How to play British: Part 2 - Infantry

Hey guys and welcome to part 2 of our look at the British infantry! To be honest, there's not a huge amount of new ground covered here, but it brings together the few videos we've done in the past!
Most of the artwork here is from various boxes, largely from Strelets, a 1:72 scale manufacturer, traditionally...not great, but now turning out some lovely stuff, I can only say give them a look if that's your scale!
I now have an affiliate link with The Outpost! If you're looking to get some goodies, please use this link, it doesn't cost you any extra and helps the channel! www.the-outpost.co.uk/aff/93/

[@craigcameron3378]

First game tonight of BP Epic with my Brits under Picton defending the ridge against d'Erlon. Thanks for the video advice!

[@SonOfSalop]

'Do we actually need the supplements?' Picked up AT vol. 1 and clash of eagles for half price just last week, and they've changed EVERYTHING! Now it actually feels like a Napoleonic battle, not a generic line battle between 2 generic musket forces. I can't wait to get back to the gaming table, and I can't help planning 2 or 3 games ahead with ideas now, because they change the game dynamics so much more interestingly.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Brilliantly put! They really do change things

[@Tupinamba77]

Very interesting comments about the drop off of British firepower when taking casualties. I think that deserves a houserule. And it would be a good balancing expedient too.

[@gkspain1]

This is outstanding information and I love how you link wargaming with history, all the best, Garry

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Thanks man! I sometimes need to remind myself it's a wargaming channel, not a historical one, but I do try!

[@yavok]

Absolutely love your how to play videos. I think they are my favourite. Keep up the excellent work!

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Thanks man! You keep watching them, I'll keep making them!

[@leonleese4919]

Wellington used Rifle Companies added to a Brigade skirmish line so that’s 3 or 4 figures added to a Brit skirmish line

[@ratelmike8825]

What a brilliant video....especially for me new to Black Powder.

[@johnkitchen2924]

I’m happily painting Berdan’s Shapshooters for a Union Black Powder Epic force listening to a Napoleonic British ‘how to play’ video, but I foresee trouble ahead for this most excellent channel. In October Joseph McCullough’s Silver Bayonet will be released bring a new twist to 28mm Napoleonics. I will be dusting off my Flintloque - I can hear the sharp intake of breath. And then next year I think Warlord will move Epic to the Peninsular War with a British/French starter set as it’s the logical next step for Epic. From there they can move backward through Napoleons European campaigns and forward to Waterloo. The familiarity of the Sharpe books/TV series gives the Peninsular campaign the recognition it needs to succeed. Will this channel follow Warlord into 13mm Napoleonics, now there’s a question? Keep up the great work, it’s much appreciated Joken

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

I dont know, we'll have to see! I liked the idea of flintloque but it had died before I really heard about it, the concept seemed fun though!

[@charlesentrekin6607]

My gaming club just switched over to Black Powder. I've got a lot catching up to do so I truly appreciate these videos.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Ah cool! It's a good set of rules, not perfect, but what set is?! I hope you enjoy it!

[@marecki9845]

My answer to steady line and countercharge is to charge first by french column from long distance, so british taking long contercharge with no support, then give my column supports from rear and ranks as continue bigade orders. so +3 to combat result.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

That's a great tip!

[@Edward-Plantagenet]

You make the point about the impact of Disorder, it’s the one thing that really puts me off BP as it’s so easy to roll a 6 with a bunch of dice, so much so that it can slow the game to a REAL drag. If we play BP again, and it’s a big if, I think we’d try the often mentioned house rule of only becoming disordered if a 6 is rolled, followed by rolling a 1 on any dice on the save. I’m sure it’ll take an hour off every game.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

I agree, I think disorder is too easy to achieve. Especially if you need 6's to hit.

[@MarekKrassus53]

The British in Black Powder is the equivalent of the Space Marines from Warhammer 40k. : P

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

They kind of are 😂

[@MarekKrassus53]

@@NapoleonicWargaming I am very curious how the opponent can defeat them. Theoretically, any other army should outnumber them in order to balance them. Unfortunately, the points system does not take into account the advantage the British have thanks to their excellent special rules. P.S. Will you be making some new material about the army of the Duchy of Warsaw?

[@andreaspersson5639]

Ew. Eeeew! Can't you think of a better comparison, that doesn't make me want to never even touch them? :p (I'd probably more compare them to germans in WW2 games, myself)

[@CrichtonNo5]

@@MarekKrassus53 french attack columns with a decent player in command will still smash British line. You have to have a good knowledge of the rules and the best way to send in your brigade supporting each other etc, but you can overcome steady line quite easily if you're not daft. As the attack you get to choose your supports, with column you're more likely to have multiple supports than the British, and you've got your morale bonus to fall back on. You'll find some British players are savvy with how they deploy other units of their brigade, but many aren't.

[@MarekKrassus53]

@@CrichtonNo5 :D

[@BrushQuill]

Interesting video. I have heard it said that "Napoleon atracked on the battlefield but Wellington attacked on the map table". I.e. old nosey made sure to fight where he was at an advantage. You: "British are defensive" Me looking at my 6mm Assaye army "oh"

[@romanscho]

Great Video! I countercharge only in about half of cases, because you might loose support, a French charge may come from a long way, if you assume that both units meet at half way. The French get tough fighters for 1 pt, with that you pay the same price for British and French. My conclusion of calculations and tests is, that in a 1 vs 1 the French win about 65 % of the fights when French charge in attack column and British use first fire and steady line. Closing fire when counter charging with first fire results in 2 hits on average (no close range bonus), each having 33 % chance to cause a casualty (attack column moral 3). So the French suffer 0 - 1 casualties on average from closing fire. In the following melee the french will be much stronger (tough fighters, moral 3) So in my view the French are stronger and should be more expensive or british cheaper, as they cannot form attack column.

[@mdjred2709]

Hello! Could you make "how to start/play swedish infantry"? i would love to see that

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

I'll have to have a look, I don't know anything about the Swedes! 😂

[@geebards]

Another great episode. Not entirely convinced about more units of small battalions - too fragile. Also, are you saying that British line battalions can't deploy into column of attack?

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Its something I'd need to experiment with tbh. No they can't form attack column, unless a scenario has special rules to let them (as the one in AT1 does)

[@grandadsartspace5805]

If this is using black powder rules are they roughly the same under general d armiee rules .Terry

[@ConstableGrey]

If I'm only interested in the Hundred Days campaign, is it worth picking up the AT1 supplement as well?

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Honestly...probably not

[@Beltayn7272]

So I picked up a bundle of british troops at almost half off on a B/S/T, so I'm playing a British force now too. But the bundle included a box of Polish Line Lancers... can those be used for anything in the British force?

[@mattzhewtait6532]

Brunswick Uhlans at Waterloo. Paint them black and off you go!

[@felixgoodhew7723]

My biggest takeaway from this was that people put things on their rice pudding 😂

[@BrushQuill]

Nutella is the best.

[@leonleese4919]

Do you play historical scenarios or a points value army with objectives that you have points for taking? (You have to have a complete game strategy to win).. adding depth to a game😏

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

We've got examples of both on the channel! We did the attack of the 3rd Division at Salamanca and the holding action at Corunna. We've also done a points game of Brits vs Russians. I think they both have pros and cons, in fact I did a video on that!

[@wellhungindung]

Hello, I don't have that much experience of Black Powder. If you had the two reserve brigade system and had a brigade of line and a brigade highlanders, who would you have in the front line?

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Probably the line, I'd want the Highlanders to be unscathed when the French break through. That Tough Fighter is good, but not if you're already shaken...

[@steelrain5706]

Superb video, but why has the thumbnail and your header banner show the 18th century Union flag as opposed to the 1801 act of Union flag, ie the one we use today and was used throughout the wars against Emperor Napoleon, just curious...great channel..

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

I'm afraid you'll have to ask the Strelets cover artists that one!

[@CrichtonNo5]

You colleagues on the right lost an Eagle to the Foot Guards, good sir.

[@pfcsantiago8852]

Cheers good stuff,I love me redcoats so I do.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

They're a great army, strong rules, good cast of characterful generals and they look awesome on the tabletop with the red and white plus 2 flags per battalion

[@jackson7516]

Can you do a video about the British light dragoons?

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

I've done one on them before, well they're in the hussars video (I think!) But I'm looking at doing a deep dive series on regiments/classes so I may well do one there

[@jackson7516]

@@NapoleonicWargaming Makes sense I'm rewatching all your videos, I listen to them while at work. British light dragoons always intrigued me and the simple uniform is better than the hussar uniform in my opinion

[@jackchisnall9316]

Whilst I'm in such illustrious company can anyone tell me how many cartridges a cartridge pouch held? I appreciate it varied by nationality and troop type but any information would be of help.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

I've asked some re enactment friends of mine (because I dont know!) I'm told by the experts 60

[@olympiangamers7007]

What are your initial thoughts on “absolute emperor”

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Looks interesting. Not got a copy though. I was going to pre order one from Caliver Books, but they were gouging every step, extra to use PayPal, over costed postage... in the end I thought forget it I'll get it from my flgs but not had chance yet

[@andreaspersson5639]

Oh, good, I'm once again excited about doing british. I assume I can't persuade you to wait about 3-4 months before doing "How to play French", so that I can at least buy and get started on british before my gamers ADHD brain kicks in about new shiny stuff again? :p

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Haha, like a column of attack, they'll be coming at some point!

[@davidcollins2648]

Subscribed yet received no notification.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Thanks for the heads up. Is your bell rung (as it were :D )

[@davidcollins2648]

@@NapoleonicWargaming No though it usually shows up there.