This is "AIRFIX Magazine Guide 4", published by Patrick Stephens Ltd in Britain. It is 5 3/4" x 8 3/4" with 64 pages and stiff, slick, cardboard covers. The rules were designed and written by Bruce Quarrie, playtested by the Napoleonic Sub-Group of the North London Wargames Group. The Napoleonic era is the most popular period in Britain and probably second or third most popular in this country. It you've never tried it, you really should.

The first 48 pages present, in narrative form, the general idea of the rules, the ideas behind these rules, how to go about it, how Napoleonic military organizations were organized, Napoleonic strategy and tactics, and how to organize a miniatures campaign. The final pages contain the actual, formal rules themselves, including the necessary charts and tables, plus notes on miniatures manufacturers , and a brief bibliography.

These rules are designed for 25mm or 20mm figures with 1 model representing 33 men. One model represents 6 or more guns. The ground scale is 1mm = 1 yard, horizontal. One contour of hill, any tree or house, etc. it considered to be 40 feet high, One move represents 2 minutes of real time. Movement is simultaneous, via prewritten orders.

Tables of national characteristics list all the different types of units for the major powers (France, Austria, Russia, Prussia and Britain) and their fire factor, melee impact factor, confused melee factor, morale factor and control factor (actually 2 versions of each factor - 1 for pre-1808 and the other for post-1808), plus movement rates for various formations and types of terrain. This is very comprehensive and impressive Firing procedure is unique and very interesting.

For one thing, units get more than 1 shot per turn depending on how they're armed, and whether they move. For instance, infantry with muskets get 5 shots per turn. For each shot roll one fire die (6 sides, marked 1,1,2,2,3,3), add the unit's fire factor, add or subtract for range, cover etc. and cross reference the result on another chart with the number of figures firing to obtain the number of casualties caused to the target unit. The casualti es are given in terms of men (not figures) and for each 33 casualties one figure is removed. (Figures are mounted on company stands but with a few individual figures for making "change"). Odd casualties, between multiples of 33, must be kept track of on paper.

The charts showing all the modifiers, ranges, etc. for the various types of cannon, plus muskets, rifles, and carbines, mounted and dismounted, are also very comprehensive and impressive. Morale is checked under a considerable number of circumstances and is modified by a list of items covering a full page of small print. including: strength, casualties this turn, formation, supporting units, experience level, under various types of fire, cover, secure or insecure flanks.

There are 2 types of melee: the initial impact when 1 unit charges into another; and then the resultant confused free-for-all if neither unit has been broken by the impact. These are both also handled very thoroughly and realistically.

I'd rate these as the best rules for 25mm or 20mm Napoleonics I've seen yet. They're very comprehensive, innovative and realistic. However, not having had a chance to actually play these rules I can't really judge their playability.

They are not simple. I would not recommend them to a group of novices without an old hand to guide them through a game or two. But for players experienced with Napoleonic miniatures I would defi nitely recommend them. You're bound to find something you like, even if you don't go for the entire system. Definitely the artillery fire procedure is far superior to the old bounce-stick method! The price is a very reasonable $3.95 and the book is available at Sky Books International, Inc., 48 East 50th Street, New York, NY 10022. Dealers may obtain it from Bill Dean Books, Ltd., 166-41 Powells Cove Blvd., Whitestone NY 11357.

Miniature Warfare

Game Review: Battles with Micro Tanks (Rules)
Game Review: Napoleonic Wargaming
Game Review: Battle of Salamis (ancient naval)
Book Review: Skirmish Wargaming (book)
Game Review: Classic Warfare (ancients)
Game Review: Fighting Sail (1:2000 miniatures)
Game Review: Polyhedra Dice