Battles of Napoleon

[fatolaf]

Great new boardgame coming soon from FFG...

The cuirassiers replied by crushing them. Their great horses reared, strode across the ranks, leaped over the bayonets and fell, gigantic, in the midst of these four living walls. The cannon-balls ploughed furrows in these cuirassiers; the cuirassiers made breaches in the squares. Files of men disappeared, ground to dust under the horses. The bayonets plunged into the bellies of these centaurs; hence a hideousness of wounds which has probably never been seen anywhere else.

The squares, wasted by this mad cavalry, closed up their ranks without flinching. Inexhaustible in the matter of grape-shot, they created explosions in their assailants' midst. The form of this combat was monstrous. These squares were no longer battalions, they were craters; those cuirassiers were no longer cavalry, they were a tempest. Each square was a volcano attacked by a cloud; lava contended with lightning.

– "Les Miserables" by Victor Hugo

For twenty years, from 1796 until the final defeat at Waterloo in 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte and his generals fought on the battlefields of all Europe.

Battles of Napoleon is a gaming system that allows two players to recreate the most important historical battles the era. The Eagle and the Lion, the first game in the Battles of Napoleon series, gives you all you need to recreate many of the major clashes that saw the French and English armies –sworn enemies – face each other on the battlefields of Belgium, Spain and Italy. No less than 10 battles are featured, each of them based on a major historical event.

In Battles of Napoleon – The Eagle and the Lion, the two players control the French and English armies (sometimes supported by allies of other nationalities) in a specific battle.

Battles of Napoleon includes:

    * 4 game boards, printed on both sides
    * 200 plastic figures, including artillery pieces
    * 120 cards
    * 2 ten-sided dice
    * 20 order markers
    * 150 counters
    * 2 player reference cards
    * 1 scenario booklet
    * 1 rulebook

The Eagle and the Lion, the first game in the Battles of Napoleon series, gives you all you need to recreate many of the major clashes that saw the French and British armies –sworn enemies – face each other on the battlefields of Belgium, Spain and Italy. No less than 10 battles are featured, each of them based on a major historical event.

"When you have resolved to fight a battle, collect your whole force. Dispense with nothing. A single battalion sometimes decides the day."
– Napoleon Bonaparte

In Battles of Napoleon – The Eagle and the Lion, the two players control the French and British armies (sometimes supported by allies of other nationalities) in a specific battle.



Several different battles are featured in The Eagle and the Lion, and each battle is described by a scenario, based on a major historical event. The choice of a scenario will determine the battlefield on which the game will take place, which troops are available to the two participants, the duration of the game (in turns), the victory conditions, and any special rules that may apply. Each player will be commanding his troops in the role of a commander-in-chief, represented in the game by a specific figure, and will strive to prevail on the battlefield.

"In war, the morale is to the material as three is to one."
– Napoleon Bonaparte



Armies are divided into unit groups of infantry, cavalry or artillery, led by their respective unit group commanders. Every unit group comprises one or more units, and a unit corresponds to the figures contained in a single hex. Every unit has its own characteristics, shown on its unit card through icons and numbers. During play, units can take different formations (line, column, square, etc.) that affect their ability to move and fight. This wealth of options ensures a satisfying strategic experience!

Battles of Napoleon achieves an immersive sense of realism, due chiefly to two mechanics. First, during the game, you'll need to send dispatches to your unit group commanders and issue your orders to unit groups through them. The orders you give determine the general behavior of each unit group, that will be partially restricted by the order itself. Like in reality, the orderly geometry of a battle can be affected by random factors and by unpredictable dashes of the troops. This is represented in the game by drawing Event/Reaction cards, which can be used in your turn or in the opponent's turn. The degree of uncertainty created by these cards means that you'll have to stay adaptable if you hope to claim victory.

"It is the business of cavalry to follow up the victory, and to prevent the beaten enemy from rallying."
– Napoleon Bonaparte

Combat is handled with a compelling dice mechanic, and with attention paid to the morale of your troops. The combat results, both fire and mêlée, are determined by the roll of a ten-sided die, which is of course modified by the values of the units and by their terrain conditions. The resulting value is then cross-indexed with the results table on an Event/Reaction card; the outcomes of combat are hard to predict! Finally, your troops' morale will be a decisive factor for the battle outcome. Based on the value shown on the unit card and on the number of troops in the unit itself, morale is also affected by the presence of a capable officer and by many other circumstances, as well as by a random factor (again, determined by the roll of a ten-sided die). Only by limiting disorder and rallying your routing troops will you be able to lead the battle to where you want it!

In short, Battles of Napoleon provides an accessible introduction to players wishing to enjoy realistic battle simulation, while at the same time offering a depth that will appeal to long-time wargamers.

[Tom Hale]

pre order for me!

[fatolaf]

Will be in stock this wknd, anyone who wants one, let me know so I get enough...

[Blue Moon]

I'll definitely want one in the future, but not quite yet. Busy renovating the house at the mo, so don't want extra stuff knocking about or less money in the wallet!