Battles For Empire: Napoleonic Wargame Scenarios 1807 & 1809

The Napoleonic era offers the wargamer a compelling challenge because the Napoleonic battlefield witnessed a balance among the three arms—infantry, cavalry, and artillery—never equaled during other military periods. The tabletop general who best handles the interplay between the three arms will duplicate the era’s successful generals. Keep in mind Napoleon’s observation: “Of the three arms—cavalry, infantry, and artillery—none must be despised. All three are equally important.” A historical officer or a tabletop general who fights his three arms in the coordinated manner of the ‘Iron’ Marshal Davout, the gallant Marshal Lannes, or the aggressive Russian General Bagration is an exceptional commander indeed. We hope that these scenarios offer the opportunity to showcase your skills while having fun and perhaps learning a thing or two about our favorite gaming era.

Your rules may not be ours: Different? Yes; Better? Whatever, no problem. This scenario booklet strives to appeal to the Napoleonic gamer regardless of his choice of rules. Toward that goal we offer explanations and examples to provide as seamless as possible a transition from the orders of battle in this booklet to your gaming table.

Each scenario has the following elements

Historical Narrative: the battle’s historical context

Order of Battle: a list of the troops you need to fight the scenario

Skirmishers: identification of which troops, if any, may fight in skirmish order