Empire V Napoleonic Wargaming Rules – Fast Learn

by David Maxwell for BIG (Brisbane Independent Gamers) in August 2009

This document is a in depth learning aid for anyone interested in knowing about how Empire V works and can be used to prep a player before their
st
1 game. Throughout the writeup, I will refer to an ongoing example to assist in some of the explanations. These examples will always be in Italics
and come from a battle being played out by our Monday night Empire gaming group that meets at Forest Lake and uses 6mm Adler figures.

Empire V In Empire you can move around entire Corps and/or individual battalions. Multiple players
can play at whatever they prefer while single players play at both levels. The most common
level you focus on in Empire is the Division of Infantry and the Brigade of Cavalry.

MEs (Manouevre These are called MEs or Manoeuvre Elements. So if you are in command of a French Corps
Elements) in 1815 you will have 4 Infantry MEs and 2 Cavalry MEs (4 Infantry Divisions and 1 Cavalry
Division). Any Corps assets such as artillery and engineers are usually assigned (attached) to
an ME of choice or can be attached detached at ME level where needed. There are times
when this is not entirely correct but 95% of the troops used will be structured this way. An
option for small battles is to focus on the infantry brigade as an ME. An ME is usually a
division of infantry minus any brigades, regiments or assets detached for whatever reason
plus any brigades, regiments or assets attached for whatever reason.

EG I am currently involved in a battle that is part of the French invasion of Russia in 1812.
Napoleon and a large French allied army has contacted the Russian Tsar Alexander and a
large Russian army at Smolensk. Napoleon gave me command of his 7th Corps which is
made up of 2 Divisions or Westphalian Infantry and a Brigade of Westphalian Cavalry. In
addition to this he attached a Brigade of Westphalian Cuirassiers and a Brigade of French
Light Cavalry. So I began with 5 MEs (2 infantry divisions and 3 cavalry brigades). As the
battle progresses the Emperor granted me the use of the Visula Legion from the Guard.

Orders Orders are passed down to any and each ME from the Army Commander to the Corps
Commander to each ME Commander.

The most common orders are Attack, Defend, Deploy and Garrison and are given to each
ME with a description of what, where, how and why. Any small unit separated to hold a
wood or village or such is given a separate order (usually Garrison or Defend) and works as
an individual ME.

Each order has advantages and disadvantages, the mastering of which takes many games
and many mistakes to learn. Some of these include: an Attack order given to a Corps
requires at least 1 ME to be given an Attack order at all times. An Attack order for an ME
means it MUST continue to attack (ie moving forward at least ½ its move) according to its
orders until the objective is complete or a new order replaces it. A Defend order means an
ME cannot move further than a set distance from the location it was ordered to defend.
The Attack order gives bonuses on attempting to win any Initiative tests.

EG My orders from Napoleon at Smolensk was to assault the left flank of the Russian line
and draw in as much of the Russian reserves as I can. The attempt is to draw in his
Grenadier and Heavy Cavalry formations and if at all possible make him dip into his guard
formations. So my Corps order was to “Attack the left of the Russian position to behind the
gunline in order to draw in enemy reserves”.

To achieve this I ordered the 24th Infantry Division (Westphalian) to “Attack the enemy forces
to the immediate left of the ridgeline where the mass gun battery is situated”. The 25th
Division (Westphalian) was given an order to “Attack behind the 24th Division”. The
 Westphalian Lancer brigade was given an Attack order to “Attack forward of the infantry to
clear the enemy Cossacks until the infantry engages. Then swing behind the 24th Infantry to
the extreme left flank and Support the Infantry attacks to protect their left flank and
threaten any enemy”. The Cuirassiers were given “Support/Intercept on the right of the 25th
Infantry Division to protect its right flank”. The final cavalry brigade of light cavalry were
given the same order as the Cuirassiers but to be situated behind the Cuirassiers. So all
hanged on the 24th being able to pass their attempt to receive and interpret and action their
orders, which they did. However not all the remaining MEs passed their checks and in the 1st
hour of battle only about 3 of my 5 MEs actually deployed onto the field. Within the next
few hours I had all MEs on the move as I had arranged.

In the above picture you can see my 1st ME on the board in the bottom left corner being the
24th Infantry Division. It has its 1st brigade of 6 battalions in a line of columns of attack. 5
Battalions are side by side in column while the 6th is deployed as the skirmish screen ahead
of the brigade. Behind the brigade is the division’s 2nd brigade made up of 5 battalions in
line of columns. To the left of the 1st brigade you can just see the start of the divisional
artillery battery. To the right of the 1st brigade is the brigade of Lancers with the Line
Lancers up front in column and the Guard Lancers behind and to the right also in column. I
am the Corps commander located with my staff on the crest of the hill in the front of the
picture. In the background on the right is the Russian massed gun line atop a ridge line that
runs from here to the right and ends behind Smolensk to the right. Behind and on the left of
the ridgeline you can just make out more Russian guns, Infantry and Cossacks.

Grand Tactical Movement Each ME moves Grand Tactically to fulfil the orders handed down to it from it’s superior. All
and Engagement Grand Tactical movement is simultaneous and proportioned between 2 opposing forces
who cross each others path. When an ME moves Grand Tactically it must maintain its
formations and positions and it must stop when it gets close enough to an enemy formed
unit to be at “engagement range”. That ME can then move Tactically. This represents
quicker movement of troops when not under threat or committed to combat. 1 Grand
Tactical move is worth 1 hour of the battle.

Once an ME is “engaged”, tactical combat ensues but only for those MEs engaged. Should
another ME become engaged as a result of this tactical combat, it too then is able to move
tactically. This represents divisional commanders following their orders and only engaging
in combat when they have to or are provoked to.
 EG a couple of hours into the battle, my lead ME, the 24th Infantry Division was deployed 1
brigade in line of columns in front with the 2nd brigade in line of columns behind. Skirmishers
from each brigade were out to the right of each brigade to screen the formations from
artillery that could have bombarded them. Eventually they rounded the left of the ridgeline
and spotted the front line of the Russian positions made up of a couple of battalions of
Grenadiers in line with 2 x 36 guns batteries on either side of them. These batteries were
made up of a battery of horse artillery, a battery of 12 pounder (heavy) artillery and a
battery of normal foot artillery. This was my 1st target and so I had to continue Grand
Tactical movement until my front unit reached the Engagement Range distance from the
closest enemy unit. I was then able to roll up 3 Impulses while the enemy also rolled 3 and
we began tactical combat between the 2 division sized forces.

My attack continues in this picture. The Lancer Brigade is now in front of the infantry,
clearing out any enemy cavalry and skirmishers as per its orders. Behind them is the 24th
Infantry division, now with brigades deployed side by side and then the 25th Infantry division.

Tactical Movement and There are up to 4 tactical phases called “Impulses” in each 1 hour round of the battle. The
Impulses number of Impulses each ME has is worked out per ME as soon as they become engaged.

It could be interpreted that each Impulse represents 15 minutes of combat. So potentially

an ME can move Grand Tactical and gain up to 4 tactical movements all in the same 1 hour
of battle.

During these and subsequent impulses of subsequent hourly rounds, I managed to overrun 1
of the 36 gun batteries with 100s of losses taken by my lead brigade and then get stuck in
firefight with Russian Grenadiers. The 2nd brigade of that ME broke off 2 battalions (1
regiment) into line formation to try to dish out some casualties on the other 36 gun battery.
While that was happening my artillery in that division and corps artillery attached to that
division, raced around to get good shots on the defenders and force them from their
positions. Casualties were mounting and I had to become increasingly aggressive to force a
result in this sector as standing around just meant more casualties that I could dish out.
 In this picture you can see the regiment of 2 battalions from the 2nd brigade of the 24th
Infantry division in line and exchanging fire with 1 of the Russian 36 gun batteries. It can not
keep this up for long but it keeps it occupied while I deal with the other 36 gun battery and
slip cavalry up on its left flank.

Fatigue Every ME engaged is given 1 fatigue point at the end of each hourly round of battle. An ME
may also acquire additional fatigue points from charging, combat and forced marches
where allowed. An option is to apply fatigue points per brigade instead of per division.

EG from now until that ME (24th division) moves out of engagement range, it will attract at
least 1 fatigue point each hourly round. Over time this will help any fresh Russians that
attack it as it slowly loses energy, supplies, and the enthusiasm and will to fight.

Initiative As the commander of an ME engaged, you are to use the Initiative (ie your effort to bring
combat to the enemy) for as long and on as much your terms as possible. This means you
can move any or all of the units of that ME for as long and you want, up to the allowed
movement and firing rates and as long as no unit is used twice in that Impulse. This may
include moving or firing or fighting with a whole Brigade at once, a whole Regiment at once,
a whole Battalion at once, or a battery of guns at once, so long as every movement or action
done results in firing or close combat.

As long as you can keep bring firing or close combat to happen, you can continue to move
units in that ME until all are done or no firing or combat results. Then you “lost” the
initiative in that location and it swings to the enemy commander to do the same from his
side.

The enemy can also “respond” to some of your actions as they happen. Eg. They can choose
to shoot back at you when you shoot at them, if they can normally shoot at you. They will
fight close combat with you should you engage an enemy in close combat. They can choose
to opportunity charge you should you expose your troops in such a way during an action.

Once you have finished with an ME, you move on and do the same with any other MEs
engaged under your command until all are done on both sides. That completes 1 Impulse.
You then move on to the next Impulse if your ME is allowed one.

EG In that 1st contact between the 24th infantry division and the Russian defenders, I was
 able to move my infantry around in order to always end up firing at the enemy. Each time I
fired, he fired back but I kept the Initiative. It was only until I started moving my artillery at
the back that I could lose the Initiative and forfeit moving the rest of the units in my ME. So I
had to be careful which things I did 1st. Moving and firing, moving and firing and then
moving my artillery which resulted in not being able to fire and therefore lost me the
Initiative for that ME. The enemy then began moving and firing the units in his MEs that
were engaged. Which ended up being 2 divisions as they were both deployed in depth side
by side, making me contact and engage 2 MEs while I was only fighting with 1.

Empire is THEREFORE, Tactical combat in Empire becomes very “conversational” in that things you do
“Conversational” tactically result in reactions and responses from the enemy which in turn may lead you to
reassess your next action and so on it goes.

Winning The battle is won by using your MEs to achieve battle objectives in your orders which most
likely, but may not necessarily in all areas of the battlefield, include destroying enemy MEs.

Attrition can be your friend or your undoing. Fatigue grows fast. Casualties stack up and
Morale gnaws away at formations until eventually it all adds together and you have an
entire division ignoring orders and removing itself from the front line.

My lead brigade is drawn into a firefight (close range firing on both sides) by Russian
Grenadiers. Notice all the green markers (figures dead) and gaps where figures have been
removed.

Use % Die (ie 1 x 10 sided All calculations are % based so if you get your troops into a good situation you will be
for 10s and 1 x 10 sided guaranteed a number of kills on the enemy and % chance for more. There is little chance of
for 1s – so a roll of a 50 getting into a good position and not being able to kill anything. Use the tactics of the time
and a 9 is 59%) and it will pay off. Fail to grasp these concepts and you will be on the receiving end in no
time.

EG In the above firefight, I had 4 battalions in column firing as 1 Russian battalion in line.
My formation meant that 16 figures (960 men) could shoot at Veteran status at close range
at a line target needing 9% per figure to cause casualties. The Russians had 11 men (1 figure
is dead) (660 men) firing back at Grenadier status at close range at a column target for 20%
per figure. So my roll of 16 x 9% = 154% or 1 definite kill and 54% chance of a 2nd while the
enemy got 11 x 20% = 220% of 2 definite kills and 20% chance of a 3rd kill. Needless to say I
 lost 3 kills (180 men dead) for his 1 kill (60 men dead). Because it was a close range firefight,
a morale test is performed on both parties which resulted in me being forced back but still in
good order.

1 figure is 60 men 1 figure is 60 men so a 720 man battalion is 12 figures. However many Empire players
multiply this out to 1:30 using 24 figure battalions and even 1:10 using 72 figure battalions.

Cavalry is the same so 8 figures is usually a 480 man regiment.

A brigade of 2 regiments of cavalry in column side by side with their brigade commander in
between them.

Artillery is 4 guns per gun model. 4 crew are added to show 4 guns on the stand. Horse
artillery and 6 gun batteries are 2 stands with 3 crew on each stand instead of the 4.

Base sizing and Stands Base sizes are historically accurate, so a battalion in line of 3 ranks will usually be shorted
than a battalion in line of 2 ranks. There are no ranks in the figures. The depth of the base
represents 3 or 2 ranks. Cavalry bases are the same width as 3 rank line but as deep as
required to fit the figures and with half as many figures wide.

A French Line Infantry Battalion of paper strength 720 men in 6 companies is 12 figures
usually made up of 2 stands of 4 figures side by side and 2 stands of 2 figures side by side. 1
of the 2 figures stands is usually Voltigeurs or Light Infantry (Skirmishers) and the other 2
figure stand is usually Grenadiers.

History works in Empire All the usual Napoleonic formations work in Empire. Line, Column of Attack, Column or
March, Hollow Square, Solid Square, Closed Column, etc.
Columns of Westphalian Infantry. 5 battalions are shown here in Column of Attack side by
side as a single brigade attack column. A single Skirmisher company is in front while a
battery of guns races to keep up in their right and their brigade commanders takes a dutiful
position with the divisional commander behind the formation.

All the usual Napoleonic tactics work in Empire. Line fires more at Column while Column
can win more hand to hand. Artillery devastates Column and especially Square while
Square defends well against Cavalry. Skirmishers screen formations but really only harass
the enemy and can be hard to kill or be killed.

Co-ordinating arms and well orchestrated massed attacks will achieve goals, while piece
meal commitments and forces spread out will not.