Control Board

 Oftentimes, when a busy game is planned, the last thing that gets attention is the time/control tracking.

For Napoleon's Battles this is something that cannot be skipped, simply because the detail going into the scenario is so rich that even the arrival times are closely tracked.

a sheet of coroplast made out for the Leipzig game
16 October 1813

I have had a number of sheets of corrugated plastic (coroplast) that I have used for different things at different games, often it is the turn/time tracking device.

At the recent Shiloh game, I started to include more details on the board - intending to use it more as a scoreboard as well as the time/turn track.

This time for Leipzig, I have put all the different effects I have learned into the tracking data.

I have even made a couple of 'high contrast' clock faces (seen just above the turn track board and the word LEIPZIG) that I can use in the future for games ... I'm taking a look at a possible set of turn counters in high contrast as well, for use in the time-lapse shots.

Supporting forces

 I have made 34 draft teams in 15mm for ACW games, I can substitute them for the same job in the coming Leipzig Napoleonic game.

the grouping of draft teams and
wrecked artillery in 15mm that I
plan to bring to the coming Leipzig game

I'm bringing along some of the supply wagons and wrecked artillery for use in the coming game also.

parts preparation

 With so many troops and players expected this coming weekend, I wanted to make sure there were enough markers for use.

 I have casualty markers from two other game sets that I will bring and have created another 26 of the 1-2-3-4 markers and some disorder/rout markers.

markers, the new high-vis 'clock'
and a little cloth patch remains
from a special set of player markers
(watch here on Saturday to see some of them!)

 Gonna be a full three days, with travel on days 1 & 3, rounding out the time.

Point Values

In Napoleon's Battles rules point values are given in scenarios for locations, yet victory is first determined by whether or not the army morale is broken. 

  If the morale of the army is not broken, then point values become important.

The individual casting, each have a value to include into the total ...

sidebar 3

I have a sense that the Leipzig scenario, coming on May16, will not have a breaking of any army or allied section ... meaning points become important.

Details matter: arrival of reenforcements

The Napoleon's Battles Leipzig scenario includes a detailed list of arrival troops, times and locations.

defining the arrivals for the Leipzig game

I have copied that list and now added a 'letter' designation for each of them, with the intention of having that same letter designation on a tag next to the troops to be deployed and use that same letter on a control board and have my wooden letters be used on the tabletop.

   

the 'flat' letter "W" seen at the cross-roads here

I have a full set of these little letter stars, that I have used a few times on the tabletop.  For such a busy game anything that simplifies the organizing process will be of value.

the matching "W" in the upright version
seen here with the "Z" and "Y"

 

They have not had a lot of uses on the tabletop, yet, so it will be a good run this time around with so many troops and players.

Leipzig toolkit

 I am making further use of the metal pin & cubes stands I did up for the ACW games.

 

I was always planning on them having more uses, this is as good a time as any to put them on the tabletop.

 

This time around they will be used as location names and point values as well as control markers for the locations in the coming Leipzig game.

 

It is very likely that at least one of my 15mm buildings will also get out on the tabletop this time around.

Basing for Napoleon's Battles

 Just a little primer on the basing needs for 15mm Napoleonic soldiers when setting up for Napoleon's Battles:

the core of any army would be Infantry

Cavalry are the 'tip of the spear'

the man-killer, artillery

This is to prepare for the coming Leipzig game, on 15,16, 17, 2026.