Command and Control House Rules

The existing command and control rules in Napoleons Battles suffer from several problems, which generally detract from the game play and also give it more of a 'beer & pretzles' feel. The basic mechanisms work well but do nothing to counter the 'helicopter viewpoint' players have and can take advantage of.

Also, the result of the Army Commander's command span reaching down to Divisional level results in Wing and Corps commanders not acting in a historical way but rather being used as rallying points, stray unit tows, assault leaders, etc. Whilst such commanders could perform any of these duties in real life, it was only an occasional thing. Their main occupation was in directing the units under them in order to achieve the corps or wing's objective.

This effect can be achieved fairly simply by simply changing the way the existing Command Spans work. This involves no major change to existing charts etc, but a simple redefinition.

These changes, when combined with the Simple Order System we use provide a far more realistic feel to battles.

6.4 COMMAND CONTROL: Command control for both sides is checked simultaneously

6.4.1 DETERMINING IN OR OUT OF COMMAND: All units and generals are in a "chain of command" which runs unbroken from a "commanding" (see 1.1.4) overall (army) general to subordinate generals, etc., down to the combat units. The chains of command can be seen in a scenario's order of battle.

6.4.2 COMMAND SPAN USES: There are two types of generals. Divisional generals are "direct commanders'' and corps, wing, and army generals are "upper echelon commanders". Each general has a "command span", which is the maximum distance over which its command control can be exerted.

6.4.2.1: Direct (divisional generals) commanders use their command spans to exert their command control only over combat units.

6.4.2.2: Upper echelon (corps, wing, and army generals) commanders use their command spans to exert their command control over subordinate generals and units but only those immediately below them in the chain of command; an upper echelon commander directly exerts command control over combat units not immediately below him only if attached (see 1.5) to them.

6.4.2.3: The command span for any attached general is reduced to "0". Thus, an attached general can exert his command control only on the touched combat unit(s).

6.4.3 DETERMINING COMMAND CONTROL: An overall (i.e., army general) commander is always (by definition) in command, as are all off-table units. Command control must be checked for all other units. A unit that is in command control is "commanded" or "in command", and a unit that is not in command control is "not commanded" or "out of command".

6.4.3.1: Any general within the command span of his immediate superior ranking general in the chain of command is automatically in command. For example, a division general located within the command span of the its corps general is in command of that general. All general's must be checked and subordinates may be affected by a superior being "out of command". All generals who are not in the command span of their immediate superior must make a "command status check"

6.4.3.2: A combat or wagon/pack train or continuous march column unit is in command if any part of it is within its commanded division general's command span, or if a general unit is attached. Units are automatically out of command in all other situations, and a no move marker (indicating that the unit may not be moved during the Turn) should be placed with it; i.e., a combat or wagon/pack train unit that is not commanded may not be moved during the Movement Step, even if otherwise eligible.

6.4.4 CHECKING A GENERAL'S COMMAND STATUS: Make a separate die roll for each general requiring a command status check (see 6.4.3.1), starting with the highest ranking (i.e.., wing, corps, then division) general unit and working down. In all cases, a unit must be in the command span of their immediate superior to be considered in command. For example, a division general outside the command span of his corps general is "out of command" even if within the command span of the army or wing commander above the corps general unless they are actually attached to him. Regardless of the results, generals and messengers may always move at their full movement factor; reductions in movement due to command status affect only combat and wagon/pack train units.

6.4.4.1 CHECKING UPPER ECHELON COMMANDERS: For upper echelon commanders (wing and corps generals), if a command status check die roll equals or is less than a general's response number, the general is considered to be in command, as well as all subordinate generals within the general's command span (i.e., these require no separate command status check) or touched combat units. If a command status check die roll exceeds an upper echelon general's response number, the general is considered to be partially out of command, as well as all subordinate units within the general's command span (i.e., they require no separate command status check) and a half move marker should be placed with all of the affected combat units.

6.4.4.2 CHECKING DIRECT COMMANDERS: For direct commanders whose command status is not already determined, the effects on their combat and/or wagon/pack train units can vary with the types of units they command.

6.4.4.2.1: If a command status check die roll equals or is less than a general's response number, mark all of the commanded infantry, foot artillery, and wagon/pack train units with a half move marker (indicating a halved movement factor for normal movement). Commanded cavalry and horse artillery units get their full movement and are not marked.

6.4.4.2.2: If a command status check die roll exceeds a general's response number, that general has "failed the command status check". Mark all of the commanded infantry, foot artillery, and wagon/pack train units with a no move marker (indicating that the unit may not be moved normally during the Turn), and all commanded cavalry and horse artillery units with a half move marker (indicating a halved movement factor for normal movement).

6.4.4.2.3: A disordered unit that also has a half move marker still has half its movement factors.

6.4.4.3 CHECKING COMMAND STATUS EXAMPLE: The III Corps is part of the army commanded by the army general, and the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd divisions are all part of the III Corps. Combat units A and B form the 1st Division, C, D, and E form the 2nd Division, and F and G form the 3rd Division. The corps commander for III Corps is within the army general unit's command span and is therefore "in command". The general unit for the 1st Division is beyond the III Corps general's command span, but within the Army general's command span but as the Army general is not attached to the 1st Division's general, he is "out of command" because the "chain of command" must followed. As the general units for the 2nd and 3rd Divisions are within the III Corps general's command span, they are "in command" and do not need to roll. Combat unit E is beyond the command span of the 2nd Division's general and is therefore ''out of command '' and must be marked with a no move marker.