voitek
26-03-2010, 17:51
The Imperial Guard Pack features 6 brand new units and contain an alternative version of the Battle of Waterloo, fought from the British perspective.
The Battle of Waterloo (18 June, 1815) Alternative version
Napoleon had the feeling he had won the war as he advanced towards the Anglo-Dutch army at Waterloo. The Prussians were retreating, pursued by a French corps, and only Wellington remained. French armies would be victorious once again, and the Empire would be reborn in fire. But the history book on the shelf would not be repeating itself…
* This alternative version includes: Britain as the playable faction.
* Two of the new unit from the Imperial Guard Pack are included in the battle
* The French have more troops meaning that the battle is balanced differently.
http://storefront.steampowered.com/v/gfx/apps/34177/extras/Polish_guard_lancers.jpg
Polish Guard Lancers are fearsome and lightning fast at the charge.
Trained to ride hard into battle with their lances couched, these superb horsemen are ideal shock troops. Their steeds are fast and carry them to key points on the battlefield in what seems like a heartbeat. The morale of these brave men is unrivaled, but should they become caught in a prolonged melee their weakness in close combat will become apparent. Employed against elite infantry formed in square their charge and lance skills will be largely wasted.
The Polish Guard were originally raised from among a party of exiled Polish noblemen who accompanied Napoleon into Warsaw in 1807. He was so impressed with the loyalty of these men that he insisted the new regiment be attached to his own Imperial Guard. From that moment on candidates for the regiment had to be Polish landowners between the ages of 18 and 40; they were expected to provide their own horses and equipment. It wasn't until after the Battle of Wagram in 1809 that these men were issued with the lance as standard equipment. When Napoleon was forced exiled on Elba in 1814, 150 loyalists of the Polish Guard Lancers followed their Emperor to prison.
http://storefront.steampowered.com/v/gfx/apps/34177/extras/Dutch_guard_lancers.jpg
Proud horsemen, Dutch Guard Lancers are fast moving and powerful when charging.
Trained to ride hard into battle with their lances down, these superb horsemen are another feared shock troops: the moment of impact is the moment of truth for their attack. They either break enemies, or should withdraw to charge again. Their steeds are fast moving and carry them to key points on the battlefield very quickly. Their morale is superb, but they are not suitably equipped for prolonged melee. A lancer is at a disadvantage in a close-in fight. Used against elite infantry in square their skills and lances will, of course, count for very little.
Originally formed as a hussar regiment, these men were transformed into lancers by a decree issued on the 23rd September 1810. Their first challenge was to learn how to handle the apparently unwieldy, but deadly lance. Several officers were sent to the Polish Lancers’ Chantilly barracks where they were drilled in the much-needed skills of the lance. These men then passed their new found wisdom to the rest of their regiment in Versailles. The reorganisation of the new Guard Lancers resulted in a number of uniform changes that proved extremely costly. The Minister of War had to ask Napoleon himself to provide them with more money to pay for new uniforms for the men!
http://storefront.steampowered.com/v/gfx/apps/34177/extras/Guard_chasseurs_a_cheval.jpg
The Guard Chasseurs à Cheval are fine horsemen, skilled in melee combat and harassing the enemy.
These light cavalrymen carry swords and carbines, but they are not expected to charge home, instead they are a superb force to disrupt enemy plans and pursue the routing foes. They are, for example, incredibly effective against skirmishers and artillery. Their horses have good endurance and are fast: a cavalryman without his horse is, after all, fairly useless. They are vulnerable when facing heavier cavalry and well-trained infantry in square, but they can fire their carbines when mounted.
The Guard Chasseurs à Cheval, Napoleon’s closest guards, had their origins on the battlefields of northern Italy and the “Guides” that Napoleon raised there. When the regiment was officially constituted in 1800 it had four officers and 113 men, all chosen from among the Guides and other veterans of the Italian campaign. Napoleon’s respect for his regiment was obvious and he was often seen wearing the green undress uniform of the chasseurs. These men followed Napoleon from Arcola to Waterloo, and remained loyal to him even in his exile. Few Chasseurs consented to serve under the restored Bourbons when the Emperor finally abdicated.
http://storefront.steampowered.com/v/gfx/apps/34177/extras/Dutch_grenadiers.jpg
An elite and disciplined force, Dutch Grenadiers are skilled with muskets and with bayonets in close combat.
Dutch Grenadiers see themselves as elite soldiers and occupy the place of honour at the right of the line on parade. This sense of inherent worth helps to inspire other soldiers and instills a sense of pride in the troops. They are incredibly disciplined and can reload their weapons at breathtaking speed, discharging them with relatively good accuracy. Their extensive training makes them more expensive to raise than other infantry units but, like all foot soldiers, they must exercise sensible caution when facing heavy cavalry and skirmishers.
The Dutch Grenadiers became part of Napoleon’s army following his 1810 annexation of Holland. At that time they were the Dutch Royal Grenadiers, and the men of this regiment entered Paris in August of 1810. Napoleon reviewed the troops personally and was very impressed by the fine appearance of the men. They wore white coats faced with crimson, instead of the traditional dark blue worn by other senior regiments (later other units wore white, but this was because the British blockade affected dye supplies). The Guard Grenadiers were not as impressed however, and the first meeting of these two regiments ended in a near-riot. Their behaviour was so appalling that they were forced to apologise to the general public for their rowdy and drunken antics.
http://storefront.steampowered.com/v/gfx/apps/34177/extras/Guard_seamen.jpg
Disciplined and ready for anything, the Guard Seamen are an elite unit in every sense of the word.
The ranks of the Guard Seamen are filled with the best soldiers the French army has to offer. Chosen for their imposing height, good conduct and loyalty, these men have excellent morale and a positive effect on the morale of nearby friendly units. Their discipline is exemplary; their reload times and the accuracy of their musketry are the envy of many. They do have some weaknesses: their extensive training and experience makes them more expensive than most foot troops, and they perform poorly against artillery and skirmishers that stay beyond their musket fire.
Historically, the Seamen of the Guard were formed as a result of a decree by Napoleon. They were originally intended for action as part of the planned invasion of Britain, but when these plans were put aside they took a place in the Imperial Guard. In a few short years these men had developed a wide variety of skills that made them indispensable to the Emperor. He commented that "When occasion required they proved equally valuable whether as sailors, soldiers, artillerymen or engineers; there was no duty they could not undertake."
http://storefront.steampowered.com/v/gfx/apps/34177/extras/Empress_dragoons.jpg
The Empress Dragoons are an elite unit within the elite Imperial Guard, an exceptionally effective heavy cavalry force.
Their charge is almost irresistible, and they can fight effectively in melee with their heavy cavalry swords, but they should not be thrown away against infantry squares. Even against other cavalry, they can give a very good account of themselves. They are, however, relatively slow moving and should not be used to pursue fleeing foes. The Empress Dragoons can fight on foot, if needed, using their carbines, but they are not particularly effective as an infantry unit.
Under Napoleon the Imperial Guard gradually became an almost separate army; it had infantry, artillery, and cavalry components, and even its own elite units within the already-elite Guard. By any standards, the Empress Dragoons, named to honour Josàphine de Beauharnais, were an elite force. All the officers were appointed personally by Napoleon, and the rankers had to have served at least 10 years in the saddle before they were allowed to join. Every chasseur and dragoon regiment of the line in the French army had its best non-commissioned officers taken. While this undoubtedly made sure the Empress Dragoons was composed of the best of the best, it almost certainly damaged the rest of the army by removing those same veterans from their original units.
The Battle of Waterloo (18 June, 1815) Alternative version
Napoleon had the feeling he had won the war as he advanced towards the Anglo-Dutch army at Waterloo. The Prussians were retreating, pursued by a French corps, and only Wellington remained. French armies would be victorious once again, and the Empire would be reborn in fire. But the history book on the shelf would not be repeating itself…
* This alternative version includes: Britain as the playable faction.
* Two of the new unit from the Imperial Guard Pack are included in the battle
* The French have more troops meaning that the battle is balanced differently.
http://storefront.steampowered.com/v/gfx/apps/34177/extras/Polish_guard_lancers.jpg
Polish Guard Lancers are fearsome and lightning fast at the charge.
Trained to ride hard into battle with their lances couched, these superb horsemen are ideal shock troops. Their steeds are fast and carry them to key points on the battlefield in what seems like a heartbeat. The morale of these brave men is unrivaled, but should they become caught in a prolonged melee their weakness in close combat will become apparent. Employed against elite infantry formed in square their charge and lance skills will be largely wasted.
The Polish Guard were originally raised from among a party of exiled Polish noblemen who accompanied Napoleon into Warsaw in 1807. He was so impressed with the loyalty of these men that he insisted the new regiment be attached to his own Imperial Guard. From that moment on candidates for the regiment had to be Polish landowners between the ages of 18 and 40; they were expected to provide their own horses and equipment. It wasn't until after the Battle of Wagram in 1809 that these men were issued with the lance as standard equipment. When Napoleon was forced exiled on Elba in 1814, 150 loyalists of the Polish Guard Lancers followed their Emperor to prison.
http://storefront.steampowered.com/v/gfx/apps/34177/extras/Dutch_guard_lancers.jpg
Proud horsemen, Dutch Guard Lancers are fast moving and powerful when charging.
Trained to ride hard into battle with their lances down, these superb horsemen are another feared shock troops: the moment of impact is the moment of truth for their attack. They either break enemies, or should withdraw to charge again. Their steeds are fast moving and carry them to key points on the battlefield very quickly. Their morale is superb, but they are not suitably equipped for prolonged melee. A lancer is at a disadvantage in a close-in fight. Used against elite infantry in square their skills and lances will, of course, count for very little.
Originally formed as a hussar regiment, these men were transformed into lancers by a decree issued on the 23rd September 1810. Their first challenge was to learn how to handle the apparently unwieldy, but deadly lance. Several officers were sent to the Polish Lancers’ Chantilly barracks where they were drilled in the much-needed skills of the lance. These men then passed their new found wisdom to the rest of their regiment in Versailles. The reorganisation of the new Guard Lancers resulted in a number of uniform changes that proved extremely costly. The Minister of War had to ask Napoleon himself to provide them with more money to pay for new uniforms for the men!
http://storefront.steampowered.com/v/gfx/apps/34177/extras/Guard_chasseurs_a_cheval.jpg
The Guard Chasseurs à Cheval are fine horsemen, skilled in melee combat and harassing the enemy.
These light cavalrymen carry swords and carbines, but they are not expected to charge home, instead they are a superb force to disrupt enemy plans and pursue the routing foes. They are, for example, incredibly effective against skirmishers and artillery. Their horses have good endurance and are fast: a cavalryman without his horse is, after all, fairly useless. They are vulnerable when facing heavier cavalry and well-trained infantry in square, but they can fire their carbines when mounted.
The Guard Chasseurs à Cheval, Napoleon’s closest guards, had their origins on the battlefields of northern Italy and the “Guides” that Napoleon raised there. When the regiment was officially constituted in 1800 it had four officers and 113 men, all chosen from among the Guides and other veterans of the Italian campaign. Napoleon’s respect for his regiment was obvious and he was often seen wearing the green undress uniform of the chasseurs. These men followed Napoleon from Arcola to Waterloo, and remained loyal to him even in his exile. Few Chasseurs consented to serve under the restored Bourbons when the Emperor finally abdicated.
http://storefront.steampowered.com/v/gfx/apps/34177/extras/Dutch_grenadiers.jpg
An elite and disciplined force, Dutch Grenadiers are skilled with muskets and with bayonets in close combat.
Dutch Grenadiers see themselves as elite soldiers and occupy the place of honour at the right of the line on parade. This sense of inherent worth helps to inspire other soldiers and instills a sense of pride in the troops. They are incredibly disciplined and can reload their weapons at breathtaking speed, discharging them with relatively good accuracy. Their extensive training makes them more expensive to raise than other infantry units but, like all foot soldiers, they must exercise sensible caution when facing heavy cavalry and skirmishers.
The Dutch Grenadiers became part of Napoleon’s army following his 1810 annexation of Holland. At that time they were the Dutch Royal Grenadiers, and the men of this regiment entered Paris in August of 1810. Napoleon reviewed the troops personally and was very impressed by the fine appearance of the men. They wore white coats faced with crimson, instead of the traditional dark blue worn by other senior regiments (later other units wore white, but this was because the British blockade affected dye supplies). The Guard Grenadiers were not as impressed however, and the first meeting of these two regiments ended in a near-riot. Their behaviour was so appalling that they were forced to apologise to the general public for their rowdy and drunken antics.
http://storefront.steampowered.com/v/gfx/apps/34177/extras/Guard_seamen.jpg
Disciplined and ready for anything, the Guard Seamen are an elite unit in every sense of the word.
The ranks of the Guard Seamen are filled with the best soldiers the French army has to offer. Chosen for their imposing height, good conduct and loyalty, these men have excellent morale and a positive effect on the morale of nearby friendly units. Their discipline is exemplary; their reload times and the accuracy of their musketry are the envy of many. They do have some weaknesses: their extensive training and experience makes them more expensive than most foot troops, and they perform poorly against artillery and skirmishers that stay beyond their musket fire.
Historically, the Seamen of the Guard were formed as a result of a decree by Napoleon. They were originally intended for action as part of the planned invasion of Britain, but when these plans were put aside they took a place in the Imperial Guard. In a few short years these men had developed a wide variety of skills that made them indispensable to the Emperor. He commented that "When occasion required they proved equally valuable whether as sailors, soldiers, artillerymen or engineers; there was no duty they could not undertake."
http://storefront.steampowered.com/v/gfx/apps/34177/extras/Empress_dragoons.jpg
The Empress Dragoons are an elite unit within the elite Imperial Guard, an exceptionally effective heavy cavalry force.
Their charge is almost irresistible, and they can fight effectively in melee with their heavy cavalry swords, but they should not be thrown away against infantry squares. Even against other cavalry, they can give a very good account of themselves. They are, however, relatively slow moving and should not be used to pursue fleeing foes. The Empress Dragoons can fight on foot, if needed, using their carbines, but they are not particularly effective as an infantry unit.
Under Napoleon the Imperial Guard gradually became an almost separate army; it had infantry, artillery, and cavalry components, and even its own elite units within the already-elite Guard. By any standards, the Empress Dragoons, named to honour Josàphine de Beauharnais, were an elite force. All the officers were appointed personally by Napoleon, and the rankers had to have served at least 10 years in the saddle before they were allowed to join. Every chasseur and dragoon regiment of the line in the French army had its best non-commissioned officers taken. While this undoubtedly made sure the Empress Dragoons was composed of the best of the best, it almost certainly damaged the rest of the army by removing those same veterans from their original units.