Learn to Play a FREE Napoleonic Wargame | "Valour & Fortitude"

Today, let's play the new Napoleonic rules "Valour & Fortitude" from Jervis Johnson, Alan Perry, and Michael Perry! It's a miniature tabletop game sharing many similarities to "Black Powder," except this one is a fraction of the length and free to play. We've now played this game several times in the club and found it to be a fast, fun Napoleonic experience.
This tutorial familiarizes you with the core game concepts, walks through the turn sequence, and explains key mechanics of play. After the holidays, we'll return with a rule review video and dive even deeper into "Valour & Fortitude." There's a lot to like, a few nits to pick, and plenty of reasons for you to give this game a shot with some friends at home.
GET THE RULES FOR FREE
You can purchase a printed copy of the rule booklet via Wargames Illustrated magazine or download a free copy of the game and all supplemental material from Perry Miniatures here:
www.perry-mini...
GET OUR MONTEBELLO SCENARIO FOR FREE
Visit the "Free Stuff" section of our homepage for a PDF copy of our Valour & Fortitude Montebello scenario! Complete with orders of battle, unit labels, scenario map, and special rules. We also have a copy of our revised, cleaned up QRS for the game. Grab that too!
www.LittleWarsT...

[@CB-zq1ky]

Merry Christmas! Thank you Little Wars for taking your time to make this incredible content!

[@LittleWarsTV]

Merry Christmas to you and yours, CB!

[@samb2052]

Great taster. Look forward to seeing the full Montebello report.

[@colmhain]

Joyeux Noël! Frohe Weihnachten! And since I'm in Italy (in the path of Napoleon's historical advance), Buon Natale!

[@Anvilarm07]

Cool, looking forward to the game and the Perry visit next year.

[@peterloft6281]

Merry Christmas to you all and big thanks for all the excellent content you provide. Without you I would never have gotten into the historical miniature hobby.

[@LittleWarsTV]

That's really cool to hear. We started the channel for that very reason so something we're doing here must be working!

[@peterloft6281]

It certainly has :)

[@josephgough30]

Merry Christmas! Thanks for all the fun times this year fellas!

[@kaiserknight1217]

I love these videos on getting into Napoleonic Wargaming!

[@Aaronfromprojectwargaming]

That was a fun game and I love the rules and I have used them for ACW. It's handy to make a set of cards that have the rules on them instead of constantly looking up what each card means.

[@LittleWarsTV]

DEFINITELY TRUE!

[@obxsocom]

Did you have any special adaptations for ACW?

[@Aaronfromprojectwargaming]

@@obxsocom I did and it was for 6mm. Send me and email and I'll shoot you what I have.

[@russjenkins7349]

I second the above Project Wargaming comment. Very fun game. Thanks for hosting us.

[@sanavkids4790]

Well I have about some 80 toy soldiers will 8t be enough for a wargame ?😢😢Pls reply

[@DBNwargaming]

Sounds like a good set of rules. Cheers to Little Wars, keep up the great content and Merry Christmas

[@tritarch6687]

This channel is a gift that keeps giving. Merry Christmas and thank you for the awesome content!

[@RubberToeYT]

The cards being implemented is such a good idea, great video

[@zargonfuture4046]

Merry Christmas you guys, thanks for all the positive gaming it was good for the wargamer soul and a pleasure to watch, your AWI rules rock.

[@wc9109]

Merry Christmas guys and thanks for all the great content

[@rickrussell8382]

Merry Christmas to the Little Wars family. You guys are doing a great job. I started playing wargames in 1974. Good to see guys with new ideas.

[@salamancero]

Thanks for the content guys. Merry Christmas!

[@mrb7261]

As someone who’s curious about getting into Napoleonics, I’m very excited about seeing this next game! I’ve already downloaded and read through the rules, I think this might just be my gateway game for this period!! So thanks for the Christmas gift! Lol

[@Qoda]

Merry Christmas, guys! And thanks for pointing us all to these free game rules. I can't wait to start playing this in 6mm! Thanks again!

[@davidcollins2648]

Thank you. Remarkably similar to the system I've been trying to develop, even to the same basing convention (yay!). I'll have to give these a go as I've found most rules overly complicated taking most of the fun out of it. Merry Christmas gentlemen!

[@LittleWarsTV]

This game is not one you’ll find overly complicated, that’s for sure…

[@sagamer3594]

Thanks guys and Merry Christmas to you all

[@amtmannb.4627]

Very nicely explained simple rules. Thank you, guys!

[@thestoicsteve]

Thanks for the overview guys. I have the free rules from the magazine and must get some minis on the table for it over the holiday season.

[@LittleWarsTV]

We really liked how it played on the table. Lots of Black Powder influences, except better.

[@michaelgriffin135]

Thanks guys. Looking forward to the full review and scenario video. Happy holidays to all the little wars gang and supporters. Game on in 2023👍.

[@SkHATEy]

Our club is already enjoying games with these rules. It's like a tightly written 3ed Black Powder we always yearned for.

[@LittleWarsTV]

Totally agreed…this feels like the simple, easy game BP was supposed to be.

[@andrewwilson4975]

Nicely done guys and a Merry Christmas to all of you at Little Wars TV. Keep the great content coming!!

[@StormofSteelWargaming]

Merry Christmas guys!

[@davidnemoseck9007]

Merry Christmas! Can't wait to see all the games that will come out next year!

[@TheGambitMan]

Happy Holidays to you maniacs! You guys are the coolest!

[@natewatts195]

Thanks for another great video with free swag.

[@LittleWarsTV]

Thank the Perrys and Jervis Johnson! They put together a really neat free set here.

[@giovannifusco00]

Great Christmas present. Grazie from Italy!

[@totalburnout5424]

Downloaded the armylists after finding the rules in WI. I'll see if I can test over the holidays. Looking forward to Your full review.

[@LittleWarsTV]

Worth a test for sure. We had some skeptics going into it, mostly wondering if a Napoleonic game this short could still capture the necessary period flavor. But everyone emerged rather excited after a couple of scenarios. There are some quibbles (which I'm sure we'll cover in the review), but a very fun game. It especially appealed to the guys here who are not die hard Napoleonic players--this game doesn't make your head hurt.

[@totalburnout5424]

@@LittleWarsTV Nicely said. 😆 I was a bit surprised that they would compete with Mr. Priestley. 🤔

[@Redmow51]

Thank you much for the free content for Valour & Fortitude. Much appreciated.

[@TheRendar]

Great rule set! Picked it up with the October wargames illustrated. Great video overview and the Quick reference on your website… chefs kiss lol

[@brunswicklord6365]

Thank you guys for another year of fine war gaming. You are truly inspiring and display all that is good about the hobby, community comradeship and just having a good time. From over the pond I salute you all with a toast of Jack Daniels Old Number 7 and a very happy Christmas to you all.

[@daybertimagni4841]

Merry Christmas 😊

[@jamesmcfeters4930]

Oh and merry Christmas!!!

[@basement1908]

You guys are awesome! Thanks for everything ya'll do!

[@mattcappelli5822]

Thanks for this video. I’ve been looking for a rule set to go with the epic Waterloo figures I’ve been working on and I wasn’t loving Black Powder. Looking forward to your full review of this set

[@raymusselman5335]

Merry Christmas !! Thanks for all the great content and downloads this year. I really appreciate the effort.

[@LittleWarsTV]

Thanks Ray!

[@davidbest4908]

Merry Christmas!! Great work from everyone at LWTV. I even bought one of the t-shirts 🤣.

[@LittleWarsTV]

It's a real magnet for the ladies.

[@paradox7358]

It would be great to see a Napoleonic campaign on the channel.

[@McFaddenWG]

Many years ago I wrote a scenario for Montebello (for Napoleon's Battles)... I am looking forward to seeing this game play out!

[@rcspaintserviceandgaming]

Free rules? I already love it! ❤

[@slartybartfarst55]

Thank you for great Videos & keeping me smiling through some tough times this Year. Merry Christmas to all at Little Wars TV

[@agrayday7816]

Thanks Team! I believe there are more Nappy miniature rulesets out there, than actual games played. :) BP (black Powder) has risen to be the current popular title. Caliver Books - Over the Hills is a fun rule set, so is le Feu Sacre from TFL, then Lasalle & Blucher by Sam A. Mustafa. I understand that General d'Armee' is popular in the UK.

[@LittleWarsTV]

Hah and we’ve played all of those games at one time or another!

[@milesreidy7864]

@@LittleWarsTV General D'Armee is very popular at the club too!

[@michaelg.2028]

Thank you for your excellent videos! I downloaded the Montebello scenario and it seems to lack instructions for the initial setup of the French and Austrians.

[@GreenBlueWalkthrough]

Sounds like a great system that focuses on the realities of Napoleonic warfare!

[@RavenBrood]

What were those austrian infantry??

[@alexwitzaney9018]

Seasons Greetings!!

[@israelrodriguez4365]

Thank you for your videos. Feliz Navidad!

[@LittleWarsTV]

Same to you, Israel!

[@donwilliams8357]

My club has been shifting to simpler, fast-play rules, so we'll definitely give these a try! They seem so generic that you could easily adapt them to any horse & musket era. You'd have ti come up with new Fate tables, ehich would be fun to do.

[@paulbenson9015]

Another Great video Gents, Merry Christmas to you all and your families, Many Thanks for another Great Year!!

[@LittleWarsTV]

Thanks Paul! Merry Christmas to you and yours, as well! Have a great holiday.

[@tiberiuscodius5828]

This feels like a Napoleonic version of Warmaster Ancients!

[@elliotlane3225]

Merry Christmas to all in the Little Wars TV club

[@hoserhouserules7291]

free, short rules, any fig scale, uses d6s- what's not to love. just keep an eye on the unit costs (could be wonky). btw, Greg is evil incarnate! ha ha ha kidding. awesome job. great review with demo!

[@sanavkids4790]

How to get the soldiers😢 ❤

[@kartchner7]

That way lies madness!-Miles

[@davidgeister]

Excellent!

[@leonleese4919]

It looks to be a great game, particularly using the scenario and playing cards to show the quality of the troops you command. It also shows the fragility of poor commanders in the napoleonic period. Showing that large armies and lazy generals don’t do well. A game that must be tried it will certainly put the fun back into wargames

[@redmist1122]

Was curious if you guys would do a test run of these rules. We played these also in 15mm too! We just halved the distances and work just fine. This was an excellent way to break out my massive Nap armies in 15s, which haven't seen the light of a game table in over 15+ years. I see in you video clips a multi-player...nice. How or what did you do to the game system to make this a multi-player game? Oh, and I will be downloading your free-bee scenario and QRS as well. Looking forward to when the Perry's will mod the game for ACW...I have tons of 15s for that period too. Thanks again and great video as always.

[@LittleWarsTV]

It works just fine for multiple players on a side. The players have to agree who gets the “free” activation (only one brigade) and then everyone rolls their own activation dice and takes actions. The game is IGOUGO, so an entire side gets to go at once, which may bother some players who don’t like that style, but it’s good for big multiplayer games.

[@redmist1122]

@@LittleWarsTV Awesome! I kind of figure as much, just need a verification so to speak. Thank you for the fast response.

[@jamesmcfeters4930]

Did we move away from the scotch, whiskey, drink, inclusion, mention, showing???.. Love the channel.. Some proceeds went to battlefield preservation.. Bad ass!!

[@blecao]

As a note the rules from the magacine are obsolete since they had make quite some updates creating special rules and making cavalry more deadly Merry christmas

[@LittleWarsTV]

Yes, the latest version is on the website. I'm sure we'll be talking about the magazine version in our review, as well!

[@dylankellison3724]

Oh my god, the guy in the orange was my high school history teacher, never thought I would see him here.

[@LittleWarsTV]

Little did you know…he is a legend!

[@leonleese4919]

I have a Napoleonic Prussian Army Competition size. All in minifigs 15mm. Ask the beginnings of an ACW army for both CSA and Union. Minifigs. All the old strip figures For those that don’t know a strip of 5 infantry for 7,5p What I would like to try is ACW games solo. Is there any chance of a V&F version for ACW? Having seen the run through a get started. Game for 1861/2 battles would be not too much of a problem..

[@pod1977pod]

Will you guys be reviewing Soldiers of Napoleon?

[@LittleWarsTV]

No plans to do so for the foreseeable future!

[@pod1977pod]

@LittleWarsTV Thanks for the reply. I think that's a pity, they are a gem in my view.

[@pankermit2724]

Merry Christmas and is there any chance for full battle report of this wargame on your channel?

[@LittleWarsTV]

Not for this one--we did a write up on our Patreon page last month when it was played. But the only video footage is what we used to make this "how to play" summary. But if Napoleonics are your jam, we intend to return to this period again on the channel!

[@andremesot5144]

The level above bataillon is not regiment?

[@RealHumanPerson-zz7ix]

Depends on the army. Typically a regiment in this time period is simply an organizational unit, which could contain multiple battalions but typically only had one. In this sense a regiment and a battalion were usually the same size. "Battalion" is a designation based on the actual number of men, whereas a regiment is simply an organizational category into which the battalions fit.

[@andremesot5144]

@@RealHumanPerson-zz7ix Thank you so much !

[@klasclaywood2667]

Is this rule set suitable for Warlord games Epic scale? Is it suitable for ACW?

[@Nnomadd]

nice

[@1701patrick]

Can you tell me what size are the soldiers/scale? I’d like to get that size and name of company where I can buy them.

[@kejmanghafari8607]

Hey i have question well the rules add more Nations like Wurttemburg and Brunswick and other Nations.

[@LittleWarsTV]

We don’t know…but they have been steadily adding updates and new armies, so hopefully that trend continues!

[@ctwargames]

This is very picky but i wish someone would tighten the sling up on the K98 in the background, i can't stop looking at it.

[@Deli1321]

Would this work for FIW and SYW 6mm?

[@ChicagoTerrainFactory]

The Army Sheet lists a range of figures i.e. Line Infantry with 24-36 Figures per unit. The number of figures don't seem to make any difference, other than the physical size of the unit on the table. Are there other impacts?

[@LittleWarsTV]

Not that we’ve noticed! We use 6 bases of 15mm figures for most units and 8 for larger units

[@3tacoman]

More dogs for the fire !!!!!

[@BiggusStickus]

Great intro to the game, but you should have checked your camera was horizontal . . . 🙂

[@LittleWarsTV]

We had some focus issues on this one as well with the table in the foreground as a low angle!

[@dougredshirt3991]

Always believed morale should be rolled into hit points. Just slows the game down with morale rules. For example an average unit has 3 hit points, a good unit 4 and a poor unit 2 hits. Simple and quick. After all, all morale is how willing a unit is to stand and fight.

[@matthiuskoenig3378]

Napoleon's battles does this more or less. Each unit has a number which it desperces at (effectively hp), units also have set route numbers and disorder numbers. It's a little more varied than just 3 levels of hp (a despercion number of a unit was a cross-reference of its despercion level and its unit size, and there are 5 levels if I remember correctly. And there were 5 different unit sizes (although the 2 largest only applied to infantry and the smallest only to cav). thus there was 25 potential 'hp' numbers a unit could have)

[@Caniswalensis]

How do you feel about the Absolute Emperor rules?

[@LittleWarsTV]

It did not receive a warm reception here.

[@bigsarge2085]

👍👍

[@MrTeaLover]

where do you get 10 mm walls?

[@SlotraceDK]

Would it make sense to use these rules with ACW miniatures?

[@RealHumanPerson-zz7ix]

It would probably translate quite well, but you may want to simulate the use of rifled muskets by increasing firing range. It may also be wise to adjust cavalry rules accordingly, not only were heavy cavalry and direct cavalry charges near-nonexistent during the civil war but more accurate muskets also would have made such charges essentially suicidal. That more comes down to the type of cavalry imo, I would just make sure to tweak the rules to make sure that the cav behaves and plays like light cavalry and is best used in a skirmishing capacity. I'm not incredibly familiar with army organization in the civil war specifically, but for example if the armies had different size brigades or divisions etc you would probably want to adjust that accordingly as well.

[@Redlegskate1785]

What is the recommend scale for this game? Does it work in 6mm?

[@LittleWarsTV]

It works in any scale! We play with 15mm but the designers play in 28. Your 6mm bases would work just fine.

[@michaelwhite8031]

Can the game be played solo ?

[@lacky9320]

Am I crazy? What size table should this be played on?

[@LittleWarsTV]

I'd say a minimum of 6'x8' if you keep the movement distances as written. But....we simply cut them in half and play in 15mm. Works fine on a 6'x4' and has lots of room to maneuver on 6'x8'.

[@mikehillsgrove1612]

Great review. Not my game however as I dislike the cards. Still hoping for Altar of Freedom for Napoleonic's.

[@LittleWarsTV]

Generally NOT a fan of card-based mechanics either, Mike. But the cards in V&F aren't a major element of the game. In fact, you could literally skip the Fate Cards entirely and the mechanics would not be impacted. They just add a little flavor and random event action.

[@AndrewBrew]

Altar of Freedom for Napoleonics. Funny you should say that...

[@oganbrown1237]

Hello, I am a board game lover from Russia and I want to translate some of your videos for a Russian-speaking audience and voice them. Can I get permission from you to do this?

[@2013jpm]

What scale are these figures?

[@LittleWarsTV]

These are 15mm

[@GGdeTOURS37]

That's lovely but I always disliked painting so I play games like command & colors Napoleonics (the full collection) from years!

[@flyingfish5054]

We all know the real reason why Greg is wearing a hat...

[@LittleWarsTV]

Glare from his head, no doubt. That or he's just really cold.

[@milesreidy7864]

@@LittleWarsTV could be both

[@gordonyork6638]

Ugghhh. Another IGOUGO.

[@hoserhouserules7291]

also, did you guys do a review of black powder? don't see it. most unbalanced point system ever! my cuirassier, 45 points, solid. french cuirassier, just 3 more points and will ALWAYS beat mine- for 3 points. they get to re-roll any melee dice which don't hit. did i mention just 3 points? worst rules ever. do these guys playtest? please!