a grand battery !

[KeefM]

This is the combination I have used in my last 9 games featuring 6 units of cavalry plus 1 large heavy battery.


French 1812 Infantry Corps d’ Army, comprising 14 units for 29 ACV

Corps Commander – exceptional

French Infantry Division – competent
1 small Line Infantry average veteran w artillery attachment
2 small Light Infantry average drilled
1 large Heavy Artillery average drilled w heavy artillery and officer attachments
(optional additional small Line Infantry average drilled if +3 attacker)

Neapolitan Allied Division – competent
3 small Line Infantry poor conscript
1 small Medium Artillery average drilled
1 small Light Cavalry poor drilled guard

Light Cavalry Division - competent
1 small Light Cavalry superior drilled
2 small Light Cavalry average drilled

Reserve Heavy Cavalry Division – competent
2 small Cuirassier Shock Heavy Cavalry average drilled

[Blathergut]

Is the large heavy artillery + artillery attachment 4 bases wide?

[KendallB]

Yup! But if you hide your army behind a hill it's pretty much useless

[deadtorius]

I would put my skirmishing Grenzers in front of it in extended line while the rest of my army moves on the flanks.

[KeefM]

I had used a big battery twice before this combination but found it too clumsy because it is 4 bases wide. If the large battery is placed centrally then you will always end up splitting its fire between at least two and soemtimes three targets thereby diminshing its effectiveness. However, when deployed to a flank (or aimed to a flank) it is potentially devastating being able to direct 6 dice at long range or 9 at medium range onto a single target. Even semi-defensively a large battery is a major deterent for much the same reasons. The officer attachment is to be able to get the battery to move which is crucial to picking targets. Even then, it is still a clumsy unit to use.

Anyhows, also, across the past 9 games (all very successful on the whole - except where your opponent hides behind hills) the grand battery never really paid for itself directly. But in almost every game (esp not against the Dutch-Belgian cos I ran out of room to deploy it - but even there it did end up with it's 2nd shooting effort causing the cohsion loss that allowed me to break the final unit needed to win - noting that it did only fire twice in 9 moves!), the threat that it posed was a key factor in either shaping the game or in pressuring action from the opponent. Even in the game where Kendall hid his classy Prussians behind a hill (come on, Kendall, show everyone the play-list - it's a really really good combo !), the large battery screened off one flank and had Kendall not withdrawn on that flank behind (yet more) hills then his flank units could easily have been taken just by a combination of only 2 light cavalry (AD) units and the heavy battery.

On the whole, notwithstanding the inherent clumsiness, I'd use it again simply cos it looks pretty cool on the table !! (and there is no doubt that it casues thinking puzzles for your opponent)

But, for now, new combinations beckon

[deadtorius]

That would be a beast alright. Either take it in a mass to try and split your dice and hope something survives to get close or as you said, hide and avoid it if you can.