Napoleonic

Time: 1600 hrs. October 13, 1806

Napoleon and Lannes are standing, surveying the situation from the Windknolle. Beyond the slope, they can begin to see the firelights of the Prussians in the valley. The Saxon General Tauenzien now occupies the Dornberg after earlier relinquishing the Landgrafenberg and, more critically, the bridge over the Saale at Napoleon's back. After studying the glow of Prussian campfires Napoleon correctly surmised the entire Prussian Army was nearby. He mistakenly assumed, however, they were preparing to fight him here. This almost proved fatal for Marshal Davout, approaching from the east. For on the morrow, while Napoleon and the majority of the French fight here, Davout's III Corps alone will engage the bulk of the Prussian Army at Auerstadt.

In December 1805, Emperor Napoleon I led about 67,000 men against about 75,000 Russian and Austrian troops near Brunn (modern Brno) in Bohemia, part of today’s Czech Republic. The battlefield, divided by hills and streams, became known as Austerlitz and would be celebrated as Napoleon’s greatest victory.

After fierce fighting amid the morning mists, the sun broke through the clouds. The French stormed the key Pratzen Heights, and after a bloody bayonet fight with the Russian troops manning the lines forced the Allied army into a disorganized retreat.

The rules are very similar to our War of the States and Rome at War series, and build on our earlier Napoleonic battle games like the now-discontinued Napoleon in the Desert. They are completely new; developer Doug McNair and designer Rob Markham have created a game that retains the older games’ simplicity of play but is far more historically accurate.

On 14 June 1800, the French army under Napoleon Bonaparte was taken by surprise and attacked by the Austrian army under General Melas. Outnumbered and outgunned, the French were defeated and forced to retreat. But later that same day, French reinforcements arrived under General Desaix, and in what amounted to a second battle the French counter-attacked and won, taking thousands of prisoners and driving the Austrians from the field.

Thus was won the battle of which Napoleon was always the most proud – Marengo.

Bonaparte at Marengo recreates that dramatic battle. The game is simple and fast-playing, departing from almost all of the standard conventions of wargaming in order to achieve the look and feel of nineteenth century linear warfare.

Like a thunderstorm from out of the Alpine foothills, Marshal Wurmser's Austrian army jolted the French advanced guard of General Massena from their entrenched heights on Monte Baldo. Bonaparte summarized the bleak situation: "The enemy have broken through our line in three places; they are masters of La Corona and Rivoli. Massena has been compelled to yield to superior forces; Sauret has begun his retreat to Desenzano, and the enemy has captured Brescia and the bridge of Ponte San Marco. You see that our communications with Milian are cut off."

Using the very popular Triumph & Glory game system (v2.2), Volume II in the T&G series covers the classic Napoleonic battle, Borodino, Battle of the Moskova, 1812. The battle itself will be familiar to almost every wargamer, with massive French and Russian armies coming together in a frontal, head-to-head assault that used little, or no, subtlety. There are massive batteries of artillery, huge divisions of cavalry, Cossacks all over the place, plust there is political in-fighting within the Russian command hierarchy.

The games brigade-level order of battle includes the latest historical research, and we have even given the French player an opportunity – fraught with danger – to attempt to undertake French Marshal Davout's suggested flanking maneuver. In addition to the full Borodino battle of September 7th, the game also includes a short, Introductory Mini-Battle, the Attack on the Schevardino Redoubt (which took place on September 5th, two days before the actual battle). Historically, the French finally took the position with high losses to both sides but, remarkably, with not one Russian prisoner. A portent of things to come.

Four Lost Battles is an update of the classic NLB/NAL system, introducing Hidden Movement, Baggage Trains, Pontoon and Bridge Trains, and other rules from the "Days" Series. Set at the same scale as Napoleon's Last Battles -480 meters per hex and one hour turns- the game retains the Command System of Commanders and Corps "Officers."

From Valmy to Waterloo is a set of tactical and grand tactical miniatures rules covering the period from 1792 to 1815. The emphasis is on command and control, with each nation's abilities depicted by year. The grand tactical level of the game accurately reflects the difficulties and time delay in issuing and reacting to new orders without weighing the system down. This allows some armies to react to a changing situation more quickly than others. Although the French enjoy a greater level of flexibility on the grand tactical level, on the purely tactical level most armies had very similar abilities and this is reflected in From Valmy to Waterloo.

The game not only forces players to use the correct tactics, but as a result of using the rules the player is shown an appreciation for the proper tactics of the period. Now for the first time, the depth of formations is as important as their frontage. Players must attack and defend in depth, due to the fact that events unfold much as they did historically.

From Valmy to Waterloo for the first time accurately portrays the scale of a Napoleonic battlefield for miniature gamers. From Valmy to Waterloo is for 5mm figures to 15mm. The gamer need not rebase to play and enjoy the rules. The level of detail is high, but the inclusion of the "cheat sheet" book, from which the game is played, allows the game to progress at real time rates.

Jena! The name we give to one of the truly decisive campaigns in history; whereby the sons of the French Revolution under the command of emperor Napoleon I, meet and utterly destroy the heirs of Frederick the Great.

Five scenarios span the opening engagement at Saalfeld through the French victories of Jena and Auerstelig

Kutuzov 1812: Defending Russia From Napoleon is an interactive, play it complete in one-sitting card-driven game of sweeping manoeuvres, epic battles, storied sieges, lethal attrition and crucial-to-victory troop morale for one to four players from the designer of The Napoleonic Wars and Wellington.

In the spring of 1812 Emperor Napoleon of France gathered the regiments of 20 nations together into the largest military force yet raised in Europe. That June he led this Grand Army of over 600,000 men across the Nieman River to begin what he believed would be his greatest and perhaps final triumph: the invasion and subjugation of Russia. As the defending armies fell back before this prodigious onslaught, Tsar Alexander turned to a pugnacious and crafty old warrior to help save his country, his people and his Romanov Dynasty: Marshal Mikhail KUTUZOV.

Now designer Mark McLaughlin of the award-winning Napoleonic Wars, along with developer Fred Schachter, who together brought you GMT’s Wellington, have come together again to produce an energetically fast-paced, highly-interactive game of that 1812 epic. Using the same game system that won acclaim in their previous titles; in this rendition, Mark and Fred have crafted a game that retains the feel of campaigning in the deadly vastness of Russia, yet also plays fast, remains fun and whose outcome is often in doubt right down to last card played and the last die rolled.

In May of 1813, Napoleon began the campaign for Germany with a bang - as was his custom. The Prussian and Russian armies attempt to ambush the French main army strung out in road march. Their approach goes undetected and they are able to close within two miles. In fact, not until the moment of their assault do the French become aware of them. But, instead of the expected weak flank guard, they are met by the strong divisions of Souham and Girard and by midafternoon, Napoleon and 100,000 French and their allies have swarmed to their suppost. The battle raged in ever-mounting fury until night finally brought an end to the slaughter. The first major battle of the 1813 campaign ends with thousands of dead and wounded and with the Russian and Prussian armies in full retreat.

La Bataille des Quatre-Bras is the second of five boxed sets detailing the climatic moments of Napoleon's last 100 days as Emperor of the French.

Marshal Ney, hastily entrusted with the left wing of L'Armée du Nord, sweeps across the Belgian frontier. As Napoleon probes an indeterminate force of Prussians massing along Ligny Creek, he orders Ney to continue the drive up the Brussels highway and seize the important crossroads of Quatre-Bras. Here he will be poised to fall on the Prussian's open flank should they confront Napoleon. Ney knows full well that possibly, somewhere among the tall corn and light woods ahead, awaits the Duke of Wellington at the head of nearly 100,000 Anglo/Allied troops. Ney has been beaten too often in Spain by Wellington, a cautious advance would perhaps be best for now.

La Bataille des Quatre-Bras reproduces this fateful encounter on one 34"x22" period map with nearly 600 stunning unit counters (including every Anglo/Allied unit found at Waterloo two days later). The small size of this game makes it ideal for players to learn the system. For the grognards, La Bataille des Quatre-Bras is fully compatible with La Bataille de Ligny, and when played together they form the grandest simulation ever presented for 19th Century enthusiasts.

On June 18, 1815, one of the most decisive battles in military history was fought in Belgian fields twenty miles southeast of Brussels. Within a short 100 days, Napoléon, former emperor of France, had returned from exile on the island of Elba, again seized power, quickly assembled an army, and marched to defeat the dispersed British and Prussian armies now preparing to invade France.

Napoléon invaded Belgium on June15th, defeated the Prussians at the Battle of Ligny on the 16th and after a day of pursuit, faced the British and Dutch army commanded by Wellington. Aided by superb defensive tactics and the timely arrival of Prussian reinforcements, Wellington defeated the French in the great Battle of Waterloo, ending forever the military ambitions of the great Napoléon.

Time:1430 hrs., February 9,1814, Place: The road north of Sezanne

Napoleon has decided on a bold move northward against the advancing Prussian Army, and the movement commands have already filtered down to the front line forces. Fifty-man patrols of cavalry vedettes from Doumerc's I Cavalry Corps are screening the countryside for any signs of the enemy, especially the dreaded Cossacks with their long lances. But on this occasion, the Cossacks are off their guard and oblivious to the storm approaching. Napoleon at Bay gives you the vedettes, to conceal friendly forces and find enemy concentrations.

1813 - His Grande Armee shattered on the Russian Steppes. His former allies Prussia and Austria turn traitor and attack him. Tsarist Russia sends a massive army into Europe proper. With his strength sapped, Napoleon recoils to Leipzig. Like wolves, his enemies surround the place and converge. Can the Emperor find achieve a real victory, when he needs it most?

The Autumn of 1813 was the most active period in the Napoleonic Wars. Napoleon at the Crossroads covers the Autumn campaign at a scale which focuses on the strategic issues and emphasizes playability, with several battle scenarios playable in an evening, and full campaign in about 8 hours.

At the outset of the Campaign in August the Emperor allowed the Coalition forces to seize the initiative and hold it; he stands accused of not going where the action was, and was repeatedly left flat-footed by the push-and-pull of three Coalition armies charging the center of his position at Dresden, then retiring when Napoleon reacted. Though he won the critical battle at Dresden, his subordinates lost four battles over a 2-week period. When Blücher moved from Silesia to cross the Elbe, a battle in or near Leipzig was certain.

In 1798, Europe's most successful general embarked on one of the most bizarre expeditions ever launched: the French invasion of Egypt. Dreaming of exceeding Alexander the Great, the young Napoleon Bonaparte led his seasoned Army of Italy across the Mediterranean. The world's fiercest cavalrymen, the fanatic Mamelukes, rode out to stop him. In the tradition of our Gettysburg and Rome At War games, this exciting set features the following battles:

On 2 December 1805, the Emperor Napoleon had lured the Allied Army under Czar Alexander into attacking him in one of the most famous traps in military history. The Allied army attacked but was split in two by a French counter-attack and disastrously defeated, giving Napoleon one of the greatest victories in the history of war – Austerlitz.

Napoleon’s Triumph is built on the same foundations as its acclaimed predecessor, Bonaparte at Marengo, but is bigger and grander in scale. It uses two boards to make a double-size 44" x 34" map of the Austerlitz battlefield and has twice as many pieces as the earlier game, but defying the tradition that big wargames must also take a long time to play, Napoleon’s Triumph can be played from start to finish in a single evening.

July, 1809. The uneasy alliance of Wellesley's Army of Portugal and Cuesta's Army of Extremadura was being pressed from every direction by the King of Spain, Joseph Bonaparte's, Army.

Forced to make a stand, a two day battle occurred which mauled both sides but allowed the Allies to escape towards Portugal.

Talavera is MMP's newest game in the Napoleonic Brigade Series (NBS) and features the end result of half a decade of brainstorming and intensive playtesting - the 3.0 NBS rules set. It is fast playing. It is furious. And, finally, it is about leading armies. MMP, Dean, and the Honchos think you will enjoy them very much.

At the end of a 96-hour journey from Paris, as the Emperor stepped out of his carriage in Donauwörth, Bavaria, his army was in an extremely hazardous position. Even if Davout and Massena had concentrated, the position would have been bad enough. But, thanks to Berthier's misunderstandings, they are ninety miles apart. The Archduke Charles, with nearly 90,000 men, is moving across the Isar River at Landshut. Two very easy marches will take his main body to the Danube at Kelheim or Ratisbon, whilst between Massena, in Augsburg, and Davout, in Ratisbon, were four days march. In this space there was nothing to oppose the Austrians except 27,000 Bavarian troops.

Taking Soldier Kings as its base, Soldier emperor covers the Napoleonic Wars in Europe, 1803-1815. There are 180 huge and thick playing pieces like those in Granada, 165 smaller marker pieces, two large hard-mounted game boards like that in Granada, and 64 cards.

The map stretches from Britain to Persia, North Africa to Norway. Europe is divided into areas, each of them rated for their resources, manpower potential, and defense value. Armies move along the routes that connect these areas, and the object of the game is to conquer and hold as much territory as you can. Soldier Emperor is very true to history but is easily playable by anyone with an interest in games or history.

As in Soldier Kings, the game can be played with fewer than seven players, all the way down to two. Card play drives the action, with players able to play cards at any time and thwart their opponents' plans. Play order is determined by each country's initiative, and generals and admirals move their forces from area to area. And like Soldier Kings, combat is simple to resolve but contains many wrinkles of strategy.

The campaign scenario begins on 15 November, with the Russians retiring on Brünn and the French in pursuit. A second scenario begins with the French spread out around Brünn and the Coalition forces in Olmütz. Fortunately for Napoleon, the Allies attacked, but what if they had not? With the imminent entry of Prussia into the war, Napoleon would have been forced to advance on Olmütz, and his forces would have been beyond their LOC.

January 1807

The French army awoke from quarters and assembled into regiments and brigades, advancing cautiously into the winter fastness, passing alternately through the plains and forests of Masuria. Encountering determined opposition in a series of rearguard battles lasting a week, they finally emerged into a clearing about a mile and a half in front of the large village of Deutsch Eylau.

February 7th, 2 PM

The French cavalry under the fiery Murat arrives in sections at the edge of the woods, across the road from Tenknitten Lake. The advanced guard of Marshal Soult's IV Corps moves up in support. Mindful of the ambush the day before, the horsemen are in no hurry to attack the Russians drawn up across the road in front of Eylau: they will await the infantry.

Each volume is 128 pages and is physically similar to the first Study published last year by OSG (8.5" x 11" full-color cover, perfect bound). Each will contain a day-by-day record of the campaign, supplemented with 35 maps and 100 pages of appendices (mostly OB).

Each volume is 128 pages and is physically similar to the first Study published last year by OSG (8.5" x 11" full-color cover, perfect bound). Each will contain a day-by-day record of the campaign, supplemented with 35 maps and 100 pages of appendices (mostly OB).

Each volume is 128 pages and is physically similar to the first Study published last year by OSG (8.5" x 11" full-color cover, perfect bound). Each will contain a day-by-day record of the campaign, supplemented with 35 maps and 100 pages of appendices (mostly OB).

The Napoleonic Wars, 1805 - 1815, brings you a fast-paced, tension-filled, card-driven wargame using a point-to-point movement system that pushes the envelope in a new direction for this pivotal period of history. Having a simple-to-learn strategic system and short rulebook, The Napoleonic Wars, can be played in an evening as the cards and Diplomatic Track make for tough decision-making in the face of everchanging enemy threats.

Set in 1805 Europe, you must weigh the strategic dilemmas facing the two alliances in mortal conflict. Napoleon's France enjoys a superb army, central position, superior leadership, and a useful, if not powerful, ally in Spain. However, she faces three foes.

Napoleon must beware of Britain's seapower and wealth, Austria's threatening position, and Russia's reinforcing hordes. In the wings, Prussia, Turkey, and Sweden teeter on the brink of war, begging inducements to join either side. Even lowly Denmark's fleet can upset the balance of power.

When fleets or armies collide, battle-related cards may be played and then dice are rolled to resolve the battle and inflict casualties. Even the most brilliant maneuver faces the chance of floundering. So play The Napoleonic Wars now, and put the strategist in you to the test. Your options are only limited by your vision, a meddlesome enemy's cards, and the hand of fate.

In response to many customer requests, GMT are providing an update kit for this summer's updated release of The Napoleonic Wars. This will allow owners of the original game to update their copies to the newest version at minimal cost.

The 2008 Update Kit for The Napoleonic Wars contains:

Waterloo: Fate of France depicts Napoleon's climactic battle against the Allied armies gathered at Waterloo, June 16 through June 19, 1815. This is a beautiful game printed on high quality paper throughout.

It is spring 1812. The armies of Napoleonic France are masters of continental Europe. However, there is a festering sore in Spain where despite seemingly overwhelming odds valiant Spanish soldiers and guerrillas with their British allies persevere in fierce defiance of Napoleon's plans and armies. Even as their emperor prepares his epic invasion of Russia, Napoleon's marshals gather forces for a final campaign. One man stands between them and the conquest of the Spanish Peninsula: an English general called Sir Arthur Wellesley, better known to history as the Duke of Wellington.

In adapting his multi-award-winning The Napoleonic Wars game system, Mark G. McLaughlin creates a furiously paced, card-driven, and battle/siege-intensive strategic/operational game of Wellington's campaign to drive the French from Spain and invade France itself. Wellington is a game easily played to conclusion by two, three, or four players in an evening or an afternoon.