Additional Scenarios, Army Lists, New Rules and Special Rules for the Song of Drums and Shakos Fast Play Napoleonic Skirmish Rules
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More Drums and Shakos Additional Scenarios, Army Lists, new Rules and Special Rules for the Song of Drums and Shakos Fast Play Napoleonic Skirmish Rules This material is copyright ©Sergio Laliscia/Ganesha Games 2008 Written by Sergio Laliscia Rules editing by Andrea Sfiligoi English-language editing by John Oman Based on the “Song of Blades” engine by Andrea Sfiligoi The author can be contacted at: [email protected] Play testing and helpful suggestions: Andrea Sfiligoi, Stefano Stibelli, Jean Levrero, the Song of Blades Yahoo group, and the many nice folks at Lucca Comics and Games 2009 and at Dadi.com 2009 who stopped to play games at our tables. Thanks to Nic at Eureka Miniatures (http://www.eurekamin.com.au/) for providing exceptional 28mm models for the Tyrolean rebellion (see back cover). For errata and clarifications please download our free webzine Free Hack (www.lulu.com/songofblades) or join the Song of Blades yahoo group at (http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/songofblades/) Official SDS blog: http://drumsandshakos.blogspot.com Official Ganesha Games blog: http://ganeshagames.blogspot.com Christopher Cook (order #5682797) Introduction 3 Wurzburg (Grand Duchy of) 20 New Rules 3 Dutch-Belgian Contingent 1815 21 Mixed Nationality Squads 3 Foreign Regiments in French Service 21 Unused Points 3 Foreign Regiments in British Service 22 Extreme Weather 4 Hanover (Electorate of) 22 Former Ally 5 Italy (Kingdom of) 23 Enemy 5 Naples (Kingdom of) 23 Optional Rule For Multiplayer Games 5 Nassau 24 Optional Rule: Double Six on Activations 5 Ottoman Empire 24 National Features 5 Portugal (Kingdom of) 25 Saxony (Electorate of) 25 New Weapons 6 Spain (King Joseph’s) 26 Better Weapon 6 Spain (Kingdom of) 26 Sweden (Kingdom of) 27 New Special Rules 7 Tyrolean Insurgents (1809) 28 Ambusher 7 United States of America (War of 1812) 28 Civilian 7 Warsaw (Duchy of) 29 Fervor 7 Who Was Allied With Whom 29 Guerrilla 7 Appendix: the Ottoman Empire Army 30 Hero 7 Individualistic 7 Ganesha Games presents: 32 Mob 8 Running Blow 8 Uninspiring Leader 8 Scenarios 9 “Take that Gun!” 9 Task Resolution System 10 Convoy Escort 11 Reinforcements! 13 Under Fire! 14 Rosters 15 Brunswick (Duchy of) 16 Canada, Indian Confederacy and British “Colonial” Infantry (War of 1812) 16 Confederation of the Rhine 17 Baden (Grand Duchy of) 17 Bavaria (Kingdom of) 17 Berg (Grand Duchy of) 18 Hessen-Darmstadt (Grand Duchy of) 18 Nassau (Duchy) 18 Saxony (Kingdom of) 19 Westphalia (Kingdom of) 19 Wurttemberg (Kingdom of) 20 Christopher Cook (order #5682797) Introduction Any game with the ambition to represent the Napoleonic New Rules Wars would be incomplete without profiles for the soldiers of the so called Minor Nations. These nations provided both Napoleon and his enemies with hundreds of thousands of soldiers during the whole period, paying Mixed Nationality Squads a heavy toll in lives fighting for a cause they did not even Within the restriction of actual historical alliances, understand. Soldiers from Croatia, Italy, Spain and many players can mix their squad as they see fit. However, if other nations found a horrible death in Russia during the the Officer is of a different nationality to the soldiers, he 1812 campaign; everywhere in Europe, battlefields were may have problems in giving orders. In such cases, stained with the blood of German youth coming from whenever he gives a Group order, roll for the Group an some small Principality, hastily drilled and equipped, additional, different colored die. If this die rolls a success, and sent to fight for the Empire. nothing untoward happens. However if it is a failure, In the following pages, you will find stats for 26 of these one of the Group’s successes becomes a failure, with all Nations. We also included profiles for theaters like the War usual consequences. Note the presence of a Musician of 1812 and the Tyrolean Rebellion (1809), to allow you (drummer, piper, etc) can still influence the to refight some clashes in a slightly different environment. result with its special rule. The Ottoman list, published several months ago as a free add-on, has also been reprinted for the benefit of those who Example: Captain Lacroix (a Frenchman) is leading a like to have all profiles in a single book. Several new rules Westphalian squad in a bitter engagement against the and weapons have also been added. Enjoy! Russians. He rolls 2 dice for himself, getting a success. Lacroix gives a Group order to four of his soldiers: being Quality 4 and in command range, they activate at 3+. The Group rolls 3 dice and gets 2, 5 and 6 and a further (black) die is rolled for the different nationality of Capt. Lacroix. The black die scores a 2, a failure. From the initial 2 successes and 1 failure, the result is now 2 failures and 1 success, and that would cause a turnover. However, a drummer is within range, so Capt. Lacroix uses its special rule, re-rolling the black die. He gets a 4, and the Group gets a final result of 2 successes. Unused Points When building your squad, sometimes you have some spare points, not enough to buy another soldier. In this case, you can buy up to 3 small (1S) fences or hedges for 5 points each. This can be done for pick up games only. Place the additional terrain features when you deploy your models. They can be placed anywhere within your half of the table (that is, from the player’s baseline to the center of the table). Christopher Cook (order #5682797) Extreme Weather Several campaigns in the Napoleonic period were fought in difficult weather conditions. If both players agree to use the weather rules, determine the location and season of the fight and - after table set- up and before deploying models - check the weather condition for the ensuing battle, rolling a d6 on the appropriate table. Southern Europe, Egypt, Southern USA Season Snow Heavy Fair Intense Rain Heat Winter 1 2-3 4-6 - Autumn/Spring - 1-2 3-5 6 Summer - 1 2-3 4-6 Modifier: Egypt +1 Central Europe, USA Middle East Season Snow Heavy Fair Intense Rain Heat Intense Heat Winter 1-2 3-4 5-6 - No soldier may move three times in the same turn. If Autumn/Spring 1 2-4 5-6 - moving twice, the second movement is downgraded (Long Summer - 1-2 3-5 6 movement becomes Medium, Medium becomes Short, Short needs 2 actions). Note that, due to combination Northern Europe, Northern USA, Canada of Intense Heat and difficult terrain, a model could be forced not to move at all if it has not enough actions. Season Snow Heavy Fair Intense Example: Summer 1810, Central Spain, 40° Celsius. A Rain Heat soldier is in difficult terrain and gets 2 actions. With its Winter 1-3 4-5 6 - first action, it moves 1S (Medium move limited by difficult Autumn/Spring 1-2 3-5 6 - terrain). With its second action it should move again 1Short, Summer 1 2-3 4-6 - but due to Intense Heat, it needs 2 action to do it. Not Modifier: Sweden, Norway, and Russia -1 having enough actions to move, the soldier stops there (he could anyway shoot or attack in hand-to-hand, if able: for game purposes, Intense Heat only prevents fast movement). Fair No special rules for battles in Fair weather. Heavy Rain When shooting, apply the “Ammo Depletion” rule on an unmodified result of 1-2 (on both die rolls). This Snow reflects the combination of ammunition depletion and The whole playing surface, other than Impassable areas, wet powder. becomes difficult terrain: all movement capabilities are Example: under heavy rain, a soldier shoots at an enemy. downgraded 1 level (Long movement becomes Medium, He rolls a 2, and must check for ammunition depletion. On Medium becomes Short, Short needs 2 actions to move). a further roll of 1 or 2, the soldier is unable to shoot for the Light troops do NOT benefit of their special rule. remainder of the battle. Standing up after falling takes 2 actions instead of one. Bows cannot be used at all in heavy rain. Javelins and Tomahawks can be used as normal. Christopher Cook (order #5682797) Former Ally Optional Rule: Double Six on Activations During the Napoleonic wars, soldiers of several minor When rolling dice for activation, an unmodified double nationalities found themselves fighting their old masters “6” grants an extra action for the soldier. This extra action and/or comrades, and this sometimes resulted in a can be used as normal but under no circumstances a reduced effort (if not in open mutiny). Some examples soldier will be allowed to move more than three times are Spanish troops of Joseph’s Kingdom of Spain fighting or to attack twice (in close combat and/or with a ranged against other Spanish; Dalmatians, Croatians and Istrian weapon). troops in French service fighting the Austrians, or Example: Sergeant O’Brian is trying an activation on 2 dice. Bavarian soldiers fighting the French after 1814. In these His musket is discharged, and he needs to reload. The player cases, players may want to see this attitude reflected in rolls a double “6” and Sgt. O’Brian gets three actions! Now the game. he can reload and fire, or move to cover and then reload. Note that Tomahawks and Two Pistols are exceptions to this When a Former Ally tests Morale, 3 failures cause the rule (see New Weapons). soldier to switch sides. From that instant on, he will be controlled by the opponent.