Wargame Rules, Ratios, etc


RAISING MINIATURE ARMIES FOR THE LATE 18TH CENTURY

I am very keen to keep my wargame rules as simple as possible, yet capture the character of the 1790s. Morale dominates the games as the opposing sides are very different. Most of the French troops are 'levee' battalions, which I have chosen to base in column as their ability to change formation on a battlefield must have been limited, nor do I believe their volley fire had any great value. Of better quality, able to change formation, will be white-coated regular and blue-coated volunteer battalions, aided by a fair number of skirmishers. The British, Austrian, Dutch and German armies are often outnumbered, but they maintain the discipline and order of typical 18th century armed forces. Interestingly, French revolutionary cavalry have little in common with their later Napoleonic counterparts, the former are few in number, often poorly mounted, and no match for those in the service of the Allies. All figures are 28mm in scale, using a 1=25 ratio.

Followers

Sunday 6 August 2017

News from the French Camp, cavalry guidons and standards have arrived

Decided to paint up a batch of French cavalry guidons for the 1792-6 period. Eight are now pretty well complete, and a flag was also issued to a light battalion. Surviving examples indicate a basic design for the various cavalry arms but these were then ornamented in a regimental or idiosyncratic manner.
MGB


4 comments:

  1. Very nice indeed, you are obviously a fan of Big Banners! I sent you an email to SG3 address but you say you don't monitor it often, could you send me a better one please, I'd like to stay in touch. chrisgregg173@gmail.com

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    1. Yes, Chris, I do like larger banners for the cavalry, although the infantry flags are typically about right in scale. Will view the emails.
      Michael

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  2. Lovely flags. I think flags and standards, banners and guidons look wonderful on the tabletop battlefield. Alas I have never really enjoyed getting them done. Yours look superb.

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    1. Hi CB. Thanks for the morale boost on the flags. I've accumulated quite a bit of information on the French Revolutionary standards for the 1792-5 period and can confirm there is very little uniformity in pattern or ornamentation if surviving examples and descriptions are to go by. The diverse volunteer and conscripted cavalry and infantry not only brought their own, but also decided on the design etc. While the 'old' regular army attempted to alter, patch, and replace 'royalist' iconography on their standards. Interesting to see how some French flags had fringing also attached to the pike sock, have not seen this done before. Lots of new items are near complete, hope to upload very shortly!
      Michael

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