[Sergio]

The formation change to enter/exit mixed formation is easily explained as the process to deploy/recall skirmishers, despite the main body staying in their current formation.

P21 specifically refers to the command roll, and clearly delineate which formations get a bonus.

It makes sense that a batallion with the light company deployed would not get the bonus even if the body is in a columnar formation.

Similarly, I don’t think deploying skirmishers would in any way lessen the morale benefit of a battalion in massed ranks.

 

[Sergio]

Oh, indeed! Thank you Pg 102 seems to answer all these questions.

• -1 when shot at from the front
• There is nothing to suggest that the attack column does not benefit from its regular modifiers

If it was however screened by a separate unit of skirmishers within 12 inches of the artillery unit, the artillery either wouldn’t be able to see and target the column (p.52)

This doesn’t seem correct. The book says on p55 that artillery can ignore skirmishers at range >12 inches, otherwise they can shoot at a unit beyond a skirmish screen as unclear targets (-1 to hit) – this is the same whether the skirmishers are integral to the unit or not.

[Sergio]

The 100 Days supplement is one of my favorites. The first half is 18 scenarios and 4 what ifs, and the second half is the OOBs and a few new things. I have both Albion books, but I haven’t done a comparison. The background and fluff is good but YMMV depending on what you already know.

I wouldn’t say the book is revolutionary or a must-have for all, but I would rather have it than print out the equivalent pages of scenarios and OOBs I could get online. As a product for new gamers I would strongly recommend.

[Sergio]

I think the Light Infantry battalions wore similar uniforms to the Line units to use the same models. I believe the main difference is the epaulets but at this scale… 🙂

[Sergio]

James,

I was able to acquire the rulebook contained in the starter boxes through a third party. Be that as it may, it is effectively the same game. The BP2 and BP Epic books do contain differences in the fluff but the rules are unchanged.

As far as measurements one of the qualities of BP of any flavor is that you can easily accomodate any size of table or unit stands by adjusting the ranges. Ive played in 28mm with the rules-as-written, in 15mm by converting the unit of measurements from inches to cm, and most recently with 10mm paper soldiers based on 2cm x 1cm stands by converting to cm and using 66% of the range on a 4ft x 3ft table.

As far as reviews, anything you find on BP will be applicable (regardless of scale or setting) as far as understanding the game.

This might be a good intro:
“Black Powder, ACW epic battles. A beginners guide (1). The Basic unit profiles.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUr1yKURs1w

Here is a balanced review by a great wargaming group:
“Black Powder Rule Review” – Little Wars TV https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5W6x4paFa8

My two cents:
Black Powder is is described as a game that gets you to roll dice and push your minis on the table. The mechanics are fairly simple and straightforward with added spice in the Unit Special Rules.

Elite units still have muskets like everybody else but they can withstand more punishment (represented by a modifier to their morale tests, or their ability to recover from disorder in the midst of battle) and therefore hold ground longer or better. The reputation of the Highland units is captured by their Ferocious rule, which makes them reroll misses when they charge.

There are other games that try to capture more details of particular situations or introduce a more complicated system for activating and commanding your units. Other games have entirely different turn sequences, and a few games don’t even have “shooting” per se – combat is an abstract calculation. But I wouldn’t worry about any of that. One great aspect of napoleonics is that your figures are “good for life” – I play many different rulelsets with the same figures.

BP is a wonderful place to get your feet wet – the Epic scale is particularly impressive.

[Sergio]

I believe Mixed Formation is a skirmish screen in front of a battalion in line. If you wanted to screen your columns you could use a light infantry unit to as a screen for the brigade.

[Sergio]

Short spear also gives Lethal 1

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