Classifying skirmishers in Black Powder

In this video we look at ways that both trained and untrained light troops can be represented in Black Powder that doesn't require 48" of space or thirty tiny units running around!

[@geebards]

We allow light infantry battalions a shooting value of 2 when in Mixed Formation and also permit the option for the battalion to skirmish entirely in open order by staggering the bases slightly forward and slightly to the rear (checker-board style). In open order, we allow their charge reaction from infantry as either Evade or Form Line on the point of contact facing their chargers or form square (on a command roll) if charged by cavalry.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Those sound like excellent middle ground solutions!

[@CullodenPaintingStudio]

Really like that warband idea for irregulars.

[@halfblindbear]

What I do is all light companies and light infantry battalions I base on individual bases, 20mm. It helps represent the group skirmishing but does get crazy with the frontage

[@Chrisbo123]

New drinking game idea: take a shot every time you hear „job‘s a goodden“ 😝😝 jokes aside you got some great ideas there! Will try them out

[@sneakyarcher12]

I've got some 1809 Bavarian's so id love to see a supplement focused on those conflicts. Also, great video.

[@marecki9845]

My skimish units have been represented as a small unit, one per brigade. I use 4 bases (renedra 45x40) on which I place 3 figures. This allows for a skirmish screen for the entire brigade, and at the same time does not take up much space. For the British I have both riflemen and light infantry, while with the Prussians I use jagers and fusiliers and for French is classic combine voltiguers units. What do you think about this solution?

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Yeah, that;s deffo an option I didn't talk about, changing the minis to match the scale frontage. Great idea!

[@mickh8231]

For the glory of the algorithm 😆👍

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Hahaha, much appreciated!

[@scarfacejosh123]

Can skirmishers in skirmish formation form square? This came up in one of my games and I couldn't see anything which said otherwise (albeit from my skimming of the text) but I don't know if it makes sense to me.

[@ShaunTame-re5us]

An enjoyable vid, thank you.

[@rmullen63]

Add 5:15, what model is that with the musket and cross?

[@TwisstedSage]

Okay, so all of that went by so fast I'll be rewatching who knows how many times. I've been using Victrix basing for far too long to rebase now & besides I like the way it works, "mostly". Basing 4 figures on 20x20 gives me a 180mm front w/ 36 figures per Batt. So a Brit. company = 3.6 figures rounding to 4, French = 6 figures. Using the 1/2 bases from Perry boxes, I put 2 skirmishers on each. This works out well since this was the common skirmish unit (if you can discount that would be 40 actual skirmishers per base). This has turned out to be very clumsy moving for my very shakey hands if the unit is in close order = 8 40x40 + 2 20x40 skrm bases (Brit) or 7 40x40 w/ 4 20x40 skrm bases (French) further laid on the 40x60mm trays for movement x 3 per battalion. So, I can push out a skirmish screen with those 1/2 bases & throw in a full base of grenadiers for a mixed order formation. You can see on pg. 22 of BP v.2 illustrates exactly what I describe (including the 1/2 bases) or what you're recommending in the video of 1/2 Batt. in skirmish & 1/2 in close order. It seems like we could allow for a "Skirmish Swarm" by putting the "Formed" 1/2 Batt. into a sort of open/ disordered formation that wouldn't take up too much room but would clearly symbolize that sort of tactic. Turning an entire musket armed Battalion into a Rifle armed Battalion sounds a nightmare for the opposition. Is adding one off color die to a volley or even an extra die at long musket range too fidley or allowing the unit to simply roll a single to hit die at Rifle range not good enough? Having to deal with even a single roaming company of green jackets can make for frustrating hide & seek hours, the idea of turning whole Battalions into long range murderers who can't be touched short of a serious cavalry charge is nightmarish. Being able to detach a light company or greenies seems perfectly fine, given the provisos you mentioned and should be obvious that a Batt. has lost as much as a sixth of it's size. Clearly, I'd love to help anyway I can in the 1805-09 endeavor, remember, I'm in Texas & my access to research materials is seriously reduced compared to yours. Love the "War Band" idea. Couldn't we just have the unit in a permanent, open order , disordered state, allowing them to conform to the terrain with maybe a limitation on the width of the unit but allowing it to straggle off to an undetermined depth when need be. By the by, the last slide of the Imperial Chassuers on parade for the Emp. is smashing, I'd never seen it before . Thanks as always with Hugs.

[@steveharbour845]

I've done my skirmishers as 2 miniatures on a 40mm round base. Why? It looks cool 😂

[@garrywillswargamerauthor]

Thought provoking video thanks. I like the suggested use of warband for irregular units. I also agree that community generated supplements are a good approach to filling in gaps left by Warlord. My own book 'Throwing Thunderbolts -A Wargamer's Guide to the War of the First Coalition, 1792-7', includes 5 Black Powder scenarios and is therefore just such a supplement, in a way. As to regular skirmishers, both the French and Wellington formed converged skirmisher organisations at the brigade level commanded by a chef de battailon and a major respectively, which fits well with Black Powder's approach. My thoughts on skirmishers are in my video at 40 mins in kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIvaoHp-l91riac. All the best Garry.

[@halfblindbear]

You should read the rules for natives during the French and Indian war, in A Dark and Bloody Ground.

[@gromit368]

Absolutely interested in the book and would like to assist! Email sent.

[@turfdorbrittlebeard1674]

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