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NEW 15MM AND 25MM ESSEX DIXON

15MM NAPOLEONIC

NEW DUTCH BELGIANS 1814-1815 NDG1 N002 N003 NDG4 N005

N006 NOOS NDG9 N0010

Dutch Fusilier, ready Dutch Fusilier, at attention Dutch Grenadier, ready Dutch Grenadier, at attention Command pack: DutchOHicer, Std. bearer & drummer Belgian Fusilier, at attention Belgian Grenadier, ready Belgian Grenadier, at attention Command pack: Belgian Oflicer, Std. bearer & drummer

DEAD NAPOLEONIC 6 per pack. With imaginative painting many other nationalities troops can be created within this list.

OOA1 OOA2 OOA3 OOA4 OOA5 OOA6 OOA7

OOAS OOA9 OOA10 OOA11 OOA12 OOA13 OOA14

French inf. Bicorne French inf. Shako French Old Guard (Bearskin) British inf. (Stovepipe) British inf. (Belgique Shako) British light Dragoons (Tarleton) British Heavy Dragoons (Helmet) and Light Dragoons (Shako) Dragoons (Shako) Lancers (Czapka) Hussars Shako Hussars Colpack British Heavy cav. (Bicorne) Austrian Heavy cav. (Helmet) Horses

SPANISH NAPOLEONIC

INFANTRY NSS6 Line fusilear adv. musk. upright NSS7 Light inf. adv. musk upright NSS8 Grenadier adv. musk upright NSS9 Line inf. ready, musk. 45° NSS10 Light inf. ready, musk. 45° NSS11 Grenadier ready, musk. 45° NSS12 Command: Line officer adv. NSS13 Command: Line oHicer halted NSS14 Command: Grenadier NSS15 Artillarymen

CAVALRY NSS 1 6 Heavy Cavalry NSS17 Dragoon NSS18 Command: Heavy cavalry or Dragoon NSS19 Hussar NSS20 Command: Hussar

BRITISH NAPOLEONIC PNB38 Light dragoon (tarliton) PNB40 Command: Light dragoon (tarl.)

NAPOLEONIC NE45 Coach with 4 H & driver and a Napoleonic

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HUSSITES, GERMANS OR BOHEMIANS 1380-1450 EMED1 Ass. Heavy Cavalry EMED2 Ass. Heavy Cavalry EMED3 Mid. Crossbowman EMED4 Ass. Handgii.Jns EMED5 Ass. Handgii.Jns (later) EMED6 Ass. Spearmen EMED7 Ass. Flailmen EMEDS Ass. Bonmen EMED9 Ass. Haberdiers EMED10 Ass. Large Pavise For crossbows and command see Medieval Lists

POLISH 1300-1500 15MM To EMED 14a are Mid. Knights EMED11 Mail1300-1400 EMED12 Jurpon Ass. Helms 1380-1440 EMED12a As Above barded H. EMED13 Plate & SH 1400-1480 EM E 014 Plate 1400-1500 EMED14a As Above Mm H EMED15 As Above Armoured H EMED15a HvyJMed. Cav. noSH (Scale) EMED16 HvyJMed. Cav. noSH EMED17 Mtd. crossbowman EMED18 Ass. fool axeman EMED19 Ass. crossbowman EMED20 Serbian Hussar L EMED21 As above long coat

LITHUANIAN CAV. 15MM EMED22 Ass. LJMed. L.B.SH. EMED23 MedJHvy. Boyar L.SH. EMED24 Ass. L. C. Bow/Jav.

RUSSIANS 1300-1500 15MM EMED25 Ass. H.C. L.B.SH. EMED25a As above Arm. H. EMED26 Ass H.C. Bow EMED26a As Above Mail Arm. H. EMED27 H.C. L. SH. EMED27a As above Mail Arm. H. EMED28 H.C. L. SH. EMED28a As above Mail Arm. H. EMED29 H. C. L. SH. EMED29a As above Mail Arm. H. EMED30 Ass. Foot Spears EMED31 Ass. Foot Bows.

HUNGARIAN 1250-1450 EMED32 Light cav.lafl'lce, bow & shield EMED33 Light cav.lance, bow & shield EMED34 Heavy cav.lance & shield EMED34a Heavy cav.lance & shield, arm. horse EMED35 Heavy cav.lance & shield EMED35a Heavy cav. lance & shield, arm. horse EMED36 Heavy cav. sword & shield EMED36a Heavy cav. sword & shield, arm. horse EMED37 Horse archer holding sword, fur cap EMED38 Horse archer, hood EMED39 Horse archer, hood, firing forward EMED40 Heavy spearman EMED41 Heavy spearman EMED42 Archers ass. heads

EASTERN & CENTRAL EUROPEAN 1250 ·1600 15 uu XMED1 Mtd. Command XMED2 Foot Command XMED3 Peasants XMED4 Mtd. Horns & Drums

BYZANTINE 1250-1480 EMED43 Heavy cav. lance & almond shield EMED44 Heavy cav. lance & kite shield EMED45 Heavy cav. lance & curved kite sh. EMED46 Heavy spearman, curved kite shield EMED47 Medium/heavy archer EMED47a LIJMed. Archer EMED48 Light cav. drawing arrow EMED49 Light cav. firing forward EMED50 Trapezuntine Heavy cav. EMED51 Trapezuntine horse archer EMED52 Trapezuntine horse archer waving sword EMED53 Lazor Tzan horse archer EMED54 Lazor Tzan horse archer firing EMED55 Spearman EMED56 Archer EMED57 Abanian light cavalry EMED58 Abanian javinman For Vlach cavalry use EMED32 & 33

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WoRLD WAR II 20MM U.S. Marines JAP4 Rifleman running. cap

USM2 Rifle standing, frring JAPS Rifle adv. wilh bayonet

USM3 Rifle, throwing grenade JAP6 W. officer with sword

USM4 Rifle, running JAP7 JMG lying firing (1 fig.}

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Luftwaffe Field Div. (smock & field cap) LUFTl Kneeling, rifle LUFT2 Standing firing rifle LUFT3 Firing SMG LUFT4 SMG, grenade LUFTS Advancing, rifle LUFT6 Advancing SMG LUFT'7 Standing w/rifle, grenade LUFT8 Officer LUFT9 LMG team (2 figs.) LUFTIO Dead

Russian Infantry SOVJ Rifleman standing frring SOV2 Rifleman advancing SOV3 Rifle w/molotov cocktail SOV4 Rifleman standing

sovs SMG (PPsh) kneeling frring

SOV6 SMG (PPsh) standing firing

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3 crew $3.99 SOV13 Dead Russian

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throwing grenade BRIT4 Rifleman kneeling BRITS Rifleman advancing BRIT6 Rifleman standing firing BRITI Rifleman walking BRIT8 Inf. officer wilh sten gun BRIT9 Infantty wilh Bren gun BRITlO 2" Mortar & crew (2 figs.) BRlTll Dead British infantry

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• e ourter N0.71 NORTH AMERICA'S FOREMOST MINIATURES WARGAMING MAGAZINE

ARTICLES

COMPARISON OF THE NEW WWII RULES .......................................................... ...... .... .5 BILL RUTHERFORD playtests clash of Armm~ Command Decision !!, and Spearhead.

FORLORN HOPE .. .. .. ............................................................................................. .... ......... 17 JIM BIRDSEYE with scenario and rules for Napoleonic period Sieges in the Peninsula.

SHOWDOWN-OLD WEST GUNFIGHT RULE$ ................................................... ...... .... 25 'AMUEL D. CAMPBELL presents a complete set ofmles.

TINKERING WITH A GOOD THING ............ ............................................... ... .............. .. 45 BILL HAGGART develops optional Rules For On To Riclnnond ACW Rules.

THE GUERRIER£ & THE CONSTITUTION ..................................................... ... .......... .52 BARRY FOX with a report on the famous battle recreated on the table top.

NAVAL FICTION IN THE AGE OF SAIL. ... .. ... .. .... .. .... .. ....................... ... .. .... ...... .... ......... .53 STEVE CARPENTER lists all the availAble Age-ofSaiL Novels now in print.

DEPARTMENTS

THE REVIEWING STAND Figures, Books, Reference Works ...................................................................... 33

SAPPER'S REPORT -ELKHORN TAVERN Tom Millmore wirh anorher fine building projecr ................. .S9

THE COURIER DISPATCH News of rhe hobby ......................................................................................... .57

THE COURIER NET our own version of rhe Compurcr Ncr for discussion of rules ideas, erc ..................... 63

DISPATCHES FROM THE FIELD Leners ro (or ar) rhe Ediror .................................................................. 64

VOLLEY FIRE Whar you like (or hare) about The Couricr ........................................................................... 64

INDEX TO ADVERTISERS .................................... ........................................................... .......................... 63

COVER: Action iu Europe. Platoon 20 Britisb prepare to /mock out a MK IV suppo1·ted by Panzer Grenadiers. Tbe tmzll is a Ab:fix model All the figures from tbe collectio1l of Drm Dillemuth. Buildings from vm·ious manufacturers, painted by Orv Brmasik. Pboto by Orv Bauasik.

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TheCouri MANAGlNG EDITOR: Richard L. Bryant

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NO. 7 1:£nllre Contents C 1996 by The Courier Publishing Company, Inc.

HMGS SCHOlARSHIP I am gladl<> be abll' to report lhat H~IGS East has instituted its

scholarship progmm hy a\\'arding the first recipient, ~lallhe" \'\'olny of Brick NJ S I 500 for each of four years. l\lat has been a H~IGS

member since 1990 and had a Cumalative ~mde in lligh Sch<x>l of 97.5. latt's interest in histo ry put him into several advanced placement clas. ... cs in hbtorical studies in his high school. ~lat \\'ill be attending Susquehana University in Pcnn.,-yl­vania. Congratulations, Matt ..

TilE NET In this issue you will find The Courier's

version of the Computer Net - a discussion group about the hobby. I hope that m::t ny of you w ill participate the fiN topic is ten~tin rules 10 simulate the small undulations of ground that can be so important and yet arc difficult to demonstrate on the table top. The Courier ha:- joined the "real" computer net as well. We have joined with many other fine gaming magazines in a Coalition WEU. Look for us at www.m agweb.com .

SURVEY On page 6-1 you will find a survey designed to ascertain your

wargamc spending pallcrns. It helps us with advertisers and I hope you .. viii help hy taking a few minutes to answer lhem. Remember to

put your name and addrcs.., on the answer sheet so as to partiCipate in the drawing for the fr<..·e copy of this issue's Book Selection.

WALLY SIM ON DANGEROUSLY Il.L I have had the sad news that Wally is in the hospital ICU fighting

cancer. Wally was 1 2 the team that instigated the meeting that resulted in the formation of HMGS. Many of you have heard of "the meeting in Wally's basement" where it all started. Wally also publishes the often irrcvcn:m Potomac Wargamers dub newsleuer PW Review.

Wally is a figh11.:r, I know, and I am sure he will heat this thing w ith the:.; prayc:.;rs and well wishes of his hobby friends- God be with you, Wally.

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COMPARISON OF THE NEW W.W.II RULES By Bill Rutherford

X 11 mini:.t.ture~ gaming j,';'L,'undergone a hit of a change n rccent \'c:-..trs. \'\hen: once th1.• an't.'pted game scale~ 1ad one ~tnd of figure-; or nHxlel representing one

~quad Corks.') or one vehicle and one tum n:prc~nting a v~ry short II IlK", now there arc ~vera I n1les set~ on the markc.:t U1 whiCh stands or figures or modc.:ls represc.:nt platcx>n (or htrger) sized formations. Turns no longer repre~cnt one or two minutes but rcrm:sl . .'nl an}'WhCrt' from fifteen mim~tes to a half an hour. f find this particularly interesting becaU'>C of my rx•t hobby horse- that of havmg players make ded-;ions appropriare to their notional command le,·~.·l in a game.

AI tlw lower sc:.tles. players 1.~111 reasonably run plat<X>n-1<>­compam siz1.·d fomtations. TI1cy .1re aware ~>f the spe<.ific..~ of each \ehidc..· in their force- right do" n to partiCular am1or tluck­ne's .11 siX'('Ific angles of impact- and arc \'cry conc..·emed with the hattk· fought from the tank turret. Combat resolution in one of th~:sc..· g~1mes tries to detcnninc in detail what happ~:ns to each wh~tk· or squad in the force TI1is works wdl - from the point of vk·\\ of decision making- when players nm forces appropriate to the games detail kvd. Unfortunatdy, I rom many ~layers point of view, this limits banles. unles.s many players arc mvoln::d, each w1th .t<.ompany or so of tr<x>ps, to rclatin:ly small engagemenls. One r\!mcdy has lx."Cn to :-;imply im:rlw;c..· the size of each player... fom: until a large game can be pl.tyt.'<.l with a rea'ilmahlc numlx:r ol plawr... 11te problem. ~•s I ~e 1t. is that <.me ~'ind~ up with pbyers 111llt;lling lxlllalion command~:rs h~ll sulllx:mg \'ttally <:<?n­n·med "uh tht.· ;lmmunition -;upply c1med by and the spenfi<.· damage mfli<.:tcd so far on tl1e tl1ird vchick of the second P.latoon . • Ls wdl a:- trying to individually manl'u\er each veh1de 1n thc1r <haualion> command. TI1ere's also the matter, nicely discussed by Ft~mk Chadwick in his notes to Command Decision, that, using ntles with turns only a couple of minutes long. larger battles simrr ly play t<x> fast. Time o;;cems 10 c..·om~r-css relati~·e to how long an a< tu.tl haulc took ro fight. lh: followmg sccnano, Assault on Kor-1x·hdt. portraying a Gem1an n:gtmental attack on a ~viet-held to\\n. t<x>k m real life, alx)utthrce hours to fight l'srng any of the one·!< Hmc S(~lle rules on the rnarkett<x..lay, I wager it'd take mud1 les.s tune in ~me tem1.s than that I plan to uy tl1is out at some poult and willrcport back \'ia the Jc..:uers ml~mn. TI1is arti<;le will. in the main. be a replay of the :tforcmenlloned ~:cnano, using ~:ach C1asb of Armor (CoA >: Command Dec1:~ion If( CD II );

5

and Spearbead(':>H). It will also try to give some insight into the development of a scenario and some of the questions we faced lx:for-c and after the scenario was played.

1hcsc rules usc very similar game SC"Jk:s: one rn<xlcl or stand of miniatures equals approximatdy one plat<X>n of lr<X>pS and one turn equals 15 - 30 minutes. Each allowed one to play the S<.'t.'nario in about tl1e same .tmount of game time that the real baule took. Why the replay~ Given these rules basi<.: scale similarities. just about everything else is different. l find them ln­ten:~ting in that they eadl addrcs.s the basic question of h<m to all<>" a moderatt:-to-largc h;lltle to be fought out in a re-Jsonablc lime '" ith reasonable results, 111 very different ways. 111ough th<.·y've all been review<:d mthesc pages. I think a brief summary of the niles important feature..·~ l'i in order.

CLASH OF ARMOR CoA incorporates a number of interesting features, chief of

whid1 is the use of activation roles to get units to do anrthing. If you examine the orders of hattie below, you'll see that ead1 bat­talion has a leader rating followed by a parenthcti<.-:.tl command span [e.g., +q(.))], a numenGtl morale r.Jting, and an experience rating (green, regular. etc). Tite morale mting is used dunng play at various times to test '" hether companies want to do lhtngs and whether battalions want to remain in the battle. 11te cxperien<.'t.' rating seems to aiTect how one assigns battalion morale ratings; beyond this, we've not quite figured out what iL'i used for.

Each component company (rcferred to as a Maneuver Ele­ment - ME) has an activation rating and a fatigue level. During game play, the player with the initiative selects one ME and al­tcmpL'> to activate it by <.~tsting I 010 less than or <..'qual to its ac­tivation number. If successfully acti,~Jtcd, the ME can move, fire, or any of seveml otl1er ac..11ons Some actions, such as opportunity fire, take place when the opponent has initiative. Ballalion lc:tders may apply tlteir lc:tder rating (e.g., the +4,-alx>ve) to the subordinate MEs acti\'ation numlx:r to help ir to activate. Leaders ma>' only do lhi.-,, hmve' eras many times as their command span <e.g., the (3), above). An t-.IE may attempt to activate without the hdp of ils le-ader but if it fails, ils finished for the turn; An ME who was aided by its leader hlll still failed 10 activate may try again (with a penalty to the die roll). An ME that's activated alr-eady in the cu rrent tum may try to activate again -also with a penalty to the die roll. \Vhen an ME ac..1ivatcs, it m1.y accrue fatigue points.

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