BNIII is a much more grand tactical game than the others. One figure represents theoretically 100 -120 historical soldiers, one gun model a battery with 1 gunner per 2 guns. As it turns out, BNIII was the preferred mode for Rich Lowe and his principal Franco-Prussian opponent Bob West.

Large Map (76K)

Since Bill Gray was engaged in completing an article on THE GREAT NORTHERN WAR or something, Rich and I travelled to far away Clinton Maryland to take advantage of Bob's wargame table and 15mm French and Prussian armies. Instead of a brigade scenario, we were able to advance to Corps Level combat.

The layout was as shown on the third map. Rich had somehow persuaded Bob to let the French have entrenched batteries, with the numerically superior Prussians (2 corps) advancing on a French defensive position. The French were supposed to get reinforcements on a spectacularly low dice roll. Their initial disposition, as shown, was anchored on a series of hills with 4 field and 2 mitrailleuse batteries entrenched. Just back from the gun line Rich had set his French infantry digging furiously. At Gravelotte - St. Privat it was noted that the right of the French line, commanded by a graduate of St. Cyr, was not entrenched, and eventually gave way. The left was commanded by a graduate of the Ecole Polytechnique, who entrenched, and was never seriously threatened. Rich, obviously, was a Polytech kind of guy.

Noting an absence of cavalry I insisted on having a brigade of cavalry. Being somewhat cautious, I insisted on a mixed brigade of what were either chasseurs a cheval or hussars and dragoons. They had excellent chassepot carbines. However, the joke was on me. Brian Phillips, like the other rules writers, does not permit cavalry to get off their horses on a formal battlefield. I was warned that they had not put out any cavalry because all it does is get shot up. However, as it turned out, the cavalry won the battle.

One critical point that Brian's staunchest admirers complain about. At 120 to 1 he assumes considerable attrition in the cavalry, representing a regiment with only 4 horsemen. As a result, a cavalry division accompanied by its horse artillery tends to look like a gun with mounted gunners. The infantry is a bit better off, having 2 figures to the company (240 men) with 3 bases to a French and 4 to a German battalion. I once asked Brian Phillips why he didn't put two figures to the cavalry base and 3 to the infantry. If I remember correctly, he said that he didn't want to have to paint that many figures. Since he is affiliated with the manufacture of RANK AND FILE MINIATURES I find that attitude very strange. (there is a persistent rumor that the EMPIRE people over represent guns because at one time they were trying to promote the sale of toy cannons.)

The Germans (Prussians with one Bavarian regiment) swept forward on a broad front in columns preceded by skirmishers. It was a relief to find that there were neither flying columns nor open columns, although the Prussians were allowed a "mixed formation" which represented (in theory) company columns preceded by a swarm of skirmishers drawn from within the battalion. This formation moves at column speed, but somehow fires as a line and fights as a column while benefitting from a built in skirmish screen.

I quickly noticed that while the main force of Germans was headed for moderately solid defenses which were becoming even more formidable as the French shovels flew, one brigade consisting of at least 3 Prussian (fusilier battalion in skirmish order in front) and 3 Bavarian battalions was headed for an open space to the left of my line. Moreover, the only troops I could move in front of them were a chasseur battalion in skirmish order that retreated under shellfire, and two line battalions who were busy digging trenches. Oh yes, there was also the brigade of cavalry. As the Germans pushed on through a hail of gunfire, stopping, rallying, and pressing on, I looked again and again at my horsemen. I remember thinking "what we need at this point is a futile gesture!"

One other point. My advance skirmish lines had, as I mentioned, come under long range shell fire from the numerous Prussian batteries. Naturally I thought "time to lie down and take cover!"

"There aren't any rules for prone" I was told.

"No what?" I demanded, "what kind of fool would write Franco-Prussian rules without letting infantry hit the dirt?"

"Ain't no prone rules, I'm sorry."

"Oh well," I thought, having rolled up my first reserve brigade, "maybe if I catch that sneaky Bavaro-Prussian brigade before it moves I can hold it up for a turn and get my line extended." However, the enemy moved first. I had put my light horse "en foragere" (cavalry skirmishers, per Phillips rules-sniveling cowards according to Waxtel, who doesn't tolerate such behavior.) "En avant" I commanded, and down the valley of death rode my four stalwart horsemen.

"They're dead" Rich told me. "Oh let him try it" I think I heard Bob say. "A funeral with full military honors" I promised the brave lads.

At least they move fast. Charging light horse, even going down hill (lose 1") covers 17", compared to a Dreyse range of 6", Chassepot 12".

As it turns out, the Prussian skirmishers had moved, so they fired as though at the next longer range. For these rules you rol<%-6>l

decimal dice to get onto a fire table, then check the number of fire factors you have. That gives you a rating which, like GBGV translates into 100% increments which are sure kills, with fractions you have to roll under for the extra. Cavalry suffers double casualties (an irrational prejudice) but skirmishers take half, so I was straight up on a medium table for 8 riflemen. One trooper bit the dust. My brave lads persevered and trampled one of the skirmishers. His cowardly dogs ran. When Prussians run, Bavarians check morale. When Bavarians check morale (this time at least) they go down two morale grades. The skirmishers were so demoralized by being trampled and sabered that they never returned.

On the next turn I got to change formation first. I rallied the chasseurs a cheval and faced rearward. Bob rushed his battalions (the ones that weren't routed were paralyzed with fear) up and formed line to blast the surviving troopers. Movement comes before fire, so by the time the German infantry had drawn a bead my gallant lads were 1700 yds downfield with a cloud of dust and hearty "Hi-Ho Silver and away!"

All that pretty much took the rightmost German brigade out of the fight for a cost of a nominal 120 troopers killed, wounded, and captured.

The remainder of the attack was frontal. The oncoming German masses reached the line less several morale failures, and at one point actually broke through. This occurred on my right. A French battalion had taken fire casualties and gone to "shaken," receiving a blue marker. Nearby a Fresh French battalion saw two companies of skirmishers come over the crest of a hill within charge range. I charged the skirmishers, who were part of a mixed formation - they had the remainder of the battalion in line behind them. When you charge the skrimishers in a "mixed formation" (representing company columns behind skirmishers) the skirmishers rally to the company columns and all fire as though in a firing line! The French, alas, were repulsed. On the other hand, the "shaken" battalion of French infantry didn't even fire a shot before retiring.

Fortunately the line was intact on either side, and I had two Fresh battalions, neither of which panicked, facing the gap. Bob West looked at the long line of massed casualty caps facing relatively intact (and often entrenched) Frenchmen, and then at the cowardly Bavarians rooted to the spot in terror of French sabers. "I think at this point I would order a retreat." He said.

Ken Bunger has commended to me the exceptionally thorough and generally historical commander ratings in BNIII, which subtracts the commander's rating from the influenced units Morale Break Point (MBP) on a decimal basis structured for initiative, rally, etc. differently. It looks good, but all I actually witnessed was the use of command figures to rally demoralized battalions so that the brigades they were part of did not have to hold up for the laggards to rally.

Problems? I was put off by the back-and-forth between decimal dice and tables. For the most part I figure that if a range of results achievable with a pair of D6 is exhausted you have allowed all the margin of chance you need in a game. However, both GBGV and BNIII like to play with percentage remainders, which some will find desireable.

Also, even to those who enjoy the flow and level of the game the representation looks silly. When formed in line troops of this era remained more or less shoulder to shoulder, two to three deep. Brian Phillips infantry looks to be at extended intervals and his cavalry look like the survivors of the light brigade before the first shot is fired. As mentioned before, when you have a division of cavalry accompanied by its horse artillery, you barely have enough horses to pull the gun.

More Three Roads to Paris

Introduction
Review: They Died for Glory
Review: Grand Bataille Grand Victorie
Review: In the Age of Bismark and Napoleon III
General Issues

Letter: Clarification for They Died for Glory (#65)
Rebuttals to Three Roads to Paris (#66)