Balagan's Marlburian Rules

Actions replace movement and take a bound: roll 1d6, 1-2 nothing happens, 3-6 succeeds; -1 if the unit failed a morale test this bound, and generals' ratings modify it. Actions are: change formation then half move, withdraw from or follow up a melee, charge into contact if in line, or move including a wheel or 180-degree turn.

Actions take one bound and replace movement. Throw 1d6 die for each attempt: 1-2 do nothing; 3-6 action successful. -1 to roll if failed morale test this bound.

Messengers move as horse in column and cannot fight or be shot; in any bound they move they are killed on a 1 on 1d6, after which a replacement may be sent.

Messengers move as horse in column and can’t shot, be shot at or melee; they are killed if a 1 on 1d6 is rolled in any bound they are moving

Each unit or division starts with an order counter: Advance to combat distance, Hold current location, or Retreat from all enemy. Orders change only when a general or messenger arrives, when a general rolls 5-6 plus rating to change his own orders, or randomly (1-2 advance, 3-4 halt, 5-6 retreat) if the general is killed.

These basic orders have to be adhered to and can only be changed in the following circumstances: (i) automatically, when a general or his messenger reach a unit or a brigade

A division of 3-7 units has a general whose rating is added to morale tests and action attempts of units in the division he has joined; the CinC can join any unit. On an unmodified 1 in a morale test of his unit the general dies and a replacement rated -1 (1-3) or 0 (4-6) takes over.

The general is rated as -1 or 0 or +1 and this number is added to all morale tests and attempts at actions for units in the division that they have joined.

A unit in line may attempt to charge into contact as its action (3-6 on d6). Artillery cannot charge. Units charged suffer -1 on morale in the bound after first being charged.

Charge into contact if in line.

Scale is 100 paces per cm. Horse move 2400p in column or 1200p in line; foot 1200p in column, 600p in line; limbered artillery 800p, unlimbered none. Units cannot interpenetrate.

100 paces (p) is 1cm. A free normal move is straight ahead. Bad going slows movement.

Horse and foot may be in single line (elements adjacent), double line (one behind the other with a small gap) or column of march (large gap). Artillery has gun and train elements; limbered has the train in front. Dragoons may dismount and fight as foot in single line. Formation change is an action.

Horse and foot can form into single line (adjacent elements), double line (one behind other, with a small gap), or column of march (one behind other, with a large gap).

Bad going (woods, marsh, buildings, steep slopes, rivers) makes each cm count as 2 or 4 depending on arm and formation: horse in column x4 and impassable in line, foot column x2 and line x4, limbered artillery x4.

For example, x2 means each cm counts as two. Bad going includes woods, marsh, buildings, steep slopes and rivers.

Any unit under fire or in melee totals tactical factors and adds 1d6; below 4 it gains a morale counter. Factors: +1 favourable terrain, +1 only shot by artillery at 200p+; -1 each for column/limbered, unsupported, horse or limbered artillery under fire, first bound after being charged, each element in combat over two, foot/artillery in melee with horse, enemy behind flank or rear, dragoons.

Determine results of both firing and melee by testing morale.

At the end of the bound in which half your units have routed, and each subsequent bound in which another unit routs, roll 1d6: on 1-3 the remaining army routs and the battle is lost.

At the end of the bound in which half your army’s units have routed, and each bound in which another unit routs, roll 1d6: 1-3 lose battle because remaining units rout.

Each failed test places a morale counter. Foot rout and are removed on their 4th failure; horse, dragoons and artillery on their 2nd.

Units rout and are removed when they fail multiple morale tests: Foot 4, Horse (including Dragoons) and Artillery 2.

All resolution uses 1d6 plus tactical factors (morale) or a straight 3+ target (actions); design explicitly restricted to d6 and no bookkeeping.

-Only use d6 -No bookkeeping

A firing unit places fog 50p wider than itself and 50p deep in front; it is removed at the end of the bound after it stops firing. Horse charging entirely through the fog roll 1d6 after moving: 4-6 adds 200p to the move.

If a unit fires, then indicate the “fog of war” in front of it. This is 50 paces wider than the unit and extends out 50 paces.

Foot in line and unlimbered artillery facing an enemy within range (200p foot, 1000p artillery) are assumed to fire, triggering a morale test on the target. Units in melee cannot be shot at; artillery at 200p+ gives the target +1.

Foot in line and unlimbered artillery are assumed to be firing if facing enemy and within range. Range is 200p for foot and 1000p for artillery.

Foot, horse and artillery brigades all comprise two 4cm x 2cm elements; artillery is one gun and one train element. A foot brigade is ~2,000 men, horse ~1,000, artillery ~8 guns.

All troops are organised into units (brigades) of 2 elements (each 4 cm x 2 cm), either Foot, Horse or Artillery.

A unit is supported if foot in double line or if a second unit is within 200p behind; unsupported units suffer -1. Enemies entirely behind flank or rear give -1, as does each element in combat beyond two.

-1 Unsupported (supported units include foot in double line, and any unit with a second unit within 200p behind)

Each army rolls 1d6: on 1-3 all its units start in column or limbered, otherwise deployed freely. Deployment zones are 1000p deep and 4000p wide, 2000p apart.

Each army rolls 1d6: 1-3 all units are in column or limbered; otherwise as you wish.

In its own bound a side first tests morale for its units in combat, then each unit may move or attempt an action. Each bound represents roughly 15 minutes.

Sides alternate bounds, during which: (1) Own units test morale if in combat. (2) Own units may move or try an action. Each bound is approximately 15 minutes.