The new project gaining some of my attention these days is developing “Lion Rampant” for Napoleonic cavalry action. Yes, the medieval rules!. Cleverly titled “Hussar Rampant”, these are specifically and exclusively for the use of only cavalry during the Napoleonic Wars. This exclusivity avoids any need for complications with the addition and interplay of artillery and infantry for what were often only mounted actions between the colourfully clad cavaliers of the era.
As ‘LIon Rampant’ is at its best when dealing with the back-and-forth swirling action of the mounted warrior, it is ideal for this interplay. I mentioned this during a late Saturday night beer sipping conversation with a group of wargaming buddies and immediately we started with how to go about making this happen.
Obviously besides the gaining of, painting of, and use of miniatures; we need a set of rules. I didn’t think converting LR would be a problem. Already, many wargamers, including an article about using LR style for the use of small unit Napoleonics published in Wargames Illustrated magazine No.342, have taken this approach. However we wanted only cavalry, make all troop types effective, have no ‘national characteristics’ so that, whichever unit the wargamer wants to command, it would be roughly equal, and easy to play in a convention setting, to be imperative.
Three of us, in separate cities and in two different countries, continue to hone the rules. Part of this process is the play-test so I took the stat charts and did a quick solo game using WillB’s Russians and French.
Anyone who has played Lion Rampant knows that any change, for example, from 7+ or 8+, is a huge difference and must be carefully weighted and so many more tests will be required to fine tune the charts.
[random thought: is that Dan Mercey sighing?] [Nevertheless Dan, thanks for the inspiration]
But for the moment, I will just present a few photos to show the look of the game.
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| Using WillB's French heavies supported by his unit of hussars. Marshal Ney commands in the middle. I must say that the flowing ranks of the miniatures look more impressive on the table than in a photograph. |
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| the cavalry battle somewhere in Russia |
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| we rule writers will need to determine how long will units last with combat effectiveness..... |
As a group we have settled upon the Battle of Waterloo as the basis of the collecting as to keep the historical integrity of the troops used. I already have two simple scenarios based upon real events in the battle which we could use.
Currently there are seven of us which have pledged to have units ready. Today I was busy building the Netherlanders 4th Light (Dutch) Dragoons to add to my ready to paint British 12th LD for the Allied side. Lots of snipping, scraping and gluing of these Perry plastics but, well, I seem to really enjoy doing it!