Les Gens Braves

Franco-Prussian Wargames Rules

by Pat Condray

Written by John Mills, these rules are published by Partizan Press, 1988. I have competing prejudices in reviewing these rules, i.e., a commercial interest in their sale, and the fact that I have published my own for the same era. That may provide objectivity of a sort. The rules are intended for 15mm or 25mm figures at a 1 to 50 ratio. That level makes for cavalry regiments and French infantry battalions of 12 or more, German battalions of as much as 20. The rules recognize the superiority of German artillery and French rifle fire, seem fairly balanced in that regard, but credit Prussians with greater fire efficiency within their effective range. Formations are credible, with the exception, perhaps, of the flying column (already critiqued in a past Courier).

Frenchmen are credited with "ELAN", which is a tendency to counterattack with vigor, while Germans are more numerous and steady. recognizing the difficulty of re-enacting massed battles in this period, as well as the strain of campaign gaming, Mills goes to great lengths to arrange for random but representative opposing forces at different periods of the war with similar treatment of the effects of weather. Not the final word on Franco Prussian rules, I'm sure, this playable set is reasonably priced at $7 U.S., and with 43 pages, inserted reference charts for quick reference, and color as well as black and white illustrations, it will be welcomed by any devotee of the era.

Reviewing Stand

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