C.1 Command Capabilities. Each Commander has a CAP Rating, which is used to define his Command Capabilities, a reflection of the combined quality of the Commander and his Staff. For most, those of Average capability, the Command Rating is ‘Zero’, but for those of greater or lesser ability this rating is added or taken away from the Commander’s CAP dice throw each Turn. However the
Commanders of some nations and, for historical battles, certain characters were noticeably different and are therefore specifically noted below.
C.2 Generic CAP Rating. The generic CAP Ratings are as follows:
C.2.1 Poor. A Poor Commander deducts 1 (-1) from his CAP dice roll. C.2.2 Average. An Average Commander is not modified.
C.2.3 Good. A Good Commander adds 1 (+1) to his CAP dice roll. C.3 Specific CAP Ratings. The following specific CAP Ratings should, where applicable, be applied to both national CinCs and Sub Commanders:
French 1805-1812 +1 Austrian 1801-1805 -1
Prussian 1790-1806 -1 Spanish -1
Napoleon 1801-1815 +3 Wellington +2
Blücher +1 The Prince of Orange -1
Emperors and Kings. Occasionally for big battles the Emperors and Kings of the Dynastic Monarchies of Europe would be present at their armies’ Field HQ, where they often proved to be more of a hindrance than a help to their respective CinCs. So whenever the Monarchs are in the field and the CinC throws a CAP dice score of 3 or less then -2 is deducted from the score to reflect their interference.
C.4 Minimum CAP. Regardless of a Commander’s Capability, both Generic and Specific, there was always some ‘orders’ being issued, and so, after
modification, no Commander will have less than 1 CAP per Turn.
C.5 Close Combat Bonus. All CinC’s and all Good or Average Sub Commanders add +1 to any Unit to which they are attached whilst in Close Combat.
C.6 Inspirational Commanders. Certain Commanders can be classed as
‘Inspirational’ and will add +2 in Close Combat, although in some cases only in certain circumstances:
Ney
Blücher - but only when detached from his Staff HQ Duke of Brunswick - Brunswick Units in 1815 only
Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia - Prussian Cavalry Units in 1806 only. However these Inspirational Commanders usually led from the front and are therefore much more vulnerable, and so must take the Command Casualty test
regardless if the Unit to which they are attached wins, loses or draws its Close Combat. It should be noted that although Napoleon and Wellington were
Inspirational Commanders they are not included in the above list as their presence in the firing line was usually disconcerting for their troops, who preferred that they be commanding the battle rather than ‘leading from the front’.
C.7 Modified Command Radius. For certain historical scenarios a Commander’s Commander Radius may, if the command is very large, be extended to reflect his larger command staff. Conversely it may also be reduced if the command is smaller than usual, particularly so if the command is composed entirely of cavalry whose command staff were often appreciably smaller than those of the Infantry or All Arms Corps.
Copyright© KISR Publications dated Jan 13 44 APPENDIX D - THE BRITISH PENINSULA LIGHT DIVISION 1810 -14
D.1 This was a unique and special formation and is therefore treated as an ‘option’.
D.2 Overview. The British Peninsula ‘Light Division’ was formed in 1810 from the existing highly trained and superbly led ‘Light Brigade’. The Division was always semi independent and gradually grew in size from 1810 until the end of the Peninsula War in 1814. The overall ‘Elite’ quality of its troops slowly
diminished during this time due to battle losses and fatigue but the very high quality of its professional efficiency and semi independent command and control never failed or diminished. This can be reflected in DBN as detailed below.
D.3 Command & Control. The Light Division has its own unique Sub Commander known as a Divisional Sub Commander (DSC). This Commander is free of charge, with a Divisional Command Radius of 400 Paces and is represented by a single command figure (Black Bob Craufurd ?) on an ADC size base. This unique DSC does not have a CAP Dice Throw but has an intrinsic 3 CAP’s for every game turn to be used on his Division only, the CinC can also allocate him CAP’s in the usual way. D.4 Army Lists. The Light Division is in addition to the standard selections for the British Peninsular Army. If it is used the full formation must be paid for and the only exception to the Army Lists is that no other Ms/LI(E) and Jg(E) can be included and the minimum number of Ms(British) is reduced by 2.
D.4.1 Years 1810-12:
1xMs/LI(E), 1xJg(E), 1xJg (Cacadores), 1xSC, 1xHA(M) – 6 Pts D.4.2 Years 1813-14:
1xMs/LI, 2xJg(E), 1xJg (Cacadores), 1xSC, 1xHA(M) – 7 Pts D.5 Army List Notes.
D.5.1 The Jg(E) units are the 95th Rifles who were highly trained and able to form into close order when required. Therefore the 2 x Jg(E) can combine together to form 1 x LI(E) using the same rule as Superior Light Infantry when they convert from Light Infantry to Muskets or visa versa, except that both Units of Jg(E) must in base to base contact in order to convert. This may be useful when in the open and threatened by cavalry or if required to defend a BUA or Fortification.
D.5.2 The SC is the 1st Hussars KGL who were permanently attached to the Division. They were a very highly trained regiment, and so the SC status is a reflection of both the way in which they were usually deployed, ie skirmishing, and a reflection of the fact that they were only a single regiment.
D.5.3 The HA(M) represents Bull’s Troop RHA who, like the 1st Hussars KGL, were permanently attached to the Division. The Militia (M) status is a reflection of their size and not their ability.
APPENDIX E - OTTOMAN ARMY 1790-1815
E.1 Introduction. This Army is unique amongst all other Napoleonic Era Armies as the majority of its troops and commanders were of Middle Eastern origin with distinctly different, almost medieval, military attitudes. Therefore this army with all its unique characteristics has been listed separately. The Ottoman Army fought almost continuously throughout the Napoleonic Era; many of its battles were within provinces of its own Empire against its own people however it also fought against Napoleon and the French in Egypt between 1798 and 1800 and most significantly against the Russians from 1806 to 1812, it also had a short campaign against the British in 1807. Generally the Ottomans did not do very well when facing European armies (and play testing has shown that the same is true in DBN!); to reflect this they should always have the choice to deploy as the Defender when facing European opposition.
E.2 Army List
0-1 Ms (Bostancia - Guard) 2-4 Ms(M) (Janissaries) (Note 1)
0-1 LI(M) (Light Infantry trained Janissaries) (Note 2) 0-2 Ms (Nizam-i-Jedid) (Note 3)
1-5 Ms(M) (Sekhans - Irregular Provincial Militia) (Note 4) 0-2 Jg (Rayas - Skilled Peasant Huntsman)(Note 5)
0-2 LI(M) (Derbents – Local defence militia, often Mountain Bandits) 4-10 LEM (Fellahin - Mass Conscripted Peasant Militia)
0-1 HC (Suvarileri – Regular Guard Cavalry) (Note 6) 0-4 LC (Suvarileri – Regular Line Cavalry) (Note 6)
0-2 SC (Suvarileri – Regular Skirmishing Cavalry-Sipahis of the Porte) 0-5 LC (Mamelukes - Highly Skilled Light Cavalry) (Note 7)
2-4 LC(M) (Sipahis - Militia Cavalry)
0-4 IC (Yoruks or Arabs – Similar to Cossacks) (Note 8) 0-1 SC(E) (Djellis – ‘Crazy Heads’ Trained Irregular Scouts)
0-1 HA (Regular French trained Horse Artillery, but only after 1808) 1-3 FA(M).
E.3 Army List Notes
E.3.1 Janissaries. The Janissaries were Regular Infantry with a great past glory but by 1790 were a poor reflection of their former selves. They were devoutly religious and this caused them to be constantly in conflict with the policies of the various Ottoman rulers including the refusal to accept modern military tactics, thinking and weapons. They did not use or even acknowledge the need for squares and only advanced or attacked in company wide columns. The result was that on the battlefield they were frequently reluctant to perform to their best ability and were often very unreliable. To reflect these attitudes once all armies have been deployed throw a D6 for each Janissary unit: 1 or 2 - fight as Levy en Masse or 6 - fight as regular Muskets, and they should be deployed in pairs in Attack Column Formation unless defending Linear Fortifications when they may be deployed in Line.
E.3.2 Janissary Light Infantry. At least 2 Orta (39th and 44th) were trained as Light Infantry, however they are still subject to the same pre ‘battle’ test as Musket Janissaries.
E.3.3 Nizam-i-Jedid. European trained ‘New Order Army’, but only from 1790 to 1808. The Nizam-i-Jedid were formed in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to break the power and influence of the Janissaries who eventually wiped them out when the latter revolted against the Sultan in 1808. Such was their dislike of them the Janissaries often refused to deploy with them in the same army, and so they and the Nizam-i-Jedid cannot be grouped
Copyright© KISR Publications dated Jan 13 46 E.3.4 Sekhans. The Sekhans were Irregular Infantry organised by the Provincial Governors. Despite being irregular troops they were in no way inferior to the Janissaries, especially as many readily adopted European tactics and weapons. Ali Pasha of Janina (modern day Albania and Northern Greece), for example, ruled for 30 years during which time he employed French officers until 1808 and British thereafter to train his infantry, as a result they were more proficient than most other Sekhans; but he was not alone in doing so, and so in European only scenarios 50% of the Sekhans may be upgraded to Average Muskets (Ms).
E.3.5 Rayas. The Rayas were formed into small groups and attached to the Janissaries for use as Skirmishers, so 1 Unit of Raya may be used to support 2 Units of Janissaries.
E.3.6 Suvarileri. The Suvarileri were usually deployed in a single formation with the Guard in the centre. So if the Guard is to be used they must be supported by 2 units of Suvarileri Line Cavalry and deployed in a single line formation with the Guard unit in the centre.
E.3.7 Mamelukes. The Mamelukes were unique in Napoleonic warfare, they were highly skilled, brave and ferocious horsemen, however they fought as a mass of individuals rather than as a formed coordinated body and as a
result were often decimated by infantry volley fire, so they only get an Elite bonus when in Close Combat against all other mounted. They were mostly found in the Eastern Mediterranean and Egypt, therefore the minimum number of units is 2 if the scenario is within this geographic area but a maximum of 1 if it is outside.
E.3.8 Camel Mounted Infantry. The Arabs may be exchanged for camel Mounted Infantry for North African and Middle Eastern scenarios only. Camels are unaffected by Dunes and Soft Sand and get a +1 when in Close Combat against non Ottoman Mounted as Ottoman horses were trained to fight alongside camels.
E.3.9 Impetuous Cavalry. All Ottoman Cavalry tended to ‘go impetuous’ therefore all must ‘follow up’ if victorious in Close Combat. Also all Cavalry Units of a Formation must all move as a group when moving into contact and they must all attempt to make contact in that Turn.
E.3.10 Ottoman Fortifications. The Ottoman Armies usually tried to adopt a defensive position on the battlefield, as a result they were very skilled and proficient at constructing Fortifications. To reflect this an Ottoman constructed Linear Fortification cost the same (0.5 Pts) but
provides a +2 in Close Combat instead of the standard +1.
E.3.11 Ottoman Commanders. Ottoman Commanders were reasonably competent and on a par with their European contemporaries, and so classed as Average. E.3.12 Dervishes. Janissaries were usual accompanied by a number of holy men known as ‘Dervishes’, whose sole purpose was to encourage them to perform feats of great valour. So instead of a Special ADC an Ottoman army may include a Dervish (a foot figure on a 20 x 30mm base), who can only be attached to Janissary Units.
Acknowledgements:
The Crescent Among the Eagles by William E Johnson 1994.
ANNEX F – SUPPORTING IN CLOSE COMBAT
C is attacking B and A wishes to support B in Close Combat. The following, in accordance with rule 8.31 shows whether A is able to be classed as Supporting B:
This ruling reflects the confusion of combat and it supports the ordered and the aggressive General.
A
B
C
A
B
C
A
B
C
A
B
C
A
B
C
YES
NO
NO
NO
YES
1
2
3
4
5
Copyright© KISR Publications dated Jan 13 48
INDEX
This Index lists Paragraph Headings and their numbers in alphabetical order. 12 Point Game 6.1.1
1815 Allied Armies 13.5.6 24 Points or More Game 6.1.2 Abbreviations 13.3 ADCs 11.2.7 Arcs of Fire 8.5 Army Composition 10.7 Army Lists 13.1 Army Options 13.5
Artillery 2.3.5 & 3.4
Artillery Ammunition Supply 11.16 Artillery Firing 8.13
Artillery Representation 2.6 Attack Column 7.5.2.3
Attack Column Factors 8.20 Attacker’s Bound 6.6.1
Attacking a Column in the Flank or Rear 8.20
Attacking a Strongpoint 11.12
Attacking a Unit in the Flank or Rear 8.18
Attacking Artillery in Close Combat 8.19
Attrition System 8.2.2 Bad Going 5.5.1 & 7.6 Baggage Train 3.7 Basing 4.1
Battalion Gun Batteries 11.18 Battle Honours 9.4 Battlefield Features 5.3 Bombardment 11.6 Bombardment Markers 11.8 Bombardment Order 11.7 Breakthrough 11.3 Breakthrough Procedure 11.4 Breakthrough Results 11.5 Bridges 5.6.6
British Infantry Firing 8.14 Built Up Area 5.5.2.4 & 5.6.2 Camel Mounted Infantry E.3.8 CAP Dice 7.1 & 10.3
Causeways 5.6.5
Cavalry 2.3.2 & 3.3
Cavalry Charging into Bad Going 7.20 Choosing Table Sides. 6.4