L’Arme\u00e9 du Nord: the Belgian Campaign 1815<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
This is a 1993 game, designed by Ed Wimble<\/strong> and published by Clash of Arms<\/strong> about the 1815 Waterloo campaign. There are three gorgeous, Rick Barbe<\/strong>r drawn maps, showing the area from Phillippeville in France up to Bruxelles in the north, with an overlay grid of hexes representing 700 meters across. Units are a mix of divisions and brigades with each strength point representing about 1,000 infantry, 500 cavalry, or one battery of artillery. These are commanded by leaders who are essential for getting troops to move and attack. Each turn is typically two hours of real time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The game is a basic “I go, you go” system with a range-based command and control framework and odds- based combat. Cavalry charges are done slightly differently \u2014 there is a separate combat results table and morale plays a significant role \u2014 and striking with them at the right time can be decisive. Combat losses tend to be retreats (some errata adds back in actual losses) so at the micro level you are trying to get your opponent’s units trapped so they have to retreat through a zone of control and thus be eliminated. There are rules for combined arms, formation morale, and an excellent and easy to use off-board movement system that really comes to the fore in face-to-face play as you don’t know where and when enemy reinforcements will arrive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Out of the box, the game heavily favors Napoleon. The French are able to break out of France before the Allies can muster a defensive line of note at Quatre Bras. Meanwhile, the Prussians are no match for the French on their own and Ligny can become a bloody overrun. A long time ago, Charles Vasey cobbled together a set of fixes that did a nice job of rescuing the game and making it a decent historical simulation. In passing, this is not a game for competitive types; the French are still favored. But, if you are at all interested in the campaign, this is probably as good as it gets. Over the years I have dabbled with my own house rules. These have tended to use written orders with fog of war to replicate lost couriers, slowly implemented orders, and the other friction that accompanies such endeavors in real life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In summary, this is one of those games that will probably be back on my table in the near future. It’s also set off a desire to reread the Waterloo campaign histories I have kicking about here, somewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ran and I played played two scenarios. The first was Hell for the Holidays<\/strong> (WO7). This is a December 1944 encounter between a mixed back of German tanks and halftracks with soldiers from Panzergrenadier Lehr Regiment 901 trying to take ground held by a rag-tag force of American infantry backed up by four M5A1 tanks. The German forces got bogged down too early and the American tanks shot up the German halftracks and infantry. It was an easy American victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The second was Viking Surprise <\/strong>(AP221) a longer, bigger scenario taking the opportunity offered by the Sukkot holiday to tackle something meatier. The historical setting is Hungary, January 1945, with the SS Panzer Division Wiking trying to slip around Russian units from the 41st Guards Rifle Division and 110th Tank Brigade. The Russians are the defenders. The Germans win by getting to twelve victory points through any combination of eliminating key Russian assets and exiting tanks with working guns off the Russian’s friendly map edge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Russians have roadblocks and mines. The Germans can bypass some of the expected chokepoints, and if they are successful with enough material, they’ll win. That’s what happened in our game. <\/p>\n\n\n\n My setup wasn’t as good as it needed to be. (A perennial problem.) However, a mortar failing a key roll for smoke didn’t help. Oh, and I counted eight failed morale checks in a row as well. I had six sniper attack opportunities (maybe more) but only one was successful. When you’re down, ASL has the capacity to keep kicking you, hard. It wasn’t the dice that beat me, but they sure didn’t help. Ran had bad luck with a couple of his tank guns breaking down. However, that was only after they had killed one of mine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The games I played this month included the following: L’Arme\u00e9 du Nord: the Belgian Campaign 1815 This is a 1993 game, designed by Ed Wimble and published by Clash of Arms about the 1815 Waterloo campaign. There are three gorgeous, … Continue reading ![\"A](\"https:\/\/e4ellis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/armee-du-nord.png\")
Advanced Squad Leader<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n