Es ist
gerade erst ein Jahr vergangen, als uns Warlord Games mit einem neuen
Spielsystem, in einem neuen Maßstab überraschte. Epic Battles American Civil
War hieß das Ganze. Das System trat mit dem Anspruch an, dass Spieler mit
diesem System „epische Schlachten“ des Amerikanischen Bürgerkriegs nachspielen
können. Episch deshalb, weil der kleine Maßstab den Spieler in die Lager
versetzen sollte, große Kontingente auf einem Standardspieltisch aufzustellen.
Wargamer neigen gerne dazu, so etwas als episch zu bezeichnen. Spätestens seit dem Zeitpunkt als der Marktführer Games Workshop im Jahr 1988 die erste Ausgabe von Warhammer Epic herausbrachte (erste Ausgabe noch unter dem Titel Adeptus Titanicus).
Der Superlativ bezieht sich dabei vor allem auf die Menge an Figuren, die man einsetzen kann. Ob das als einziger Grund für die Verwendung des Worts „episch“ taugt, soll jeder selbst entscheiden. Ich habe da meine Zweifel, aber nun denn… Das Spiel heißt jetzt so.
Nun hat Warlord Games seinen zweiten Hit angekündigt, der just in dem Moment, in dem sie diesen Bericht lesen, auch schon vorbestellbar ist.
Epic Battles Waterloo.
Wargamer neigen gerne dazu, so etwas als episch zu bezeichnen. Spätestens seit dem Zeitpunkt als der Marktführer Games Workshop im Jahr 1988 die erste Ausgabe von Warhammer Epic herausbrachte (erste Ausgabe noch unter dem Titel Adeptus Titanicus).
Der Superlativ bezieht sich dabei vor allem auf die Menge an Figuren, die man einsetzen kann. Ob das als einziger Grund für die Verwendung des Worts „episch“ taugt, soll jeder selbst entscheiden. Ich habe da meine Zweifel, aber nun denn… Das Spiel heißt jetzt so.
Nun hat Warlord Games seinen zweiten Hit angekündigt, der just in dem Moment, in dem sie diesen Bericht lesen, auch schon vorbestellbar ist.
Epic Battles Waterloo.
Überrascht????
Ich denke nicht.
Seien wir doch mal ehrlich.
Das war so klar wie Kloßbrühe, dass das nächste Set in dieser Reihe den Titel Waterloo tragen wird. Der ACW war so etwas, wie die Generalprobe, aber insgeheim wussten wir doch alle, dass da noch was folgen würde, und ja, wir wussten auch alle, was.
Ich war deshalb natürlich auch gespannt, was Warlord Games, denn da jetzt zaubern würde, und sie werden sicherlich überrascht sein, dass auch ich dazu tendiere das Ganze als episch zu bezeichnen.
Warum?
Meine Wurzeln im Hobby liegen ja weniger im Wargaming, sondern im Sammeln von Miniaturfiguren im Maßstab 1/72. Na und die Sammlergemeinde dieses Maßstabs war schon immer von der Schlacht bei Waterloo fasziniert.
Das hatte verschiedene Gründe. Viele von uns hatten ihre Sammelleidenschaft mit der Firma Airfix gestartet, denn die hatten bereits sehr früh historische Minis der Franzosen und Briten für diese Schlacht herausgebracht. Es folgten dann später Minis der Firmen Esci, Hät und Revell. Noch später kamen dann Figuren von Italeri und Zvezda hinzu, um jetzt nur einmal die größten Firmen im Plastiksektor zu nennen.
Traum der Meisten von uns, war die Darstellung der Schlacht von Waterloo in einem bestimmten Maßstab. Wir wollten Figuren nach einem bestimmten Schema aufstellen. Vielleicht in einer Ratio von 1:100, 1:50, vielleicht gar in 1:25. Knapp 50.000 Infanteristen standen sich bei Waterloo gegenüber. Das heißt, in einem Maßstab von 1:25 hätte somit eine Miniatur, 25 Soldaten in der Realität entsprochen. Ein Bataillon mit 600 Soldaten (nur einmal als Richtwert) hätte somit aus 24 Mann bestanden.
Klingelt es da bei Ihnen????
Richtig.
24 Mann stellen ja mittlerweile in vielen Standardsystemen im Wargaming eine Einheit (Bataillon/Regiment) dar. Dieser Maßstab hätte also gepasst.
Insgesamt hätte man so knapp 2000 Infanteristen pro Seite bemalen müssen. Kavalleristen und Artillerie wären noch dazu gekommen. 600 Reiter auf französischer Seite, 500 auf britischer. Rein rechnerisch noch 10 französische Kanonen nebst Besatzung, und 6 Kanonen auf britischer Seite.
Durchaus machbar würde ich heute sagen. Damals haben mich die Zahlen geschockt.
Mein Sammlerfreund Thomas Mischak hatte sich von dieser Zahl übrigens nicht abschrecken lassen. Er hat sein eigenes Waterloo Diorama geschaffen. Nicht gezweifelt, einfach losgemalt. Ich hatte über ihn an dieser Stelle berichtet.
https://thrifles.blogspot.com/2020/12/waterloo-diorama-in-172-thomas-mischak.html
Aber Thomas war und ist da eher die Ausnahme, nicht die Norm.
Wie so viele andere auch habe ich dann 1/72 NUR gesammelt. GESAMMELT. Bemalt habe ich die Miniaturen bis auf ein paar Wenige nicht.
Das hat mich dann aber nicht davon abgehalten Statistiken zu wälzen. Hier, in diesem Bericht aus dem August 1998, kam ich zum Beispiel auf die Idee, Waterloo in den beiden Figurenmaßstäben, nämlich in 1:72 und 1:35 darzustellen.
„Total 1:72 1:35
2) Guard (shako) 4.289 59 122
3) Chasseurs a Cheval 1.197 (-1) 16 34
4) Lancers (Guard) 880 (-52) 11 23
5) Elite-Gendarms 106 1 3
6) Mounted Grenadiers 796 11 22
7) Dragoons (Guard) 816 (-1) 11 23
8) Pioneers 112 1 3
9) Marines 107 1 3
10) Lineinfantry 33.124 (-2.197) 429 883
11) Light Infantry 8.620 (-943) 106 219
12) Hussars 439 6 12
13) Chasseurs 3.012 (-124) 40 82
14) Lancers 2.444 (-386) 28 59
15) Dragoons 1.099 15 31
16) Carabiniers 842 12 24
17) Cuirassiers 4.341 (-327) 56 115
18) Pioneers 782 11 22
Wenn Sie sich die Zahlen komplett geben wollen, einfach auf den Link klicken.
„Real 1/72“ so schwebte mir das damals vor. Also nicht nur der Figurenmaßstab in 1/72, sondern auch die Anzahl der zu verwendenden Minis nach dieser Ratio.
Ein bisschen nerdig. Ich gebe es zu.
Mein Ziel war es immer diese Ratio auf dem Spielfeld/auf dem Tisch darzustellen. Die Schlacht von Waterloo in einem bestimmten Maßstab. Diese Idee fand ich extrem spannend.
Letztendlich ist das der Grund, warum ich auch weiterhin einen Grundstock an 1/72 Figuren zu diesem Thema habe.
Schon mehrfach habe ich mir überlegt, diese Minis entsprechend zu basieren. Die Franzosen einfach blau zu grundieren, die Briten rot, und fertig.
Dies alles nur, um den Look der Formationen darzustellen, genau wie man ihn in verschiedenen Publikationen wiederfindet, die die Aufstellung der Armeen in der Schlacht darstellen:
Ein Kampf Blau gegen Rot. Schematisch, abstrakt. Nicht bemalt, nicht mit künstlerischem Anspruch.
Na und jetzt kommen da diese Armeeboxen von Warlord Games., und irgendwie habe ich das Gefühl, dass ich versucht werde, verführt werden soll.
Wenn ich jetzt Lust bekomme, kann ich den ursprünglichen Plan doch wirklich angehen.
Warlord selbst definiert die einzelnen Boxen, die sie kaufen können als Brigaden.
Eine französische Brigade bei Waterloo umfasste in der Regel 2 Regimenter a 2 Bataillone. Bei den Briten setzte sich eine Brigade in der Regel ebenfalls aus 4 Bataillonen zusammen. (Anmerkung: Bei den Preußen wurde eine Division als Brigade bezeichnet).
Bei Waterloo selbst waren 22 britische Bataillone im direkten Einsatz.
Jetzt schauen Sie sich mal die britische Armeebox an und zählen sie mal bitte die Infanterieblöcke, die sie da sehen.
Sie kommen auf 50 Bases mit jeweils 20 Mann in zwei Reihen a 10. Wenn Sie somit 2 dieser Bases als Bataillon definieren, dann haben Sie ihre 22 Bataillone von Waterloo. Zufall??? Ich weiß es nicht, aber irgendwie cool das Ganze.
Wenn Sie aber jedem Ihrer Bataillone eine Fahne geben wollen, und ein Bataillon mit 4 Basen definieren, dann müssen sie ergänzen.
Kein Problem, denn die Brigaden wird es ja als Einzelpacks geben.
Gleiches gilt auch für die Franzosen. Hier bekommen sie dann in der Brigadebox 3 Bataillone, ein paar Plänkler und angegliederte Divisionsartillerie.
Eine nerdige Bemerkung sei noch an dieser Stelle erlaubt: Im Bild der Starterbox sehen Sie 80 x 10er Einheiten. Zufall, dass bei Waterloo 81 Bataillone (ohne Garde) der Franzosen im Einsatz waren???
Erschrecken Sie jetzt nicht. 81 französische Bataillone (I., II., VI. Korps) sind kein Pappenstiel, wenn Sie die jetzt mit 2 bzw. 4 Bases darstellen wollen. Da müssen Sie dann ihre eigene Ratio finden. Ihre eigene ultima ratio, Ihr epic system.
Kommen wir zur Kavallerie. Die britischen Kavalleriebrigaden bei Waterloo setzten sich in der Regel aus 3 Regimentern a 3 Schwadronen zusammen.
Na und die Boxen sind hier so gehalten, dass Sie sogar ein bisschen mehr für Ihr Geld bekommen, als benötigt. Statistikern wird auffallen, dass pro Box 2 Bases (=Regiment) überbleiben. Cool. 3 Boxen kaufen und schon hat man zwei weitere Regimenter, was man eigentlich gar nicht braucht, denn bei Waterloo waren 9 leichte britische Regimenter im Einsatz. Heißt: 3 Boxen und man ist komplett. Episch, sag ich da nur, episch.
Für die Darstellung der Household und der Union Cavalry braucht man insgesamt 7 Regimenter.
2 Boxen und sie sind komplett.
Herrlich.
Gleiches gilt auch für die Franzosen, wie sie diesen beiden Bildern entnehmen können.
Da können Sie jetzt auch anfangen zu rechnen.
Für eine 1:1 Darstellung brauchen Sie insgesamt folgende Regimenter, um episch zu werden: 12 Kürassiere, 2 Carabiniers, 3 Dragoner, 1 Grenadiers a cheval, 8 Chasseurs a cheval, 7 Lanciers, 1 Husaren.
Artillerie bekommen Sie übrigens für eine schematische Darstellung genügend. Wie Sie sehen können, finden sich sowohl in den Infanterie-, als auch in den Kavallerieboxen entsprechende Modelle.
Heißt.
Jetzt können Sie wirklich damit beginnen sich Ihr Waterloo in 1:1 zu bauen, und ja diese Möglichkeit möchte ich jetzt auch auf jeden Fall als episch bezeichnen.
Das Vorhaben in 28 mm darzustellen, wäre nämlich äußerst schwierig.
Sie wären schon mal vorneweg bei einem dreifachen bis vierfachen Anschaffungspreis
Dann bräuchten sie den x-fachen Platz, weil der Maßstab zu groß ist, um episch zu werden.
Na und last, but not least:
Blau gegen Rot in 28 mm ist doof.
Blau gegen Rot in 12,5 mm ist cool.
Na und das ist jetzt der Zeitpunkt, um etwas zum eigenen Maßstab des Systems zu sagen.
Dass die WG Boxen zu nichts anderem kompatibel sind, stört mich persönlich nicht.
Die Minis mit einem Maßstab von 12,5 mm sind natürlich mit allem anderen inkompatibel.
Klar. Warlord Games will dass die Leute da umsteigen und alles aus einer Hand haben wollen.
Da bestand nie die Absicht bestehende 15 mm Reihen zu ergänzen.
Alle 15 mm Sammler müssen da jetzt durch und tapfer sein.
Zum Abschluss noch folgendes.
Zu hoffen bleibt, dass Warlord Games Waterloo jetzt nicht als rein britische Schlacht betrachtet.
Zähneknirschend mussten die Engländer ja mittlerweile zugeben, dass der Anteil der Briten an der Schlacht nur 36% der Gesamtheit aller Soldaten ausmachte. Hinzu kamen die folgenden Einheiten/Nationen: 17% Hannoveraner, 13% Holländer, 10% Kings German Legion, 10% Nassauer, 8% Braunschweiger, 6% Belgier. Na und dazu noch die Preußen, die ab 16 Uhr auf dem Schlachtfeld erschienen.
Wenn ich also generell schon jetzt gewillt bin, diese Idee von Warlord Games als episch zu bezeichnen, so fehlen jetzt zum „overall epic“ Gefühl, nur noch die oben genannten Einheiten und natürlich explizit die französische Garde.
VIVE L’EMPEREUR
Ich bin mir allerdings jetzt schon sicher, dass das alles kommen wird, denn die Waterloo Epic Battle wird sich definitiv verkaufen.
Für den Verkaufserfolg spricht vieles, hier nur ein paar Highlights:
Punkt 1: Waterloo geht IMMER!
Das Konzept ist gut, weil es alles aus einer Hand bietet.
Die Brigadeboxen orientieren sich tatsächlich am historischen Aufbau, an der OoB, Order of Battle.
Außerdem wird zusätzlich sogar Gelände angeboten – La Haye Sainte und Hougoumont, wenn das mal nichts ist.
Die Minis sehen für den Maßstab extrem gut aus, und ja, die speziellen Einheiten (z.B. Dragoner, Scots Greys, berittene Artillerie …) sind sogar an ihren Uniformdetails erkennbar.
Dann sind sogar die Umverpackungen toll aufgemacht… also alles das, was auch wir alten 1/72 Sammler immer so geliebt haben.
Ich muss jetzt mal tief in mich gehen.
Vielleicht verkaufe ich wirklich meine 1/72 Sammlung. Denn das, was ich mit der mal vorhatte, könnte ich genauso gut mit den Warlord Games Minis darstellen. Natürlich würde ich bei der Darstellung der Gesamtschlacht ein Bataillon mit 20 Mann darstellen. Selbst dann brauche ich schon 2 Starterboxen der Franzosen. Die Fahnengruppe, würde dann als Marker für die Brigade herhalten müssen. Dumm, dass sie dann am Rand der Einheit, und nicht mehr in der Mitte stünde…. Aber egal.
Teilabschnitte der Schlacht kann man dann ja mit größeren Einheiten simulieren. Dann stimmt der Look dann wieder.
Ich jedenfalls bin der Meinung, dass Epic Battles Waterloo etwas hat. Für Spieler und für Sammler. Das ist ein großer Baukasten, den ich nach unterschiedlichen Kriterien zusammensetzen kann.
Anmalen würde ich die Miniaturen nicht. Das wäre mir dann doch etwas zu episch.
Was mir da vorschweben würde, wäre eher ein Solospiel nach Command&Colors Regeln, und das dann so richtig retro: Auf dem Boden meines Hobbyzimmers, so wie früher, als ich meine Airfix Minis unter lautem „VIVE L’EMPEREUR“ Gebrüll durch die Gegend schob.
Blau gegen Rot.
Eigentlich hat das was generalstabsmäßiges, auch unbemalt.
Basieren Sie die Minis nicht als Bataillone oder Regimenter, sondern als Brigaden. Die Infanterieminis sind ja als 10er Einheit am Gussast.
Kleben Sie mehrere Streifen der 10er Einheiten, je nachdem wie viele Boxen sie kaufen wollen, auf eine Grundbase und definieren Sie diese Grundbase als Brigade.
Die Franzosen hatten 18 Brigaden Infanterie (ohne Garde) bei Waterloo.
Heißt, wenn Sie das Bild aus der Armeebox nehmen, sehen sie schon mal 10 Infanterieblöcke. Wenn Sie jetzt ihre Brigaden so aussehen lassen möchten, reichen schon mal zwei Starterboxen für die Infanterie.
Oder sie nehmen nur die Hälfte an Minis, dann reicht Ihnen sogar eine Box.
Immer dran denken. Wir wollen ja nur etwas abstrakt darstellen.
Nach einem bestimmten Raster, das Ihnen visuell passt.
Warlord Games würde sich aber sicherlich freuen, wenn Sie eine 1:1 Darstellung bevorzugen.
Viel Spaß beim herumrechnen.
Preorder:
Epic Battles - FantasyWelt.de | Tabletopshop | Brettspielshop | Rolle
Only a
year has passed when Warlord Games surprised us with a new game system on a new
scale. Epic Battles American Civil War was the name it. The system started with
the claim that players could use this system to re-enact “epic battles” of the
American Civil War. Epic because the small scale should put the player in the
camp of setting up large contingents on a standard gaming table.
Wargamers tend to refer to something like this as epic. At least since the time when the market leader Games Workshop brought out the first edition of Warhammer Epic in 1988 (first edition still under the title Adeptus Titanicus).
The superlative mainly refers to the number of figures that can be used. Everyone should decide for themselves whether that is the only reason to use the word "epic". I have my doubts, but now then ... The game is now called that.
Now Warlord Games has announced its second hit, which can be pre-ordered at the very moment you are reading this report.
Epic Battles Waterloo.
Surprised????
I do not think so.
Let's be honest.
It was as clear as dumpling that the next set in this series would be called Waterloo. The ACW was like the dress rehearsal, but secretly we all knew there was something to come, and yes, we all knew what.
So of course I was curious to see what Warlord Games would do magic there, and you will surely be surprised that I also tend to describe the whole thing as epic.
Why?
My roots in the hobby are less in wargaming than in collecting miniature figures on a scale of 1/72. Well, the collector community of this scale has always been fascinated by the Battle of Waterloo.
There were various reasons for this. Many of us started our passion for collecting with the company Airfix, because they had brought out historical minis of the French and British for this battle very early on. Minis from Esci, Hät and Revell followed later. Figures by Italeri and Zvezda were added later, to name just one of the largest companies in the plastics sector.
Most of us dream of depicting the Battle of Waterloo on a certain scale. We wanted to set up figures according to a certain scheme. Maybe in a ratio of 1: 100, 1:50, maybe even 1:25. Almost 50,000 infantrymen faced each other near Waterloo. That is, on a scale of 1:25 a miniature would have corresponded to 25 soldiers in reality. A battalion with 600 soldiers (only once as a guide) would have consisted of 24 men.
Can you hear the sound ringing in your ears ????
Right.
In many standard wargaming systems, 24 men now represent a unit (battalion / regiment). So this standard 1:25 would have been the right one.
Altogether one would have had to paint almost 2000 infantrymen on each side. Cavalrymen and artillery would have been added. 600 riders on the French side, 500 on the British. In purely mathematical terms, 10 French cannons and crew, and 6 cannons on the British side.
Quite feasible today, I would say. Back then, the numbers shocked me.
Incidentally, my collector friend Thomas Mischak was not deterred by this number. He created his own Waterloo diorama. Not in doubt, just start painting. I had reported about him at this point.
https://thrifles.blogspot.com/2020/12/waterloo-diorama-in-172-thomas-mischak.html
But Thomas was and is more the exception than the norm.
Like so many others, I ONLY collected 1/72 miniatures. COLLECTED. Except for a few, I didn't paint the miniatures.
But that didn't stop me from rolling over statistics. Here, in this report from August 1998, I came up with the idea of depicting Waterloo in the two figure scales, namely in 1:72 and 1:35.
http://www.hat72.com/Othr/Watstats.html
"Total
1:72 1:35
1) Guard
(bearskin) 8,444 (-105) 115 238
2) Guard (shako) 4,289 59 122
3) Chasseurs a Cheval 1,197 (-1) 16 34
4) Lancers (Guard) 880 (-52) 11 23
5) Elite gendarmes 106 1 3
6) Mounted Grenadiers 796 11 22
7) Dragoons (Guard) 816 (-1) 11 23
8) Pioneers 112 1 3
9) Marines 107 1 3
10) Line Infantry 33,124 (-2,197) 429 883
11) Light Infantry 8,620 (-943) 106 219
12) Hussars 439 6 12
13) Chasseurs 3.012 (-124) 40 82
14) Lancers 2,444 (-386) 28 59
15) Dragoons 1,099 15 31
16) Carabiniers 842 12 24
17) Cuirassiers 4,341 (-327) 56 115
18) Pioneers 782 11 22
TOTAL
67,314 929 1,918
Infantry
52,233 722 1,490
Cavalry
15,081 207 428
Artillery
(see bottom) 6,726 (256) 93 (4) 192 (7)
Total
incl. Art. 74,040 1,022 2,110 "
These
statistics can be read as follows. Example point 10: 33,124 line infantry are
represented with 429 (1:72) or 883 (1:35) figures. The minus number shows
losses at Quatre Bras or Ligny.
If you want to give yourself the complete statsitical report, just click on the link.
“Real
1/72” was what I had in mind at the time. So not only the figure scale in 1/72,
but also the number of minis to be used according to this ratio.
A little nerdy. I admit it.
My goal has always been to present this ratio on the playing field / on the table. The Battle of Waterloo on a spezial Scale. I found this idea extremely exciting.
Ultimately, that's the reason why I still have a basic stock of 1/72 figures on this topic.
I have already considered basing these minis accordingly several times. Simply prime the French blue, the British red, and you're done.
All of this just to illustrate the look of the formations, just as you can find it in various publications that depict the formation of armies in battle:
A fight between blue and red. Schematic, abstract. Not painted, not with artistic aspirations.
Well, now there are these army boxes from Warlord Games, and somehow I have the feeling that I am being tempted to be seduced.
If I feel like it now, I can really go about the original plan.
Warlord himself defines the individual boxes that you can buy as brigades.
A French brigade at Waterloo usually comprised 2 regiments of 2 battalions. In the case of the British, a brigade was usually also composed of 4 battalions. (Note: In the Prussians, a division was called a brigade).
At Waterloo itself, 22 British battalions were in direct action.
Now take a look at the British Army Box and please count the infantry blocks you see there.
You get 50 bases with 20 men each in two rows of 10. So if you define 2 of these bases as a battalion, you have your 22 battalions for Waterloo. Conicidence??? I don't know, but it's kind of cool.
But if you want to give each of your battalions a flag, and define a battalion with 4 bases, then you have to add.
No problem, because the brigades will be available as single packs.
The same goes for the French. Here you get 3 battalions, a few skirmishers and affiliated divisional artillery in the brigade box.
One nerdy remark is allowed at this point: In the picture of the starter box you can see 80 x 10 units. Coincidence that 81 battalions (without guards) of the French were in action at Waterloo ???
Don't be frightened now. 81 French battalions (I., II., VI. Corps) are not a stick if you want to represent them with 2 or 4 bases. Then you have to find your own ratio. Your own ultima ratio, your epic system.
Let's get to the cavalry. The British cavalry brigades at Waterloo usually consisted of 3 regiments of 3 squadrons.
Well, the boxes are designed in such a way that you even get a little more bang for your buck than you need. Statisticians will notice that 2 bases (= regiment) remain per box. Cool. Buy 3 boxes and you have two more regiments, which you don't really need, because 9 light British regiments were in action at Waterloo. Means: 3 boxes and you are complete. Epic, I'm just saying, epic.
For the representation of the Household and the Union Cavalry you need a total of 7 regiments.
2 boxes and they are complete.
Splendid.
The same applies to the French, as you can see from these two pictures.
You can now start calculating.
For a 1: 1 representation you need a total of the following regiments to become epic:
12 cuirassiers, 2 carabiniers, 3 dragoons, 1 grenadiers a cheval, 8 chasseurs a cheval, 7 lancers, 1 hussars.
By the way, you get enough artillery for a schematic representation. As you can see, there are corresponding models in both the infantry and cavalry boxes.
Now you can really start building your Waterloo in 1: 1, and yes, I would definitely like to call this possibility epic.
Representing the project in 28 mm would be extremely difficult.
You would be in the lead at three to four times the purchase price
Then you would need x times the space for playing because the scale is too big to be epic.
Well and last, but not least:
Blue against red in 28 mm is stupid.
Blue against red in 12.5 mm is cool.
28mm figures have to be painted, 12,5 mm figures not. That’s what I want to say.
Well, now is the time to say something about the system's own standard.
Personally, I don't mind that the WG boxes are not compatible with anything else.
The minis with a scale of 12.5 mm are of course incompatible with everything else.
Clear. Warlord Games wants people to switch and have everything from a single source.
The intention was never to add to existing 15 mm rows.
All 15 mm collectors have to be brave now.
Finally, the following.
It is to be hoped that Warlord Games does not see Waterloo as a purely British battle now.
The English grudgingly had to admit that the British made up only 36% of the total number of soldiers in the battle. In addition, there were the following units / nations: 17% Hanoverians, 13% Dutch, 10% Kings German Legion, 10% Nassauer, 8% Brunswick, 6% Belgians. Well, plus the Prussians, who appeared on the battlefield from 4 p.m. on.
So if I am generally already willing to call this idea of Warlord Games epic, the only thing missing for the "overall epic" feeling is to produce also the above-mentioned units and of course explicitly the French guard.
VIVE L’EMPEREUR
However, I am already sure that all of this will come, because the Waterloo Epic Battle will definitely sell.
A lot speaks for the sales success, here are just a few highlights:
Point 1: Waterloo ALWAYS works!
The concept is good because it offers everything from a single source.
The brigade boxes are actually based on the historical structure, on the OoB, Order of Battle.
In addition, there is even additional terrain - La Haye Sainte and Hougoumont, if that's nothing.
The Minis look extremely good for the scale, and yes, the special units (e.g. Dragoons, Scots Grays, mounted artillery ...) can even be recognized by their uniform details.
Then even the outer packaging looks great ... everything that we old 1/72 collectors have always loved.
I have to go deep inside myself now.
Maybe I'll really sell my 1/72 collection. Because what I wanted to do with it, I could just as easily do with the Warlord Games Minis. Of course, when depicting the overall battle, I would represent a battalion with 20 men. Even then I need 2 starter boxes from the French. The flag group would then serve as a marker for the brigade. Too bad that it would then be on the edge of the unit and no longer in the middle…. But it doesn't matter.
Part of the battle can then be simulated with larger units. Then the look is right again.
Anyway, I think Epic Battles Waterloo has something. For gamers and collectors. This is a large construction kit that I can put together according to different criteria.
I wouldn't paint the miniatures. That would be a bit too epic for me.
What I would have in mind would be a solo game based on Command & Colors rules, and then really retro: On the floor of my hobby room, just like before when I pushed my Airfix Minis around with a loud “VIVE L’EMPEREUR” roar.
Blue against red.
That would be great.
P.S .:
For all of those who I have now made desperate because they cannot imagine
buying so many battalions, another suggestion.
Don't base the Minis as battalions or regiments, but as brigades. The infantry minis are on the sprue as a unit of 10.
Glue several strips of the 10 units, depending on how many boxes you want to buy, on a basic base and define this basic base as a brigade.
For example:
The French had 18 infantry brigades (excluding guards) at Waterloo.
This means that if you take the picture out of the army box, you will see 10 infantry blocks. If you want to make your brigades look like this, two starter boxes for the infantry are enough.
Or you only take half of the minis, then even one box is enough for you.
Always remember. We just want to present something abstract.
According to a certain grid that suits you visually.
Warlord Games would certainly be happy if you prefer a 1: 1 display.
Have fun doing the math.
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Wargamers tend to refer to something like this as epic. At least since the time when the market leader Games Workshop brought out the first edition of Warhammer Epic in 1988 (first edition still under the title Adeptus Titanicus).
The superlative mainly refers to the number of figures that can be used. Everyone should decide for themselves whether that is the only reason to use the word "epic". I have my doubts, but now then ... The game is now called that.
Now Warlord Games has announced its second hit, which can be pre-ordered at the very moment you are reading this report.
Epic Battles Waterloo.
Surprised????
I do not think so.
Let's be honest.
It was as clear as dumpling that the next set in this series would be called Waterloo. The ACW was like the dress rehearsal, but secretly we all knew there was something to come, and yes, we all knew what.
So of course I was curious to see what Warlord Games would do magic there, and you will surely be surprised that I also tend to describe the whole thing as epic.
Why?
My roots in the hobby are less in wargaming than in collecting miniature figures on a scale of 1/72. Well, the collector community of this scale has always been fascinated by the Battle of Waterloo.
There were various reasons for this. Many of us started our passion for collecting with the company Airfix, because they had brought out historical minis of the French and British for this battle very early on. Minis from Esci, Hät and Revell followed later. Figures by Italeri and Zvezda were added later, to name just one of the largest companies in the plastics sector.
Most of us dream of depicting the Battle of Waterloo on a certain scale. We wanted to set up figures according to a certain scheme. Maybe in a ratio of 1: 100, 1:50, maybe even 1:25. Almost 50,000 infantrymen faced each other near Waterloo. That is, on a scale of 1:25 a miniature would have corresponded to 25 soldiers in reality. A battalion with 600 soldiers (only once as a guide) would have consisted of 24 men.
Can you hear the sound ringing in your ears ????
Right.
In many standard wargaming systems, 24 men now represent a unit (battalion / regiment). So this standard 1:25 would have been the right one.
Altogether one would have had to paint almost 2000 infantrymen on each side. Cavalrymen and artillery would have been added. 600 riders on the French side, 500 on the British. In purely mathematical terms, 10 French cannons and crew, and 6 cannons on the British side.
Quite feasible today, I would say. Back then, the numbers shocked me.
Incidentally, my collector friend Thomas Mischak was not deterred by this number. He created his own Waterloo diorama. Not in doubt, just start painting. I had reported about him at this point.
https://thrifles.blogspot.com/2020/12/waterloo-diorama-in-172-thomas-mischak.html
But Thomas was and is more the exception than the norm.
Like so many others, I ONLY collected 1/72 miniatures. COLLECTED. Except for a few, I didn't paint the miniatures.
But that didn't stop me from rolling over statistics. Here, in this report from August 1998, I came up with the idea of depicting Waterloo in the two figure scales, namely in 1:72 and 1:35.
http://www.hat72.com/Othr/Watstats.html
2) Guard (shako) 4,289 59 122
3) Chasseurs a Cheval 1,197 (-1) 16 34
4) Lancers (Guard) 880 (-52) 11 23
5) Elite gendarmes 106 1 3
6) Mounted Grenadiers 796 11 22
7) Dragoons (Guard) 816 (-1) 11 23
8) Pioneers 112 1 3
9) Marines 107 1 3
10) Line Infantry 33,124 (-2,197) 429 883
11) Light Infantry 8,620 (-943) 106 219
12) Hussars 439 6 12
13) Chasseurs 3.012 (-124) 40 82
14) Lancers 2,444 (-386) 28 59
15) Dragoons 1,099 15 31
16) Carabiniers 842 12 24
17) Cuirassiers 4,341 (-327) 56 115
18) Pioneers 782 11 22
If you want to give yourself the complete statsitical report, just click on the link.
A little nerdy. I admit it.
My goal has always been to present this ratio on the playing field / on the table. The Battle of Waterloo on a spezial Scale. I found this idea extremely exciting.
Ultimately, that's the reason why I still have a basic stock of 1/72 figures on this topic.
I have already considered basing these minis accordingly several times. Simply prime the French blue, the British red, and you're done.
All of this just to illustrate the look of the formations, just as you can find it in various publications that depict the formation of armies in battle:
A fight between blue and red. Schematic, abstract. Not painted, not with artistic aspirations.
Well, now there are these army boxes from Warlord Games, and somehow I have the feeling that I am being tempted to be seduced.
If I feel like it now, I can really go about the original plan.
Warlord himself defines the individual boxes that you can buy as brigades.
A French brigade at Waterloo usually comprised 2 regiments of 2 battalions. In the case of the British, a brigade was usually also composed of 4 battalions. (Note: In the Prussians, a division was called a brigade).
At Waterloo itself, 22 British battalions were in direct action.
Now take a look at the British Army Box and please count the infantry blocks you see there.
You get 50 bases with 20 men each in two rows of 10. So if you define 2 of these bases as a battalion, you have your 22 battalions for Waterloo. Conicidence??? I don't know, but it's kind of cool.
But if you want to give each of your battalions a flag, and define a battalion with 4 bases, then you have to add.
No problem, because the brigades will be available as single packs.
The same goes for the French. Here you get 3 battalions, a few skirmishers and affiliated divisional artillery in the brigade box.
One nerdy remark is allowed at this point: In the picture of the starter box you can see 80 x 10 units. Coincidence that 81 battalions (without guards) of the French were in action at Waterloo ???
Don't be frightened now. 81 French battalions (I., II., VI. Corps) are not a stick if you want to represent them with 2 or 4 bases. Then you have to find your own ratio. Your own ultima ratio, your epic system.
Let's get to the cavalry. The British cavalry brigades at Waterloo usually consisted of 3 regiments of 3 squadrons.
Well, the boxes are designed in such a way that you even get a little more bang for your buck than you need. Statisticians will notice that 2 bases (= regiment) remain per box. Cool. Buy 3 boxes and you have two more regiments, which you don't really need, because 9 light British regiments were in action at Waterloo. Means: 3 boxes and you are complete. Epic, I'm just saying, epic.
For the representation of the Household and the Union Cavalry you need a total of 7 regiments.
2 boxes and they are complete.
Splendid.
The same applies to the French, as you can see from these two pictures.
You can now start calculating.
For a 1: 1 representation you need a total of the following regiments to become epic:
12 cuirassiers, 2 carabiniers, 3 dragoons, 1 grenadiers a cheval, 8 chasseurs a cheval, 7 lancers, 1 hussars.
By the way, you get enough artillery for a schematic representation. As you can see, there are corresponding models in both the infantry and cavalry boxes.
Now you can really start building your Waterloo in 1: 1, and yes, I would definitely like to call this possibility epic.
Representing the project in 28 mm would be extremely difficult.
You would be in the lead at three to four times the purchase price
Then you would need x times the space for playing because the scale is too big to be epic.
Well and last, but not least:
Blue against red in 28 mm is stupid.
Blue against red in 12.5 mm is cool.
28mm figures have to be painted, 12,5 mm figures not. That’s what I want to say.
Well, now is the time to say something about the system's own standard.
Personally, I don't mind that the WG boxes are not compatible with anything else.
The minis with a scale of 12.5 mm are of course incompatible with everything else.
Clear. Warlord Games wants people to switch and have everything from a single source.
The intention was never to add to existing 15 mm rows.
All 15 mm collectors have to be brave now.
Finally, the following.
It is to be hoped that Warlord Games does not see Waterloo as a purely British battle now.
The English grudgingly had to admit that the British made up only 36% of the total number of soldiers in the battle. In addition, there were the following units / nations: 17% Hanoverians, 13% Dutch, 10% Kings German Legion, 10% Nassauer, 8% Brunswick, 6% Belgians. Well, plus the Prussians, who appeared on the battlefield from 4 p.m. on.
So if I am generally already willing to call this idea of Warlord Games epic, the only thing missing for the "overall epic" feeling is to produce also the above-mentioned units and of course explicitly the French guard.
VIVE L’EMPEREUR
However, I am already sure that all of this will come, because the Waterloo Epic Battle will definitely sell.
A lot speaks for the sales success, here are just a few highlights:
Point 1: Waterloo ALWAYS works!
The concept is good because it offers everything from a single source.
The brigade boxes are actually based on the historical structure, on the OoB, Order of Battle.
In addition, there is even additional terrain - La Haye Sainte and Hougoumont, if that's nothing.
The Minis look extremely good for the scale, and yes, the special units (e.g. Dragoons, Scots Grays, mounted artillery ...) can even be recognized by their uniform details.
Then even the outer packaging looks great ... everything that we old 1/72 collectors have always loved.
I have to go deep inside myself now.
Maybe I'll really sell my 1/72 collection. Because what I wanted to do with it, I could just as easily do with the Warlord Games Minis. Of course, when depicting the overall battle, I would represent a battalion with 20 men. Even then I need 2 starter boxes from the French. The flag group would then serve as a marker for the brigade. Too bad that it would then be on the edge of the unit and no longer in the middle…. But it doesn't matter.
Part of the battle can then be simulated with larger units. Then the look is right again.
Anyway, I think Epic Battles Waterloo has something. For gamers and collectors. This is a large construction kit that I can put together according to different criteria.
I wouldn't paint the miniatures. That would be a bit too epic for me.
What I would have in mind would be a solo game based on Command & Colors rules, and then really retro: On the floor of my hobby room, just like before when I pushed my Airfix Minis around with a loud “VIVE L’EMPEREUR” roar.
Blue against red.
That would be great.
Don't base the Minis as battalions or regiments, but as brigades. The infantry minis are on the sprue as a unit of 10.
Glue several strips of the 10 units, depending on how many boxes you want to buy, on a basic base and define this basic base as a brigade.
For example:
The French had 18 infantry brigades (excluding guards) at Waterloo.
This means that if you take the picture out of the army box, you will see 10 infantry blocks. If you want to make your brigades look like this, two starter boxes for the infantry are enough.
Or you only take half of the minis, then even one box is enough for you.
Always remember. We just want to present something abstract.
According to a certain grid that suits you visually.
Warlord Games would certainly be happy if you prefer a 1: 1 display.
Have fun doing the math.
