A new set of rules for the Franco-Prussian War aimed at 6mm figures (and indeed illustrated with Baccus figures and TBM buildings) costing $3 to download from Wargame Vault. These are classed as simple rules in which a base represents a unit, being a batallion, regiment or brigade, a skirmish screen for the unit, cavalry units and artillery batteries or multiples of the same. Officer figures provide moral and combat support so are well worth having at whatever scale the game is set, ie if batallion level then regimental colonels and above, regimental level then brigadiers and above. Shooting and combat is determined using various dice from D4 to D20. Ranges and movement use base widths. Each unit also has a heart value which represents morale and determination, particularly whether a given order is obeyed, or is replaced, eg an advance could be replacede by a charge or by holding or indeed retreating. A comprehensive set of order counters is supplied with the rules as well as base labels for those who like to have the data for each unit immediately in front of them

As with all rules though there are cons, however the author encourages players to experiment and adapt and even come up with ideas for other wars of the period, eg 1866. The labels and unit abilities only really cover the opening imperial phase of the FPW, so no garde mobiles or francs tireurs. There are no French chasseurs labels either, although those for the voltigeurs can be substituted as the chasseurs were superior to the standard line infantry. Other missing troops include Saxony, Baden and Wurttemberg, as well as Bavarian cuirassiers, lancers and horse artillery. The Prussians also have a 12pdr reserve artillery, which can be ignored as the 4pdr and 6pdr were very similar. (The Bavarians and Prussians used brass 12pdrs in 1866, and the Bavarians may still have used a few in 1870).

Despite these reservations at $3 you get a set of rules with some interesting ways of dealing with the particular nature of the FPW. I will now attempt to post a photo of some Baccus Bavarians based up for the game. I use a 40mm wide base 10mm deeper than recommended in the rules so that I can stick the labels to the base rather than under and poking out, which tend to curl. The infantry are based  on 40x40mm as two supporting colums and a forward line for the regimental base, with a unit of dispersed jaeger on a seperate skirmish base out front.

How do they compare with other big battle FPW rules sets? BBB and the various Weigle rules in particular.

Simpler than both Weigle and BBB, but could be used in conjunction with those as there are no scenarios or army lists, other than a suggestion that armies are based  infantry:cavalry:artillery @ 6:1;1.

I think I'll probably stick with BBB then, but at $3 I can probably pick them up to have a look. I'm not keen on all the different dice sizes, I have to admit, though.

I got used to that using Piquet rules, including Field of Battle. I like the approach because it means that well trained and better motivated troops have a higher chance of doing well without the use of a huge number of variables  in list form.