desperate Napoleon's trick has been to send the Cassagne's 1st Division from the Lobau's I Corps from his left flank, in a last attempt to delay the Prussian advance in the center.

To be continued!

French troubles

The battle of Peterdohna is not going well for Napoleon. While all Allied forces are in the battlefield, the French reinforcements are being delayed by bad staff work. Thus, the Latour-Mauburg's I Cavalry Corps scheduled for arrival at 13.00h arrived at 14.30h.
Meanwhile, the Allied commanders (Wittgenstein and Kleist) have launched a frontal attack, and the Prussians have succesfully breaken the French front with the Klux's 9th Brigade. Napoleon himself is in danger to be overruned!
To be continued...
See the main web-site for the Scenario

Napoleon's Battles 3rd Edition

The new Napoleon's Battles 3rd edition (NB-III) has arrived at home. My copy is numbered #22, and it is signed by Coggins and Craig (the designers of the original NB). NB-III is edited by Lost Battalion Games (LBG), in whose web-site you could find more information Napoleon's Battles.
NB-III comes in a large, black, game box and contains:
- Full color rules and reference books.
- 15 player aid cards: 2 Game Cards, 2 Sequence of Play cards, 2 Artillery Fire Templates, 2 Spread Artillery Fire Templates, 2 Terrain Markers, 1 Artillery Spread Formation Spread Templates, 1 Brigade Skirmish Spread Template, 2 Manoeuver Template and a time record chart card.
- Information cards for Austria, Bavaria and Saxony, Britain, Confederation, France, Iberian states, Italian states, Low Countries, Poalnd and Wurttemberg, Ottoman Empire, Prussia, Russia, Scandinavian states, Westphalian states.
- 12 full color scenarios cards covering the battles of: Valmy 1792, Novi 1799, Marengo 1800, Auerstadt 1806, Raab 1809, Talavera 1809, Albuera 1811, Gorodetschna 1812, Lutzen 1813, Craonne 1814, Quatre Bras 1815 and Waterloo 1815
- 160 8mm cubed wooden Markers: Half Move, No Move, React, Rout, Disorder, Free Rolls, Limbered and No Supplies. 26 wooden discs for Mystery Deployment, Initiative and Turn Record and two ten-Sided dice.
- One CD containing a database for generals and pdf files for the Scenarios and labels.

Besides the new formating of the material (including a welcome increasing of the font size!) making it more easily to manage , the inclusion of the CD and wooden markers, and some minor artistic licenses (the bases show 9 10mm figures in 3 files of 3 ranks), NB-III IS ESSENTIALLY THE SAME THING THAN NB-II. Therefore it will be somewhat disappointing for those gamers expecting new and radical variations, and a must for old freaks of NB like me!