NBBB is published!

What better day than the anniversary of Waterloo to announce the publication of the long-awaited and eagerly anticipated "Napoleon's Bloody Big Battles!" scenario book to accompany the "Bloody Big BATTLES!" ruleset! 

"Napoleon's Bloody Big Battles!" is written by Dr Mark Smith (who also wrote the "Bloody Big Battles in INDIA!" scenario book). The 16 scenarios in NBBB cover the biggest battles where Napoleon commanded in person after becoming Emperor:

The Wars of the Third and Fourth Coalitions (1805-1807) – 4-scenario mini-campaign
          Austerlitz                                     
          Jena/Auerstedt                             
          Eylau                                           
          Friedland                                     
The War of the Fifth Coalition (1809) – 3-scenario mini-campaign
          Eckmühl                                      
          Aspern-Essling                             
          Wagram                                       
Napoleon’s Invasion of Russia (1812) – 2-scenario mini-campaign
          Borodino                                      
          Berezina                                      
The War of the Sixth Coalition (1813) – 5-scenario mini-campaign
          Lützen                                         
          Bautzen                                      
          Dresden                                      
          Leipzig                                         
          Hanau                                          
The Final Battles (1814 & 1815) – 2 stand-alone scenarios
          La Rothière                                  
          Waterloo

The hyperlinks above take you to reports of some of these games being played over the five years or so this project has taken to complete. As those reports show and as I can attest, small-scale figures on a regular 6'x4' table can still produce an epic experience and a grand Napoleonic game. In connection with that, let me quote 'Shugyosha' of the 'Wargaming Everything' blog, who has embarked on an ambitious endeavour: 'The Ultimate Napoleonic Wargame Rules Review and Comparison'. He had some very nice things to say about BBB:

"When thinking of the biggest battles of the era, [...] BBB makes it actually possible in a manageable time frame. [...] Among all true army level systems it is probably the best middle ground between playability and period flavor. This might sound like a compromise, but it is not. BBB stands on its own, and for me among the very top.!

NBBB is printed and shipments are en route to BBB's usual loyal retailers right now. I should like to take this opportunity to thank them for their support - between them all, they have bought out the whole first printrun already! I'm sure their confidence will be rewarded.

Happy Napoleonic gaming!

===

Update 8 July 2024: first full review of NBBB is a nice enthusiastic one on the "Wargaming from the Balcony" blog. Manteuffel's verdict: "For BBB enthusiasts with an eye on the Napoleonic period, this is a must buy."