Getting Started in Napoleonic Wargaming Pt2
Getting Started with a Napoleonic Wargaming Army: Choosing Scale, Game Size, and Models
So, you’re thinking about getting into Napoleonic wargaming—great choice! But if you’ve already taken a peek at the sheer number of scales, game types, and model options, you might be feeling a little overwhelmed.
Should you play skirmish battles or grand tactical games? Do you go with 28mm, 15mm, or 6mm? And with 3D printing becoming more accessible, is it better than traditional plastic or metal miniatures?
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to start your Napoleonic wargaming army, from choosing a scale to understanding game sizes and finding the right models.
📏 Choosing Your Scale: 28mm, 15mm, or 6mm?
One of the first things you need to decide is what scale of miniatures you want to use. Each scale affects how your army looks, how much it costs, and how much space you’ll need to play.
🔹 28mm – The Classic Choice for Visual Impact
✔ Best for: Skirmish up to divisional-sized games.
✔ Pros: Highly detailed, looks incredible on the tabletop, widely available.
✔ Cons: Expensive per model, takes longer to paint, requires more storage space.
28mm is the most common scale for historical wargaming, especially for skirmish and battalion-level games. If you love seeing detailed uniforms and want to paint and showcase your miniatures, this is a fantastic option.
That said, if you’re aiming for brigade or grand tactical battles, you’ll need a large table and a lot of miniatures—which can be a challenge in both time and cost.
🔹 15mm – The Best Balance of Detail and Playability
✔ Best for: Battalion- or brigade-level battles.
✔ Pros: Easier to store, more affordable than 28mm, a good balance of detail and mass combat feel.
✔ Cons: Less detail than 28mm, requires more models to represent large armies.
If you want a larger battle experience without needing a massive table, 15mm is the sweet spot. It retains enough detail to keep your units looking good but is much more practical for large-scale engagements.
This scale is especially great for games that focus on brigade or corps-level battles, where you want formations to matter but don’t want the model count to become overwhelming.
🔹 6mm – The True Grand Tactical Experience
✔ Best for: Large-scale battles and grand tactical games.
✔ Pros: Perfect for massed formations, easier to paint quickly, highly affordable.
✔ Cons: Lacks the individual character of larger models, requires a different painting approach.
If you dream of refighting Austerlitz, Leipzig, or Borodino at full scale, 6mm is the way to go. This tiny scale allows for true Napoleonic maneuvering, with entire divisions and corps moving across the battlefield.
While painting 6mm figures requires a different mindset (think impressionist style rather than fine detail), a fully painted army looks stunning when ranked up in proper formations.
🎲 What Type of Game Do You Want to Play?
Your scale choice often depends on what kind of game you want to play. Napoleonic wargaming covers everything from small skirmishes to full-scale battles involving thousands of soldiers.
🏹 Skirmish Games – Small Actions, Big Stories
Examples: Sharp Practice (Too Fat Lardies), Silver Bayonet (Osprey).
✔ Scale Recommendation: 28mm.
✔ Unit Size: Small groups of 10–50 figures per side.
✔ Best For: Narrative-driven games, personal stories, fast-paced play.
If you enjoy quick games with a strong story element, skirmish gaming is a great entry point. These games focus on individual soldiers or small squads rather than full formations, making them ideal for people who don’t want to paint hundreds of figures before playing.
🚩 Battalion- or Brigade-Level Games – The Core Napoleonic Experience
Examples: Black Powder (Warlord Games), General d’Armee (Too Fat Lardies), LaSalle (Sam Mustafa).
✔ Scale Recommendation: 15mm or 28mm.
✔ Unit Size: 100–300 figures per side, representing battalions and brigades.
✔ Best For: Historical recreations, mixed tactics of infantry, cavalry, and artillery.
This is where Napoleonic wargaming really shines—commanding multiple battalions, forming squares, launching cavalry charges, and deploying artillery support.
15mm is a fantastic choice at this level, as it allows for big battles on a reasonably sized table without requiring thousands of models.
🏰 Grand Tactical – Commanding Entire Armies
Examples: Blücher (Sam Mustafa), Napoleon’s Battles, Shako.
✔ Scale Recommendation: 6mm or 15mm.
✔ Unit Size: 500+ figures per side, representing corps or entire armies.
✔ Best For: Large battles, full-scale strategy, multi-player campaigns.
At this level, you’re commanding entire corps and divisions, making broad strategic decisions rather than micromanaging battalion formations. 6mm is the ideal scale for this kind of gaming, as it allows for realistic army movements without overwhelming the tabletop.
🛒 Buying Miniatures: What to Consider
Once you've chosen your scale and game type, it’s time to start collecting. But where should you get your miniatures?
💡 Plastic vs. Metal vs. 3D Printing
✔ Plastic – Affordable, easy to assemble, common in 28mm.
✔ Metal – Durable, great for detailed figures, common in 15mm & 6mm.
✔ 3D Printing – Customizable, growing in popularity, requires extra effort.
💰 Army Size & Costs
🎯 Skirmish: 20-50 models (28mm works well).
🎯 Battalion/Brigade: 150-300 models (15mm is a great balance).
🎯 Grand Tactical: 500+ models (6mm is the best option).
🖨️ The Rise of 3D Printing: Is It Worth It?
3D printing is revolutionizing wargaming, offering endless variety and cost savings over time. But is it better than traditional models?
✅ Pros of 3D Printing
✔ Infinite variety – Print rare or obscure units with ease.
✔ Cost-effective long-term – Once you own a printer, miniatures are cheap.
✔ Customization – Create unique poses and formations.
❌ Cons of 3D Printing
✘ Initial cost and learning curve – Requires an upfront investment and technical skills.
✘ Printing time and failures – A full army takes many hours to print.
✘ Post-processing – Removing supports and curing resin takes extra effort.
For those willing to invest time in learning, 3D printing is an incredible tool. But for beginners, traditional miniatures are still the easiest way to start.
🏆 Final Thoughts: Start Small, Build from There
Starting a Napoleonic army can feel like a massive undertaking, but the key is to take it step by step:
✔ Choose a scale that fits your space, budget, and preferred game level.
✔ Start small – Paint a single unit or play a skirmish game before committing to a full army.
✔ Focus on what excites you – Whether it’s historical accuracy, large battles, or narrative play.
No matter which route you take, building and painting a Napoleonic army is one of the most rewarding experiences in wargaming.
🔥 Which scale and game type do YOU prefer for Napoleonic wargaming? Let’s discuss! 👇Thanks for reading Jon-Paul’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.