I want it! Just finished setting up Moscowa for a first play, Dresde and Ligny are next. Such a great system with stunning graphics. Thanks for sharing Eric, take care.
I have had this pre-ordered for yonks! good to know its moving forwards thanks to ed wimble for the game and to you eric for posting the vid, the future is looking bright.
Just saw some photos of the map on a different social media outlet, and the colors were so muted as to suggest they were black and white!!! Maybe they went a bit TOO subtle on this map??
The map for MSJ2 follows the same color palette used for Ligny 2 and QB2. The first editions of these maps were printed on a slightly tan paper, so it had a warmer brownish look. The 2nd edition of these maps use white paper and has more varied green shades, particularly around the stream beds. From a distance, the maps look rather pale.
Lol. Ed told me he just started going through the pre-orders and the majority had expired/canceled cards. Remember, the game was originally supposed to be released in 2020. The pandemic caused delays in design and production. Better late than never! 😀
@@EricsTableNapoleonicBattles No doubt! That was some time ago, and I'm not sure what email I used or if I still have access to it, so I'll be giving him a call next week, for sure! The package looks fantastic!
Thanks for sharing. The Order of Battle is confusing if it is to be historical for Waterloo, as, as far as I know, Reille did not have the 7th Division at Waterloo. Only Bachelu, Foy & Jérôme. Girard's (wounded) division stayed at Ligny.
Jaresh, thanks for the comment. I am glad you enjoyed the video. The scenarios for Mont Saint Jean include the various units that were at the battle that day. There are some historical “what if” scenarios for the battle, such as Grouchy sending forces and changes to Prussian arrivals.
@@EricsTableNapoleonicBattles alright, makes sense then. thanks Eric. I like the map very much. It reminds me of my very first wargame "Napoléon et le secret de Waterloo", from a Belgian publisher back in the 80s.. ;-) same way of depicting elevations, woods etc.
Hope someone can answer this question about this game. Will the MSJ maps fit on a 6 foot long table? Or no? I hear this game will need a lot of space. I would like to get into this system and play it but 6 feet is all I have room for.
The four maps set out on the table cover a space of approximately 44 inches by 68 inches. So it will fit on a table that is 4ft by 6ft. You will likely need a side table or spot to place the order of battle sheets.
@@EricsTableNapoleonicBattles Thanks for the quick reply. I am sure I could make it work but never having played this system I am thinking I would be smarter if I tackle a smaller battle first before I dive into this monster. I recently purchased Lutzen. I am glad I found your channel.
Yes you can. The 1st edition rules for MSJ had command restrictions for each of the armies. You can continue to use those, however in the 2nd edition Ney has a command span of only 3 hexes.
The game looks beautiful. However, my issue with all of the La Bataille series is which rule set to use. It doesn’t come with the 5th edition rulebook?
It's a shame that CoA didn't publish organizationnal charts for battle for MSJ2. They provide us with those of Ligny and Quatre-Bras. Too bad for a complete deluxe edition...
5:25: Looking at the maps, this is the first time I've ever seen the walled farm referred to as Chateau de Goumont!!! Looking up "Hougoumont" (as it is most commonly known), the etymology section states that the more popular name is in fact, in error. Good catch, then, by the map artist!!! Looks like a sterling package (although I still don't "get" the way elevations or even ridges are handled in these maps. Can the British even use the "reverse slope" defense on these maps??
Yes. It is my understanding that they corrected a few errors and misspellings from the first edition. Regarding the slopes, this version has a more clearly defined ridgeline. Should make it easier for the British to hide their forces.
The battle of Waterloo has several names. The French call it the battle of Mont Saint Jean. The Prussians called it the battle of La Belle Alliance. The British called it the battle of Waterloo. All three of these names refer to villages or notable locations either on the battlefield or nearby. So the answer to your question is, YES you can play the battle of Waterloo with this game because Mont Saint Jean = Waterloo.
@@EricsTableNapoleonicBattles thank you so much I have ordered the game The best book I have on Waterloo is by Mark Adkin 2001 called Waterloo Companion Stackpole Books many graphs, pictures, uniforms, statistics on battle pictures of battlefield today
Depending upon which rule set you want to play, you can download a digital copy. The Premier rules can be found at www.labataille.me. The Regs and Marie-Louis rules can be found at www.labataille.us. Finally, the 5th Edition rules can be downloaded for a small fee at www.wargamevault.com/m/product/197318
I’m sorry I’m just not understanding about the rules. You said it comes with the rules, I saw the pdf on the video but I also have to get the v5 on wargame vault? I’m confused. One the one page on the pdf rules lower right hand corner it talks about the v5. Also, I have never played this series. Is it a chit pull system or one side goes and then the other side? Finally, what is the real timeframe for release? By August?
Sorry that I wasn't more specific. There are the game rules (5th Edition) and there are the scenario/battle rules. The Deluxe edition will come with both. The Expansion set will only include the scenario/battle rules. The Expansion set presumes that you own Quatre Bras 2 and Ligny 2. Ligny 2 came with the 5th Edition rule set. 5th Edition, Regs, and Marie-Louis all use a chit-pull mechanism for determining the order of events.
Eric, thanks for the preview. Very informative. A little side comment. Is it really appropriate to play as background music, Mendelssohn's Wedding March from A Midsummer Night's Dream ;-)?
Hi William. Thanks for the comment. In my more recent videos, I have been trying to add background music. I like classical music and find it fits the topic better than something modern. My challenge is finding music which is copyright “free”. This piece was and it was the right length for that space in the video. Now, for many of us who have been waiting since 2019 for the game, this is a celebratory moment.
@@EricsTableNapoleonicBattles Hey Eric, yea I was being a little humorous (which does not come across too well in the written word). But you can look at it as a marriage between the long waiting gamer (us) and the blushing bride (the game). Soon we’ll be joined in bliss . I too, love classical music. Finding the right background music without any copyright infringement is hard to do. When I want to have some inspirational music for one of the COA or ME games, I play a digitized version of an album I’ve had for a long time called “French Military Marches and Fanfares from the Time of Napoleon”. It was produced by Nonesuch records in the early 70s. I’m not sure if the copyright for that album is still in force now, but it might be worth investigating.
Thanks for the recommendation. I see that you can buy the album on ebay. Sadly, I don't have a record player. Regarding copyright, UA-cam has some automatic scan thing it runs to search for copyrighted material. It is possible that older analog music might not be in their system.
The 2nd edition comes in both a deluxe and expansion version. The deluxe is everything you need to play the game. The expansion set is for folks who own the games Quatre Bras and Ligny. The expansion set has the maps and rule book you need to play Mont Saint Jean using the components from Quatre Bras and Ligny.
The Marie-Louise rule are really what they say on the tin 'a simplified version of the the Reglement de l'An XXX rules'. They are a less complex (though still note easy), which leads to faster play, I think they are my favourite way to play to be honest. I am surprised to see they will be included in the box, I don't remember seeing them included in other titles. You can check them out here: labataille.us/files/Reglement_marie_louises_rev3_a4.pdf
@@spock756 You could play the game with the Premier rules, but you would need some limitations. The command rules in the scenario booklet reflect the historical limitations of army and corp movement. Since the Premier rules don’t have command rules, you could have a completely different situation on your hands.
True, but it is copyright and royalty free! When I first started making videos, I used other music I liked and some from closer to the period. But UA-cam dinged my for copyright issues.
Those are gorgeous counters.
I want it! Just finished setting up Moscowa for a first play, Dresde and Ligny are next. Such a great system with stunning graphics. Thanks for sharing Eric, take care.
I have had this pre-ordered for yonks! good to know its moving forwards thanks to ed wimble for the game and to you eric for posting the vid, the future is looking bright.
Thanks John. From what I have heard they will be shipping the game in early summer.
@@EricsTableNapoleonicBattles thanks eric after seeing this vid i might just get the deluxe versuion as well
Oh wow! You got it! Very exciting!!!
Just saw some photos of the map on a different social media outlet, and the colors were so muted as to suggest they were black and white!!! Maybe they went a bit TOO subtle on this map??
The map for MSJ2 follows the same color palette used for Ligny 2 and QB2. The first editions of these maps were printed on a slightly tan paper, so it had a warmer brownish look. The 2nd edition of these maps use white paper and has more varied green shades, particularly around the stream beds. From a distance, the maps look rather pale.
Thank you for the heads up - I preordered this so long ago, I'm sure that I need to update my card info!
Lol. Ed told me he just started going through the pre-orders and the majority had expired/canceled cards. Remember, the game was originally supposed to be released in 2020. The pandemic caused delays in design and production. Better late than never! 😀
@@EricsTableNapoleonicBattles No doubt! That was some time ago, and I'm not sure what email I used or if I still have access to it, so I'll be giving him a call next week, for sure! The package looks fantastic!
Thanks for sharing.
The Order of Battle is confusing if it is to be historical for Waterloo, as, as far as I know, Reille did not have the 7th Division at Waterloo. Only Bachelu, Foy & Jérôme.
Girard's (wounded) division stayed at Ligny.
Jaresh, thanks for the comment. I am glad you enjoyed the video. The scenarios for Mont Saint Jean include the various units that were at the battle that day. There are some historical “what if” scenarios for the battle, such as Grouchy sending forces and changes to Prussian arrivals.
@@EricsTableNapoleonicBattles alright, makes sense then. thanks Eric.
I like the map very much. It reminds me of my very first wargame "Napoléon et le secret de Waterloo", from a Belgian publisher back in the 80s.. ;-) same way of depicting elevations, woods etc.
“As with most of the CoA games recently, the counters are very well done.” Most? Recently? What a burn!!
Awhile back, they had some issues with a batch of QB2 counters that had been miss-cut. Otherwise, they have beautiful maps and counters.
thank you looking forward to it shipping
Hope you enjoy it!
Hope someone can answer this question about this game. Will the MSJ maps fit on a 6 foot long table? Or no? I hear this game will need a lot of space. I would like to get into this system and play it but 6 feet is all I have room for.
The four maps set out on the table cover a space of approximately 44 inches by 68 inches. So it will fit on a table that is 4ft by 6ft. You will likely need a side table or spot to place the order of battle sheets.
@@EricsTableNapoleonicBattles Thanks for the quick reply. I am sure I could make it work but never having played this system I am thinking I would be smarter if I tackle a smaller battle first before I dive into this monster. I recently purchased Lutzen. I am glad I found your channel.
If you have the old version of the game with the maps and scenario booklet can you play the battle with the new counters from Quartre Bras and Ligny?
Yes you can. The 1st edition rules for MSJ had command restrictions for each of the armies. You can continue to use those, however in the 2nd edition Ney has a command span of only 3 hexes.
@@EricsTableNapoleonicBattles Thanks for the information. I assume the same applies to the Warve expansion.
The game looks beautiful. However, my issue with all of the La Bataille series is which rule set to use. It doesn’t come with the 5th edition rulebook?
It does cone with 5th Edition and was play tested with those. However, you can use any rule set you prefer.
The multiple rule sets has always been my major issue with this system. I never know which one I should be using.
It's a shame that CoA didn't publish organizationnal charts for battle for MSJ2. They provide us with those of Ligny and Quatre-Bras. Too bad for a complete deluxe edition...
5:25: Looking at the maps, this is the first time I've ever seen the walled farm referred to as Chateau de Goumont!!! Looking up "Hougoumont" (as it is most commonly known), the etymology section states that the more popular name is in fact, in error. Good catch, then, by the map artist!!!
Looks like a sterling package (although I still don't "get" the way elevations or even ridges are handled in these maps. Can the British even use the "reverse slope" defense on these maps??
Yes. It is my understanding that they corrected a few errors and misspellings from the first edition. Regarding the slopes, this version has a more clearly defined ridgeline. Should make it easier for the British to hide their forces.
Any update as to when the game will start to ship?
According to Ed Wimble, the first orders will start shipping this Friday, June 10th! 🥳🥳🥳
@@EricsTableNapoleonicBattles YES!!!!!!!!! Thank you This will be the "Holy Grail" of the Battle of Waterloo.
can you play the Battle of Waterloo with this game? thank you
The battle of Waterloo has several names. The French call it the battle of Mont Saint Jean. The Prussians called it the battle of La Belle Alliance. The British called it the battle of Waterloo. All three of these names refer to villages or notable locations either on the battlefield or nearby. So the answer to your question is, YES you can play the battle of Waterloo with this game because Mont Saint Jean = Waterloo.
@@EricsTableNapoleonicBattles thank you so much I have ordered the game The best book I have on Waterloo is by Mark Adkin 2001 called Waterloo Companion Stackpole Books many graphs, pictures, uniforms, statistics on battle pictures of battlefield today
Not entirely related, have you been following the Glory & Empire game, First Victories: Wellington versus Napoleon?
Yes, following their FB page. Looks like nice components.
thank you very much. i wish they would have the rules to download to start reading until it comes out. great video!
Depending upon which rule set you want to play, you can download a digital copy. The Premier rules can be found at www.labataille.me. The Regs and Marie-Louis rules can be found at www.labataille.us. Finally, the 5th Edition rules can be downloaded for a small fee at www.wargamevault.com/m/product/197318
I’m sorry I’m just not understanding about the rules. You said it comes with the rules, I saw the pdf on the video but I also have to get the v5 on wargame vault? I’m confused. One the one page on the pdf rules lower right hand corner it talks about the v5.
Also, I have never played this series. Is it a chit pull system or one side goes and then the other side?
Finally, what is the real timeframe for release? By August?
Sorry that I wasn't more specific. There are the game rules (5th Edition) and there are the scenario/battle rules. The Deluxe edition will come with both. The Expansion set will only include the scenario/battle rules. The Expansion set presumes that you own Quatre Bras 2 and Ligny 2. Ligny 2 came with the 5th Edition rule set.
5th Edition, Regs, and Marie-Louis all use a chit-pull mechanism for determining the order of events.
@@EricsTableNapoleonicBattles perfect, thank you so much
Eric, thanks for the preview. Very informative. A little side comment. Is it really appropriate to play as background music, Mendelssohn's Wedding March from A Midsummer Night's Dream ;-)?
Hi William. Thanks for the comment. In my more recent videos, I have been trying to add background music. I like classical music and find it fits the topic better than something modern. My challenge is finding music which is copyright “free”. This piece was and it was the right length for that space in the video. Now, for many of us who have been waiting since 2019 for the game, this is a celebratory moment.
@@EricsTableNapoleonicBattles Hey Eric, yea I was being a little humorous (which does not come across too well in the written word). But you can look at it as a marriage between the long waiting gamer (us) and the blushing bride (the game). Soon we’ll be joined in bliss .
I too, love classical music. Finding the right background music without any copyright infringement is hard to do. When I want to have some inspirational music for one of the COA or ME games, I play a digitized version of an album I’ve had for a long time called “French Military Marches and Fanfares from the Time of Napoleon”. It was produced by Nonesuch records in the early 70s. I’m not sure if the copyright for that album is still in force now, but it might be worth investigating.
Thanks for the recommendation. I see that you can buy the album on ebay. Sadly, I don't have a record player.
Regarding copyright, UA-cam has some automatic scan thing it runs to search for copyrighted material. It is possible that older analog music might not be in their system.
Looks great - but I am confused, is there a second edition and a deluxe second edition, or are they same thing?
The 2nd edition comes in both a deluxe and expansion version. The deluxe is everything you need to play the game. The expansion set is for folks who own the games Quatre Bras and Ligny. The expansion set has the maps and rule book you need to play Mont Saint Jean using the components from Quatre Bras and Ligny.
Thanks Eric for the video! What are the 'simplified Marie Louise rules' listed on the back of te box? Best, Paolo
The Marie-Louise rule are really what they say on the tin 'a simplified version of the the Reglement de l'An XXX rules'. They are a less complex (though still note easy), which leads to faster play, I think they are my favourite way to play to be honest.
I am surprised to see they will be included in the box, I don't remember seeing them included in other titles.
You can check them out here:
labataille.us/files/Reglement_marie_louises_rev3_a4.pdf
@@66morningview Thanks Joe. I thought that the word 'simplified' referred to a some kind of easy version of ML. Paolo
@@spock756 Ah I see, no I think they just mean that ML is 'simplified' compared to the other rules available.
@@66morningview And what about Premiere Rules? Can it works with this game? Paolo
@@spock756 You could play the game with the Premier rules, but you would need some limitations. The command rules in the scenario booklet reflect the historical limitations of army and corp movement. Since the Premier rules don’t have command rules, you could have a completely different situation on your hands.
I love Colonel Bogey ... It's probably the best military march ever written.
But it's not very Napoleonic :)
True, but it is copyright and royalty free! When I first started making videos, I used other music I liked and some from closer to the period. But UA-cam dinged my for copyright issues.