Napoleonic Basics: Battlefield roles. 1. Infantry Defence

In this first video of a new series, we look at tabletop tactics and how to deploy your infantry in a perfect defence. While all armies could use defensive formations, we look at the two best armies in defence, both in history and Black Powder, the British and the Russians.
The next video in this series will be about the infantry assault.
I've gone old school here, filmed on my camera phone so sorry for the lens flare, but we actually had some sun today! See you soon, and tune in Sunday for the giveaway announcement!

[@romeo-manny]

This channel is still iconic. My friend says It's like the Vaults of Terra of the napoleonic wars lol.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Haha, just seen this! Thanks man!

[@halfblindbear]

As far as I understood it, Wellington in the Peninsula War start the two deep line instead of three to increase his frontage on the field. The bonus for the Brits for shooting I believe is more about the fact that they did a significantly more amount of live fire drill than any other army of the time. Though at Waterloo there were battalions that refused to move out of a four deep formation due to their experience at Quatre Bras.

[@fabianrios9659]

It's always a pleasure to have a new video from you! Thank you for making these and I'm looking forward to learning more about napoleonic era with your videos

[@johnwayneeverett6263]

MADE MY WEEK ....SO THANKS ....NEVER BURN OUT BUDDY ITS JUST SO MUCH FUN AND LOVE TO LEARN...24TH OK Sounds great ....

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Thanks bud! Always enjoy your enthusiasm!

[@peterweston189]

It is all a bit confusing because you have the BP original rules, then Albion Triumphant 1 and 2, and now BP2. I play peninsular based games, so for me, attack column is not +1 to shoot at with muskets. Attack columns get a +1 to their morale save, so they save on 3+. British get first fire, which is an extra dice for a units first shot of the game. British also get steady line, meaning that if charged they can shoot and counter charge or closing fire, but give up charging bonuses. Personally I would fire and counter charge in most cases. Love your videos, keep up the good work

[@sagamer3594]

Interesting video. Thanks for posting. Very helpful for those of us learning Black Powder.

[@JonnyWatsonGaming]

Great vid really enjoyed it. Keep them coming

[@maryhinge6334]

Interesting chat. Congratulations on the subscribers by the way. 👍

[@basicminiaturepainting]

Really brilliant video mate

[@markwarne893]

Really enjoying your channel though I do not play Napoleonics but your info is good as I like to paint minis

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Thanks man!

[@daveoman438]

Hi, What rules are you using? Excellent and interesting video. Thank you. Dave Oman

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Thanks dude! The rules are black powder

[@gkspain1]

Very good would like to see the biblical troops, all the best, Garry

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

I might do a xmas special!

[@davidhadskey5979]

What brand are the French movement trays?

[@alejandrotabilo1988]

About shooting Attack Columns, I only found that Artillery gets the +1 for shooting at them, infantry doesn't get the +1 to hit. Can you tell me where +1 for infantry shooting at Attack Column is? Cheers

[@geebards]

Great initiative for your video series and very instructive. I have to say I dismiss the option for concentrating closing fire on just one battalion. Psychologically speaking I can't accept that men would turn and deliver fire to closing enemy soldiers not immediately to their front. I think the rules get this wrong - too gamey.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

That's absolutely fair criticism. I meant to say at the beginning it's coming from a 'competitive' point of view (I know BP isn't competitive, but you know what I mean!) I'll add that to part 2. I agree,splitting fie would be the 'realistic' way to do it, and I can totally respect people doing it that way!

[@manuelkong10]

Why would the British inf rate a "steady line" rule?!?

[@paulwinter1688]

Where did you get the moving trays from?

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

They were made by a chap at my club. If you ask Red Vectors they might be able to do them as he sold everything to them

[@panzerfaust6797]

Greetings general!! I was looking through the videos and perhaps I missed it but have you posted the Napoleonic Basics: Infantry Attack video? There is one posted from two years ago but I don’t it’s part of the same series.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

I haven't, its definitely in the planning stage though. For a little hint check out my How to Play French video

[@panzerfaust6797]

@@NapoleonicWargaming I’ve listened to twice while painting my old guard!

[@Ymlhael]

The picture shows British, almost made me dropped a thumb down. :) Always doing an amazing job, help me organize my French army.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Hahaha. They're tough these rosboeuf

[@bobbym.1367]

Are your french segment Bases 60 x 40 mm?

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Yes they are!

[@happy45rm]

Played a game the other day and my opponent charged with one inf reg into my cav, my cav counter charged and then he moved his other inf reg into my cavs right flank base to base so my cav was changed from front and flank. This didn’t seem right but I couldn’t find anything that stops this from happening. Ultimately I’m just wondering, why would you ever not charge a unit into the flank if you are able to?

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Hmm, seem strange. Surely when the cavalry counter charged, that would activate the infantry's 'must form square' rule?

[@happy45rm]

@@NapoleonicWargaming the cav counter charged(a special rule for light dragoons, a reaction to being charged) a charging infantry, we assumed that form square was abadoned for this situation, maybe it’s not and we went wrong there? It’s the other infantry regiment that charged the now engaged cav unit in the flank. I don’t actually know if there are benefits to flanking charges. The reason I’m questioning it now is cos I’ve seen the rules on supporting fights, but why would you support if you could charge the flank

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

@@happy45rm I mean, it doesnt say its ignored there...i dont know tbh, but I'd assume theyd have to. Remember you can only charge in the flank if you started your first move in the targets flank. You cant say move forward one, turn 90 degrees and then charge. You,ve got to be in the flank quadrant when the order is first issued.

[@happy45rm]

Ah perfect, that answers the question about flanking. Thanks very much. I’ll have a look at the book and see what happens when attacking a flank👌

[@alejandrotabilo1988]

@@happy45rm If the infantry is charging then, it's charging, not forming a square. Also, if it is counter charge by cavalry, it is automatically disordered, and it doesn't receive any bonus. BP2 pg67

[@bobbym.1367]

Awesome vid man. Where did you get the french movement trays or did you make them?

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

They were made by a friend of mine at the club. He's got out of the mdf game since I'm afraid :(

[@bobbym.1367]

@@NapoleonicWargaming thanks for the info. Finding Napoleonic players seems to be hard in my area.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

@bobbym.1367 yeah it can be unfortunately. Where abouts are you?

[@bobbym.1367]

@@NapoleonicWargaming new orleans louisiana

[@bobbym.1367]

are you in england?

[@MattVarnish1103]

Sigh this , for me, simply highlights how the British Rules are SO SUPERIOR to the French. Shocking coming from British writers of a book called Albion Triumphant.....

[@MattVarnish1103]

@Tiny mod By your logic, every game ends in a British Victory? That would be so much fun and engaging for all non-brit players, wouldnt it? Or, since they are a games company and want to sell miniatures, british and otherwise, make it remotely fair for other factions and profit. But they are ex-GW guys, and we all know how balanced those lists were.....

[@johndalton3787]

To be fair, the French player has a lot of advantages in terms of elite troops, cavalry and arguably choice of commanders. It's true to say the average British infantry battalion was better then the average French, simply better trained with more money to train with. So a wily french player must use manoeuvrable french columns and great cavalry to counter that. Or just ram them with the old guard....

[@garrywillswargamerauthor]

Hello I am definitely fan of your videos but I think you need some revision on the rules. The French columns are only +1 to hit when shot at by artillery. Under BP2 you can only move one of the two columns into contact the other one stays back and acts as a support. Your video highlighted a key issue with Steady Line, under the CoE supplement Steady Line offers the choice of either firing closing fire with +1 or firing closing fire without +1 and counter-charging. This is not what you showed. Under BP closing fire doesn't happen until the units are in contact which would be after the British counter charge! What you demonstrated was a version of steady line that got around this, but not the CoE version. Apologies if all this reads negatively but the other comments show that you are an important resource and influencer in our hobby and the rules need to be accurately represented. I am looking forward to your video on how to assault a steady line in the realistic brigade formation you recommended in this video. Despite the above you demonstrated that throwing columns in willy nilly is not the way to go. Thanks Garry

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

No its all good stuff dude! It was my understanding that both French columns complete the charge but only 1 fights, and as you say the other one provides support. If that's the case then surely either would be a legitimate target for closing fire? As for the steady line, I must confess I was going off the Albion Triumphant books not CoE so thanks for the heads up!

[@garrywillswargamerauthor]

@@NapoleonicWargaming Good - no only the unit that actually charges to contact gets the closing fire. Mind you if I was French in your video I would argue that the fire should be split.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

@@garrywillswargamerauthor ah. I'll have to sit down with the rulebook again!

[@richiehall3042]

Great video again however if you look at the COE supplements regarding column v line at the beginning of each paragraph it confirms only 1 unit contacts