Opt rules to add realism

[Graeme]

Hi

What opt rules would you recommend to add realism to a scenario?

Ray

[agmoss99]

Hi

In HPS playtests everything was ON except Manual Defensive Fire; No Skirmisher Overrun; Partial Retreats and Multiple Infantry Melee.

That set gives a balanced realistic game I think. However some folks would argue that Line Movement Restriction is off. Another bone of contention is Isolation Rule - it's fair in the 1813/14 games but I'd normally leave it off for the earlier ones and certainly 1815 as it favours the attacker and stronger side. In 1815 the allies are very poor quality and have poor leadership, and it can lead to gamey tactics to grab thousands of inferior troops.

[Havoc]

I think that the biggest impact on 'realism' in these games is massive 'kill-offs' aquired by first surrounding, then meleeing stacks of your opponent's forces. It becomes a game of who can kill the biggest stacks. So I like to play with all the options on except 'partial retreats', as this interfers with the 'no melee eliminations' rule (PR cancels out NME). This forces a player to first route all the cavalry and infantry in the hex before they can be eliminated by melee.

I also think that no opportunity fire against skirmisher is important because battalions volley firing at skirmishers is not realistic and makes the skirmishers main role (harrassment) ineffective, as battalions tend to inflict greater losses.

[Sgt_Rock]

I do not advocate playing with the Multiple Infantry Melee rule. Far too powerful for the attacker. The Isolation rule actually is rather historical but it does lead to gamey maneuvering. The thing about it is is that you CAN rescue the troops on the turn that they BECOME isolated so just keep a good reserve to the rear of the threatened sector if you can. A brigade of heavy cavalry usually suffices! ;)

Cavalry SHOULD become and REMAIN Disordered for the following TWO turns after a charge (minimum really). Pursuit of an enemy would not be considered a charge per se. Just the actual charge to contact. Unfortunately this will not happen BUT it could if the command levels of cavalry brigades and their div. commanders were lowered. British cavalry for instance got out of control rather easily once on the charge. British cavalry was pretty much a one shot affair but French cavalry after one good charge was the same. It is a shame that the series never was corrected in this area. But I did try ...