Napoleonic DBA Rules
By Steve Burt (sburt@mdsi.co.uk)
Armies are divided into Divisions which move as independent entities. Each Division contains 3-12 units (a 'unit' in this context is a regiment of infantry, battery of artillery, or brigade of cavalry).
Procedure is first to throw a dice to see how many Divisions you can move (+1 or +2 for good generals like Napoleon, -1 for incompetents). Then move each Division in turn (Divisions CANNOT combine movement), dicing for each to see how many elements you can move - these can be combined in groups.
Moves, factors & ranges
Road
Good
Bad
Factor
Range
Line inf
400
200
200
3
100
Light inf
400
300
300
2
100 (200 if rifle armed)
Foot gun
400
200
100
3
600
Horse gun
400
300
100
2
400
Heavy cav
400
400
200
4
-
Light cav
500
500
200
3
-
Cossacks
500
500
300
2
-
Wagon
300
200
NA
1
-
(Lancers move and are fired at as light cavalry but fight as heavy)
Tactical Factors
Each extra element shooting at this one
-1
Each element outflanking this one
-1
Defending obstacle/uphill of enemy
+1
In melee in bad going and not light inf
-2
Shot at in bad going
+1
In building/redoubt (inf only)
+2
Artillery under half range
+1
Line infantry in melee in two ranks
+1
Guards
+1
Militia
-1
Unarmoured cavalry under ranged fire
-1
Combat results
Less, but more than half (Default - recoil)
Line inf
Recoil
Light inf
Destroyed by any mounted in good going
Foot gun
Destroyed by any in contact, ignore ranged fire
Horse gun
Destroyed by any mounted in contact, ignore ranged
Mounted
Destroyed if in bad going
Less than half (Default - flee 600 paces)
Light inf
Destroyed by any mounted
Light cav
Destroyed by light cav, cossacks, guns
Cossacks
Destroyed by cossacks, guns
Others
Destroyed
Heavy cavalry whose opponents recoil or are destroyed must follow up. Others MAY follow up, but don't have to. Artillery do not recoil because of ranged fire.
Sequence of play
Roll for Divisions which can move
Move each Division, dicing for number of elements
Both sides artillery fires (phasing player decides order)
Both sides infantry fires (phasing player decides order)
Melee (phasing player decides order)
Units in contact with the opponent may not be fired at.
Interpenetrate
Line, or any mounted through light inf
Light inf through any
Can recoil through any except guns and hard cover
Demoralisation
When a division has lost 1/3 strength (rounded to nearest unit), it is demoralised. A demoralised division, and units in it, cost double to move (Remove the command base to show this).
If a division loses 2/3 strength, it is broken. Units of a broken division suffer a penalty of -1 on all dice rolls for the rest of the game, and count as two divisions demoralised for army morale purposes.
When an army has had 1/3 of its divisions demoralised, it is demoralised (all command costs doubled - remove C in C figure). All division commanders now pay double costs to move their units (quadruple if demoralised). An army which loses half its divisions is beaten.
Command and control
Represent the division commander with a command base of the appropriate type, moving as light cavalry. Units must be within 600 of the base, or they count double to move (300 if not in line of sight). Division commanders must be within 1200 of the army commander or they count double, too (likewise if the Army commander is not on the table yet). Commanders may not voluntarily enter melee, but if they do get involved, they fight as light cavalry (and have the same vulnerability). If a commander is killed, his division is demoralised. The commander himself may be moved whenever the division is moved, without using up any of the dice roll.
Buildings
Only infantry can enter buildings. Up to 2 elements per 60mm square. Defenders can face 2 sides or line up in two ranks - each building obviously represents a village at this scale. A defended building cannot be entered.