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So, I asked for the Sharpe collection for Christmas and ended up getting a load of Perry Miniatures British Line Infantry and some Warlord British Union Cavalry as well! So, I've been poking around the Warlord site and am tempted by the black powder rules especially with their current sale offer (buy rule book and get plastic box free). Am wondering if anybody has any advice, tips or good links to resources on starting out with Black Powder and Napoleonics in general? I've got a passing knowledge of the period and am tempted by the peninsular campaign.

If you want large armies then Black Powder is a good choice. If you'd like to start out with something smaller then have a look at Sharp Practice 2 or Chosen Men. If you want to try both a skirmish and big battle game spend sometime thinking about basing until you find something you'd be happy with for both.

Hmmm. Well, I feel like I am just starting out as well, but I will tell you my thoughts.

I purchased Perry Miniatures "Battle In A Box" which is a set of about 170 American Civil War minis. It comes with a quick rules in the box, but I got it with plans to play Black Powder.

I, reading very little about BP, went about painting and basing my 170ish minis per their (warlord's) guidelines (measurements) incl round bases for commanders. It took me about a year. Finally I got around to reading the rules. They are unlike any other wargame I have played until now. No points. No lists...

Now, that being said, different is not WORSE.

I find BP liberating, compared to the hyper-competitiveness of the 40k tourney scene, which I also enjoy.

It's more cinematic. More epic and more fluid IMO. That's what BP is. It, at its essence, is a gentleman's game, and is played without lawyering rules. It is simple but strict.

One of my favorite passages in all of gaming is written in the book regarding how you move your miniatures around the battlefield:

"Orders must be stated aloud, in good time, and in a straightforward, robust fashion without conditions or vagaries. Orders must always be stated before making the requisite test for success. Failure to state an order before making a test is deemed a failed throw regardless of the dice roll and results in a blunder as described later. No gentleman would ask to be pardoned for such a fundamental error and would justly consider any offer to do so an affront to his honour."

That passage just grasped my imagination about how interesting this will be to play and how stating a series of orders aloud will not only make you think about your overarching strategy more, but also could provide valuable intel about your tactical intent to your opponent. I think BP will be a fun game for you. Also, upon learning the mechanic... you will also be prepared for Hail Caesar! which is nearly identical I've found.

Dunno if that helps, but I am digging it.

Here are my favorite thoughts on Chosen amen from a Osprey:

http://bloodandspectacles.blogspot.com/2017/02/review-chosen-men-osprey-games.html?m=1

Here comes Easy.... always the smartest guy in the room.

<edit: thats not sarcasm>


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Aside... was watching Epic History on youtube... cited Osprey Publishing as a sponsor.... kinda cool!

Thanks gents, you've been more than helpful. Especially Doktor and Easy. Gives me some pondering to do. Need to research before I paint too - don't want to end up with mixed period sections!

As mentioned recently in the other thread, Black Powder and Hail Caesar are basically the rules that the guys at Warlord Games had been using for their historical matches. They wrote everything down and published the rules, and that's what we ended up with. So yeah, there's a lot of expectation that things like comma hunting isn't going to be an issue. That doesn't mean that there aren't a few problems. But by and large, the rules are simple and straightforward.

IIRC, points do get introduced for Black Powder in some of the supplementary books. While games without points do have their attractions, there's also something to be said for the ability to have two random people both show up with armies for the same system, and be able to play a pick-up battle secure in the knowledge that the two sides are more or less matched. And that's why Hail Caesar has a points system.

Havent found the points in HC! yet. Admittedly I haven't looked very close yet. "Glory Hallelujah!" (ACW) has points and has suggested lists.

 doktor_g wrote:
Havent found the points in HC! yet. Admittedly I haven't looked very close yet. "Glory Hallelujah!" (ACW) does not have points but does have suggested lists. I like no points because it lends to a rapid arms race!!!! Hahahaha MOAR MINIATURZ!!!!

The Hail Caesar rulebook comes with two army lists - Early Imperial Roman, and Ancient Britons. They can be found on pp. 175-177, and both have points.

The HC army books also have points, and describe the method used to generate the points.