The Commands & Colors: Napoleonics game system, as you may already be aware, allows players to effectively portray smaller historical actions and now with these rules Napoleonic Grand size battles as well. The scale of the game is flexible and varies from battle to battle. In some scenarios, a unit may represent an entire division, while in others a unit may represent a single regiment or battalion. During play, the Command cards drive movement, while creating a “fog of war”, and the battle dice will resolve combat quickly and efficiently. The stylized battlefield maps emphasize the important terrain features and highlight the historical deployment of forces in scale with the game system. Finally, the Napoleonic tactics you will need to execute to gain victory conform remarkably well to the advantages and limitations inherent to the various Napoleonic national armies of the day and the actual battlefield terrain features on which they fought.
The Grand Battles is the seventh expansion for GMT’s Commands & Colors Napoleonics game system. The expansion features a total of 10 Grand Battle scenarios and 10 EPIC engagements.
The Grand Battles battlefield is 11 hexes deep by 26 hexes widetand is best played with eight players, four on each side. There are two Grand Battle mounted map boards (left and right) includedtin the expansion. As a special bonus, two Grand Battle extended scenarios are preprinted on a double-sided paper map, Waterloo 18 June 1815 and Borodino 7 September 1812. The historical background and battle notes for these two preprinted extended scenarios can be found on two identical Historical Background and Battle Notes cards. Again please note, the Grand Battles rules have be slightly modified from the La Grande Battles rules originally presented in EPIC Napoleonics expansion #6.
The Napoleonic EPIC battlefield is 11 hexes deep by 20 hexes wide and can be played by two, four, six and even eight players.
Furthermore, if you and a friend have not tried playing an EPIC Napoleonic scenario one-on-one, you will find that EPIC Napoleonics actually really does play out very well with just two players.
To experience the maximum enjoyment with these two Napoleonic game formats, both EPIC and Grand Battles, all scenarios are best played using the Command card and Tactician card decks that were part of the Generals, Marshals & Tacticians expansion #5. It is also important to note, in order to play most of these Napoleonic scenarios, players will need a copy of the Commands & Colors: Napoleonic core game and many of its expansions (Spanish Army, Russian Army, Austrian Army, Prussian Army, Generals, Marshals & Tacticians, EPIC Napoleonics and The Grand Battles).
Again as I stated previously in our EPIC Napoleonics expansion, it is not the intention of GMT or myself to require a player to buy multiple copies or all the expansions to play some of the scenarios found in this expansion. We would truly hope, that two friends, both who own copies of the Napoleonic game and the expansions could come together with their games, set up one of these larger scenarios and share in the fun with their friends.
Finally, players will also find in this expansion a number of new units: Austrian Militia Cavalry, Russian Guard Heavy Cuirassier Cavalry and British Highland Infantry.
Overall this expansion is jam-packed with plenty of new, exciting and challenging game play concepts. It is important to note however, although the scope and scale of your Commands & Colors Napoleonic game has increased substantially, the basic rules of play and how to gain victory, have remained the same.
Welcome and Enjoy!
Richard Borg