Absolute Emperor: Napoleonic Wargame Battles (Osprey Wargames)

I got a chance to play an early version of this game at Rapier Con in early 2020 (just before lockdown!). We played an 8 player re-fight of Waterloo and finished in just over 2 hours! This isn’t a typical overly simplified “quick play” system however. It’s tactically engaging, and has just the right amount of depth while skipping much of the unimportant minutiae that tends to bog down other systems. I’m excited to finally have a copy and look forward to getting some games in!

These are pretty good rules. Not perfectly set up and it takes a couple of careful read throughs to grasp. I hate super complicated and long rule sets. I just want to have an excuse to push my armies around on the tabletop and this lets me do it in any scale and pretty easily. I had fun playing it and will keep playing it. If you are the type who likes tons of detail for every different unit and super specific rules, this one won't be for you. You don't need massive armies either.

just what i needed and great timing

Simple napoleonic rules set...

I have played this twice and it just makes no sense. I watched a YouTube video where the author walks a couple of players through a game, and a fairly common situation occurred that wasn't explicitly covered by the rules. The players asked how to handle it, and the author said "it's a judgment call." When the rules don't address common situations, they are not acceptable. If you want a good set of large scale Napoleonic rules, the divisional-level variant of Shako is much, much better.

The publication follows the normal Osprey format of text totally padded out with images from relevant previous Osprey men at arms etc publication. Although they add colour they add nothing to the rules which is the reason for purchase.After a read through and open to the ideas of a grand - army scale Napoleonic game I could not find anything that says this is anything more than a stripped out system saying that a battalion is really renamed as a division and adding various commanders to give a higher level feel.While wanting to not write off before actually playing I joined the FB page, wish I had done this first before purchase. There is question after question on there about some very basic issues, although the author is very keen and replies it really suggests a lack of proof reading or testing. For example in the chapter page 20 on shooting we are told artillery fires with 2 d6 hitting on a 5+, but Infantry shoot with 4d6 in line, 2 d6 in attack column and 1 d6 in March - HITTING on WHAT ? You have to reread and find that on page 9 under the Activation paragraph to find the score required........ Any set of new rules once in players hands will throw up issues and questions but I was taken aback just how many are on line. Normally with any set of rules (and I have purchased many), this set is WITHOUT a play sheet! I find it totally unreasonable that one is not included at publication either on line or in the hard copy.Glossy cover and professional art work does not always mean a finished product, sorry to say not for me.

I am a mug! If it's Napoleonic, I will buy it.To me, this Rule set just "fudges" too much in the rush to get a game finished.It joins the large pile of rules for this period that just irk me.Sorry, I feel it is just another generic set with a catchy title.

I am still not sure what to make of these rules, on the one hand they are well presented - well it is Osprey - and the ambition of large scale games is admirable, but........The whole is rather let down by its presentation and lack of a singleminded approach. For example the score needed to hit for infantry and cavalry is easily I overlooked - it's on on 9- and why it is not included in the combat sections of online are is beyond meThe author remarks on other rules and his desire for simplified abstraction, then undermines it with what are effectively tactical formations, line column etc, for this purported Divisional game, other things are just plain silly, for instance infantry charging formed cavalry or "divisions" in square. My personal peeve units conforming surrendering close combat.On the plus side, the game plays at a good pace and presents decent tactical decisions.On the whole there are better rules out there that do much the same, 2x2 Napoleonics spring to mind, so not one set I would recommend

there is nothing to set this rule book apart for all the others out there.

Good set of rules well worth a look for quick and easy large scale battles. Let down a bit by poor layout and proof reading but nothing major and any required errata and explanation available online.