Hello Barry and David
You are right, one die is the minimum in all sort of combat.
I wanted to show the typical situation of Close combat “unwinnable” most of the times.
In a second round.
The cavalry has one die and the infantry has 3. (a 24 models batallion, with already 4 losses from the first round
What are your chances to make a three hits difference ?
Very weak.
So you get a third round if nobody breaks because of 50% losses mandatory test.
So a minimum of 12 losses winner or loser.
The two units would be out of service.
But i had an idea, very simple, wirthout any “complex” changes.
(i realize that the more numerous we are in a group the more it is difficult, and dangerous for the cohesion, to make even minor changes, because we need common references everybody had such difficulties to intégrate).
The idea is to give choice to players, after a round of Close Combat,
If all tests are passed, to stay f ighting another round
Or to retreat .
The defender says his choice first then the attacker.
But if the attacker is the only one to test (because he lost the round or has attained 50% losses)
He says his choice first.
If one choose to retreat from the close combat, the other who “stayed”, has his losses taken during the round halved (rounded up).
When the situation is the famous “Cavalry against Square”
The cavalry is given the choice to
1 Go in the normal close combat as state before.
2 Retreat without contact (the most historical case)
but take a 50% fire from the square (which has perhaps already fired on it if he was already formed before the charge, it s then , another fire when cavalry rides on the side of the square to avoid physical contact). (no –2 fire modifier against cav)
With these small changes, which do not alter the rules procedures nor the mechanisms integrated by the players,
most of the problems about Close Combat would be avoided.
Then for the “chrome”
A +2 modifier for british “Stand and fire check” (instead of +1)
A +1 for french Young Guard and middle guard
A +2 for french Old guard.
All cumulative with other modifiers.
For exemple
A drilled british would have +2 modifier as a young french guard
A veteran (and guard ) british would have +3 modifier as Old guard.
I stop now discussing and proposing changes.
I hope for you both, because your design deserves it, (you too of course), that you will publish in the future, another (smaller) booklet with some few changes, scenarios and After action reports with comments on rules points and players decisions (like in the old “Avalon Hill General magazine”).
It would find great selling, rules support and show the potential of the clever rules to casual players who prefer Lassalle or Black powder rules because they see them “more playable”.
Thanks for the precious tool your offered us, to wargame napoleonic period.
Friendly yours.
D
