Napoleonic Total War 2 (for RTW)

[Duke John]

Various small things and indeed scripting. So it seems that are we will be ready for an August release.

[Glaucus]

I just got around to this forum, and saw this mod. I'm a big fan of the Napolianic time period, so all I can say is... SWEET. I espicially like the battle interface and those light dragoons. Great work!

[Lord Zimoa of Flanders]

We will not post new Work In Progress pictures anymore as the next updates will be actual previews of the first release and we are investing all our time in finishing the last details and testing.

I hope to show you the first preview soon though.
It will be worth the waiting.

LZoF

[GiantMonkeyMan]

not even one or two? please...

great news that the previews are coming up though, keep up the hard work and all

[Pantsalot]

another month till realese

[Lord Zimoa of Flanders]

This is the first of a series of previews we hope to release before the completion of the Napoleonic Total War 2: Borodino pack. This preview focuses on the largest - and perhaps most important - element of the armies of the Napoleonic Era: the Infantry.

For those not familiar with Napoleonic Total War 2, here is a brief update:

• The latest project from the award winning Lordz modding collective that brought you Napoleonic Total War and American Total War for the MTW engine, Napoleonic Total War 2 brings the wars and armies of the Napoleonic era to the Rome Total War engine. The Barbarian Invasion expansion is not required in order to play this modification, but it'll run on RTW 1.5 and BI 1.6.
  
  
• The mod will be released in several "packs", each with it's own theme. The first will be the "Borodino pack", focusing on the Russian campaign of 1812, with it's climax at the Battle at Borodino. The second pack will feature the battle of Waterloo, adding the British, Prussians and Dutch-Belgian armies to the game.
  
  
• We hope to release the Borodino pack before the end of August, and the Waterloo pack a few months later.
  
  
• For more information, visit www.thelordz.co.uk (site is being updated, go to the forum for a FAQ and screenshots topic)

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Napoleonic Infantry tactics were by their very nature dynamic. It was the time where infantry, armed with musket and bayonet, played a versatile and demanding role.

The main weapon of the infantry was the musket, a rough but deadly firearm. With the introduction of the bayonet, the musket became a versatile killing combination that dominated European battlefields for centuries.

The basic tactical unit of the day was the regiment or battalion. The introduction of the column formation gave the troops the edge they needed. The basic line formation, which was usually three men deep, was still best used if you needed maximum firepower. However, with the introduction of the column battalions would no longer move only in a long, straight, and often unwieldy line. With the much smaller front of the column, infantry could now move more quickly over rough terrain and use roads, and could more easily counter threats to its front, rear or side or form into square when threatened by cavalry.

Light Infantry was also a major part of Napoleonic warfare. The use of light, skirmishing infantry heavily influenced the way battles were fought. Light infantry would scatter in open order in front of the formed bodies of infantry. Unlike the regular Line infantry, who had to stand shoulder to shoulder and would only fire on command and en masse, the Light infantry used the available cover of the terrain to harass the enemy, picking off enemy officers and artillery and pinning down the enemy infantry. Line infantry, whose massive volleys would be far less effective against such a spread out and hunkered down target, had few effective tools to deal with enemy Lights, often simply sending out their own skirmishers to keep the enemy out of musket reach.

Of course things could go wrong: friendly fire, the "fog of war" caused by smoke and dust, bad weather, fatigue, malnutrition, and of course poor leadership. And even if a soldier were to survive the horror of combat, diseases killed as many men as musketballs. Choking smoke, screaming shells passing overhead, and cavalry charges all demanded steady nerves and good discipline. It was truly "Hell on earth" for the basic infantry soldier, whose greatest ally was often capable officers and NCOs, who could guide the men through the raging maelstrom of Napoleonic battles.

Over time, mixed formations of infantry in line and in column, surrounded by clouds of skirmishers were developed and fine tuned, always with the close support of cavalry and artillery arms. Napoleonic warfare was very complex, and the lessons learned on the fields of Borodino, Waterloo, and all across the world are still studied and educated intensely at every major Military Academy around the world.


INFANTRY TACTICS IN NAPOLEONIC TOTAL WAR 2

In NTW2, the basic Light and Line infantry are the most cost-effective units. As long as they are properly formed up and not in loose formation, they can be counted on to repel most cavalry. However, should enemy cavalry catch your Light infantry skirmishing in the open without any support, your lights will be butchered. And when you really need to take or hold a position, you can depend on your Grenadiers or even the feared Guard infantry to get the job done. Using Napoleonic infantry is a violent chess game, with each type of soldier having to be used in the way they are most effective and in the way they best compliment their comrades.

All infantry units are equiped with muskets, and except for the light units they all have the same effective range. Line infantry firing from long range does little damage, but close range volleys are deadly and may instantly rout enemy units. This creates a difficult choice for players: how close do you bring your men before firing? Or do you not fire at all, but instead charge straight in with bayonets fixed? Generally, Light infantry does the long range skirmishing, using their quicker foot speed and slightly more effective range to harass the enemy, then safely withdrawing before they can be engaged. Line and heavy infantry is used to defend or for concentrated attacks on weak spots in the enemy defence. Prolonged shooting duels are very rare, and generally result in victory for the defender because he has a better chance of using the terrain to his benefit.

Unit morale is generally low (compared to most other mods), and units cannot be upgraded by extra armour/weapon or valor. Therefore you need to keep your men happy and protected. The best way to do this is by keeping officers nearby and by keeping your troops close together; men who feel that they are without leadership on the field and see no friends nearby will quickly decide that discretion is the better part of valour. But this is often more difficult and dangerous then it sounds. Deploying in a long line is often impossible, because it forces units to leave the protection of hills and villages, making them easy targets for enemy artillery. Deploying in a deep, compact formation is just as dangerous, because the units then become sitting ducks for enemy artilley and are easily surrounded. And if your troops are packed too close together they will block each other's line of fire, something a clever opponent will use against you.


FRENCH INFANTRY

The French army was the largest army in the World and was at war with several enemies at once. In this very difficult situation accepting only volunteer soldiers (as it was in the small Swiss and British armies) was simply not enough. To meet the required numbers, the French used conscription. Conscription hustled to arms a lot of quivering creatures who would never have gone to war of their own free will. So the process of weeding out the weak was under way in the first stages of every campaign. The French infantryman was found everywhere. Little worried him; neither the pyramids of Egypt nor the vast plains of snowy Russia. No matter where he found himself, he considered himself to be a representative of the French way of life.

During these "Glory Years" French military soundly defeated every major European power on land, and the French infantry was its backbone. Napoleon's light infantry enjoyed a great reputation in Europe.

However, in 1812 disaster struck the French army. As Napoleon Bonaparte marching into Russia in an attempt to destroy his neighbors to the East, the majority of his army was swallowed up by the snowy winter of Mother Russia. The casualties were horrible and it required a heart of stone to look on those gallant veterans of so many battles, mangled, frozen and torn, and heaped by the thousands over the fields and roads. Of some 700,000 troops, only 10% returned from this campaign.

In 1815 ,after the 100-Days Campaign and Waterloo and the final defeat of Napoleon, the French King Louis XVIIIth decided that no reminder of the Republic or the Empire would be allowed to survive in the army. The organisation of the army and the uniforms from the Empire were banned.


THE FRENCH INFANTRY UNITS

National Guard

These units are usually best used as cannon fodder - although a clever opponent might not even waste his ammunition on them. Low morale and close combat skills, combined with poor reload speed and below average accuracy result in a unit that is only good to save some money to purchase more elite units.



The French National Guards (or militia) are conscripted from all able-bodied male citizens capable of carrying weapons from the age of 17-50. These men are the last resort and entrusted with the final defense of France. They garrison outside the capital walls of Paris and throughout other cities in France. They are armed with the smoothbore muzzle-loading musket and dress in the same fashion as the line infantrymen, but retained the bicorne. They are hastily trained and lack the discipline of the line infantrymen but are considered brave and hardy troops and are lead by retired veteran officers of the elite Old Guard.


Fusiliers

The Fusiliers of the Line are the basic workhorse of the French army. Their shooting ability is good enough to deal a lot of damage to much more expensive units, and they are cheap enough to absorb enemy artillery fire if necessary. But their morale is low compared to the elites of the field, and their hand-to-hand fighting skills aren't impressive. Therefor they need proper protecting and leadership or they can be routed by a quick and decisive strike.



The French Fusiliers (French Line) are armed with a muzzle-loading smoothbore musket and able fire off three volleys in a minute. These troops are the backbone of Napoleon's army and were generally young men conscripted from the ages of 20 and 25. The line infantry had large numbers of men who served for long periods. The uniform was a dark blue coat, white breeches with black knee-length gaiters, and felt shakos. These men are trained and could perform impressively. Their marching speed and maneuvering is superior to any other nations' armies and are known for their steadiness in maneuvering under fire, for speed of movements was crucial for Napoleon. He often said that, "he won because of his soldiers boots." Even though the French line infantry marched fast they were not as disciplined during march as were some of the German-speaking armies.

Historically in 1804-1811 France had among the best line infantryman which had ever existed in Europe. The line infantry epitomized Napoleon's army. Many regiments were of high quality and only few could be called poor. Tragically, by 1812 the majority of these veterans were swallowed up in the Russian winter.


Chasseurs

If you want to compare Napoleonic Total War 2 armies to Rome Total War armies, then the Chasseurs would be the French "archers", while Fusiliers are the basic infantry. Chasseurs are skirmisher units that should be used to provoke the enemy to attack and protect the rest of the army from enemy skirmishers. Like all skirmishers, these units have a high range and accuracy, as the men are trusted to take their time aiming and shoot at will, and Light infantry can operate in loose formation (unlike most other infantry). This makes them effective at harrasing enemy infantry from a safe distance. The loose formation also makes them take less casualties from artillery bombardement, making them useful to snipe enemy gun crews. However, be wary of enemy cavalry...



French Chasseurs (meaning "hunters") are light infantrymen and are comprised of hunters or woodsmen. They are generally of slightly smaller stature, making them easier to hide in villages and gardens then the more clumsy line soldiers. They are also smaller targets for the enemy's shooters. Their uniforms were darker and less visible to the enemy as well. These men are more intensively trained in marksmanship and in executing all maneuvers in slightly higher speed, especially skirmishing. Armed with a lighter musket, their primary target were enemy's officers and gunners while screening the Line infantry from the harassing fire of enemy skirmishers.


Voltigeurs

Voltigeurs represent the elite force of Light infantry that was available to the French army. They have a (slightly) higher range and accuracy then Chasseurs, and their elite status also gives them a bit better morale. This makes them small "commando" units who can even harrass enemy skirmishers without getting in harms way. The downside is their small unit size and high cost, which makes them less cost-effective then Chasseurs at standard skirmisher jobs such as sniping enemy artillery crews.



The Voltigeurs were a new branch of infantry and were introduced by Napoleon in 1803. The Decree issued in March 1803 ordered raising a 10th Company in the regiments of Light infantry. These were Voltigeurs and were formed by taking the 6 smallest men from every Chasseur company in the battalion. The Voltigeurs were the best suited troopers for skirmishing, ladder climbing, urban combat, and for scouting. The Voltigeurs were trained in firing rapidly and accurately and were expected to be able to march at the trot.


Grenadiers

In Rome Total War terms, Fusiliers are the light/medium infantry. The French Grenadiers are the heavy infantry. While not a true elite unit on the level of the Young or Old Guard, they have slighty better morale then Fusiliers, and are effective in close combat. The result is a cheaper - and more expendable - shock unit than the true elite units, that can be used to assault enemy defenses or fight off enemy cavalry attacks.



These men are usually selected for their stature (they are often the biggest men) and war experience(a minimum of 4 years of military service)and are very strong. The French grenadiers are the shock troops; brave, good marchers and are often used as a spearhead of attacking forces. They present a formidable sight to see and, being big men, they made good use of the bayonet!


Young Guard

The French Young Guard are a versatile unit of talented soldiers. They are better then the Fusilier regiments in every aspect, but excel at shooting. They are also the only non-skirmisher unit capable of operating in loose formation, but lack the high range of dedicated skirmisher units. And while they can decimate enemy units with close to mid-range volley fire, their hand-to-hand fighting abilities do not equal those of Grenadier or other Guard units.



The Young Guard were formed in 1808 by Napoleon. The men were drawn from the Empire's regular line regiments, from the strongest, tallest, and most intelligent recruits to the best of the year's conscripts. They are armed with a muzzle-loading smoothbore musket and able fire off 3 to 4 volleys in a minute. They are usually used as a tactical reserve and lead by battle hardened veteran officers of the Old Guard. One of the most popular divisional commanders, Henri Francois Delaborde, led his division of Young Guard with these words: "My children, when you smell powder for the first time, it is stylish to stick up your nose!" The martial air of the Young Guard astonished everyone, which inspired the line regiments to fight on when the battle got tough. Once they engaged in combat they were well disciplined fighters, who perform brave heroic deeds for their beloved emperor. They are one of Napoleon's best soldiers in the French army, for he remarked that, "they won battle's using their legs."


Old Guard

Without a doubt the Old Guard is the strongest infantry unit in the game, probably even THE strongest unit, stop. Their sheer presence disheartens enemy units, and combined with their high morale and excellent close combat fighting skills, it makes them they ultimate unit to crack open a wavering enemy defence. However, they are not the best shooters in the game, and they die just as easily from musket fire as any other unit. Therefore they are only worth their high price if used at the right time and place in battle.



The French Old Guard were an elite military force that grew out of the Garde des Consuls and Garde Consulaire after Napoleons crowning in 1804. These men were selected carefully, and the requirements were not easy to meet for the candidates. Like all other guard units these men had to be strong, tall (at least 5'10"), be able to read and write, and had to be harded veterans of at least 10 years service; some had 20 campaigns or more! Tactically they were kept in reserve but were often thrown into a battle as the killing blow. The Old Guard's ranks were made up of battle hardened veteran soldiers who did not fear death. They were fanatically resolute, always marching stoically into the teeth of enemy fire. These men were considered the elite of the elite, the creme de la creme of Napoleon's infantry; they were the most ferocious fighters on earth. They therefore enjoyed the highest prestige in Napoleons army and were very devoted to their Emperor.


RUSSIAN INFANTRY

There was nothing but empty plains and vast woods in Russia. They extended farther than the eye could see. The roads were either very broad or very narrow. In winter the snow storms made the roads impassable and the extreme cold made travelling dangerous. The cities in Russia were vast in extent and appeared empty. The streets and squares were broad and the houses stood far apart as comparing to western Europe. Russia was torn between Asia and Europe and only sparsely settled. The vast land together with the long winters produced the melancholy and mystery not felt in any other country.

By the 19th century it was estimated that about 50 per cent of Russian peasants were serfs. These serfs would form the great pool out of which Russian Infantry was recruited.

By 1810-1812 Russian generals such as Barclay de Tolly had analyzed the French army, its organisation, structure and methods of combat and introduced many military reforms.

The Russian infantryman was known for his tenacity in combat. French general Marbot wrote: "The Russians had to be beaten down man by man, our soldiers fired upon them at 25 paces, they continued their march without replying, every regiment filed past, without saying a word or slackening its pace for a moment. The streets were filled with dying and wounded, but not a groan was heard, for they were forbidden. You might have said that they were firing at shadows. At last our soldiers charged the Russian soldiers with the bayonet, and only when they pierced them could they be convinced that they were dealing with men."

The Russians were the premier believers in what could be called The Cult of the Bayonet. The Russian bayonet attack was fierce and well-known throughout Europe.

Generally the Russian infantryman was not the best shooter in Europe. The men were trained in firing quick volleys by entire platoons and battalions. Only few commanders trained their troopers in aiming their muskets and emphasized the accuracy of fire.

In June 1812, Napoleon invaded Russia with a force twice as large as the Russian army facing him. He hoped to inflict a major defeat on the Russians and force Alexander to sue for peace.
The Reformed Russian army performed well in 1812 and ended up beating back, with the help of the frigid Russian winter, a French army that had taken control of most of Europe.

The Tzar was determined to defeat Napoleon and 'liberate Europe.' He said "I shall not make peace as long as Napoleon is on the throne." And so he did. In 1813 the Allies defeated Napoleon's troops in Germany and again in 1814 in France.

Tzar Alexander triumphantly entered Paris and the Russians camped in front of Napoleon's palace. Napoleon made remark: "The Russians learned how to win."


THE RUSSIAN INFANTRY UNITS

Opolchenie

Opolchenie is simply a difficult name for what many commanders boil down to "angry russian peasant." They are poorly trained and equiped, making them very poor shooters with low accuracy, ammunition and slow reload speed. However, they are not completly useless in hand-to-hand combat and can deal quite a lot of damage to average enemy units - provided they can get close enough, something that isn't made any easier by their very low morale.



Historically Kutuzov tried to make a difference with the emphasis on the ability 'to chop and shoot' rather than maneuver. New recruits were issued with the pike, a seemingly archaic weapon on the battlefield of muskets, but even these men stood well alongside the veterans under cannon fire and charged with as much passion. Their uniform was in Prussian style, and they were as much feared by the allies as from the enemy for they were responsible of some atrocities in 1812. Curiously some women also served in the ranks, one major being a Suliot heroine named Moskho.


Musketeers

They perform the same tasks as the French Fusiliers, but have a slightly less accurate shot. But true Russians as they are they are a bit more effective in close combat fighting then their French equivalents.



Historically Russia had one of the biggest populations in the world; 30 million as compared to Prussia's 5 million, Austria's 25 million, and France's 29 million (Imperial France with annexed territories had 36.5 million). But despite the big numbers Russia was unable to match Napoleon with the strength of the regular army, for often a quite large number of young men would hide in the woods at the first rumor of a levy. Many new recruits were marked with a tattoo-like cross and kept in chains to make running away more difficult.


Jaegers

The Russian Jaegers are a small unit of skirmishers. With high range and accuracy, these units can deal a lot of damage while operating in loose formation. They are not as capable as some of the elite light infantry of other nations, but are still able to keep enemy skirmishers at bay and protect their own lines.



Historically Jagers carried the infantry musket, except NCO`s and 12 sharpshooters per company, who had rifled muskets; a sword bayonet was also carried. After June 1808 sword bayonets and rifled muskets were withdrawn, with the infantry musket becoming the standard weapon. In the coming November it was ordered that the bayonet should always be carried fixed, just like the line, though at a later date scabbards seemed to have been used.


Grenadiers

Just like the French Grenadiers, the Russian Grenadier is a relatively cheap shock attack unit. They have a bit better morale then the French version, and can be counted on to drive home a charge under even heavy fire. Russian Grenadiers were long considered excellent soldiers.



Historically for days at a time they would march regularly every night and yet fight all day with the very minimum of rest and food. A western reporter E. Warnery wrote, "they are always in good humor, even when in the greatest misery." The Russian Grenadiers were instantly recognizable by their Shakos, which had a yellow brass badge in form of a grenade with three flames. Their uniform was based on the Line-Grenadiers. They were armed with muskets except for the 12 sharpshooters in every regiment.


Pavlov Grenadiers

One of the most instantly recognizable units available to the Russian commander, Pavlov Grenadiers have excellent morale and close combat fighting skills, making them excel above all others as shock troops capable of driving home a final attack or counter-attack.



Historically the Pavlovsk Grenadiers wore the old-fashioned mitre caps. In 1807 for their gallant fight at Friedland, Czar Alexander ordered that, alone of the infantry, this regiment should henceforth retain its mitres "in the state in which they left the battlefield as visible mark of its bravery and Our grace." Their officers however did not wear the mitre caps. In 1812 at Polotzk, French cuirassiers and four infantry battalions cut off the Pavlovsk Grenadiers and a detachment of Grodno Hussars. The grenadiers however fought so valiantly that they escaped and even captured and brought in 100 prisoners!


Russian Foot Guard

The Guard regiments in Napoleonic times were always among the most capable on the field, and the Russians boasted some of the very best. High morale and excellent marksmanship make these units very good defenders. In addition, their close combat skills match those of the Grenadiers making them easily capable of winning the inevitable bayonet fights.



Historically after the battle of Kulm the Austrian Emperor was so impressed with the tenacity and bravery of the Russian Guards that he ordered a monument to be built to salute them. Even Napoleon was highly impressed about the Russian Guard and said, "I was surprised at the precision and assurance of this infantry, so well disciplined and of such extraordinary firmness would be the first in the world if, to these qualities, it united a little of the electric enthusiasm of the French."

SCREENSHOTS

And for your viewing pleasure, a few screenshots of the units in action. Just pure NTW2 glory and gloom!

Russian Jaegers engaged in a skirmish with the French Chasseurs


Artillery prepares to load canister to unleash hell upon the approaching Fusiliers


Chasseurs clearing a forest of opposition


The charge is ordered while cannonballs hit the entire line


The Fusiliers charge with bayonets fixed while the Russians deliver one final devasting volley at close range


A French Officer leads by example as the columns overrun the Russian redoubts filled with artillery


The Russians remain steady as their officers shout their orders



ENJOY!
The Lordz

[legion commander167]

yay you guys doing a good job i can't wait for it


need guns need ......no bows....need this mod...!!!

[Rodion Romanovich]

Wonderful job as always! It's time for me to start reading more about the Napoleonic period and warfare so I know a bit more about it when this mod comes out

[AquaLurker]

I have seen a couple of times where the moders were testing the MP features of this mod, would like to know what are their thoughts about this mod in MP games, such as; how much different will the tactics appilcable be compared to vanilla RTW, does it gets more interesting with more players and what will be the best unit size setting for the game in 2v2s~4v4s.

From what I read, it gives me an impression that cavalry will have a serious disadvantage if they were to charge any unit of front liners. So are cavalry mainly resevered for taking out skirmishers units and artillary, how will they fair in meele without infantry support?

[Lord Adherbal]

gameplay is very different from RTW:
-Long range artillery forces you to use the terrain for cover for both movement and defense.
-Maps are made in such a way that you cannot hide an entire army behind a single hill, so you have to spread out. Also, not a single position offers protection from all directions, so the attacker can always outmaneuver the defender unless the latter spreads his forces over multiple defensive positions. But by doing so each of these individual position abviously becomes fragile to a concentrated attack.
-The skirmish phase (artillery, light infantry, and sometimes a few cav charges) usualy take quite long, until the attacker decides to force an attack somewere on the battlefield. Elite units must be kept in safety as long as possible or they will became cannonball magnets before they can have an effect. Proper timing is vital for a succesfull attack.
-Actual combat phases (melee and close range volleys) are rather short, especially with the low morale. Victory or defeat is usualy determinated by who can break the enemy morale first. Good use of Officer units who boost moral is a very important factor.

We'll feature a gameplay and MP battle report preview at some point which will go into some deeper detail about this.

The game is designed (balanced) for 10k (or less) and Large unit size. We advice players to use a lower florin level (5k) instead of switching to a lower unit size if they want to prevent lag from slow machines. Artillery units are not rescaled so they will be too powerfull/weak on normal/huge unit size.

Cavalry generally doesn't beat infantry in a head-on charge, but will still do a good deal of damage. However, when used in large numbers - with atleast one unit flanking or quickly overrunning one weakened unit in the enemy line - they can be absolutely devastating. They are also very effective to pin down the enemy while the (slower) infantry gets close, thus minimalizing casualties from musket volleys and cannon fire. And considering the large distances battles are fought over, having units that can quickly move from one side to the other can be very usefull.

[Dooz]

Oo boy, sounds good. Some actual strategy being necessary to win in a TW engine based game. Cool. However, I am quite afraid of taking on any of the Lordz or anyone else for that matter once the mod is out... I'll just stick to SP for a while...

[Lord Adherbal]

we usualy play teamgames (2v2+) cos they're much more enjoyable then 1v1 and have a bigger scale. The NTW MP community is generally quite polite so I'm sure they won't mind a few "noobs" joining the fun :) And considering how different NTW2 gameplay is from NTW1 everyone except for the Lordz will start as noobs ;)

Another enjoyable habbit in the NTW community is to play "command games", were each player commands a section of the army (one for cavalry, one for infantry, and one for guard & artillery) and appoints one teammate as "general" who decides the strategy of the battle. A bit like the Time Commander series actualy.

[AquaLurker]

Damn, I like the command concept of a team game. Pls release the rus vs nap version fast!!!

[Lord Adherbal]

End of August is our deadline, no matter in what state. Believe me, we are as eager to release this mod as you are awaiting it. Not to mension we're sick and tired of those french and russians and want to move on to the Waterloo factions

[professorspatula]

When I look at the level of detail and effort gone into mods like this and The Crusades, I can't help but feel it's almost wasted on the RTW engine. Good stuff though, and defintely a mod I'd be interested in playing online. To think I've had RTW a few days before it's official release date (thanks Gameplay) and never played it online.

[Lord Adherbal]

We're looking for more multiplayer beta testers to test the next "almost-final" private beta. If you are interested show your motivation by visiting this post and make a reply.

Singleplayer will be disabled in this build, so don't bother signing up if you are just planning to play SP and not MP.

[Master of the Military Arts]

I think the concept of online play with Napoleonic Total War is a great idea. It allows players to be competitive and to see how great the mod really is.

[Lord Zimoa of Flanders]

Welcome to our second preview. It took a little longer then we hoped because the new horse models were still in production, but now they're finally done, so we present to you: the Napoleonic Cavalry Preview.
The Borodino Pack release is still scheduled for late August.
You can view the first NTW2 preview about Napoleonic Infantry here:


First NTW2 Preview


CAVALRY IN NTW2

Cavalry in NTW2 is powerful, but only if used in a proper fashion. A small miscalculation can reduce your proud and magnificent cavalry corps to a heap of horse meat.
There is quite a large variety of units available, which can be split into light and heavy cavalry. The light cavalry uses fast moving horses, and are ideally used in quick charges to override exposed skirmishers or weakened units, or to make flanking attacks with support of the infantry or heavy cavalry. The heavy cavalry is slower, and are mainly a shock unit, that can pin the enemy down and hold out until the infantry can get close enough, or for faster cavalry to ride around the enemy's flanks and strike them in the back.
Generally a fresh infantry unit can deal with any cavalry unit if it charges head-on. Especially when capable of firing a close range volley they enemy cavalry can be routed in a few instances. But a massive charge of cavalry, supported by musket and artillery fire can overrun have a serious impact on enemy morale. Good use of Officer units (more into those in the next preview) can be vital for both the cavalry and the defenders dealing with them.
Infantry units are packed together much tighter then cavalry units, the result being that there are almost 2 infantrymen fighting 1 horsemen in a duel between the two. Against light infantry deployed in loose formation, the cavalry does not have this weakness, thus making cavalry effective against skirmishing infantry.

FRENCH CAVALRY

"I considered our (British) cavalry so inferior to the French from the want of order, that although I considered one squadron a match for two French, I didn't like to see four British opposed to four French: and as the numbers increased and order, of course, became more necessary I was the more unwilling to risk our men without having a superiority in numbers." -The Duke of Wellington

It took some time before the French cavalry reached its full potential, as it had suffered the loss of many officers during the Revolutionary period. In the cavalry served more nobles than in any other branch of the army, the majority of the aristocratic officers left France during the French Revolution and the overall quality of French cavalry had fallen badly. Napoleon rebuild the cavalry from scratch, his cavalrymen were intensively trained especially in massed tactics, supplied with splendid uniforms and horses and armed to teeth. They were enthusiastic and ready to fight. The officers and NCO`s were battle hardened veterans. After the defeat of Austria and Prussia the excellent German horse depots were captured, so by 1807 French cavalry was reaching its prime. Until 1812 the French cavalrymen were victorious over everyone they encountered on any level above a regiment. At Borodino they even captured a redoubt, a feat never repeated by any other cavalry. It is estimated that 175.000 excellent horses of cavalry and artillery were lost in 1812 in Russia, shortages of trained cavalrymen, officers, NCO`s and war horses were so bad the French cavalry never recovered afterwards.

Mounted Chasseurs

The Chasseurs à Cheval are the most basic - and weakest - of all current cavalry units. They lack the high morale and élan of the hussars, and don't nearly pack enough punch to fight solid bodies of infantry. They are however fairly cheap, and can make an excellent addition to your army if they are used to support superior units, making flank attacks or harassing skirmishers.



The French Chasseurs à Chéval (which means 'on horseback') are usually brigaded with the French hussars. Many of the recruits were foreigners, mostly Belgians or Germans, and are light/line cavalry armed with carbines, bayonets and slightly curved sabres. French Chasseurs are trained for rapid action, capable of raiding, skirmishing, and reconnaissance duties like the hussars. They were capable of charging enemy lines in support and could be used in dismounting actions like dragoons. Many of them are known to be reckless bravado's. They were generally not held in high esteem by many of their French counterparts, especially the hussars. Historically early in Napoleon's campaigns they were armed with two types of sabres: à la husarde and à la chasseur. Both weapons were replaced by light cavalry sabre Pattern XI. The bayonets were disliked by the French Chasseurs, they were used as tools, for digging up potatoes for an example, and then thrown away. The French Chasseurs were the only cavalry branch that accepted many foreigners to serve in their ranks, six regiments of French Chasseurs were formed of foreigners.


Hussars

Hussars are very capable light cavalrymen riding fast horses. They have a good morale and are best at performing flanking manoeuvres or striking against vulnerable enemy units. They lack the charge power of lancers and heavier cavalry, so they aren't that good at attacking solid bodies of infantry and cavalry, but can still hold their own for a while.



The French (and any other hussar in Europe) was modelled on the famous Hungarian hussars. By 1811 there were 11 Hussar regiments in the French cavalry arm. During a parade the sight of the hussars would the women’s hearts made wildly pounding. In combat they rode yelling most unearthly, cursing and brandishing their weapons. They had their own code - that of reckless courage that bordered on a death wish. The hussars were the eyes, ears and … egos of the army. The mutually supporting camaraderie of the hussars was important factor of their "esprit de corps". Tactically they were used as scouts and screen for other troops and due to their combativeness were also used in pitched battles. It was not a rare sight to see a hussar in a forefront of a hack-and-slash melee, gripping his reins with his teeth, a pistol in one hand and sabre in the other. They considered himself as better horseman and swordsman than everybody else. Bragging, smoking a pipe, drinking, and duelling - these were their funs. There was a saying: "The hussars were loved by every wife and hated by every husband". The hussar was armed with pistols and curved sabre. Some had carbines. The hussars were the most flamboyantly dressed part of every army. Their brilliant uniforms exemplified the panache with which they lived and fought.


Lancers

Lancers are light/medium cavalry armed with a lance (surprise). This gives them a powerful charge with a good chance of killing their first opponent on impact. After the charge they switch to swords for close combat, but the time to do so makes them slightly vulnerable after the initial charge. Therefor they are best used against weakened or wavering enemies that can be routed by the sheer power of their charge.



Napoleon, wanting to oppose the Cossacks who were nimble, tough warriors before the Russian campaign created the Chevaux-Légers Lanciers or French Lancers from the 29e Regiment des Dragons. They were Frenchmen trained by Vistula and Polish Guard lancers. They are armed with the lance, Poland's national weapon, but retained the Dragoon styled uniform and helmet. Even though this unit contained mostly raw recruits and newly commissioned officers mounted on barely trained horses, they were led by exceptional senior officers. One such officer, a Colonel Perquit said that, "he didn't recognise any danger." The French Lancers were considered rather tough, disciplined fighters, and just like their Polish comrades they gave no quarter to the enemy. Historically Napoleon converted one chasseur regiment along with 6 dragoon regiments to lancers by 1811. Although the light cavalry could stand in line and fight as battle cavalry, its best purposes were reconnaissance, screening, raiding, pursuit, and field security. The light cavalry manoeuvre units were intended to be broken into small tactical units for use as pickets and vedettes, and for deployment in reconnaissance roles.


Dragoons

Dragoons are a sort of hybrid between light and heavy cavalry. They are capable of performing the tasks of both classes, but not as good as the true versions. They make up a good and affordable all-purpose cavalry arm.



In 1804 Napoleon had 30 dragoon regiments and were the largest cavalry class, something between light and heavy cavalry. They were trained in infantry and cavalry duties, as historically they were infantry men put on horses, and for this reason their horsemanship "was wobbly" and their swordsmanship was not of the highest order. In the first phase of Napoleonic Wars they served on the primary theatre of war, in Central Europe, charging in numerous battles. After 1807 majority of the dragoons served on secondary theatres of wars, Spain and Italy. Many of the regiments in Spain lacked uniforms, horses and equipment. But the dragoons were efficient troops. They fought a grim and deadly war of ambush and retaliation against the hostile Spaniards. They guarded communication lines and escorted convoys. They also participated in battles with the British and Spanish armies. Napoleon had problems to find the right horses for his dragoons. In 1805 approximately 6.000 of them were without mounts and were organised into 4 foot dragoon regiments. Their duty was to guard the artillery reserves and the baggage trains. The dragoons were armed with straight sabres and muskets. Their muskets were longer and had longer range of fire than light cavalry's carbines. While a light cavalryman's equipment included a carbine sling as a means of keeping his weapon readily available for use, the greater length of musket issued to dragoons made a sling impractical. Thus the stock of the musket was seated in a boot attached to the saddle, and its barrel restrained by a strap attached to the pommel. When the dragoons expected to go into action they drew sabres and muskets slung on their backs. In 1814 they gave away their long muskets for the infantry.


Cuirassiers

Cuirassiers are - together with Carabiniers - the only units in the Napoleonic era that still wear body armour. Their heavy cuirasses, combined with their large and strong mounts make them excellent shock cavalry, capable of punching a hole through the enemy line. However, their cuirasses do not protect them from cannon or musket fire, and they are quite a lot slower then light cavalry units.



While other types of cavalry had their important roles to play, it was the cuirassiers, the descendants of the medieval knights, who could turn a battle with their sheer weight and brute force. They looked dangerous every time they ventured forward and the generals never employed them frivolously. When it came to hardware the cuirassiers were riding arsenals: body Armour, helmets, carbines, pistols and long straight sabres. The Russians called them zheleznye ludi (the iron men). There were 12 regiments of cuirassiers. They were considered as elite troops. The cuirassiers wore body Armour. It was uncomfortable to wear in summer and expensive. The cuirassiers were armed with straight long sabres and pistols. When in 1812 they received carbines they made considerable effort to avoid carrying them. The cuirassiers rode possibly on blacks, browns and dark bays. All horses and men were big and strong. They were the tanks of their time, at the trot and in dense formations they were the heavy front rank battle cavalry that could force a gap in the enemy line. In 1815 at Waterloo they were waisted at Wellington his squares, they needed infantry and artillery support, they got them to late.


Carabiniers

Just like Cuirassiers, the Carabiniers wear breastplates and ride strong horses. They have a slightly higher elite status, resulting in better morale and slightly better combat performance then the Cuirassiers.



There were only two regiments of horse carabiniers, the 1er and 2e. In 1792 the French Ministry of War ordered that the carabiniers must always be chosen from seasoned and reliable soldiers. They were armed with straight sabres and pistols. In the ranks of carabiniers alongside the Frenchmen served also quite a few Belgians. In 1809 with the temporary absence of the Guard cavalry, the 1er Carabiniers formed Napoleon's escort. In 1809 Napoleon noticed that the carabiniers suffered badly in the hands of Austrian uhlans and ordered to give them Armour. Their helmet was of yellow copper, with iron chinstrap scales and a headband with the letter 'N' in front. The crest had a scarlet comb instead of the cuirassiers black horsehair. The cuirasses were almost identical in design to those worn by the cuirassiers, although they were covered with a sheet of brass (for officers red copper). The visual effect was astounding! In 1812 at Borodino the carabiniers repeatedly clashed with the Russian cuirassiers, hussars and dragoons. They fought with gusto until the end of battle when they were defeated by Russian cuirassiers of the guard. The campaign in Russia broke their backbone and they never were the same. Until the disastrous campaign in Russia in 1812 the carabiniers rode on big black horses. In 1805 the carabiniers received dragoon muskets. In 1810 their long straight sabres were replaced with slightly curved sabres (a la Montmorency). In 1812 the dragoon muskets were replaced with shorter cavalry carbines.


Mounted Guard Chasseurs

These light cavalry units have an average attack, but good defence and morale. It allows them to hold out longer against overwhelming odds then most other light cavalry.



In 1796 Napoleon Bonaparte formed the Company of Guides to be his escort, later renamed to Chasseurs of Imperial Guard after Napoleons crowning in 1804. A squadron of Mamelukes in full oriental style, a remnant of Napoleon`s Egyptian campaign, was also attached to the Guard Chasseurs These men are well mounted and are resourceful, dashing, and very courageous. Napoleon described his Chasseurs de la Garde as "200 daredevils, well-mounted and brave." The Guard Chasseurs are armed with slightly curved sabres, pistols, and carbines. They wear expensive hussar-style outfits, being more flamboyant then the Horse Grenadiers, but were less precise in formation and movement, and lacked the discipline. They are the most known troop in the entire French army who nicknamed them "The Pet Children" (or rather the Spoiled Brats). Napoleon wore the uniform of colonel of this regiment. Historically in 1815 during the battle of Waterloo, the Guard Chasseurs met with the British and German cavalry (KGL). Repeatedly some of the chasseur squadrons rode up to within 300-400 paces of the British and German cavalry with their officers wearing tall, broad bearskin hats. On several occasions described by one English officer, "some of them rode up to us, challenging the officers of our [British] regiment to single combat. As they were much stronger, the regiment could not accept the honour ..."


Polish Guard Lancers

Like all lance armed units, they have a powerful charge, but they are vulnerable afterwards until they switched to sabres for close combat. The Polish Guard Lancers have a strong attack, and a very high morale.



Renowned for their horsemanship, the Polish Guards lancers are one of only a few regiments that attained the perfection of changing formation at a gallop without losing its order. Napoleon was so impressed by the Polish nobles bearing and loyalty that he ordered the formation of a regiment of Polish light horse and attached them to his Imperial Guard. Just as their comrades in arms they are required to be landowners or the sons of landowners between the ages of 18 and 40 and were to furnish their own horse, uniform, equipment, and harness to a set pattern. They are issued with the lance, their national weapon, and are renowned for their skill with it in addition to their great bravery, disciplined charges, and great valour and loyalty to Napoleon's cause. They are also known to give no quarter and are feared by all (especially the British who considered them demons), even the Russian Cossacks have respect for them! Historically they are considered a legendary regiment! In 1808 Spain, the regiment charged Somosierra pass and captured four batteries that had been entrenched and supported by Spanish infantry in the hills. Napoleon was so impressed he proclaimed them "My Bravest cavalry!" He also ordered his Old Guard to present arms to the Poles as they rode by. One Polish lancer, Jordan, unsaddled 2 battle hardened veterans; dragoons of the Napoleon's Guard while Napoleon and Marshal Murat observed the duel. This regiment is one of two guard cavalry outfits never defeated by enemy's cavalry.


Mounted Guard Grenadiers

Or Guard Grenadiers à Cheval are basically the Old Guard on horseback. Very high morale, with excellent fighting skills make them one of the most powerful cavalry units in the game. On top of that - just like the Old Guard - their sheer presence intimidates enemies (they were nicknamed "The Gods" for the amazing sight they made). But all this comes at a high price, and thus they should only be thrown in battle when it is certain that their presence will cause great deal of damage to the enemy, and preferably secure the outcome of the battle.



In 1796 the Garde du Directoire was organised and one squadron of Horse Grenadiers was raised. Soon Napoleon enlarged the troop to two and then to four squadrons. The privates wore dark blue coats and collars, white lapels and tall boots. In 1797 they received tall fur caps. In 1804 the Consular Guard became Imperial Guard. For new candidates there were strict requirements: 176 cm tall, 10 years of service, minimum 4 campaigns and citation for bravery. The Horse Grenadiers became known for their austerity and haughty demeanour. The army nicknamed them "The Giants", "The Gods" or simply "The High Heels" (from their tall boots). In 1805 at Austerlitz they defeated Tsar's Guard cavalry. In 1807 at Eylau they stood under hellish fire from 60 Russian cannons, when their commander General Lepic noted some of his troopers ducking incoming shells. "Heads up, by God!" he cried "Those are bullets - not turds." Few moments later they charged against the Russians. The Horse Grenadiers were very devoted to the Emperor. In March 1814 a major of grenadiers was wounded at Craonne. He had his foot carried away by a cannon-ball and the surgeon had to amputate his leg. During the extremely painful operation "which he bore with great courage, the man called out "Vive l'Empereur!" and lost consciousness. The Guard Horse Grenadiers and the Polish Guard Lancers were the only two cavalry regiments of Napoleon's Guard never defeated by enemy's cavalry in combat. They rode big black horses and were armed with straight sabres, pistols and carbines.


RUSSIAN CAVALRY

Russia possessed a vast force of cavalry, forming a greater percentage than that of most European armies. This stemmed partly from years of battle experience against the Ottomans (who used large bodies of excellent cavalry) and partly from the fact that much Russian terrain was suitable for the manoeuvre of large bodies of cavalry. The Russian horses were overall of good quality and they had some excellent officers and NCO`s. However Russian cavalry lacked training in massed cavalry formations compared to their French counterparts. The Guard, Cuirassiers and Hussars were among the best regiments in Russian cavalry. Russian Cossacks were a league on their own, probably the best irregular cavalry on the planet, masters in guerrilla tactics. Given the quality of mounts and personnel, if Russian commanders had been able to combine the cavalry in large formations, it might have become one of the most formidable forces in Europe.

Cossacks

At first glance the Cossacks appear as a very poor combat unit. And in fact they are, but they are also very cheap. This makes them an interesting unit for "suicide missions", such as getting them past enemy lines to attack unprotected artillery or even a general. Armed with lances, they pack a decent punch when charging, but are lousy in prolonged hand to hand combat against solid enemy units.



Don Cossacks come from the Don Voisko Province near the lower and middle Don River, Russia. Don Cossacks are one of the biggest groups and heavily militarised and, like all other Cossacks, they are armed with the lance and curved sabres. Being tribal, they are commanded by their tribal chiefs, or Atamans, having little effect on organised disciplined or drill thus not much use against formed units. However they are superb horsemen and highly valued as scouts, raiders, and skirmishers at which they are at their element. Historically the Don Cossacks were formed in the second half of the 16th century largely by runaway peasants. By the end of the century they were granted certain privileges in exchange for frontier military service as Don Cossack Voisko.

Hussars

Hussars are very capable light cavalrymen riding fast horses. They have a good morale and are best at performing flanking manoeuvres or striking against vulnerable enemy units. They lack the charge power of lancers and heavier cavalry, so they aren't that good at attacking solid bodies of infantry and cavalry, but can still hold their own for a while.



The Russian Hussars are light cavalry and armed with curved sabres and pistols. They are ideal for reconnaissance, screening, and raiding; in battle they are used to harass enemy skirmishers, overrunning cannon positions, and pursuing fleeing troops. Russian Hussars, as all other hussars, are renown for being brave, dashing, unruly, reckless, hard-drinking adventurers, always charging home with blind fury. The Russian generals sometimes employed them with heavier cavalry for support, making this a deadly combination. Historically Russian Hussars were used to loot and pillage and were also known (and feared) for their poor treatment of local civilians.

Uhlans

Ulhans are light/medium cavalry armed with a lance. This gives them a powerful charge with a good chance of killing their first opponent on impact. After the charge they switch to swords for close combat, but the time to do so makes them slightly vulnerable after the initial charge. Therefor they are best used against weakened or wavering enemies that can be routing by the sheer power of their charge.



Russian Uhlans being light cavalry were mainly intended for service in the outposts, reconnaissance, support of heavy cavalry in action, and pursuit of the enemy. Armed with the lance, their main weapon, which they use with great skill. They are respected for being brave and well disciplined in the charge for they had inherited traditions of Polish Light Cavalry, but are of lesser quality compared to their Polish cousins. Historically the Poles were acknowledged to be the finest lancers in Europe and Russia, Prussia and Austria recruited their uhlan units from among the Polish and Lithuanian subjects. It was followed by an imitative creation of lancer regiments all across Western Europe (France, Germany and even the British got around to it after Napoleonic wars).

Dragoons

Dragoons are a sort of hybrid between light and heavy cavalry. They are capable of performing the tasks of both classes, but not as good as the true versions. They make up a good and affordable all-purpose cavalry arm.



Russian Dragoons are armed with carbines or short musket called the dragon and with pallasches(long straight-sabres), like the heavier cavalry. However, they lack the armour of the heavies, thus they are classified as a medium cavalry. Dragoons are renown for their courage and dash in the charge but lack the shock impact of their heavier brothers, but do great against lesser cavalry. They are also ideal for scouting, raiding, and engaging enemy skirmishers. Historically A Russian Dragoon was traditionally a soldier trained to fight on foot, but transport himself on horseback. The Russian Dragoons were also cheaper to recruit and maintain than the notoriously expensive heavier regiments of horse (The Cuirassiers). Accordingly, this made the Czar employ more Dragoons then any other horse unit in the Russian armies.

Guard Cossacks

Guard Cossacks are a much more reliable and steadfast version of the casual Cossack units. They have a high morale and good defence, combined with a powerful charge.



In 1796 the Don Voisko (host) were incorporated into the Russian Imperial Guards and became the Cossack Guards (or Leib Garde Cossack). Armed with pistols, swords, and an 8-foot long lance with a steel spearhead surmounting a steel ball to secure easy withdrawal of the point. These men are better disciplined and trained unlike the regular Cossack lancers, and are lead by officers who were their Ataman (leaders) and owed them complete loyalty. These men are brave and feared for their lack of mercy. They are also very resourceful as they lived off the land and foraged as they moved. They are tactically used for harassing enemy lines of communications and columns of march, perform fast-unexpected raids, ambushes, and reconnaissance. They were in their element when doing these tasks, but were of little practical value in pitched battles, as their impulsive and disorganised charges had almost no effect when confronted by steady infantry formations. Historically Napoleon once declared, "Cossacks are the best light troops among all that exist. If I had them in my army, I would go through all the world with them." Just like the French light cavalry, the Cossacks were the eyes and ears of the Russian Army who used hit and run tactics against enemy stragglers and supply columns.

Cuirassiers

Cuirassiers are - together with Carabiniers - the only units in the Napoleonic era that still wear body armour. Their heavy cuirasses, combined with their large and strong mounts make them excellent shock cavalry, capable of punching a hole through the enemy line. However, their cuirasses do not protect them from cannon or musket fire, and they are quite a lot slower then light cavalry units.



The Russian cuirassiers are, as in almost all armies, the decisive arm used to break through an enemy utilising the sheer weight of man, horse, and armour; making them the heaviest shock troops. Russian Cuirassiers overall are brave and disciplined men dedicated to their officers and Czar! Each man and horse are big and strong, recruited from other cavalry regiments. The Russian Cuirassiers wore front and back black-enamel cuirasses (plates) and were armed with the straight-blade heavy-cavalry sabre to run down enemies with a thrust instead of the slash. Historically the Czar had two elite cuirassier regiments: the Emperor Cuirassiers and the St. George Cuirassiers who both captured French Eagles and drapeau from the second battalion of 24th French line infantry. Each man also carried a carbine and or a pair of pistols to guard the flanks when advancing to enemy lines.

Chevaliers Guard

These cavalry units are part of the Russian Guard, and are armoured with breastplates. They have a high morale, excellent defence, and make an excellent albeit expensive shock cavalry unit. Few cavalry units can match them on the battlefield.



Russian Chevaliers Guards have the prestige from their position of being the Czars personal bodyguards. Like the heavy cavalry, the guard cavalry are equipped with the cuirasses and straight sabre. The Chevalier Guards are well disciplined and brave men, many of the Guards are veterans and recruited from the biggest and strongest men from other cavalry regiments, making them a formidable force to reckon with. They are the bravest of the brave in the Czars armies and are renowned fighters. Historically this unit was formed in 1796 during the reign of Czar Paul as Kavalergradski Korpus and in March 1800 became Kavalergradski Polk. Czar Alexander liked this regiment and often wore their uniform, for example, during his entry to Paris. The Czar's brother, Constantine (commander of the Imperial Guard) hated the Guard Cavalry since its officers were involved in the plot and killing of his father Czar Paul.

SCREENSHOTS

Cossacks launch a surprise attack



A big heavy cavalry melee



Massive cavalry charge



Advancing against enemy square...



And charging it...



Close combat



Russian Cuirassiers cutting down French skirmishers




Enjoy!

The Lordz

[Master of the Military Arts]

Absolutely fantastic!

[Pewe]

It's like you almost think they had cameras in those days when you see those screenshots ;)

[Lord Zimoa of Flanders]

Here our first trailer covering the cavalry. We have put up three movies that are all the same except for resolution and size.

All movies require Quicktime to watch: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/win.html

-Quicktime movie in 400x225 at 14Mb.

http://forum.thelordz.co.uk/download...0x225_14Mb.mov

-Quicktime movie in560x315 at 28Mb.

http://forum.thelordz.co.uk/download...0x315_28Mb.mov

-Quicktime movie in800x450 at 56Mb.

http://forum.thelordz.co.uk/download...0x450_56Mb.mov


Enjoy!

The Lordz

[Master of the Military Arts]

When you say an August release, what exactly do you mean? Early August, the middle of August, or the end of August?

[Lord Adherbal]

the very end

[Pantsalot]

well then it might be better
to just say september

[Lord Zimoa of Flanders]

Because of a little delay in bringing out the next NTW2 trailer and Preview, I decided to give you all some compensation.
Here some work in progress on British units

British Horse Guards



British 9-Pounder



British Dragoons : The Scots Greys



We are already working on a Waterloo 1815 Campaign that will add the British, Prussian and Dutch-Belgian units to the game. The battles of Ligny, Quatre-Bras, Plancenoit and Waterloo will be represented.
We hope to release this one a few months after the first Borodino pack, that will introduce the French and Russians.

Cheers,

LZoF

[beauchamp]

No Mamluks .
Cool stuff anyways...

[Lord Zimoa of Flanders]

Welcome to our third preview for Napoleonic Total War 2! We're covered Infantry and Cavalry in the two previous preview, so now it is time to discuss the third branch of a Napoleonic-era army: The Artillery. In addition, we've included information about our General or "Command" units.
You still can view the older previews here:

1. Infantry Preview
2. Cavalry Preview

ARTILLERY

"It is with artillery war is made"
-Napoleon

The artillery was one of the most distinguished and celebrated arms in the Napoleonic war theatre. It truly was an intimidating, well-oiled killing organisation. Napoleon was an artillery man before he was an Emperor. He understood the power and effectiveness of cannon and their ability to pulverise defences, reduce fortresses, destroy attacks, pound the enemy lines and crush morale. By massing guns together in great batteries, artillery was capable of causing great havoc by literally carving a path through enemy lines. Guns also greatly influenced troops morale, as shells burst overhead and roundshot smashed its way through the men beside you. It can be said that artillery won many a battle for Napoleon.

French Artillery

The French artillery has always considered among the best. Almost all improvements made in gunnery, during the last three or four centuries, originated with the French. New guns were designed for more rapid movements, on and off the roads. The new Gribeauval system, created by famed French artillery theorist Jean-Baptiste de Gribeauval, stressed mobility, hitting power and accuracy, as well as a standardisation of artillery across the army.
Napoleon expected excellence and competence from his gunners, and he got it. The French artillery became superior to every national artillery arm in Europe. French horse and guard artillery in particular enjoyed a great reputation.
During the Russian campaign the artillery suffered horrible losses in horses and equipment. After 1812 the quality of French artillery, like many other arms of the French military, began to gradually decrease.

Russian Artillery

The Russians were fond of their artillery, convinced that theirs was one of the best in Europe. Indeed, their artillery was efficient, and up-to-date in its equipment, horses and training... and there was a lot of it. They hated losing their artillery so much that personnel leaving their pieces in battle would be executed afterwards!

The main difference between the French and Russian Allies artillery was not in the quality of gunners or guns but in the fact that Napoleon used artillery offensively, while for the Allies the main purpose of artillery was to defend cavalry and infantry. Napoleon's artillery prepared the way for the final blow that would decide the battle. The Russians saturated their battle line with numerous guns, making it difficult to break through. They also kept a strong artillery reserve in case of an emergency.
By 1814 the Russian foot artillery was considered to be one of the best in the field.

ARTILLERY TYPES

Field artillery was divided in two categories: foot artillery and horse artillery. Foot artillery was really expected to walk. In the horse artillery, all crew were mounted and they used lighter guns that were pulled by more horses. Its main function was speed and rapid deployment.
The main guns used on the field of battle are cannons and howitzers. The cannons were longer-barrelled, low-trajectory weapons designed for a direct-fire role. The howitzers were typically shorter-barrelled. They were capable of both high- and low-angle fire, and were most often employed in a close indirect-fire role, firing over obstacles like trees, woods, buildings, villages and hills.
The field artillery during the Napoleonic Wars was distinguished by the weight of the projectile. It included 12-, 8-, 6-, 4-, and 3-pound guns. Each gun, heavy or light, had its advantages and disadvantages.
For example when firing canister, the 12-pounder cannon had almost double the effect compared with a 6-pounder cannon. The 6-pounder can, however, be fired quicker than the 12-pounder with a ratio of approximately 3 to 2. The 12-pounder has less projectiles in its ammunition waggons, and these are heavier than the ones for 6-pounder cannon. To meet the requirements for more projectiles the battery of 12-pounders needs bigger amount of ammunition waggons. The more waggons needed, the more horses and drivers were needed. The more men and horses, the more space they take on road and battlefield, becoming a bigger target for enemy's artillery. The heavier cannon requires more men to limber and unlimber it. The 12-pounder can fire its cannonball further than the lighter 6-pounder cannon and the projectile is heavier, thus causing more damage, especially to walls, buildings, trees.
Due to some modding limitations we could not make all artillery as we wanted. Sadly proper horse artillery and different speeds are not something we could implement yet. But we still found a good mix:

12 Pounder

The 12-pounder is your main heavy long range piece of field artillery. It is capable of firing both roundshot and canister. As your ammunition is not unlimited use it wisely. Its main purpose is to hammer your enemy at the right time and at the right place. Due to its longer range it will be one of the first units that will begin hostilities, so deploy them carefully.



Historically 12-pounders were the most important and heaviest field guns, both feared and cheered. Napoleon nicknamed them "His beloved children."



6 Pounder

The 6-pounder is your lighter field piece. It has a shorter range but a greater rate of fire to compensate. It is capable of firing both roundshot and canister. As your ammunition is not unlimited use it wisely. Use it to decimate oncoming troop formations, or to defend bridges or other strong points. If you can position and move them quickly they can be as deadly as their heavier brothers.



Historically the 6-pounder was a very versatile gun; it was a rapid firing, lighter and easier to move cannon. 6 pound guns were used throughout the Napoleonic Wars by every nation.



Howitzer

Howitzers have a short barrel and are the only field pieces capable of firing explosive shells in an high arc. It is capable of firing both common shell as well as canister. As your ammunition is not unlimited use it wisely. Use it to fire on large and grouped formations, firing over obstacles, or setting structures on fire; indeed, some commanders will use it to just bombard anything they feel needs a bit of destruction!



Historically howitzers were normally attached to cannon batteries and came in a wide variety of calibres. One of the most typical was the Russian unicorn, which was a mix between a cannon and howitzer.



AMMUNITION TYPES

The effects of Napoleonic artillery fire on humans could be terrifying. While modern weapons may or may not tear and rend, artillery roundshot was virtually guaranteed to cause dramatic and gory casualties.
The cannonballs themselves were subsonic, lobbed slowly through the air, loudly whistling as they approached. Even at the end of its effective range, rolling shot would bowl men over and cause widespread injury. If flying shot hit a horse, it was not just a matter of the horse falling over; the ball might strike the saddlebags, scattering the contents in every direction as the horse went spinning, splattering pieces of the animal closely behind the chunks of leather and cloth. At close range, artillery fire would punch holes straight through entire sections of units. During the battle of Waterloo, British artillery fired "double shot" charges (one charge of cannister backed up by a round of shot) at point blank range into advancing French heavy cavalry. In one case, the entire front rank of cavalry was taken down, stopping the assault only because none of the following troops could make their way over the heaving pile of men and horses to their front!
Artillery used a wide variety of ammunition during the Napoleonic Wars (even chemical fire bombs and lightning balls were used) but the primary ammunition types are explained below.

Roundshot

-Roundshot was the standard ammunition. Basically it was a cast iron spherical cannonball. It has a very high velocity resulting in a virtually flat trajectory. When fired a side effect was the "ricochet firing": the cannonball began bouncing over the terrain creating huge damage to anything that lay in its path.



It is especially effective against deep formations, because the cannonball can cut through 5 or more ranks of men, punching through them in a most destructive manner. However, the flat trajectory makes the projectile quite useless on a bumpy battlefield, especially against units stationed behind a hill or slope. If no cover is present, the best way to protect your men against roundshot is to deploy them in 2 ranks, thus minimising the casualties taken from each hit.

Canister

-Canister, or case shot, was a tin cylinder stacked full of smaller balls almost the size of musket balls and covered with an iron lid. The diameter of the balls inside the "can" or "case" could vary in diameter. There was canister designed for shorter range (light case or canister) or longer range (heavy case or canister.) When fired, the effect is that of a giant shotgun blast. Canister is essentially short-range anti-personnel ammunition.



It has a wide area of effect and can cut through several ranks, but it's range is very short compared to roundshot. However, it is extremely deadly from close range against targets incapable of forming loose formation (= all infantry except for lights). Canister makes attacking an enemy position protected by artillery very dangerous. The best way is to try and take out the crew members with light infantry (operating in loose formation), or getting close as soon as possible, to pin down the gun crews. Leaving your men exposed to canister fire for too long will have a profound and, for your men, rather negative effect on the outcome of the battle.

Grapeshot

-Grapeshot was smaller balls or other objects such as nails or pieces of metal packed in ropes or other material. This package of balls tied together with rope looked a lot like a bunch of grapes, that is where the name comes from. When fired it had the same effect as canister, although it had a much smaller range as the objects would spread out immediately after leaving the barrel.



Grapeshot was the predecessor of canister and originated from the Navy, and has basically the same function as canister. It will not be available in the game, as canister does the job better.

Common Shell

-The basic shell was a fused round iron shell filled with gunpowder. The fuses could be adjusted and self ignited inside the barrel when the shell was fired. When fired the shell would explode after a certain amount of time, depending on the setting of the fuse, spreading metal shrapnel over a vast area.



Shells are fired by howitzers. The howitzer launches the projectile in a high arc, unobstructed by hills or buildings. The shell then explodes over the heads of the enemy, showering them with shards of metal. The downside is its low accuracy, meaning it is only effective on a large mass of enemy units. Because of its high arc, the weapon is very effective against dug-in defenders. The only way to protect yourself against this threat is to spread out your forces, even if that means leaving an otherwise great defencive position, or simply prevent the howitzers from getting within range, which can be done with cannons if the terrain offers no protection for the howitzer crews.

Shrapnel

-Shrapnel or spherical case was an invention of the British artillery officer Henry Shrapnel. It was also fused but had a much thinner shell and was filled with balls mixed with gunpowder. It was the only long-range anti-personnel ammunition and a great improvement. When fired it would explode like a shell just above or in front of troops and spray them with musket balls.



Shrapnel was exclusively used by the British and it was truly one of their best kept secrets. It was a very versatile ammunition, able to be fired by cannon or howitzer. Logically, we hope to introduce it as a special feature for British artillery in the next Waterloo expansion.

GENERALS & OFFICERS

Their names are legend; Ney, Bonaparte, Kutuzov, Wellington, Soult. Commanding officers were the dominant personalities in Napoleonic war. A thoughtful strategy, tactical skill, a good knowledge of terrain, careful deployment, sharp movement and capable blending of all arms of the army; a combination of these skills and abilities will eventually lead you to either victory and glory or utter defeat.

French General

French Generals and officers differed in one significant aspect to other nations; they were chosen for their skill and did not merely take rank by right of birth. Napoleon stated: "Every soldier carries a Marshal's baton in his backpack." French Generals came from all ranks of society; the only requirement was that they were up to the job. The common soldier could identify more with him as he often was just one of their own. In general French Generals were of excellent quality. And due to the twenty years of ongoing wars against almost every European nation, most of them were hardened veterans. French officers were fighting officers, often close to the front ranks. The downside to this was that many were wounded or killed in battle. The horrendous loss of capable officers in Russia was a severe blow to the French military in later years.



Russian General

Russian Generals and officers were almost all of noble birth. Most came from the higher echelons of society or had direct ties to the Russian court. Typical of the Russians was the high percentage of foreigners among their commanding officers. They imported many good and capable from all across Europe. The Russian officers had absolute power over their troops and ruled with an iron fist, their authority was never questioned. They simply had to be obeyed. Quality varied from very capable fighting commanders and good administrators to officers really not worthy of any commission at all.



Function in Napoleonic Total War 2
Morale always plays a big role in battle. Officer units will boost the morale of nearby units, and have a "Command" special ability to strengthen morale even more. This ability only works when the officers are not moving and not engaged with the enemy. Here also lies your dilemma; place your officers too close to the front and they risk being killed, but on the other hand they will greatly enhance the fighting spirit of nearby troops. Use them with care and you will have a great advantage.

VIDEOS

All movies require Quicktime to watch: Apple Quicktime

Artillery Trailer



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Low quality

(right click > save target as...)

Cavalry Trailer



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Low quality

(right click > save target as...)

Note: We would have loved to implement all the animations in the game that are seen in the trailers, but so far without the game developers support it was simply out of reach.

Enjoy!

The Lordz

[iberus_generalis]

damn!!! now i want to play this mod!!! LOL

man this is a tottaly new game alltogether....love the cannons!!!!!kaboom

[WImPyTjeH]

this looks very nice ;)

W

[Lord Adherbal]

the next previous will be released on friday, but let me tease you with some random (MP) screenshots in the meantime.

the mod is still sceduled for and end of August release.

opening moves on the "Camden" custom map


bajonet clash


light cannon battery defending the village center


fog and bajonets


big melee in the village center