Tag Archives: Napoleonics

Volley & Bayonet: basing brigades

I’m trying to get my head round basing in Volley & Bayonet and would welcome any thoughts or advice.

I’m not looking to accurately depict each different type of brigade from each nationality. That way lies madness! I’m looking to make an semi-informed generalisation that could represent a brigade.

From reading around I’ve come up the following, based on both ideal / fudged (for easy arithmetic’s sake) values and possible numbers in the field.

NB I’m going with massed infantry / cavalry stands.

  • 800 men in a battalion, and 3 battalions in a brigade, making 2400.
  • 150 horse in a squadron and, 4 squadrons in a regiment, and 4 regiments in a brigade, making 2400.

Does that sound reasonable in a general sort of way?

In order to make it achievable, I’ve opted for a 1:200 figure man ratio, so that would make both infantry and cavalry brigades have 12 figures.

If infantry skirmishers represent about a battalion’s worth of men, they would therefore have 4 figures (2400/3/200) and cavalry skirmishers would have 3 figures (2400/4/200). Though if you considered that some infantry brigades have 4 strength points and a skirmisher stand has 1 strength point, then you could consider that it too has 3 figures (12/4). 3 skirmishers on a skirmish base might be more aesthetically pleasing (and less crammed) than 4.

NB I’m going to be using 6mm figures and hoping to base them on half-sized bases, and use half measurements as play space is at a premium.

Portable prezzies

Since I’ve been such a good boy this year, Santa delivered some prezzies a little early. What a good sport!

My old pal Ian Taylor of the East Neuk Irregulars was a Spanish Civil War aficionado. As a result the SCW has been on my mind of late as a potential project. Thankfully Bob Cordery has recently re-released Arriba Espana which now includes rules for playing the SCW with his Portable Wargame system. I’m particularly taken by the huge range of warring factions in the SCW but I admit I’m a complete greenhorn when it comes to who is who. I’d seen Bob’s La Ultima Cruzada recommended as a top-notch SCW sourcebook, so thought it would be a timely addition to my reference library.

And why get two, when you can have four? I must admit Bob’s The Balkan League came at me from left field. But in it he presents rules for matrix games, which is an area I haven’t explored yet, so will be interesting to see what’s what where that’s concerned. And Portable Naps? Well, in for a penny, in for a pound!

I’ve certainly got plenty to tuck in to this Christmas. May Santa be equally as kind to you. All the very festive best!