History Talk Episode 2: Introduction to French Infantry Tactics 1793 - 1815

[@aaronjones2117]

@38:47 That's why I like the Shako Orders rules. making the player plan out where his troops are moving to before any minis are on the table is a good way to take away the ahistorical helicopter view that we the players have.

[@BattleBunkerHQ]

Hi Aron thanks for watching. I’ve never played Shako, although I do know of people who have and I think you’re right, that sounds a great way to take away the helicopter all seeing / knowing view. I’ll have to take a look at those some point. 😁👍

[@tabletopgeneralsde310]

Hi buddy, that looks like a great 40 minutes to listen. Have to do it later but put in my later watch list. Take care and have a great Christmas time, together with your family.

[@BattleBunkerHQ]

We hope you enjoy the video. Merry Christmas to you and likewise please take care 😁

[@gavinbooth]

A very enjoyable video thank you very much Lee for the upload . Regards Gav.

[@BattleBunkerHQ]

Many thanks Gav, I’m pleased you enjoying these talks. Take care mate 😁👍

[@maryhinge6334]

I was right. You’ve definitely got something here Lee. Please keep these coming. Really enjoyable and interesting. Perfectly hits the sweet spot between history and wargaming. 🙂

[@BattleBunkerHQ]

Thanks Jim, we are really pleased you’ve enjoyed these talks so far. The intention was to aim these talks at the wargamer starting a new project or someone who is interested in military history. We wanted to keep them light and give the viewer an insight into the topic. We do plan on continuing doing them, once we can all get together. 😁👍

[@maryhinge6334]

It’s certainly worked on me. I’m already thinking about doing a Bavarian force for Sharp Practice. 😂

[@BattleBunkerHQ]

@@maryhinge6334 nice one Jim, I’ll look forward to seeing them 👍

[@RationalExpectations]

Very informative and enjoyable to listen to, especially as I paint my French army. Looking forward to future episodes. Toby is an excellent speaker.

[@BattleBunkerHQ]

Thanks for watching Keith, glad you enjoyed listening while painting your French. Toby is excellent at delivering these talks and has a wealth of knowledge. Keep an eye on the channel as we certainly do plan on doing more talks, once we can get together from our busy schedules. Take care 😁👍

[@gra55h0pper2]

Nice video again folks, very informative. Thanks very much. Too late to stop me spending my life savings on miniatures though.

[@BattleBunkerHQ]

😂 You and me both mate. Thanks for watching buddy, have a good Christmas and hope to see you soon 😁👍

[@nathangoodyear9763]

Great discussion on this topic, Vive La France...

[@BattleBunkerHQ]

Thanks a lot Nathan and Merry Christmas to you mate 🎄😁👍

[@Ian_KH]

The happy medium for Napoleonic wargaming that I feel works best is General D'Armee by Dave Brown. Great rules for divisional+ battles.

[@BattleBunkerHQ]

Thanks for watching. I agree with you Ian, I think they are a good set of rules that gives good period feel and flavour. We also play his Pickett's Charge rules. Take Care.

[@garybullock5917]

Hi great video

[@BattleBunkerHQ]

Hi Garry, thanks mate 😁👍

[@johnwayneeverett6263]

GREAT STUFF GUYS THANK U.

[@BattleBunkerHQ]

Hi, thanks for watching and the kind words. We are pleased you enjoyed the topic. 😁👍

[@basicminiaturepainting]

This was brilliant lee really enjoyed this I even started to take notes many thanks for your support and friendship mate,hope you and your family have a great Xmas.

[@BattleBunkerHQ]

Thank you Justin for your kind words mate, it really means a lot. When we started talking about doing these videos, I did think that you would appreciate them. Likewise mate, your friendship means a lot to me and you know where I am if you need to talk or want to play a game. Merry Christmas to you all 🎄😁👍

[@martinjones7246]

Interesting talk again about the French tactics. My first book on wargaming was 'Introduction to battle gaming' by Terence Wise originally 1969, my copy is 1972. Then I found John Tunstils 'Discovering wargames' and later Paddy Griffith's 'Sandhurst Wargames.' All of these had Napoleonic wars rules and details on the campaigns and war. I certainly got a more educated feel for the war rather than my boyhood battles of lining them up and knocking them over with marbles! In the past I have been a member of clubs such as Andover and Plymouth. However I prefer battles with family, friends, or solo. I found clubs too be pedantic and not enough fun! Although war is hardly fun. I do like the way you are all presenting these shows, though, by putting a bit of humour in! 😅

[@BattleBunkerHQ]

Those are some great books you mentioned Martin and very influential. Like you, I used to do the same with my toy soldiers on the dining room table 😂. I started out in my local club in Devizes and then gamed with a friend, who sadly is no longer with us, and now I mainly game with my family (Mel & Jamie), and a few friends when we can. I’m glad you enjoyed our approach to this short series, we had fun making it 😁.

[@lesliebeilby-tipping6854]

Good discussion, the talk is a good starting point for a number of future discussions. Towards the end you were getting into the different types of games. Look forawrd to the development of these ideas. Pete you need to be looking at Sharpe Practise or M&T2 for your 28mm's

[@BattleBunkerHQ]

Thanks for watching and your support, we really appreciate it. This certainly is a great topic in which we can revisit again and look at it from other view points in the future. Merry Christmas and take care 😁

[@hobbywargamer8195]

Fantastic video with loads of information, I can now play my French with historical tactics instead of the Hollywood style, any plans for videos on other nations, British, Spanish, etc?

[@BattleBunkerHQ]

Thank you for watching, we are pleased that you found the topic interesting and of value. It is such a vast topic that no doubt we will certainly revisit in the future. We have thought about doing some talks with the release of Warlord Games release of their Epic Napoleonics for Waterloo. Also talks on WW2 and ACW. What these will be is yet to be decided, but we are very keen to continue with this series. 😁👍

[@62seano]

Very interesting and very informative, really enjoying the series. Hope you and the family have a great xmas Lee

[@BattleBunkerHQ]

Thank you Sean for all your support mate, glad you enjoyed the video. Merry Christmas to you mate 🎄😁👍

[@smoothbrush4722]

Nice

[@BattleBunkerHQ]

Thanks for watching, glad you liked it 😁

[@BearGrisham]

Where did the grenadiers and voltiguers form up in a French column of attack?

[@BattleBunkerHQ]

Hi, thanks for watching. Normally in a Battalion column the voltiguer company would form on the left at the front with 2 fusilier companies behind. The Grenadier company would form on the right at the front next to the voltiguers and with 2 fusilier companies behind them. An alternative column of companies, the voltiguers would deploy ahead out in front in a skirmish screen. The grenadiers would lead the rest of the companies if the fusilier companies began to falter, with 1 company behind each other. Hope that helps

[@jamesgrcevich6277]

Very informative . which books do you recommend and is a copy of the regulations of 1791 available in english?

[@BattleBunkerHQ]

Hi James, thanks for watching and pleased you found it informative. Good question, it's a great period to research whether you're a wargamer or someone who is interested in history in this period. Good introductory books I think is the Napoleons Military Machine and Wellingtons Military Machine by Philip J. Haythornthwaite. These books give a good overview of the different unit types, their organisation, weapons and tactics of the period. At the last time of looking, they are both still available from the likes of Amazon etc. There is also the great range of books from Osprey, which again give a basic insight into the chosen topic of the books. Another good source for wargaming is the collection of books and orders of battle not just from the Napoleonic period but many other periods is by G. F. Nafziger. As for the regulations of 1791, it is worth searching on the internet and seeing what that yields. I Hope that helps a little, take care

[@jamesgrcevich6277]

Try for answering.I have several books by Nafziger. I was looking for the regulations as I have a copy of Dundas. I am retired so have lots of time on my hands. Ty

[@Holdit66]

Army/Corps level rules such as Napoleon's Battles and Age of Eagles deal witht eh ground scale anomalies by making the basic unit the brigade (or its size equivalent) and treating the area it occupies on the table as being the footprint of the whole brigade, within which the battalions may be in any configuration of formations. The army or corps commander doesn't know or care about the details - thats the job of the brigade commanders.

[@BattleBunkerHQ]

I used to play Age of Eagles years ago, thanks for watching 😁

[@eddiepennington345]

A lot of this seems like wargame heresy!

[@BattleBunkerHQ]

Hi, thanks for watching and your thoughts.