4 Napoleonic Wargames for Kids and Teens!

[@Christofer1861]

Another alternative, providing you have access to a small number of figures, etc., is “One Hour Wargames” a book presenting rules for at least half a dozen periods (e.g. Ancient, Medieval, Napoleonic, etc.) The author presents basic concepts common to all periods first, then each period gets a brief (stress the word brief) introduction, then a couple of pages of rules tailored for that period. Of special interest are 30 simple scenarios, useable for any period, followed by tables specifying how big the armies can be-6 units is the maximum!-and what types of units will be there, determined by die roll. As I mentioned, you will need to have access to figures, a little terrain, etc., but never very much; someone in the hobby can easily help you out. (I’ve been in it for 60-plus years, and could probably provide dozens of set ups within minutes.) I’ve given away hundreds of figures to young gamers, and I’m sure there must be others.

[@EricsTableNapoleonicBattles]

Thanks for sharing! There are so many ways to get into wargaming!

[@horrido666]

If you can find a copy, GMT's Fading Glory is four gametes, deluxe versions of VPG's Nap 20 games. They are great little wargames, with few counters, small maps, simple rules, attractive presentation. Very highly recommended.

[@EricsTableNapoleonicBattles]

Thanks for the recommendation! I haven't play the Napoleonic 20 system. I had heard that it was a good entry level game.

[@e-4airman124]

thank you

[@EricsTableNapoleonicBattles]

My pleasure!

[@burakyildirim3576]

Hey Eric, I love your there is an video game called "Fire and Maneuver" it is a Wargame set in Late Victorian era it is in Steam. I quite like it and I think you would too. If you have any question about the game I am happy to answer it for you

[@EricsTableNapoleonicBattles]

I have seen some information of the F & M game while watching the Armchair Historian KZbin channel. I had played Age of Empires 3 for many years and enjoyed that.

[@e-4airman124]

ordered travel battles from Perry thanks

[@EricsTableNapoleonicBattles]

Cool. I hope you enjoy it.

[@williamarends7138]

I am always interested in your recommendations on games and accessories, especially since they are completely independent opinions. I have bought many games with the hope that my now 9 year old grandson would be interested in some of them. The abstract design of hex and counter games does not appeal to him, but like most children his age, he is intrigued by toy soldiers. Thus, he is more willing to play the games that have miniatures. My old Milton Bradley American Heritage series that I have kept for 6 decades have proven to be a good entrance series for him. Also, the Worthington Publishing 'Hold the Line' games of the American Revolution and its French and Indian War expansion both with miniatures are games that he has been willing to attempt to play. The War of 1812, which was as close as the USA and Canada got to participating in the Napoleonic Wars, is another period that intrigues my grandson. Recently, I bought four small games designed by Paul Rohrbach for his High Flying Dice company. They are all about Battles fought along the Niagara frontier 2 hours away from Kitchener. Rohrbach specializes in small-scale games, including postcard size ones. Most of the games he has made for HFD have an 11"×17" map. They also are hex and counter games, a system that does not appeal to my grandson. However, I realized that the map was large enough to accommodate the use of the miniatures from the Worthington games. I used the British and American troops from the Revolutionary War game and the First Nations warriors from the French and Indian War expansion in the place of the counters. This modification met with the approval of my grandson. I had us throw six die for movement and combat actions. This made the game play fast, which is important in holding the interest of a child. Finally, I want to tell you that I have found a good map protection system using the Styleline Poster frames that I bought from Michael's Art Supply store. I was able to buy four 11"×17" frames for these War of 1812 games. I got those frames on sale for $6 CAD a piece. These frames also come in 16"×20", 20"×28", 24"×36", and 27"x40" sizes at higher but still reasonable prices. Larger paper maps, especially the regular 22"×34" size, fit nicely in the 24"×36" frame. I also have a game on Guadalcanal which has two 19"×27" maps that two 20"×28" frames accommodate nicely. Whatever the size, these frames give the maps a solid cardboard backing and a sturdy yet thin plastic protective sheet with an easily removable narrow black plastic border around it. I don't know if you cover your paper maps with plexiglass, but I believe that these poster frames would make an acceptable and affordable option if you did.

[@EricsTableNapoleonicBattles]

Hi William. Thanks for sharing. My kids never got into wargames. They play board games and D&D. Regarding the poster frames. I had used that a few years ago for single map La Bataille scenarios. It worked very well. I have a table about 8 foot by 4 foot. Purchased a roll of that very thin plastic, like that used in the poster frame, to cover the entire table.

[@WARdROBEPlaysWWII]

Nice list

[@EricsTableNapoleonicBattles]

Thank you!

[@williamarends7138]

Eric, I am writing this 2nd comment on this video to state I have again acted on your recommendations. I have ordered the Perry Travel Battle. This is an addition to my game collection that should appeal to my grandson, besides which these miniatures could enhance the game play of Glenn Drover's Victory and Glory Napoleon, another game that I bought on your recommendation. I tried to find the Perry game at a hobby store in Canada, but the item was not in stock at any Canadian store or website, so I ordered it directly from the Perry UK website. There is a hobby shop in nearby Hamilton, Ontario, where I might in the future purchase 6mm Russian, Prussian, Austrian,and Spanish figures to conduct the campaigns of the Victory and Glory game involving those nations. I can see myself painting the boards and the accessories or the Travel Battle, but not the soldiers as long as the armies are color coded. I have also acted on your recommendation in favor of DoubleSix Dice. They should add an interesting tactile aspect to game play.

[@EricsTableNapoleonicBattles]

Hi William. How is your quest going? Have you tried some games yet with your grandson?

[@williamarends7138]

@EricsTableNapoleonicBattles I have not been able to use the new games and components to get my grandson away from his current interest in trains. As with most children these days, he uses tablets and computer screens to interface with that subject. I did buy him a vintage Meccano clockwork engine set, which came with a small oval track. Eventually, I hope to get him to do a few board games with me, and my possession of a variety of types and historical periods should be a good way to do so. He has shown a real interest in the War of 1812, which is the closest North America ever got to participating in the Napoleonic era wars. He is nine years old now, but when he was as young as four, I got him interested in Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox, by showing him the old Walt Disney mini-series based on that Revolutionary War hero. I also showed him the first episode of the Sharp series, both of which he enjoyed. Before I discovered the modern gaming community, I bought a lot of Revolutionary War era soldiers, and we occasionally get them out and have them fight a battle. The one product that I bought from Clash of Arms is a rule book for miniatures of the Age of Reason era. I believe that I can use those rules with the toy soldiers if I scale up the charts since my soldiers are twice the size of the largest mini-figures. I am hoping to create a diorama for that purpose. The best thing about having a young person with whom to interact is that an older person has a reason to create projects that may have lain dorment in one's mind for many years.

[@kondor99999]

Thanks for doing this! My 10 year old actually taught himself the La Bataille system (I know, he’s kinda smart) but I’m the one who needs something a lot less complex.

[@EricsTableNapoleonicBattles]

Lol. Cool that he has learned that system. Once you start playing, it gets easier.