Module:Napoleon at Waterloo

Publisher	Simulations Publications, Inc.	Era	Napoleonic
Year	1971	Topic	Napoleonic Wars
Players	1 to 2	Scale	Operational
Length	30

Files and Module Information

Filename	Filetype	Size	Date	Compatibility	Developer	Other Contributors
ch-x.y.z
NapoleonAtWaterloo-ch-1.1.0.vmod	Module	8.12 MB	2024-04-25	3.6	Christian Holm Christensen
NapoleonAtWaterloo-1.0-ch.vmod	Module	8.01 MB	2024-04-25	3.6	Christian Holm Christensen
1.0 Print n Play Version
Napoleon at Waterloo SPI V1.0.vmod	module	10.07 MB	22-04-03	3.5.8	Davejm	iam2509
2.2
Napoleon at Waterloo 2nd Ed Vers 2.2.vmod	Module	11.86 MB	2021-08-01	3.5.3	Stephen Oliver	iam2509

Comments

Period	Gunpowder
Theatre	Napoleonic Wars
Level	Operational
Hex scale	100m (440 yards)
Unit scale	Division (xx)
Turn scale	1 hour
# turns	10
Unit density	Low
Complexity	1 of 10
Solitaire	9 of 10

Napoleon at Waterloo was originally published as a free game by Simulations Publications, Inc. in 1971 with its magazine Strategy & Tactics, as an introductory wargame. It was quickly followed by a second edition, also in 1971. Both of these editions used a large map. They differed in that in the first edition

Units in woods or houses hexes have their combat factor tripled on defence
Artillery units could not suffer adverse effects of combat when attacking

while in the 2nd edition

Units in woods or houses hexes have their combat factor doubled
Artillery units in close combat do suffer adverse effects when attacking
Artillery units can perform remote fire (bombardment)

Also in 1971, together with the 2nd edition, the Advanced game expansion was published. This expansion came with an entirely different unit set where the divisions (xx) of the Basic game was replaced by roughly two brigades (x) each. The expansion also introduced a separate bombardment phase, somewhat abstracted tactics in combat, and stacking of up to 3 units in a hex.

A "3rd edition" of the game was published in 1979, again as a free game for new Strategy & Tactics subscribers. Relative to the 2nd edition, this edition

The map was changed to be a smaller map. One and three hex columns was removed from the west and east edges, respectively, and 5 hex columns from the south edge (the compass direction was also fixed).
The map change meant that the Prussian reinforcement units, previously set to arrive in turn 2, arrives one turn later in turn 3.
The graphics of the map was updated, and the counters was changed from classic NATO counters to full-frame graphics.

Other than these changes there were no other changed from the 2nd edition (i.e., the rules are the same).

The "3rd edition" from 1979 also came with the Grouchy variant, including some extra French and Prussian units. This variant was first introduced in 1972 in Moves 3, p24-26 by A.A. Nofi. This variant introduces fog-of-war by each faction having a random and hidden reinforcement schedule. It in a sense ask the question of what would happen if Marshall Grouchy came to Napoleons aid, and also introduces some realism by keeping the exact Prussian reinforcements unknown to the French faction.

The latest release of the game, in 2014 by Decision Games is identical to the "3rd edition". It updates the graphics of units and the board, and also contains the Grouchy variant.

Links

Version ch-x.y.z

By Christian Holm Christensen

Contains

Boards
- Large map used in the 1971 2nd edition
- Small map used in the 1979 "3rd" edition (and later Decision Games edition)
Units
- Basic game counters, including Grouchy variant counters
- 1971 2nd edition Advanced game counters
Games and Variants
- Basic 1971 and 1979 2nd edition game
- Advanced 1971 2nd edition game (uses brigades rather than divisions)
- Grouchy variant to the basic game.
- Esdaile variant to the basic game. This is based on the article Journal of Advanced Military Studies Vol.12, #3, p11-44 by Professor Emeritus C.J. Esdaile.
The rules as a PDF
- These rules incorporates both the small and large boards, division and brigade units, as well as the various games and variants.
A tutorial - see also this video
Notes on how to use the module
Orders of Battle for the various games and variants
Automatisation (optional)
- Automatic battle markers
- Automatic odds calculations, including terrain, demoralisation, etc. effects
- Automatic battle resolution, including die-roll modifiers in the Advanced game
- Automatic reinforcements, taking into account the size of the map,
  - For the Grouchy variant a random reinforcement schedule hidden from the opponent.
- Automatic victory condition calculations
Symbolic dice
Separate layers for units and markers

This module is based on a Print'n'Play version of the game available from GitLab and BoardGameGeek. All graphics and text in this version are entirely new. Nothing is copied from any previous release.

Version 1.0 PnP

By Dave J. March.

Thanks to Stephen Oliver who developed Napoleon at Waterloo for VASSAL and allowed me to modify his module to make this print and play version.

Implements the 1979 "3rd" edition of the game.
- Uses the smaller map
- Prussian reinforcements set to arrive on turn 3
Basic game
Grouchy variant counters and "hands"
Philip Sabin variant
- Includes rules variants text
Keeps count of combat points lost.
For opponent to see movement trail left click on unit.

This module is based on the Version 2.2 module below.

It seems that this module contains two copies of the Prussian II Corps, Artillery Brigade, and is missing the Prussian IV Corps, Artillery Brigade.

Version 2.2

By Stephen Oliver

The game that suckered a willing generation into SPI games.

Implements the 1971 2nd edition of the game
- Uses the larger map
- Prussian reinforcements set to arrive on turn 2
Basic game
Grouchy variant counters and "hands"
Keeps count of combat points lost.

Screen Shots

2.2
1.0 PnP
1.0 PnP
1.0-ch user interface
1.0-ch detail

Players

Stephen Oliver
DonLazov