Disclaimer
I acknowledge that I am an admirer of Bonaparte at Marengo (BaM), the first release from Simmons Games, and served as a playtester for Napoleon's Triumph (NT). I've received a free copy in compensation, but those who know me will be aware that a free game wouldn't induce me to write a favorable review if I felt it was undeserved. Still, most readers won't know me, so best to be forthright at the outset and let them reach their own conclusions.
Acknowledgement
The following opinions are my own, so I use 'I', throughout, but in some sense 'we' would be more appropriate because this review would not have been possible without the efforts of <PERSON> and <PERSON>, who were my partners in a blind playtest group for NT. Both are fine gamers, but more importantly fine people and good friends.
Big BaM Theory
I initially hoped to write this review with minimal reference to BaM, but found that difficult in practice. On further reflection, I decided that anyone with enough interest to read this review will want to know how the two games differ, regardless of whether or not they are already familiar with BaM. Whether that is a valid conclusion, or merely rationalization, I've written this as a comparative review.
A brief glance at the maps and units might give the impression that NT is simply the BaM system with a couple of new bells and whistles added. Closer inspection leads to a different conclusion. Yes, there is a fundamental design scheme underlying both, but the way that the system has been re-designed to suit the purposes of NT makes for a very different game. Some of the changes are obvious, but others are quite subtle. If you are a veteran BaM player, I strongly suggest that you read all the rules to NT carefully before diving into your first game. Don't make the mistake of skimming the parts you think you know!
Components
BaM, which has wooden pieces, a mounted map and two sets of rules, was widely praised for its high production values. NT actually raises the bar. It has two mounted maps which fold in the European style, so that there are no creases on the front playing surface. 993
The painted wooden army units are essentially the same as in BaM, but more diverse as new types have been introduced. NT also adds metal corps commander pieces, colorful decals to place on them, and uses wood instead of plastic for off-map markers. BaM rules were black and white; the NT rules are printed in color.
Size and Scope
Austerlitz (the subject of Napoleon's Triumph) was a much larger battle than Marengo, so it comes as no surprise that NT is a larger game than BaM. The playing surface is roughly twice as large, and there are approximately twice as many units.
BaM is a 2 player game with a single scenario. That scenario provides a great deal of depth and variability - I've played 40 times without losing interest. BaM also has viable solitaire rules (see SimmonsGames website).
NT supports either 2 people or 2 teams, with 1 to 4 players per side, and has both a single day scenario (2 December) and a two day scenario (beginning on 1 December). Together with fog of war features equivalent to those in BaM, and more diverse victory conditions, NT has possibilities that will take a very long time to fully explore.
Playing Time
You might reasonably conclude that with twice the map and twice the units, the single day scenario in NT would take twice as long to play as BaM. That is not the case.
Both games are played in hourly turns. Marengo was a summer battle, and the players have 16 turns per day, while Austerlitz was a winter battle, with less daylight, and there are only 10 turns per day.
Setup is automatic in BaM, so it starts very quickly. NT requires more setup time, because both sides have deployment decisions to make (corps begin in specified locations, but what units to attach to what corps requires thought).
My experience is that when played to conclusion, BaM can take up to 2 hours, and NT 2 December can take up to 3 hours. Either game can end more quickly.
I've only played the NT 1 December scenario once, but I think it will only add 60-90 minutes to the total playing time. The setup time is a bit less, as only 2 Allied corps start on the board, and the early turns go quickly as units are entering and deploying. I suggest that new players would be well served to stick with 2 December until they have a good grasp of the implications of the standard setup locations.
Victory Conditions
In both games, combat losses are tallied on a morale track, and pushing the opponent's morale track marker to zero results in demoralization and a major victory. 100