How to start Napoleonic French
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- Опубліковано 11 лип 2020
- A guide on how to get started in Napoleonics and Black Powder.
In this start of a new series we look with the French (plus a couple of cheeky Austrians standing in for chasseurs), as we look at how to spend your first £100 and then how to build that into an army that will carry their Eagles from Madrid to Moscow!
The pics are not necessarily of the minis I suggest, unfortunately my lancers aren't painted, so I put in cuirassier minis to give an overall impression of what the army will look like. I'm sure you'll agree that the mass of troops is a thing of beauty!
I hope you enjoy this, next on the way will be the other side of the Starter box, the perfidious British! - Ігри
Thanks kindly just taking the plunge into Napoleonics
I have a small recommendation which i applied. To fill the waterloo regiment commands you can buy a victrix french box set which is cheap and adds 2 more inf regiments plus it brings with 4 infantry commands so you can make the 4 regiments with command.
Great suggestion!
Does Victrix have an 1815 late french line infantry? I don’t see anything with overcoats
@@jd.3493 I dont think so!
@@jd.3493victrix oddly enough does not sell late french infantry though they sell late middle garde which is about the same
I've been Board-wargaming since the age of 10. Miniature wargaming since the age of 18. Now at 54 I find myself planning to put together my first Napoleonic army in 28mm.
I appreciate the useful videos!
Welcome to the madness !
Two ideas for future vids:
1. How to start with the Warlord French (not waterloo) starter army
2. What to do with all the odds and sods (French band, French Regimental Sappers, etc) units from various companies that don't really have units in Black Powder
Good suggestions! I've done a video on rules for vignettes before, but its definitely something I want to do again!
I like the idea of this series. Thank you!
Thank you for your support!
Thanks for this! My son and I just got the Waterloo starter, so this is of immense help for us.
Fantastic! Glad you enjoyed it!
Really enjoyed your post and looking forward to seeing the others. I am playing the new osprey rules Absolute Emperor and avoided getting the Waterloo set but invested in two french starter sets which Dice and Decks are selling for less than £60! I also managed to get a box of metal Old Guard for just under £20.Cheers.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
Thank you for watching!
A good video explaining the process nice and simply. I was worried you missed p&p then you said about it. What a rollercoaster ride!!!!
I hope you will do some of the smaller forces after the biguns
Great overview. Really useful for someone new to the period. 👍
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
Another excellent video and a great idea for a series
Thank you!
18mm AB miniatures FTW. Metal boys, METAL!
Just found your channel - really useful thanks - as just decided to return to wargaming after a break of over 4 decades - it's a long time since I last was involved in a drafty hall in Sheffield in the 1970s!
If you're still in Sheffield, can I invite to a less draughty hall there on a thursday?! (When life gets back to normal)
@@NapoleonicWargaming no longer live there (it's changed a little since my times!) but if I'm back over will take you up on the offer.
Thank you for your great content.
It gave me some very good ideas to expand my Waterloo Set armies.
Awesome! Thank you for watching!
@@NapoleonicWargaming I really must say, I never thought I would enjoy a miniatures channel that much.
This has been an excellent series. Well done. I did think it might be worth doing some of these again considering the new companies appearing - Eagle Minis and Piano Minis. Right, back to your last one again, as I’m going to watch them all again. LOL!!
Haha, thanks! Yeah I agree, also prices have gone up since the early video roo! I'll need to do start collecting Spanish first though!
I'm putting together a French force for Sharp Practice, and this is very, very useful.
Awesome man. Thanks!
Love the channel which I've been following since returning to Napoleonics after some 40 years! Apart from selecting a period and appropriate army my biggest headache has been deciding on unit and basing sizes. This becomes more difficult if wanting to use different rulesets so retaining some flexibility.
Welcome back! It's tough to know where to start, theres just so much choice!
As for basing 15mm per mini is quite common, but I like the 20mm as it shows off the mini a bit better. My recommendation is that if a rulset has scale that is different to your basing, I'd probably adjust the scale of the rules. It'd be a bit of maths, but less soul destroying than rebasing!
@@NapoleonicWargaming Thanks for the response. I've initially settled on a mix of 15 and 20 mm frontages for a 24 figure infantry battalion. This gives a total within 'Black powder's' recommended frontage for a standard unit, does this make sense? I just think that 15 mm looks better for the centre companies. Also I've built my cavalry regiments using 9 figures with 25 mm frontages, is that acceptable in BP? Thanks in anticipation.
Yeah, I like how flexible the rules are, and of course it's all relative. I'm playing a game next week on a 6x4 so an thinking to Hmhave a medium unit of 16 for Brits and 18 for french (I've based them in 6's!) And half all the distances. Similarly I'm also looking to have a super big game, In the grand manner where we have French units of 48 and Austrian units of 64! For that well probably have to increase ranges.
As for cavalry units of 9, in an upcoming Austrian video, that's exactly what I recommend ;)
Great video to get started.
You carry on with your suggestions, personally I find them very sound.
Thanks bud
Morning Tim. The British Peninsular War how to start was fantastic and I have followed your recommendations more or less, I mostly went Victrix. I was wondering will you do a French Peninsular War video?
Nice guide, thank you for this video.
No problem! Thanks for watching!
@@NapoleonicWargaming, that is so good. Thought about getting my stuff together for Sharp Practise. My son will have the Brits and Russians, I will have the French, Prussians and Austrians. Think I have to watch more of your content.
Tha ks bud. SP was something we started at the club and drifted away from, no reason, it's not that we didnt like it, but other games came along and the 'ooh shiney' factor was there. I'm sure we'll go back to it!
I was just thinking, " should look into painting those little soldiers ". Here i am for to be overwhelmed.
Thanks
Check out the live streams, there a paintalong one where I'm doing my Poles
@@NapoleonicWargaming thanks, I'm looking forward to it
Interesting, as more of a collector now a day I've been looking into Sharpe practice for the smaller unit sizes (28mm).
I only played LoTR in the past where I made acquaintance with the Perry brothers sculpting.
Ah nice! They did amazing work on LOTR. SP is a great game, I think LOTR can very easily be converted to Napoleonics too tbf
Thanks for the tips
Np. More importantly, thank you for watching!
Awesome video. It almost seems easy:) Looking forward to the video on the Russians.
thanks a great help for me
I would honestly recommend (for french) buy either old garde chasseurs and make 4 regiments of about 16 (without command groups) or buy i think 58 middle garde infantry with command and make 4 (or 3 going off of memory) regular infantry off of victrix (30 usd for both)
Great vid, super series! Personally I'm interested in a Brit and also a Russian army but have plenty to work on for now!
British wine should be 2 weeks time a d the Russian one is already recorded, but needs some minis finishing off for it so will be out after my August break. As a heads up though, the starter army box is incredible value
@@NapoleonicWargaming Yeah tonne of infantry in that. Why oh why did I watch War and Peace eh
Good video. Will u be looking to do a step by step guide/play through explaining the rules for us newbies 👍🏼
It's not on the immediate horizon as there's an official video, but never say never! If you watch the Salamance batt rep I tried to explain what was happening there as much as possible
I just did an extensive research of all manufacturers and found close to 20 doing 28mm Napoleaonic of all nations . I will have to get it out on a Excel for everyone to see . Hows that ! Good video . I found a box of Victrix and Perry to give me 4 battalions ,gives me enough command out of the Victrix . But each to their own . I hope this vid helps a lot of people out .
That sounds really useful! Tbh, I'm surprised it's only 20! :D
@@NapoleonicWargaming as I got some feed back its 27 makers , My excel folder is now on most facebook napoleonic sites
You mentioned Perry metals, which I love .. but for a beginner you can also buy single command sprues from their plastic sets. French Inf Comd sprue (14 models, inc two light coy skirmishers) is £8, and the Chasseur a Cheval Comd plastic sprue (2 models) is £4. You could probably get away with the 1808-14 Fr Infantry sprue, which is 6 models for £6 but no skirmishers.
Absolutely! I recommend them in an upcoming video!
In my opinion, and the way I build army's, is to select from history, say a French division from the your chosen period and use that to build on. For instance, I'm putting together the French army that fought at the battle of "Albuera" in Spain. The first Division consisted of 2 brigades that totalled 8 Battalions of line infantry and 2 batteries of guns. Therefore for an expenditure of just over £200 you can get an accurate Division with Command figures to then build your second division on and follow that with the Cavalry Division. As for figures. Warlords are a great start, along with Perry, but also look at "Front Rank", Again, in my opinion they are better sculps for personality figures. Just my opinion.
That's another great way to do it. I do love me Front Rank, I've spent this weekend painting up Royal Italian Guard Grenadiers from their Old Guard. They will be included in upcoming army selections (I've already recorded it so I know they will!)
As for collecting a historically accurate formation, it's a very cool way o doing it, but I like to put my own personality on my armies
keep in mind how flipping long some of this stuff takes to paint, or can do, and a desire not to be overwhelmed by it..
good to also get a skirmish game to play alongside with the same models
Yeah thays true. But especially bow with contrast paints, you can be surprisingly quick! Individual basing can deffo be a way to go as long as you've got movement trays
@@NapoleonicWargaming all of mine are individually based, way easier to paint and useful in any game system with different trays, use 1p coins here for this sort of ranked infantry.
never got on with contrast paints, they are faster and much better to see than the grey & silver legion
Hi, this one is for the Waterloo campaign, how would you start French for the early years or the campaign in Spain?
The bases always confuse me so this is a great video explaining. To summarise - you suggest;
40mm x 40mm (2mm) for Infantry - 4 to a base
50mm x 50mm (2mm) for Cavalry - 2 to a base
60mm circle or oval?? for Command (2mm)
75mm x 100mm for Artillery (2mm)
I use circles for command bases, but you could use ovals as well. It ultimately doesnt really matter as you measure from the head of the commander
Well mate my recommendation would be perry d20 french army deal if we say I only got the french half from the box , so it would give me the rule book ,- 3 plastic box sets of French Napoleonic Infantry (126 infantry) ,1 plastic box set of heavy cavalry,1plastic box set of dragoons, 1 plastic box set of hussars (41 cavalry, 8 dismounted dragoons), 1 pack of Line foot artillery, 1 pack of Line horse artillery, 1 pack of generals. For 130 pound
Thats a great start too no question!
I'm new to nepolionics and wanting to do austrains so I'm looking forward to that video.
I wouldn't give a plug nickle for 3000 painted plastic figures.
@@PeteScete started it today dude! Wont be until Sept, but spoiler, check out the 6 infantry box perry deal, its excellent
@@NapoleonicWargaming I have been eyeing it mate and the 3 cav box deal too
Looking to start 18012ish French, would either of the warlord late war French or the Perrys FN 250 French Napoleonic Infantry Battalion 1807-14 work?
A big thing here 😅 what size bases would you recommend? I do like the look of 6 models on a 45x40mm base.
I like them too! I've based mine with a 20mm frontage, but I'm beginning to like 15mm more and more. My Bavarians are based like that
Should I go with Perry or Foundry?
As I expand my Napoleonic forces both British and French from playing Sharp Practice to Black Powder which Im very new to, just was looking at clarification on size and the amount of troops on a base for the French?
I use 6 bases of 6 figures. That's roughly 1 figure represents 20 men, and makes sorting out the companies in a battalion easier! 🤣
@@NapoleonicWargaming would I be right that basing for British would work 4 "troops" to a base, on a square base?
Aren't Perry miniatures noticeably smaller than Warlord?
Not at all, you can use them on the same base with no issues
I refuse to belive there is someone who paints 100£ worth of minis in a month :P
Hahaha. Its absolutely not me!
I want to start Black powder, and I had the idea of making an imperial guard themed army. I thought of 2 sets of old guard grenadiers (victrix), a box of imperial guard lancers (victrix) and the old guard artillery set. (also victrix)
And of course some officers.
What do you think? Is there anything that I should/ have to add to the army?
Thanks!
Sounds ideal! I wouldn't buy old guard grenadiers though, 2 boxes of Middle Guard will give you the same as one box of grenadiers and one of chasseurs, with all the spare shakoes
@@NapoleonicWargaming OK. Are there any young guard models? Have you got any suggestions for a British army without buying the Waterloo set?
Thanks!
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Hey Napoleonic Wargaming, I'm looking to get into Black Powder French. I was wonderinf if you could help a newbie like me with a few questions. I was looking to do an Army around Borodino, so do you know any good books for colours, and which army/units/range would you recommend I start with? I'm not so keep on the Waterloo box set as the French are hidden under great coats
Welcome to the napoleonic madness! And French..? Good choice ;)
If you don't like the greatcoat look, you got 2 real options for 1812 in plastic. 1812 saw a new uniform brought in, so theres a bit of leeway in the era of uniform (you can say theyve not got their new uniform yet!)
You can go for the Perry sets, the 1812-15 has some troops in greatcoat, about half. If you want to avoid that, their 1808-12 would be the one I'd recommend (the other choice is victrix, they do a box from that period too). Warlord do a set for mid war too, I'm not a fan, but check them out, you might like them!
I'd always suggest starting with a sold core of infantry, 4-6 battalions, then add a gun or two and a unit of Cavalry. You're spoiled for choice there as they had tons of every type! Again tge Perry's here, I'd probably go either hussars or cuirassiers, maybe dragoons, it really is whatever you fancy!
Book wise, you can so a lot worse than this one: Armies of 1812: The Grande Armee and the Armies of Austria, Prussia, Russia and Turkey: The Grand Armee and the Armies of Austria, Prussia, Russia and Turkey amzn.eu/d/hQk0OfH
For pictures, this is the holy grail: Borodino: The Moskova. The Battle for the Redoubts amzn.eu/d/6muBULv but as you can see, very expensive! The text is not great, but the illustrations...superb.
If you want more info about the campaign and battle, there is an excellent Osprey Campaign on it Borodino 1812: Napoleon’s great gamble: 246 (Campaign) amzn.eu/d/55k6PeJ
Hope that helps!
Ps, you also get excellent painting guides in the boxes of Perry minis
A very helpful video, thank you. I'm still in talks with people from club regarding Napoleonic era wargaming and admittedly I'm hoping that we'll go down the Peninsular route as opposed to Waterloo.
Admittedly I was hoping to go with British forces for myself, however, it is looking as though I'll be going French. Out of curiosity would your advice vary much between the video relating to starting out with the Waterloo period versus the Peninsular?
Sheffield is particularly well served with outpost and wargames emporium..
Could you do a video for Russian army too please , good video by the way
Next month is Russian month! There absolutely will be one! (I've already done the audio)
@@NapoleonicWargaming ah brillaint
oh and another thing perrys have no box sets of russian cav yet ((
@@bonysminiatures3123 one day brother! One day
Good luck painting all these blokes in 2 months. Not to discourage anyone but you will have to be disciplined to paint every spare moment if you want to finish a task like this. That is unless you just want a slap on paint job (shudder the thought!)
Hahaha. I thinking is doable but not easy. The contrast paint range and fact everyone is in a greatcoat should speed it up!
@@NapoleonicWargaming Shh, you weren't going to talk about paint!
How blasphemous is it to mix the peninsular campaign units with the waterloor campaign units? the greatcoats with the uniformed?
Nah, I do it all the time! Bicornes at Waterloo, armoured carabiniers at Austerlitz. The important thing is to get them down and the dice rolling!
I. Want. Cuirassiers. Please.
Haha. By all means go for it dude! The Perry's do an excellent multi box deal
France moment
A wargamer going over budget? .... whatever next! .... and then you claw it back !!