Back to Basics...

Although I am no sort of expert on the Napoleonic Wars, but I do share the common wargamers' attitude that I have a working knowledge on most periods of history to some degree. This I have decided, is not quite enough to pin down exactly what are the elements of Napoleonic warfare that I want to reflect in wargames of the period. So I am just going to have to do some research...

This project is largely miniatures led, which does limit the theatres and years that it is possible to game at the moment. The TAG Austrians are for the peiod 1800 - 1809 and this does coincide with the most elegant period of Napoleonic uniforms (IMHO) The French army won some of its greatest victories and was arguably at the peak of its military capabilities. Before I can decide which rules will give me the sort of game that I want to play I have to consider what level of combat I want to portray, from skirmish games up to grand tactical manouevring.

My first port of call was to my own collection of books. They are mostly uniform references but I do have a few general histories and some more in depth analysis. My initial reading list consists of:

Nosworthy's "Battle Tactics of Napoleon and his Enemies" (I found his book on the 18th C. Anatomy of Victory very enlightening.)

"Austerlitz" by Christopher Duffy

"The Art of War in Revolutionary France" by Paddy Griffiths
"Art of Warfare in the Age of Napoleon" by Gunter Rothenberg

Hopefullly I will have my thoughts in line after perusing those, or at least know where I have to enquire next.

My Downfall...

I was until recently in the smug position of thinking myself immune to the madness that is the lure of the Napoleonic period (1796 - 1815). I had finally sold off my 15mm Napoleonic figures, as much due to a general lack of interest as disenchantment with 15mm figures in general, and I was already committed to a “horse and musket” period—the Seven Years War (and in several theatres!)

What has finally shaken this complacency is a recent development in the figures that are available for the period. The fine purveyor of modern and renaissance miniatures, The Assault Group (TAG) suddenly brought out a range of 1809 Austrians. It was not the subject matter so much as the style of the figures that drew my eye however. These were from the talented hands of Richard Ansell whose work I had seen recently in the form of a growing SYW line for Minden Miniatures. The proportions of these figures are very realistic, making them much slimmer than most other figures of the same height. This does make it nigh on impossible to mix these figures with other manufacturers in the same army let alone in the same units, the clash of styles is just too great.

These figures are so nicely done however that I just had to have them despite not being able to buy from a plethora of sources, as is my usual habit. This situation has been mitigated by the arrival of two more companies producing similarly proportioned figures (Eagle Miniatures and Alban Miniatures) and with the promise of more to come as this style gains favour. The vast and comprehensive ranges by the likes of Foundry and Front Rank however will not be available to me (and probably a good thing...)