Is he fortunate?

To my mind, any form of activation or similar rule is about the intermediate commanders in an army and how they interpret their orders and respond to enemy actions . The brigadiers in the size of games I usually play. Since the days when I played WRG 1685-1845, my rules have usually contained Bold, Rash, Cautious and some times Indecisive brigadiers and some form of control check. The simpler the rules got, the less convincing I found the personality affects so I hauled them out with the though of re-introducing them as an Optional rules. The problem of how to do so without having a completely different system has kept me from doing so. 

When I started looking at dropping any sort of order/control check, it occurred to me that this was the ideal time to write up the optional commander and command rules. So, I did. 

As long as the hood was open and I was tinkering with the Brigadier rules to harmonize with the loss of the orders test, I had another look at the morale rules.  On the whole I was happy with how they worked but I still wasn't quite happy with the practical side of multiple disorders and shaken brigades and the results of the rally test were a bit too predictable.  I have simplified them by having 2 disorders cause a temporary shaken status while making shaken a -2 die modifier instead of multiple  disorders being -1 each Thus also eliminates the need to check each shaken unit each turn to see if it needs another disorder which it will probably rally off, only to have it replaced (yawn).

Here's the Non Player Commander rules which I should test at some point but don't really intend to use myself. The complete updated rules are on line. Thanks to the new Google Drive, any future fiddling will be immediately uploaded unless I take steps to avoid it. I'll try to keep the link date updated once I have finished any fiddling.

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1.      Non Player Commanders.  This is an additional rule. In all but the smallest of armies, a general depends on his subordinates for the execution of his plans.  Some subordinates are dependable, they understand the General’s orders when issued and comply even if they disagree and are often able to correctly interpret what he would have wished them to do if a situation arises that requires them to act without orders. Other subordinates are more difficult. Perhaps they may be too timid or too head strong to obey orders that they don’t agree with, may be unable to understand or may just be incompetent at carrying out their job. The best way to represent this is to have a player for each subordinate but that is not often possible. An active GM can be a good substitute but sometimes the best we can do is a die roll on a chart even though no simple chart will ever give us a realistic interpretation of the range of human failings. It is even less possible of representing a subordinate who is capable of brilliant performance and an imagination and daring beyond that of the wargamer.  If using a mix of Player and Non-player Commanders, player commanders always have their own competency and character and may decide for themselves how to handle their troops but may roll for courage if they wish a chance to be something other than average.

a.      Establishing Non-Player Characters. If using these rules, all Commanders must be named and their place in an army should be fixed including precedence. Their performance should be tracked from game to game and personalities and capabilities maintained or adjusted if they seem to develop their own tendencies. Unless playing a full fledged campaign with rules for replacing commanders, roll up a new personality and precedence when a wounded commander is replaced. Each commander is given a rating in each of three attributes: Competency, Character and Courage. Roll once for each attribute using 1 d6 unless the GM has rated historic commanders. Any combination is possible.

For example a Brigadier might be Dependable, Rash and Timid. He will normally obey orders but if left to himself might send his troops into rash charges while hiding in the back where it is safe.

ESTABLISHING A COMMANDER’S PERSONALITY
Die Roll Roll once for each attribute	COMPETANCY	CHARACTER	COURAGE
6	Dependable	Rash	Heroic
3,4,5	Average	Average	Average
1,2	Unreliable	Cautious	Timid

b.      Courage.  This attribute does not affect orders, it deals with how inspiring a leader is and how much he is willing to risk himself.

COURAGE
Heroic	Adds +2 when Rallying and hits on 3+ in melee but is wounded on 1 or 2.
Average	As per the rules
Timid	Does not provide a melee bonus.

c.      If using Mission Orders. The best way to incorporate Commander non-player characters is to issue written Mission or Game orders telling the commander what his mission is. These should be written in plain language. For example: Hold the cross road. Attack the Central Hill. Move around the West Wood and attack the Bridge. Orders maybe issued directly by the General to a Brigadier if their figure’s bases are touching and in this case the  Brigadier will Obey. They may also be carried by an Aide de Camp (ADC) who begins in contact with the general and moves 1d6 feet per turn. A player may send as many orders as he has ADC’s but an ADC must return before a new order can be sent. Once the order has arrived, the next time that a Brigadier is activated, roll on the Obedience chart.  If he gets Obey Orders the player can move units as he feels best to accomplish the mission. If he gets “Use Initiative”, use the Initiative table to guide his actions. Some role playing will be required to get the most out of the system. If the player does not like the result, he may repeat the order or send a new one. If the situation changes drastically, a new roll should be made, for example if an enemy flank march arrives within 12” of the brigade. If no GM is available, go by consensus and common sense.

COMPETENCE	OBEDIENCE (Roll 2d6)
Dependable	2-3	Use initiative	4-12	Obey orders
Average	2-4	Use initiative	5-12	Obey orders
Unreliable	2-6	Use initiative	7-12	Obey orders

CHARACTER	INITIATIVE
Rash	Must join a charge if any are ordered. Any line infantry or cavalry units which are in charge reach of enemy and are not in cover or defending an obstacle will be ordered to charge.  No units may retreat.
Average	Will not order charges unless the enemy is disordered, shaken or presenting a flank. If ordered to retreat, will do so at 1/2 speed, facing the enemy.
Cautious	May not join a unit in melee. Will not order charges. Must arrange his Brigade  with no gaps between units in the front line but with a reserve and facing all threats. All troops to be deployed.

d.      If not using Mission orders. If not using game or mission orders, roll for each Brigadier each turn when activated unless the General is within 12”.  A result of “Obey orders” allows the player to order units as he thinks best. A result of “use initiative” should be used as a guideline. Some role playing will be required to get the most out of the system.