Backporting Neil Thomas 19th century rules to the Napoleonic era

 

 I like the rules in the book Wargaming: Nineteenth Century Europe 1815-1878 so much that I'm thinking of backporting them some years earlier to use them also in the Napoleonic period. However, I would like to do it with the minimum fuss and changes that break the elegance of the original. So far I'm considering two key areas:

 

1 Cavalry is not to be so much dissuaded from charging.

2 Close-order infantry in column formation needs an extra oomph when defending against Cavalry. Often it was trivial to turn the column into what was effectively a square.

 

These are the two rule changes I have in mind at the moment for each area. Thoughts welcomed. 

 

1. Infantry charged by Cavalry or Dragoons needs to pass a morale test for the sole purpose of using defensive fire (no base loss). If they fail, the only consequence is that there's no defensive fire, and therefore no morale test for the Cavalry for being shot at. This simulates the sheer terror and confusion of being charged by Cavalry in the Napoleonic era.

 

2. Close-order infantry in column formation that lose a hand-to-hand combat against Cavalry or Dragoons, need to pass only one morale test, not two. If they pass their test, it is the opposing cavalry that must retreat,  not the infantry (regardless that the cavalry won the combat). If the infantry fails the test, normal base rules apply. This makes clear that column is the formation to be when Cavalry is around and dispenses with the need for elaborate square rules.