I started playing wargames at the age of about 13. Napoleonics was the period that I was most interested in due mainly to the colour and "glory" of the period. Cannonades and Cuirassier charges; infantry squares and the Old Guard advancing on the waiting British lines. All terribly exciting I thought. BRAVO! The first set of rules I used were the old WRG Horse and Musket set. These rules worked well enough as far as I was concerned but lacked something. They just didn't seem to capture the "feel" of the period. Every other set of rules from that point on seemed either too complicated or overly simple. The other problem I felt was the lack of detail at Unit level. Where were the pioneers to help batter in the gates of the enemy fortifications; why couldn't I spike my guns to prevent their capture? Why didn't I have battalion guns to advance by drag-ropes with the infantry?
A photo from the "Elan" demo game at Cancon. My British troops try to hold back the French and Danish attack!
As a result I slipped away from the colourful Napoleonic period and found a great set of rules called Spear and Shield and later, DBM, which were to bring about my entry to the Ancient and Medieval period.
Then came "Elan", an exciting and new set of Napoleonic Tactical Rules penned by Australian, Phillip A Jones. The fist thing I noticed about these new Australian designed rules were their similarity to the old tried and true WRG Horse & Musket rules, but with some major improvements. First of all there is a "Grand Tactical" Phase to allow for Grand or Mass Batteries to be formed to conduct area fire and prepartory bombardments. Also during this phase off table reserves can be brought into play and flank marches are conducted. Also, initiative is determined during this phase. This is worked out by combining dice scores with "command" bonuses gained from the quality of your Brigade Generals. These Generals can be either Inept, Capable, or Exceptional. Your chances of one or the other are dependent on the Nationality of your army. Don't hold your breath hopping to get an exceptional General if you command Spanish, Swedes or Westphalian troops; it just ain't going to happen! Add to these improvements a command and control mechanism that compels units to stay within command radius of their Generals of Brigade, and Brigades within Radius of Divisional Commanders, (or suffer the consequences), and you have a vastly superior set of rules. My favorite enhancement however would have to be the "Grand Tactical Movement", which enables units not within 650mm, (for 25mm Miniatures), to move up to three times their normal movement. This concept is very similar to DBM's \ DBR's "March Moves".
Another great innovation with "Elan"is the ability to field Engineers. When you pay the appropriate points for an Engineer officer you get the Engineer, six pioneers and a pontoon bridge \ wagon. You can now construct \ breach field works, throw a pontoon bridge across the Danube under fire, and prepare Wagram to resist the French assaults. Now those beautiful AB Miniatures of pioneers won't just sit back at the table base line with the musicians and look good; now they can lead the way into the teeth of the enemy held village!
The other improvement of these rules is the ability to form "Battalion Mass", a formation only available to Austrian and Russian Infantry. Also, Veteran French infantry, (or other infantry where an historical precedent exists) can form "Grande Bandes", where up to half the unit deploys as skirmishers. Many Napoleonic rules ignore these formations.
Other rules within "Elan" cover such things as weather, terrain, various oddities such as rockets and Elephants, Irregulars such as Cossacks and Freikorps cavalry, and deployment. The rules come with a set of quick reference cards that make reference to the rules a breeze. At $AUS19.50, they are right on the money.
In summary these rules are a breath of fresh air to the world of Napoleonic wargames, and are equally at home as a set of competition rules or simply as a set used for that once a fortnight get together with Dal and Mick at the Club house. If I were to have a criticism it would be that there is no listing of Austrian "Cavalry Artillery" which really doesn't fit into the class of Horse or Foot Artillery, but rather somewhere in between. But this is only as small point.I guess the greatest compliment I can make about "ELAN" is that I have been brought back to Napoleonic Wargameing after a 15 year absence thanks to these rules. My Final verdict, 4.5 out of 5. Highly recommended.
I hope to post an "ELAN" battle report soon on this site.
"ELAN" is available from the Author, Phillip Jones at 30 Gunn St, Yarralumla ACT 2600 AUSTRALIA, or you can email Phillip at : elan1805@hotmail.com
Roll High!
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