Loading ...Black Powder Markers
November 5th, 2009As I read the Black Powder rules I am having trouble concentrating. I am constantly forced to put down the book and daydream. My latest daydream regards casualty markers. The book suggests using casualty miniatures to represent casualties, as opposed to counters. I like this, especially as most units will require three markers, with some requiring four. Then I start reading about disordered units and how they can be shown with puffs of smoke. Hmmm, I don’t like that. Doesn’t seem like a unit would start suddenly puffing smoke when disordered.
What would show a unit is disordered. Keep in mind that my 1812 project is impressive, with the intention to have a moving diorama, at least with whichever battle I decide upon. Well, a disordered unit cannot receive orders or move on its own initiative, and shoots and checks morale with a negative penalty. Units in combat are automatically disordered and units shot at will become disordered roughly half the time.
The marker for this will be a vignette, much like the casualty markers. It would be placed at the back of the unit and most likely be on an irregular base, perhaps an irregular pentagon with two parallel sides. By using this style of base I don’t have to worry about the vignette not being clear enough in a battle and I could try different things, like a sergeant stopping some soldiers leaving the ranks.
I haven’t reached the point in the book where it describes a unit which breaks, but I would probably attempt something similar with an equally distinctive base to make it more recognizable. Wow, I guess my current plan is to paint as many miniatures for counters as many people paint for a whole unit. It’s an ambitious plan, and one that won’t need to be complete before gaming, all I’ll need is my distinctive base shapes to start with and then slowly replace the empty bases with vignettes.
So far, half-circles for casualties, irregular pentagons for disordered, something for broken, circles for commanders. Anyone have suggestions or comments?
Tyler
November 15th, 2009 at 6:02 am
Tyler, My regular opponent and I use casualty markers in all our Napoleonic games, including those of the War of 1812. We base a casualty figure on a plain triangular base and with the head of the figure at one point of the triangle, and mark the sides ’2′ and ’3′ – the edge of the triangle touching the unit indicates how many casualties have been taken. In our rules, four hits removes and element. I can mail you a picture, it would be easier than trying to explain! Regards, Iain.
November 15th, 2009 at 11:11 am
Seems clear to me from your description Iain. However, I’ve seen the type of markers you describe, so that probably helps me visualize.
If you don’t have a place to share the pictures I could host them here and show them as an example if you’d like. My e-mail is at the bottom of the page.
If you do have a place to host them let me know and I’ll link them.