Warfare in the Age of Reason (AOR) is a set rules governing warfare in the 18th century. The rules are straight forward and enjoyable. A core concept of the rules is the "Basic Morale Grade", where each unit is assigned a 1, 2, 3, or 4 to reflect that unit's quality and morale. This basic morale grade is used as part of the calculations for firing, close combat resolution and morale. In addition, for infantry, it is also used to determine if a unit attempting to charge will actually commit. Those familiar with the rules are aware of this simple concept. For large games and to keep games shorter and less complicated, this rule is a good compromise for playability. In my opinion, it lacks enough diversity to meet my needs in some scenarios or to adequately describe certain units or troop types.

The simple rule modification is to give a unit multiple possible ratings for firing, melee and morale, or a combination of ratings.

As an example, I rate some of my French Seven Years War militia with morale and initiative as grade I and that same unit's firing and melee as grade 2. This equates to them fighting as well as the regular line infantry, say due to additional training and campaigning, but they are prone to leave earlier or not get into the fight at all.

Another use of this rule is for highly motivated, but not overly trained regulars. For example, during a Minden refight, I might rate the 6 British battalions as a grade 2 for firing and melee, but a grade 4 (which is guard) for initiative and morale. This would be scenario specific use of the rule and would give them abetter chance to behave historically. Note, this is not a debate about whether they should get this rating, just an example of how the rule can be applied.

The two previous examples group the fighting characteristics together (firing and melee) and the motivation characteristics together (morale and initiative). There is no reason to apply this rule with these restrictions. A palace guard unit that find's itself in the field for some bizarre reason might be rated grade 4 morale (since they are palace guard), grade 2 firing and melee (for their average training in combat skills) and grade 1 for initiative (being the palace guard, they've never practiced actually charging anyone!).

I collect the French army of the continent (thanks to Ken Bunger and Bill Protz) and have the following modifications to the units I game with:

Picardie (1st), Auvergne (9th) and Monaco (10th) have morale and initiative ratings of 3, with fire and melee as 2. 1 would rate any of the first eleven regiments as this due to their long history of service and (my opinion) higher esprit d'corps.

Swiss regiments. I will generally roll a dice with a 50% chance of them being Basic Morale Grade 2 or as the Line Regiments 1 through 11 mentioned above. (Note: The 12th Regiment is du Roi and I haven't quite decided what classification I like for them).