Basing for "Cavalry" Squadrons --

For the purpose of my rules, "Tricorne Wars", I have four types of "cavalry" squadrons.

There are two types of "Heavy Horse" and two types of "Other Horse".

I divide Heavy Horse, the "True" cavalry, into two types -- common and shock -- which I'm calling "Trotters" and "Gallopers".

"Trotters" form the bulk of true cavalry in the 18th century. They may or may not have had armour, but they did use their pistols and they tended to charge more deliberately. The first diagram shows "Trotter" basing.

"Gallopers" generally eschewed the use of pistols and preferred to close with cold steel at a rapid rate. The second diagram shows "Galloper" basing (with a distinct "wedge" formation).

Both of the above "Heavy Horse" are based more tightly (i.e., on a narrower base) than the two types of "Other Horse".

"Dragoons" were originally "mounted infantry"; but by the middle of the 18th century were trained and used in much the same way as "true cavalry". They were, however, generally paid much less and mounted on more inferior horses.

Dragoon basing is illustrated in figure three. Note the wider element base and the central horse slightly behind the flankers.

Finally, the last type of mounted is "Light Horse". Typified by Hussars in their wonderfully colorful uniforms, but also including Cossacks, etc., "Light Horse" genreally operated in more open formations.

Figure #4 shows the basing style for Light Horse. While the base is the same width as that of the Dragoons, it is deeper and the figures are placed more irregularly.

It should be noted that both "Other Horse" types (both Dragoons and Light Horse) were often detailed to duties more in line with "campaigning" than the battlefield.

"Other Horse" provided scouts, screens and foraging . . . tasks considered beneath the more elite "Heavy Horse".

One of the aspects of my "Tricorn Wars" rule set is that all units have a chance of not showing up . . . or of showing up in limited numbers.

Regiments roll to see how many squadrons will show up. "Other Horse" rolls 1d6; but "Heavy Horse" takes the better of 2d6 to see how many squadrons actually make it to the battle (with a 1 meaning none show).

More on my rules over the coming weeks.


-- Jeff