Napoleon's Battles

Module

by Paul Harrison

This is a collection of additional scenarios, errata, optional rules, and player aids for the Avalon Hill grand tactical miniatures rules of the same name. The booklet has the same high production values that those familiar with Avalon Hill products have come to expect; clean, crisp printing, adequate spacing for visibility, good contrast in colors, and very well sub-divided into easily digested bits for quick reference. It strikes a pleasant balance between the spartan printing of many sets and the lavish spreads of a set such as TACTICA.

The scenarios go from Valmy to Craorme, a span of 22 years. Each game has a map scaled to feet for exact table dimensions. It contains orders of battle, special rules, and victory conditions. They are not necessarily balanced exactly, but real battles seldom are and I do not feel that this is a disadvantage. Each scenario has a rating chart for the troops involved for quick easy reference during play. The games range in size from Corunna in 1809 with ten total divisions to the vast struggle of Leipzig with four complete field armies. The nature of the game system does not lend itself to exact orders of battle but a good effect is achieved the varying of brigade strengths from the generic ideals in the basic game. The additional optional rules cover matters that give additional realism at the cost of some play-ability. I especially liked the brigade skirmish formation and the emergency response rules. These are well worth inclusion into any game of NAPOLEON'S BATTLES. These is also included a provision for design of quick win scenarios. This leads me to wonder why the game designers do not develop a tournament system for competitive play. These rules are largely straight forward with few ambiguities for rules lawyers to hide in. Over all I think this is a good set and I look forward to further modules dealing with particular campaigns. The Module is available from any good hobby shop or mail order outlet.


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