Warhammer Historical: Waterloo

I'm holding a copy of the new Warhammer Historical release Waterloo in my hands. I have leafed through it several times and read a few selected chapters. It might be to soon to draw conclusions but I have so many thoughts running through my head that I really feel I should write some of it down.
We promised our self to give these rules a try, with the reservation that it will take something extraordinary to tear us from General de Brigade.

Biggest nuisance.
I'll have to re-base my Prussians. This is a "stand counting" game contra GdB's "fig counting". Infantry suppose to be six figs to a stand and while there are room for allowing five or even four minis if you wan't some scenic basing all infantry stands in the game are suppose to be the same size. My Prussian eight fig stands would not work within these rules.
Although I can see my self happily re-basing if these new rules get friends and members at the club jumping for joy and diving in to Napoleonics of cause!

Small nuisances.
Cavalry are suppose to be two to a stand, mine are three to a stand. This however I can work around. I have a single fig stand and a two fig stand in each unit in my collection. So when the first stand is lost I remove the two fig stand, when the second stand is lost I remove a three fig stand and the single but add back the two fig stand. I hope I make myself clear?
It is important to the mechanics of the rules this stand removing. A unit can receive a number of wounds equal to the number of figs to stand, then that stand is lost. Then unit become disorganized when it loses a stand. So you can see there is an importance to the number of figs to the stand.

There are only Army lists for France, Great Britain and Prussia with their respective allies during the Peninsular and Waterloo campaigns. It is stated that "plans are afoot" to provide army lists and information for other nations and campaigns. But who knows when, if ever, this will happen. I can't see myself limited to these two campaigns solely.

Musketry is 18" and all artillery fire is guess range. I can live with it, just seems odd.

Good Stuff.
The book is simply awe inspiring. Hardback, 288 pages in full color reeking of Napoleonic inspiration. From photos of Perry twins jaw-dropping collection to full spread paintings and drawings.

Eight generic scenarios is provided. Like Meeting Engagement, Battle for the Farm and Hold the Village. This is exactly what we need to get gaming. We are a "pick-up game" crowd and this will really help us to get away from doing the same battle over and over.

One chapter deals with campaign gaming. While I would like more hard fast rules this more of a guide of how to set up and run a campaign.

The Waterloo Campaign in twelve historical scenarios. From to "Action at Gilly" to "The Imperial Guard Attack". Really inspiring and something I could see us build terrain and paint troops for and then to game out over several weekends.

Cavalry units represent squadrons and are therefore quite small, mostly six to 12 figs. This got me thinking of collecting a few cavalry units in metal, maybe chasseurs for my French and several other for my Prussians. Metal cavalry has been a no-go for me because of the large regiments required, this sort of opens a new world for me.

Units has a set number of actions it can carry out in each turn, tactical points or Tac's. Most have three Tac's each turn witch can be spent all on movement or firing, or a combination of both if one so which. I think this is a really good function.

Officers have an finite number of strategy points which they can spend to influence units around them. Also an interesting function.

Army commanders have "Strategies", special rules of a sort that model characteristics of that commander or faction.

Overall the rules seems really fast and easy to play without getting simplistic.

Random observations.
Infantry unis are big, 36 fig battalions seems almost exclusive.

The rules are geared towards smallish engagements. A standard force would be six battalions of infantry divided into two brigades, two small squadrons of cavalry and a battery of guns. I wonder if they would become to cumbersome gaming with twice that or more.

Table size vary between scenarios, 6x4', 6x6' and 6x8'.

Organizing your force with the aide of a set number of points and an Army List is something I don't mind, and I suspect none at my club would either. This is the way we where raised by playing Warhammer.