(Editor's Note: I am pleased to introduce a new, regular column in this issue of the Digest - Zealot's Corner by Eric Burgess. Eric is an early convert to Piquet and as you know if you subscribe to the Internet listserv Cris anything but a zealot when it comes to helping new (and experienced) players with questions. He may be in fact the calmest and most rational person in that group. Where his zealotry shows is in his enthusiasm for developing extensions, modifications, and refinements to Piquet mechanics-- he is the master of the house rules. I think you will find his ideas useful and stimulating to your own house rules. Welcome Eric!)

Instead of having reinforcenents arrive on a specific turn, why not have them "possibly" arrive on a certain turn. This can be accomplished rather easily in Piquet.

First, on the turn when the reinforcements are scheduled to arrive, add a Stratagm Card to the deck before the shuffle and any discards. If you don't have an Stratagm card available substitute another card) When this card is turned- the player in charge of the reinforcements rolls the reinforcement+commander's leadership die vs. the enemy's Die. If they win the die roll then die reinforcements may make one move onto the table in column of route formation at a cost of one impetus. If there is more than one command group in the reinforcements then you must expend one impetus per command group. If they fail or tie the roll the Stratagem card is put back in the deck and can be drawn again in future turns. As an action you can give a cumulative UP 1 modifier each time the card is draw from the deck after the first time.

For Example, General Smith `Skilled commander' is attempting to guide his brigade around the right flank of the enemy. The Stratagem card turns up and he rolls a D20+1 vs a D8. If he wins he arrives on time. If he fails or ties then the card is returned to the deck. He will be at least 1/2 hour late. The second time the card is drawn General Smith would roll a D20+2 vs a D8, the third time would be a D20+3 vs a D8, etc.

In addition, you could add other modifiers to the roll to add a little more spice to this situation: bad maps DOWN 1 first hand knowledge of the area (UP 1), heavy partisan activity in the area (DOWN 2), bad weather (DOWN 1), all cavalry command (UP 1), all Elite or Guard force (UP 1) etc.

Force March

Another idea is to give the reinforcements the opportunity to "Force March" to the field at the cost of a lower base die modifier (BDV). You can put the Stratagem card in two turns (1 hour) before the reinforcements cauld arrive. In turn each unit in the force marched command will take a DOWN 1 modifier for fire, melee, and morale BDV.

Use your imagination. Piquet will reward you for it!