Erik Rutins
Posts: 37503
Joined: 3/28/2000 From: Vermont, USA Status: offline
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Well, I consider myself a grognard, but I also find CNAW to be fun. I don't fire up CNAW for hard-core Napoleonic Wars simulation, that's for Crown of Glory: Emperor's Edition and Empires in Arms (and some Napoleon in Italy). However, for fun light wargaming, it's got everything IMHO that CEAW had. Here's how I visualize it and it definitely requires some abstraction or perhaps suspension of disbelief: the system as adapted to the Napoleonic period in effect turns part of the strategic map into a grand-tactical battlefield once armies meet. Without having to go to a new "detailed combat" mode or something like that, the basic interactions between the different arms (infantry, cavalry and artillery) in this era are represented. Because of the low unit density, you don't generally have "front lines" across the map like you did in CEAW, so you can imagine that the portion of the map where the battle is happening is now in effect a different scale, a smaller battlefield rather than a 400-500km stretch of the map. The terrain still applies, the armies maneuver their components, etc. I realize this kind of abstraction isn't for everyone, but for me it's workable and I think CNAW is a much less intimidating intro to Napoleonic wargaming for non-waragmers than the other games in our catalog. I agree with Iain and Johan that there's been a need for more introductory wargames and the Commander series fills this need well. Regards, - Erik
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