Just bumping this up, so that maybe Ol'Fezziwig will post his great review of this game.
well, not so great, but here it is:
After anxiously anticipating the arrival of Talavera/Vimeiro and reading through the rules, I finally punched, clipped and set up Vimeiro for my first NBS experience.
I was not disappointed! Play proceeds apace and the rules flow from the fountain of common sense. Despite checking the rules from time to time during play, it quickly became apparent I was only reinforcing the correct approach I had thought before diving into the book. In fact, I spent more time looking at the charts (the downloaded charts, that is) than the rules.
I've always been interested in Napoleonics, but apart from some HPS/Talonsoft PC games, never played a Nappy boardgame (though Struggle of Nations and Aspern-Essling sit on my shelves). My biggest source of disappointment has been the uncomfortable feeling that I wasn't doing it "right", which playing against any AI seems to reinforce.
This version of NBS changes that.
Having some CWB/R experience, much of the rules are familiar. What isn't, is what differentiates Napoleonic and ACW warfare: the combat, skirmishers, cavalry, opportunity fire. The rules, though, mesh incredibly well, though mastering the melange is not an easy task. Use of these assets seems to bring an Archimedean moment I have not before felt playing Napoleonics (limited, granted, that experience may be). Everyone involved with this revision should feel proud of their accomplishment, for it makes Napoleonic warfare accessible to people it may not otherwise have. Kudos to all!
Noteworthies of my game:
Burrard arrives promptly at 10:30, Wellesley pouts.
Junot has Loison and Delaborde swap brigades, which hampers Loison's attack on Vimeiro Hill.
A string of 6(!) consecutive inconclusive (1 straggler each to Fane and 28 line) firefights afront Vimeiro Hill, holding Loison's Division in its tracks.
DeLaborde's 'swapped' brigade routing/eliminated after being hit by Fane in close combat. (close combat is *severe*!)
Burrard's arrival halting the movement of Hill's division to support Vimeiro, though being quickly reformed and recalled to Army HQ.
DelaBorde's division breaking through to Vimeiro and within sniffing distance of one of the immobile British supply trains.
Skirmishers on both sides causing grief upon enemy artillery
No cavalry usage, unfortunately. The British cavalry was poised to hit DelaBorde's 'borrowed' brigade when it became DG in front of Fane, but I held the French brigade in place to avoid the reaction charge if they withdrew. It wouldn't have been the optimal use of the cavalry, but the possibility of wrecking Loison loomed, which outweighed the mere screening of an artillery battery. The French cavalry was posted to Loison's left and orders were in transit for them to attack Vimeiro Hill from the south to ease pressure on Loison as things looked grim there, before I packed my kit up for the night.(up to the 2:30P turn)
Not a stellar game played; I was looking more to get a feel for how all the pieces fit than to create a masterpiece. I was pleased with the outcome and flow of the game and look forward to many more such experiences.
addenda: This system rocks! Play (read: combat) is streamlined, though not done in a manner that is done so for its own sake. As most combat was waged at extremely close range, all infantry/cavalry combat is close combat.
The "check to stand" mechanic is ingenious and leads players to adopt historically accurate dispositions or situations to your benefit on the field. Failing that "check to stand" can be disastrous: routed units often result, leaving gaping holes in your lines and vulnerable units for the lurking cavalry units to pounce on, remorselessly.
If you're looking for an accessible Napoleonic game/system, or just one plain fun game,
this is it!
