French Revolutionary Wargames 1789-1802: March 2018

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.

Tuesday, 27 March 2018

You can never have enough dice!

A visit to a charity shop today furnished a bag of 39 dice, and all for £1. One of them is steel, and very heavy. Five are wooden so they can be drafted into my living history displays. Three are fruit/slot machine dice. Two are eight sided 0-7. One is linked to playing cards. And twenty-seven are standard issue 1-6. A nice little bargain!
MGB

Monday, 19 March 2018

French Horse Artillery for the 1790s

Have just completed my 8pdr Horse Artillery. Home-cast artillerymen with Dixon heads on Fife & Drum horses, Hinchcliffe limber and team. I think the cannon is from Irregular Miniatures. The banner is somewhat larger than it should be, but I like it that way. Have also put together a limber for a 4pdr Foot Artillery piece.
MGB

Monday, 12 March 2018

The Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards c.1775

Another unit joins my Crown army for the 1770s. Having just received their crimson colours, the Coldstream Guards carry out their field exercises. Note the white full gaiters, on formal occasions the Guards were permitted to wear white, the line regiments having abandoned such. These are Hezzlewood castings, occasionally referred to as the X-Range.
MGB