Absolute Emperor: Napoleonic Wargame Battles

by Boyd Bruce, Mark Stacey (Illustrator)

Overview

From the late Revolutionary Wars and Egyptian campaign, to the battles of Austerlitz, Borodino, Leipzig, and Waterloo, Absolute Emperor is a mass battle wargame that provides all the rules needed to play during this period of grand armies and sweeping campaigns. Players' armies are composed of multiple corps, with command and control being of the utmost importance, all influenced by the elan of your general. Do you follow in the footsteps of Napoleon and be crowned the Absolute Emperor or stand against tyranny as Wellington and Blücher?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781472843661
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	05/27/2021
Series:	Osprey Wargames , #27
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	64
File size:	16 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Boyd has been a librarian, a soldier, a father, and a wargamer. Relying upon his history degree, his love of books, his years of service, and a passion for wargaming, he has made the transition from participant to instigator with Absolute Emperor. Playing all types of tabletop wargaming, Boyd's main gaming interest will always be historical, with Napoleonic gaming holding a favorite place in his heart.
Boyd has been a librarian, a soldier, a father, and a wargamer. Relying upon his history degree, his love of books, his years of service, and a passion for wargaming, he has made the transition from participant to instigator with Absolute Emperor. Playing all types of tabletop wargaming, Boyd's main gaming interest will always be historical, and Napoleonic gaming holding a favorite place in his heart.
Mark Stacey was born in Manchester, UK, in 1964 and has been a freelance illustrator since 1987. He has a lifelong interest in all periods of history, particularly military history, and has specialized in this area throughout his career. He now lives and works in Cornwall.

Table of Contents

Introduction 4

Theoretical Conventions 5

A Note on Units and Scale 6

Basing Units 7

Core Concepts 8

Sequence of Play 8

Types of Unit 9

Command and Control 13

Corps Commander 14

Phase 1 Command 15

Orders 15

Phase 2 Movement 16

Interaction Zone 17

Movement in Built Up Areas 17

Retrograde Movements 17

Terrain 18

Phase 3 Shooting 20

Infantry 20

Artillery 21

How to Read Dice Modifiers 21

Phase 4 Charges 23

Charge Basics 23

Phase 5 Combat 26

Multiple-Unit Combat 26

Change Facing in Combat 26

Combat Against an Infantry in a BUA 26

Combat Modifiers 28

Shooting and Combat Resolution 29

Unit Exhaustion 30

Extraordinary Resolutions 30

Definitions 30

Post-Resolution Combat Results 32

Unit Status 33

Victory 33

Advanced Rules 34

Archaic Command Structures 34

Detachments 34

Guard Units 35

Grand Batteries 36

Historical Corps Commanders Élan 36

Horse Artillery 37

Lancers 37

Limited Ammunition 37

Nationality Special Rules 38

Massive Numbers of Models 40

Partial Divisions 40

Scaling Down 41

Secret Deployment 42

Smoke and Fire 42

Very Large Divisions 42

Tournament and Casual Play 42

Army Building Engine 42

Scenarios 45

The Orders of Battle 45

Battle of Bumville 45

Eylau 48

Wagram 51

Waterloo 53

Scenario One Example 55

Appendix 61

Notes for a Tournament Game Master 61

A Final Note From the Author 63