Comparing the Latest Napoleonic Rules

Playtesting Volley&Bayonet, Shako, and Le Petit Empereur

by Jim Birdseye
Photo and Figures by Orv Banasik

O ne of the more difficult tasks that an editor can assign a cub-reporter is a multiple review comparing apples and oranges. But Dick has never shied away from making difficult assignments.

In the last fifteen years there has been an a continuous effort to produce a universal set of Napoleonics rules from Fred Vietmeyer's Column Line and Square to Scotty Boden's Empire systems to the current sets of rules there seems to be a minimum of one new major set a year, and of late, several. It may be due to the variety of tastes of Napoleonic wargamers than to the quality of the rules that has caused the plethora of systems on the market. It has been frustrating for those who want a particular approach to the simulation or a particular scale or basing or just a universally accepted set of rules.

In this article I will look at three sets of rules and how they play out the same scenario. All three sets are at the operational level, which means (to me anyway) that a number of the features of Napoleonic warfare have been abstracted to increase the playability of the system. Rather than debate the virtues of one scale or mounting system over another I would like to use the rules as written and see if the mechanics affect the outcome of our battle in different ways or if they all provide a satisfying gaming experience for the players.

The three rules sets in question are Volley and Bayonet, Shako, and Le Petit Empereur, all three have a quick play variation and follow the trend of recent years in ancient gaming - simplification. Of the three, Shako has two levels of play while the others have one basic set. Volley and Bayonet covers a wide range of periods and Shako has a Seven Years War variant.

In order to compare these rules sets we have determined to play each with the same scenario. The scenario has the degree of balance we wanted and involves the most well-known of all the napoleonic battles while at the same time being a "what-if" game. It also places the British off the table and pits the French against the Prussians with some British/Allied spectators. I hope that you have a chance to play this one on your own with your favorite rules set.

WATERLOO REVISITED

Situation: It is now 1400 hours on 18 June 1815: Napoleon is locked in combat with Wellington's Allied Army of the Lowlands. The battlefield has partially dried from the previous night's rain but roads leading into the main battle are muddy; exacerbated by heavy wheeled traffic.

The attack by the French I Corps ( D'Erlon ) has not been successful, to include Druettes' divisional assault on Papelotte; but French forces are reorganizing for a more powerful and better coordinated assault on the Allied center and right. At approximately 1330, the brilliant Bonaparte has noted with trepidation the cavalry movement on the fringe of the Bois de Paris on his extreme right flank. Could they be Prussian Uhlans? He directs General Jacqunoit to screen that flank with his cavalry and report post haste.

But instinct rather than any sound tactical intelligence has caused Napoleon on the evening of the 17th to dispatch Liaison to General Grouchy and direct him to maintain pressure of the Prussians retreating on Wavre, but bring the bulk of the 4th French Corps to Waterloo. Grouchy subsequently detaches 14th division and a cavalry brigade to General Girard to pressure the Prussians; then counter-marches the remainder of his force toward Waterloo.

Meanwhile Blucher, seeing the importance of union with Wellington, marches toward the sounds of the cannon with three corps, I Corps (Ziethen) leading. The road conditions - not to mention fatigue - will prelude early arrival; and any attack will have to be made from a movement to contact configuration. Grouchy faces the same basic problem. By 1400 hours however, lead cavalry elements of both forces begin probing forward on the right flank of Napoleon: Ziethen's Corps on the fringe of the Bois de Paris and Grouchy's advance units on the Lagne - a stream swollen by the rain but fordable with effort by infantry and cavalry.

Wellington's left flank is anchored on Papelotte and held by Dutch and Saxe-Weimar brigades, both worn down by the attack at 1300 but capable of a further defensive effort. The Duke orders Vivian's British Cavalry brigade forward to protect this position and contact Blucher's lead corps upon their arrival on the battlefield. Upon that contact, Vivian is assigned to Ziethen and the Dutch/Saxe-Weimar brigade will remain on the defense, vicinity Chateau de Frichermont-Papelotte-Mont St. Jean Ridge line.

Blucher directs Ziethen to protect Wellington's flank initially, then attack the village of Plancenoit to threaten Napoleon's flank and rear and cut his line of communication. Napoleon understands the potential threat and orders Grouchy to protect that flank by attacking on an axis Lagne-Bois de Paris-Papelotte.

Upon arrival of Grouchy on the battlefield, he will have assigned to him Jacqunoit's cavalry and Durntte's infantry (4th Division). If Plancenoit is threatened, the Emperor is prepared to commit seven battalions of the Young and Middle Guard. This commitment, however, would reduce his reserve which is needed to influence the main battle. Needless to say the ball is Grouchy's court (Tennis expression used in the period) to save this battle for France and the Empire.

The stage is now set for this hypothetical secondary battle, a movement to contact by two basically equal forces, a contest that could well rewrite the history of Europe and the world. Allons Mes enfants!!

ORDER OF BATTLE

Prussians - 1st Corps: Ziethen (LTG):

British and Allies:

British/Allied and Prussian totals: 19 Infantry Battalions (plus 2 Regiments of four battalions defensive only), 4 Bdes Cavalry, 12 batteries of Artillery (2 Batteries are defensive only)

French 4th Corps (-) Grouchy

French Totals: 12 Infantry Regiments (24 battalions), 5 Brigades of Cavalry, 8 Batteries of Artillery (two light) (Note that 6 Battalions of Garde a Pied and 2 batteries to be used only if Grouchy caves in).

CONVERTING UNITS BETWEEN RULESETS

Converting the British/Allies and the Prussians to the rules sets being used in difficult because all of them are played at a scale that some of the details are lost. In two of the sets divisional artillery is included in the units and just those assets at the corps-level are played on the table. The same problems apply to the French side. The quality of the commanders is an other issue that is important in at least one set of rules. The chart above should ease the transition between the sets and help the readers understand and compare the Orders of Battle and how they convert to each rules set. ED NOTE: The numbers in parentheses (3-5), etc, refer to the number of figures on a stand; (2), etc refers to the number of stands that take the number of hits indicated.

The map offers a relatively terrain friendly set-up for both sides. The area around the Waterloo battlefield is relatively open and flat. There are several villages and copse of trees. Grouchy must cross a minor creek to get to the blocking position he needs to establish. Likewise Ziethen must move his units through the gaps at Papelotte and in the Bois De Paris. Wincke's units occupy a low ridge on the Northeast edge, their mission is defensive.

First Action: Volley & Bayonet

Second Action: Shako

Third Action: Le Petit Empereur

Conclusion

The Map

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