Commands & Colors – Napoleonics

Doug, Steve, Tim O., and Tom played a learning game of Commands & Colors: Napoleonics this week. The scenario was the Battle of Mo:ckern, October 16, 1813. This was one of the battles leading up to the Battle of Leipzig. Marmont was ordered to move to join Napoleon, but Blucher marched too quickly and Marmont turned to face him. The French chose some good ground along a line of villages and hills, but faced a larger force of Prussians and Russians.

C&C is a “miniatures” battlefield game system used across all sorts of historical periods (including Ancients, Medieval, Samurai, etc. – even a futuristic space battles games called “Red Alert”). Units in Napoleonics are represented by wooden blocks in the color of their nationality. The blocks have different shapes based on the type of unit – infantry (small squares), cavalry (large squares), artillery (horizontal rectangles), and commanders (vertical rectangles). The specific unit is identified through the use of stickers – Guard, Line, Lights, Militia, Cuirassier, Lancers, Horse Artillery, etc.  Larger units have more blocks. Combat and the related losses are fairly straightforward – the more blocks in the unit, the more firepower it has and the more losses it can take (which are represented by removing blocks).

The battle is fought on a hex map. We played the Epic scale, which combined two maps. Battlefields are divided into three areas – a Left Flank, Center, and Right Flank. Terrain for each scenario can be added to the map using cardboard hexes and includes hills, woods, streams and rivers, towns, farms, and more unique items.

Commands are card-driven. The battlefield commanders have a hand of cards that designate which units can move using that card. Sides alternate playing a card move and/or fight units. For a unit to participate (either by moving or attacking – melee or shooting), it must have been activated by a command. Many of these cards direct which area of the battlefield is affected, though some allow you to choose units in more than one area. You can find yourself under attach in one area, but not have cards to allow your units to activate. Tactics cards add an additional element to the game that can directly impact combat situations.

Doug and Tim O. played the French (right and left flanks, respectively) and Steve and Tom played the allies (Prussians and Russians, respectively). Doug and Steve acted as the battlefield CO, doling out the Command Cards. We did not do a full game due to a lack of time.

Fortunately for the French, the game ended just after the Allies had paid the butcher’s bill to close the distance between the two forces (thanks to good dice and cards), but before they could start to exact vengeance. So, the game ended with a somewhat lopsided victory point lead for the French. We enjoyed the game. Tim O. did some research and we will be better prepared for the next game!