OPTIONAL RULES: Guns at Gettysburg!

OPTIONAL RULES FOR: GUNS AT GETTYSBURG.
Ordering the Regt. to Lie Down. The Brigade General or C in C within 15cms may order a Regt. to lie down. This must be done in the movement phase and takes ½ turn. However once prone the Regt. must roll successfully against the Gone to Ground – Get Up! Table to stand up again.

Very Small Regiments. Any unit that is 15 figures or smaller has the option to be deployed entirely as skirmishers. Once deployed entirely as skirmishers the unit may not be deployed as a close order unit later in the battle.

LIMBERED ARTILLERY - Rule Amendment

The Limbered Artillery modifier has now been amended and is included in the lastest reprint of General de Brigade 2nd Edition. See below.
PAGE 33 Last Paragraph. LIMBERED ARTILLERY
WAS:
Counts as a normal close order target with no modifiers
NOW:
Counts as an enfiladed target, applying the +2 modifier.

So, if you are keen to lead the advance with your artillery - you have been warned!

GUNS AT GETTYSBURG!

The new set of ACW rules "Guns at Gettysburg" is now at the printers/publishers, it is hoped they will be out late 2006.
They are a based on the General de Brigade Napoleonic rules system adapted to the ACW period and maintain the regiment as the basic wargames unit, catering for brigade, divisional and even corps actions.
Updates, rules questions and discussion forum will be housed on this, the joint GdeB website.

REVISED LARGE BATTALION RULING

1) LARGE BATTALIONS: Any battalion over 40 figures strong that is graded Veteran or worse, will require a full move to carry out any formation change. (Half from column to closed column.)

2) BRITISH BATTALIONS OPERATING IN WINGS. Any British battalion graded as Line or better may split into two “wings” of equal size and operate as two independent battalions – however both must belong to the same brigade. 1 Turn is required to split the battalion into wings and this must be carried out prior to the battle or on Turn 1. No wing may number less than 15 figures at the time of the split. The battalion may recombine into one battalion at any stage of the battle. 1 turn is required to reform the battalion and both units must be within 5cms of each other.

British Grenadier Revised Playsheets

Here are the British Grenadier Revised Playsheets in PDF format.

You will need a PDF reader such as Adobe Reader or Foxit Reader to view the files. If all else fails, try this HTML version.

BRITISH GRENADIER! GERMANTOWN 1777

This refight of Germantown was graciously hosted by Alan Perry.The rebels almost managed complete surprise upon the British defenders as they advanced through the early morning fog. But a US tendency to fire at anything in the fog, esp. their own men, combined with a tenacious British defense eventually saw the forces of his majesty hold the field!

Battlegroup Panzergrenadier Playsheets

Here are the Battlegroup Panzergrenadier Playsheets in PDF format.

You will need a PDF reader such as Adobe Reader or Foxit Reader to view the files. If all else fails, try this HTML version.

GdeB in 10mm!

Shows what can be done with 10mm figures! 90 figures a battalion!

GdeB NAPOLEONIC SCENARIOS VOL.3

Caliver Books are now taking post free Pre-orders for Vol 3 The Glory Years.

It contains the following scenarios:
1. Marengo 1800: The Austrian Breakout.
2. Marengo 1800: Blooding of the Consular Guard.
3. Marengo 1800: Desaix’s Counter-Attack
4. Halsach-Jurgen1805: The Kaiserliks Strike Back.
5. Austerlitz 1805: Attack on the Pratzeberg.
6. Austerlitz 1805: Attack on Stare-Vinohrady.
7. Austerlitz 1805: Attack of the Russian Imperial Guard.
8. Auerstadt 1806. Davout against the Odds
9. Friedland 1807: Ney’s Attack.
10. Eggmuhl 1809: Charles vs. Napoleon

WATERLOO AT SALUTE 06

Many thanks to all those that supported our D'Erlon's Attack at Waterloo demo game at Salute, and especially to those who voted us the Most Impressive Troops prize!! :)

KHARKOV GAME

Shots of the Kharkov demo game from the Tunbrudge Show

GRANDES BANDES

NEW RULES FOR GRANDES BANDES
1. Any Light or Line Battalion deploying more than 50% of its strength is classed as in Grand Bandes, (Open order) and not as skirmish order.

Light battalions are now restricted to deploying a maximum of 50% of their strength in skirmish order. (This was the standard amount usually deployed, I know that occasionally more were committed to the skirmish line but that was rare, so for the sake of simplicity and realism, we’ll keep it to 50%.)

2. Grandes Bandes is regarded as a close order formation in “open order” and not skirmish order. There must be a minimum of half-base width between each base. All companies are placed in the line; there is no command base to the rear.

3. 1 Turn is required to form or reform from Grandes Bandes. Must reform into line formation prior to any other formation change.

4. Target modifier = -2.

5. Fire as close order infantry.

6. May charge/stand in melee as normal without restrictions.

7. Classed as formed infantry for movement purposes – except Grandes Bandes move at column speed.

8. Classed as formed for all morale purposes. (Unless faltering or unformed through melee, etc.)

9. Classed as an unformed unit for all melee purposes, when opposing close order troops, (including artillery).

10. Skirmishers treat grandes bandes as close order troops for all purposes. (I.E. skirmishers may not charge units in grandes bandes.)

11. Grande Bandes use the Light Battalion Recall Table. All French units from 1796-1809 receive a +2 modifier. French, British & Prussian infantry receive a +1 modifier from 1810-1815.

12. Any infantry type, (Line Light, Grenadiers, etc) may deploy into Grande Bandes (Open order). Only Light infantry may deploy in skirmish order.

INTENSIVE FIRE FOR A/T GUNS

A/T GUN INTENSIVE FIRE – Available to all AT guns and artillery pieces under 100mm in the direct fire mode graded as Regular or better.

(I.E. Any AT gun up to and including an 88mm may intensive fire, larger guns such as the Russian 100mm may not.)

The player must state the piece is intensive firing and may engage two targets in either in the Command Phase or as Defensive Fire. (This only applies to artillery pieces and does not include tanks, SP guns or auto-cannons.)

If using intensive fire the second shot must be taken immediately, conduct a separate attack against each target (or the same target) and apply an additional -1 modifier for each roll. Low on Ammo is adjusted to a 3 or less.

Restrictions: No movement, pivoting or unlimbering is permitted if using Intensive Fire and the second target must be within a 45-degree arc and within 4" [6"] of the first target. Inexperienced & Militia crews may not Intensive Fire, (due to a lack of training/experience.)
Units that are Low on Ammo may not Intensive Fire.

Rationale: This helps to represent the very real danger posed by AT guns to armoured targets, esp. deployed in any form of Pak front. And highlights the difference in fire capability between artillery and armoured units.

Austerlitz Pratzberg Orders of Battle

The new Austerlitz Pratzberg orbats are now available in the Orders of Battle section.

General de Brigade Playsheets

(Click images to view full size)

PanzerGrenadier Rocchetta Scenario

Another Battlegroup PanzerGrenadier scenario from Angus in the wilds of Scotland is now available in the Scenarios section.

This time its Rocchetta, Italy 1944 - with German forces counter-attacking Italians & French. Click on the scenario section for details.

Players may like to try one of the 2nd Edtion rules with this scenario:

German MG34/42 LMG section ranges:
Range - Close: 0 - 4" [0 - 6"];
Effective 5 - 12" [7 - 18"];
Long 13 - 16" [ 20 - 24"].

Forum Open

The work that required the forum closure has now been carried out and it has been reopened. Those who were being blocked by corporate firewalls will not yet be able to post – but we’re halfway to resolving this now.

Updated:

All forum work should now be finished. Just follow the updated link. The database has been restored to as it was on circa 15th August; a few posts and/or threads etc. added while the changeover was taking place will have been trimmed. Apologies for this (and the maintenance time in general) but it was necessary.

Those who were blocked access to the forum from their workplace etc. – you should now be able to access it without any issue but, as ever, please notify me of any major problems.

Temporary Forum Closure

Unfortunately the discussion forum has been temporarily closed; there are a number of users who have been unable to access the new forum due to corporate firewalls blocking non-port 80 traffic. I am currently working on a work-around and will re-open the forum as soon as humanely possible.

Thanks for you patience.

Austerlitz 2005

The Attack on the Pratzenberg Heights pitted Soult’s two main attack divisions upon the Allied held Pratzenberg and Stare-Vinhorady. The game was played on a 12 foot table with ten players and numerous battalions!

The game started in true Austerlitz form with both St Hilaire and Vandamme charging straight into “La feu”! St Hilaire’s men stormed the Praztenberg in style despite vigorous attention from Kollowrath's Russian artillery. Heavy casualties and the loss of one brigade did not prevent St Hilaire taking the Russian gun line and cresting the Pratzenberg. Austrian reinforcements sent in piecemeal were soundly despatched as St Hilaire now turned left and slowly but surely rolled up the Allied flank.

However Vandamme’s brigades initiated their attacks in clumsy columnar formations with no preliminary skirmisher or artillery support and soon fell foul of Austrian artillery, at one stage even being outnumbered by allied skirmishers! French attacks stalled as ever increasing casualties forced the deployment of both skirmishers and linear formations. This lull allowed the allied command to initiate a flanking manoeuvre, which the subsequent French attack literally walked straight into as they closed upon Stare-Vinhorady. Two out of three French bridges were utterly broken by the allied fire and sent tumbling back down the slope.

The arrival of the both Imperial Guards saw Russian grenadier attacks upon the village of Prazte bloodied and checked by Vandamme’s remaining brigade, now supported Drouet's men. The guard cavalry of both emperors clashed on the Pratzenberg and despite the French Horse Grenadiers literally ridding over the first wave of Russian chevalier guards, the greater Russian numbers told and eventually the French guard horse were forced back down the slope.

The defeats suffered at Stare-Vinhorady (the allies had literally swept Vandamme’s broken brigades from the field) and at the hands of the Russian cavalry meant the French, despite St Hilaire’s gallant advance, were too exhausted to launch further attacks to secure entire Pratzenberg, and the allies claimed victory! (Orbats to follow.)

Welcome to General de Brigade

Welcome to the relaunched General de Brigade site.

The new format provides for far more regular updates on rules, games, photos and events.

The forums will change slightly in that all rules will be catered for under the one forum site. So please post all threads relating to General de Brigade, British Grenadier, Guns at Gettysburg & Battlegroup PanzerGrenadier on the new forum. (It just makes it easier running one rather than many disparate sites!). All the old orbats and threads should also be accessible eventually.