The OSG Library of Napoleonic Battles is a great product covering the entire period. The components of the games are very well done, and the maps remind me of the detail and readability found on the US and NATO military maps with hexes replacing the map grid, the hexes being a design to allow for variation in unit movement, while the military map grid exists to aid land navigation. The number of hexes on a 22" x 34" OSG map is almost 1900, on a 22" x17" sheet around 950. To add to that, the clearly delineated roads and the natural terrain features are equal to what a soldier works with either on a military exercise or in a combat zone. Other game designs and strategic systems may be as effective in conveying the realities facing the leaders and armies of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, but Kevin Zucker and OSG are putting out a nearly complete catalog of the major battles and campaigns campaigns of the Napoleonic era.
Love this series of games and had a blast playing the Ligny/Quatre Bras double scenario solo. Honestly, if the battle is big enough with enough counters, you can use the counter sleds OSG sells to play solo, because it's easy to forget which units are which, if you want to play it as intended.
Love this system, looking forward to seeing your playthrough. I play these solo also and don't use the fog of war rules, but also don't look at what is in stacks of the force who's turn I'm not playing. I think it works fine. As to the cards, I'd play a scenario the first time without them, and then introduce them on a later playthrough as they can add quite a bit of variety.
10:15: How else are you going to do combat without figuring odds ratios??? That's a concept as old as wargaming itself!! I have never understood the bitching about "factor counting" and odds computation that I hear from people who should know better. That aside, a nice unboxing and tour through the contents. This series now has DOZENS of installments, each with 4 or more battles in it. It is not an overstatement or hyperbole that this series is called the Library of Napoleonic Battles! For the $100+ each box commands, I'd prefer to see a >little< better design quality on the charts & tables (and maybe some COLOR), but that's a minor quibble. These are a decent value.
Ha! Very true, I actually talk about creating a CRT replacement for the combat system in Federation Space so guilty as charged. 😎 Thanks for the kind words, looking forward to getting this one to the table.
The OSG Library of Napoleonic Battles is a great product covering the entire period. The components of the games are very well done, and the maps remind me of the detail and readability found on the US and NATO military maps with hexes replacing the map grid, the hexes being a design to allow for variation in unit movement, while the military map grid exists to aid land navigation.
The number of hexes on a 22" x 34" OSG map is almost 1900, on a 22" x17" sheet around 950. To add to that, the clearly delineated roads and the natural terrain features are equal to what a soldier works with either on a military exercise or in a combat zone.
Other game designs and strategic systems may be as effective in conveying the realities facing the leaders and armies of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, but Kevin Zucker and OSG are putting out a nearly complete catalog of the major battles and campaigns campaigns of the Napoleonic era.
Looking forward to getting this to the table.
Charlie Kibler also does maps for Great campaigns of Civil War by MMP
Love this series of games and had a blast playing the Ligny/Quatre Bras double scenario solo. Honestly, if the battle is big enough with enough counters, you can use the counter sleds OSG sells to play solo, because it's easy to forget which units are which, if you want to play it as intended.
Perfect timing for an unboxing of this game. I am literally on the OSG website debating buying this game.
Love this system, looking forward to seeing your playthrough.
I play these solo also and don't use the fog of war rules, but also don't look at what is in stacks of the force who's turn I'm not playing. I think it works fine.
As to the cards, I'd play a scenario the first time without them, and then introduce them on a later playthrough as they can add quite a bit of variety.
nice review, looking for your playthrough
OSG is a great gaming producer
Just ordered the intro box and may get this one next if i enjoy that. Please share your play and or thoughts whenever you get this to the table.
10:15: How else are you going to do combat without figuring odds ratios??? That's a concept as old as wargaming itself!! I have never understood the bitching about "factor counting" and odds computation that I hear from people who should know better.
That aside, a nice unboxing and tour through the contents. This series now has DOZENS of installments, each with 4 or more battles in it. It is not an overstatement or hyperbole that this series is called the Library of Napoleonic Battles! For the $100+ each box commands, I'd prefer to see a >little< better design quality on the charts & tables (and maybe some COLOR), but that's a minor quibble. These are a decent value.
Ha! Very true, I actually talk about creating a CRT replacement for the combat system in Federation Space so guilty as charged. 😎
Thanks for the kind words, looking forward to getting this one to the table.