League Napoleon

Napoleonic Rules

review by Phil Jarvio

'League Napoleon'; Part I: Tabletop Rules; Part II: 'League Napoleon' Rules; and Part Ill: Campaign Rules; by Funfare Militaire; each approx. 25 pages; cost: $9.50 each part or all 3 parts, $25 ppd. P. Fear, 65 Rochester Road, Coventry, West Midlands CV5 6AF UK.

These booklets are an attempt to establish an official Napoleonic wargaming association called 'League Napoleon'. The group has a wide range of objectives: 1) provide a common set of tactical Napoleonic rules that will be used by a wide range of the wargaming public, 2) allow the relative ranking of the players' ability within the 'League Napoleon' membership, and 3) encourage the 'League Napoleon' members to interact with each other for battles, campaigns, historical information, etc. etc. . . . All in all, the 'League Napoleon' has set forth on an ambitious project.

Part I: Tabletop Rules; Scales: 1mm=1m, 1 figure=50 men, no time scale given, 13 pages of rules, a combat effectiveness and casualty roster system. The rules suffer from a variety of shortcomings: poor organization, a very cryptic and disjointed writing style, no illustrations of play, etc.... The rules appear to have been written for players already familiar with the game system. For those players not familiar with it, there is a struggle ahead; the rules will require several readings and interpretations before play can commence. Attached to the rules are an additional six pages of several grand tactical map movement systems to provide a rough framework in which to fight the tabletop battles.

Part II: 'League Napoleon' Rules; There are 15 pages devoted to outlining the 'League Napoleon' rules; ie. membership rules, generalship grading, battle reporting, newsletter, changes in rank, etc. . . . A further 15 pages are devoted to a very basic outline of the French and British Armies of 1815.

Part III: Campaign Rules; Approximately 20 pages of campaign rules; how to set-up your country, troop lists, resources, etc. . . . They are given in two parts; one for independent campaigns and one that will be umpired by the 'League Napoleon'. An additional 6 pages are devoted to a basic outline of the Loyalist Spanish Army and the Portuguese Army.

The 'League Napoleon' set of rules suffer from many of the pitfalls of beginning writers; poor organization, little playtesting, assuming the readers are familiar with the system, not enough explanations, etc., etc. . . . A keystone in any attempt such as that attempted by the 'League Napoleon' is the miniature rules. Yet, in the words of the 'League Napoleon' author The tabletop rules having been but recently collated from several sources and inspirations and having a very short pedigree to rely on, are still throwing up one or two surprises. This appears to be putting the problem mildly. The 'League Napoleon' rules are the start of an ambitious project that has a long road ahead of it before an acceptable product can be offered. - PH I L J ARVIO

WHICH BANNER? - A LEAGUE NAPOLEON COUNTER ATTACK.

You are in the middle ages and have arrived on a hilltop with your battle behind you, below on the plain you see two opposing forces. Which one should you support? You should look well before deciding for too much delay could mean the wrong side (for you) winning!

On the one hand you have the ducking-stool, the torture chamber and the Spanish inquisition, on the other, the exploration of America, the Pacific and the renaissance peeping over the horizon.

This then is the comparable conflict between the appraisal of the League Napoleon by Phil Jarvio, from the harsh commercial finished product world he represents, and the bright new approach. Where you are invited to use the very best game mechanisms experience you can find! To apply yourself and your aptitude to lift wargaming from the 'boys playing with toys' stigma, to the level it truly deserves! Admittedly it is the most self-indulgent hobby you can spoil yourself with but it is also the most rewarding and enjoyable to be found.

To be more mundane, I agree with some of the points made by Phil, but he does seem to miss the spirit of the whole thing, he does not seem to realise that it is presented for YOUR use (in democratic spirit, by the members - for the members and above all WITH the members) and not just another dictatorial exercise by the commercial pundits.

Worse still, in the last paragraph of his review he commits a small sin by quoting only a part of a paragraph and twisting its real meaning (journalistic license?). The piece he is misleading about, by the way, is to illustrate some of the enjoyment to be obtained by use of the rules.

Well, after that I don't seem to have left myself much chance to eulogise over my product. Just let me say, it is a semi-professional set-up intent on providing a method for measuring, recording and also rewarding the quality of generalship displayed during play! It is also for comparisons to be drawn and an interchange of ideas and experiences between members. At the moment League Napoleon is specific to the Napoleonic period but there is much more to come.

My final comment must be that League Napoleon is recruiting and not press-ganging, and these comments apply equally to the next period which will be A. C. W. as you've never played it before.

- PHIL FEAR (Innovator and founder member); pp Funfare Militaire.

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