Shadows of the Eagles skirmishers: home rule

I have read the new skirmisher rules by Keith Flint, the author of the excellent Shadows of the eagles rules. They take the mechanics directly from Valour and Fortitude, so they should work well, but they are too abstract for me and I prefer to have a different rule which makes me feel I am fighting a tactical battle, with the handling of skirmisher screen being part of my tactical decisions I wish to make.

I have decided for a home rule which takes the mechanism from General d’Armee. The rule is the following:

Skirmish line rule (for Shadows of the Eagles)

At the beginning of the game each brigade defines his skirmish line, which will be an independent unit in skirmish order, part of the brigade.

The number of bases constituting this unit is relevant, contrary to the Shadows of the Eagles idea that number of bases of a unit should not count:

• each battalion in the brigade generates one base
• if at least 50% of the battalions in the brigade are light infantry then add one base
• if Austrian, Russian or Others from 1792 to 1808, subtract two skirmishers. If 1809-1815 subtract one
• if at least 50% are inferior in training, subtract one base
• add one base for each attached light infantry company (only specialised units, likeBritish rifles, Prussian Jagers)
• minimum size is two bases. If it is not reached there will be no skirmish scree for that brigade.

The skirmish screen has a variable number of bases, which may decrease or imncrease during the game, so the number of dice used for firing is the following:

• Numbers of dice firing: one die every two bases, round up. The bases must be in one single skirmish line, so that the overall front and fire effect is similar to the light infantry battalions deployed in skirmish.
• Skirmisher bases are lost during the game, one base every two hits received.
  • Brigade skirmishers screens going below two bases are lost, i.e. cannot deploy a single base screen.
• Brigade skirmishers screens cannot exceed the size of 8 bases (this is also the number of bases a light infantry battalion in skirmish order should be represented with).
• Skirmisher lines may be reinforced by the brigade battalions, during the movement phase. The battalion reinforcing and the skirmish unit count as chaining formation.
  • One base added to the skirmish line makes the battalion smaller in size (medium sized battalions become small, and so on).
• Whole battalions may be sent to reinforce the line, providing a number of bases depending on their size: 1 base (Tiny), 2 bases(Small), 3 bases(medium), 4 bases(large). Weakened units -1 base. They cannot be reformed during the game.

Light infantry battalions cause and suffer casualties as standard units and do not loose bases as the skirmish line.

Whole battalions and light infantry battalions going in skirmish formation cannot exceed 50% of the battalions of each brigade.

All skirmishers must remain within 9” from a formed unit of the brigade and their firing range is increase by 3″. SO a musket armed brigade skirmish line fires at 12″ and a fully rifle armed unit fires at 18″.