Scott DiBerardino - Mar 2, 2008 8:59 pm (#22060 Total: 22405) Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake. -- Napoleon 2 March 2008 -- Park Slope On the Table: WATERLOO 20 from the newly inaugurated VICTORY POINT GAMES. I have been helping VP Games test their NAPOLEONIC 20 system, leading off with WATERLOO 20. The system was designed by Joe Miranda some time ago for inclusion in a magazine, and it has been resurrected by Alan Emrich and crew for application to more of Nappy's campaigns. A second game, JENA 20, is already out, with more on the way. The idea behind NAPPY 20 is no more than 20 combat units on the map - and only eight pages of rules, including optionals. Components are semi-professional, though good looking and quite functional for that. The classic Waterloo situation remains the same - Napoleon places his forces between the two Coalition armies as they assemble, and tries to defeat them individually to buy some time for political and military consolidation before the remaining enemies muster their forces. Dr. "Bonaparte" Anshus, having crossed the Sambre, force marches his army to hit both the Prussians at Ligny and the vanguard of the Allies in front of Quatre Bras. Additional infantry and cavalry forces are brought to bear against the Allied I Corps, which breaks immediately under the assault, with heavy losses to the French. Similarly, two of the Prussian corps' are routed, but again at with severe casualties. Already the morale of both armies is perilously low, especially the French, who have been worked hard in these opening blows. The Prussians are slow to fall back in a fighting withdrawal, while the remaining Allies retreat to Genappe. By nightfall, French cavalry is driving up the countryside between the two Coalition armies. The French rest their tired army a bit to avoid disaster. Day two sees the Coalition preparing to counterattack. Allied reinforcements arriving overnight, along with the rallied I Corps, press against the French left, only to be repulsed. After applying a little more pressure against the Prussians, Napoleon shifts his forces to counter the Allied threat. With both armies weary, attacks are selective and probing, with no great results for either side. Frederick arrives with the Allied III Corps to continue to apply pressure on the French left in vain hope that Napoleon's LOC may be cut. With both armies near the breaking point, Nappy throws the Imperial Guard at the Prusso-Allied center, but they are thrown back by Wellington's well-placed Elite I Corps. A counterattack by Prussians with a flank maneuver by Uxbridge's cavalry, and the French army is put to flight. Rating: (7) ... Joe strikes again. As simple as Napoleon's Last Battles and it's ilk, but with a different focus. Setting at corps level means attention is drawn to army-level concerns, such as morale and gross maneuver. Differential CRT means every strength point counts. The variability of the random events and rout and rally rolls keeps the game fresh. More a pastiche than a model of history, it still provides some limited insight with a good amount of tension. The fog of war rules, while simple, provide the occasional gut check. All in all, a good package for your money.