how to build an army

[gredert]

I dont fully get how to make an army and want some help on how to use my models. I have a small russian force in the mail and will be working on it later next week. I will be basing them by Black Powder standards (ie 2x2 on a 40mm base) and just doubling up to the 4x2 of FoG. What I don't get is using the lists in the back. I bought a box of zvezda russian infantry, a box of guard heavy artillery, and a box of uhlans.

This gives me by my understanding an illegal force using the 1812 since I can only make 6 bases of 8 models of musketeers with 2 models left to make the commander with, and a unit of 3 12 pdrs, plus a unit of uhlans with 18 models on 6 bases.

This is just a starting and learning force so the actual legality is no big deal, I mostly want to practice basing and moving/shooting. But am I correct that this is illegal. I read that I can make a mixed division if I bought 2 more boxes of infantry which would give me 3 units of 6 bases which could then be made into the minimum 8 avg line, 4 con/drill line, and 4 jaegers, plus 1 box of 6 pdrs to give me the minimum arty requirements? And then the Uhlans could be mixed in from the optional units?

I guess I am confused because the special rules state 1 mixed division may be used and that the minimum size is 3 inf units and 1 art unit. But the list shows the minimum number of bases going down as 8, 4, 0, 4, 2, 2 telling me I need 8 avg line, 4 con/drill line, 0 grenadiers, 4 jaegers, 2 6 pdrs, and 2 12 pdrs. All well and good except that means divisions need minimum 3 infantry units (2 of line and 1 of jaegers) which is what the special rules say, but 2 units of art (one of 6 the other of 12). If I am correct here does that mean the special rule minimums are wrong, or am I totally confused? I am a warhammer player, and sometimes Flames of War, so this is so different that I dont trust myself lol.

If someone would give the lowdown on how to use the lists in the back that would be great, as I would love to be able to use it.

[BrettPT]

Hi Gredert

I assume that you don't have a copy of 'Triumph of Nations' - the 1st army list book which contains several 1812-5 Russian army lists - and that you are basing a force on the 1812 list at the back of the rules. The 1812 Russian infantry corps in ToN is very similar to the list in the rules, so you can reasonably safely use the rulebook list as a basis for your army.

A main difference in the ToN 1812 Russian Infantry Corps list is that Guard artillery is only allowed if you field a complete Guards division - and then that Guard artillery must be 6lbers.

You are correct that your infantry and mixed divisions each must contain at least 3 infantry and 1 artillery unit.

The minimums you quote are for the whole army, not for each division. Your first division could therefore easily be a mixed one: 3 infantry units, a heavy (line) artillery battery and the uhlans. You could field 2 large average drilled infantry units, and a small poor drilled one to provide rear support.

The compulsory jaegers you could leave for your 3rd (infantry) division - when you get around to painting that.

After your mixed division is complete, you could then build a 2nd (cavalry) division which would need at least 8 bases of dragoons/hussars/cossacks.

When that is finished you could build your 3rd division, an infantry division that has the Jaegers, another 2 infantry units plus a 6pr battery.

Buy the time you have completed these 3 divisions, you will be getting close to having a complete army.

I would recommend you paint and field your guard artillery as line 12lbers. Guard 12lbers under a ToN list can only be fielded in a Guard Corps (where most of your army will be Guards). I believe there is virtually no difference in uniform details and I'm sure the Zezda figures would be fine for line artillery.

Don't worry too much at this stage about being 'list legal' - that can come later when you have (say) 800 points worth painted to field a complete army.

Cheers
Brett

[gredert]

That makes way more sense thx a lot for clearing that up for me. Going to figure these boys out next week and use them to learn the rules then get my french army off the ground.

Which leads to another question. I bought zvezda for learning as they were the cheapest I found and plan to use perry for my French. I understand victrix is between them for quality but still good. What are some other companies with plastics or at least the main units in plastic?

[deadtorius]

For 28mm plastic you can get some figs from Hat. Not as well sculpted but they should be a reasonable price. I believe they sell their infantry in command packs and then action or marching poses for the filler privates in your armies. French, Bavarians and I think some English and Austrians are available now. Even the victrix cav and infantry for Russia are mostly lead figures, so a bit more weight and cost. You can check the Victirx website or Warlord Games website to see what Victrix makes. I did read that Victrix sold their metal lines to an American company, Brigade Games, who will continue to expand the metal lines, and Warlord will also continue to carry the range.

Hope that helps, aside from some French cav from Perry, you will need to look at lead cavalry and artillery if you are going for 28mm army, the plastics so far are only infantry.

[vsolfronk]

In the 1812 Russian Lists (as well as the French), you can add a cav or guard (inf or cav) to a regular Russian army. I assume you are under the regular corps leader restrictions, but the specific attachment (Russian guards army list for example) for attachment maximums and restrictions? Or can you use the specific list comanders list (so that you could possible have one charismatic commander from the regular army list, and another charismatic commander from the guard/cav army list?

How does this work out?