Semi-Official errata for Liberators QPR

The Liberators 1810-1830 Yahoo Discussion Forum included Errata for Liberators QPR in the files section. With the demise of Yahoo forums these have disappeared. Since I refer to them in my Clarifications of Liberators QPR, and John Smith asked about them on the Liberators Facebook page, I’ve reconstructed the errata here based on the handwritten edits to my copy of the rules.


The Liberators Quick Play Rules (QPR)

John Fletcher published his Quick Play Rules in “Liberators! Supplement 1: The War in the South” (Fletcher, 2006).

The book lacks page numbers, so I wrote them in by hand. Page 1, in my scheme, is the page with the “Acknowledgements”.


Game Scale (p. 2)

p. 2. Add to the end of the paragraph: “Each turn is 15 minutes.”


Movement and Formation (p. 2-3)

p. 3. In the paragraph starting “Infantry units in line and skirmish may back step at half the movement rate.”

  • Delete “and skirmishers” from “Infantry units in line and skirmish may back step at half the movement rate.”
  • Add “Skirmishers may move full speed in any direction.” to the end of the paragraph.

The net effect is …

Infantry units in line may back step at half the movement rate. Units that back step must take a disorder check at the end of the movement. Skirmishers may move full speed in any direction.


Charging (p. 4)

p. 4. In the sentence “Infantry and cavalry units may charge.”

  • Add “in good order” after “units”.

The net effect is …

Infantry and cavalry units in good order may charge.

p. 4. In the sentence “A charging cavalry unit automatically eliminates any skirmish stand in its charge movement upon contact.”

  • Add “then continues its move. It does not take morale check for eliminating enemy stands” after “contact”.

The net effect is …

A charging cavalry unit automatically eliminates any skirmish stand in its charge movement upon contact then continues its move. It does not take morale check for eliminating enemy stands.

p. 4. In the paragraph, “The stands in a charging unit receive a +1 bonus to their melee roll.”

  • Add to the end of the paragraph: “Charging units disordered by fire lose their +1 charging bonus.”

The net effect is …

The stands in a charging unit receive a +1 bonus to their melee roll. Charging units disordered by fire lose their +1 charging bonus.

p.4. Regarding the paragraph starting “If a charging cavalry stand eliminates the opposing stand …”

  • I didn’t copy out the erata exactly, I just added a note next to the paragraph:

Morale check:
Pass: Charge again with +1.
Fail – Disordered only.


Quick Reference sheet (p. 7)

p. 7. Fire Combat Modifiers

  • Add a modifier:

Target moved into melee contact on firing unit    +1

Turn Sequence

  • I’m not sure this was an official errata, but I added the turn sequence to this page:

Turn Sequence

  1. Initiative
  2. Rally
  3. Movement
  4. Artillery Fire
  5. Musket Fire
  6. Melee

References

Fletcher, J. (2006). Liberators! Supplement 1: The War in the South. Grenadier Productions.

4 thoughts on “Semi-Official errata for Liberators QPR”

  1. Hi Steven! As always I find it fascinating that you’re so interested in the South American wars of liberation, and in our national hero San Martín 🙂 Your musings on wargaming this period are very interesting.

    I don’t know if you’re aware of the new ruleset by Little Wars TV, actually for the American War of Independence (a subject I have zero interest in) but I wonder if it could be adapted to other periods, “Live Free or Die”. I don’t own it but have watched their “Brandywine” battle report on YouTube and their explanation of the basics, and it seems to tick many of the same boxes that Crossfire does: simple and fast-play rules with enough abstraction to make them fun, not needless details, no casualty removal, focus on leaders and morale, etc.

    Reply
    • Andres

      1. I really admire San Martin. A capable military commander who put the goal – continental freedom – above his person benefit. For me that makes him stand out from the crowd.

      2. The South American wars of Liberation are a Spanish War and that is, after all, my main interest. And South America gives a credible counter to the continental wars of the time where everybody insults Spanish arms.

      3. And they have good uniforms. 😉

      4. I’ve purchased Live Free or Die. $13 for a 4 page set of rules; $3.25 per page! I’m buying them on your commendation, so they better be good!

      Reply
      • Great, let me know what you think after you’ve read them!

        My interest has been piqued about the Liberators! book — I understand it’s more of a general overview of the wars of liberation, aimed at wargamers but without an actual ruleset (except for the QPR in the PDF I guess). However, it seems to be only available from Grenadier Productions and the price is high, almost $40 with shipping included! Do you know if it’s available cheaper from another seller?

        Reply
        • John Fletcher’s first book is a marvel. Actually they are all marvels but let’s start with the first one.

          Fletcher, J. (2005). Liberators! Volume 1: The War in the South.

          This is a wargamer’s guide to the War in the South. It includes a brief history, general painting guide with some amazing illustrations, then scenarios including specific painting guides for the units present. The latter is important because uniforms for the same unit changed during the war.

          From my perspective the book is a thing of wonder. I wanted to get into the Liberators period for years and then, at a Wargaming show in the UK, I found this book. It saved me a decade of research and kick started my project. I’ve very grateful to John for putting it together.

          The second book is more of the same, but includes the Quick Play Rules (QPR), which is the topic of the post. I find the first two books a great set.

          The third book ventures into the War in the North. He focuses on the British involvement. I’m looking forward to a more general War in the North book.

          And John is a very nice guy. I’ve met him a couple of times now at shows in the UK. He is passionate about the South American Wars of Liberation.

          I’m checking where the books can be sourced.

          Reply

Leave a Reply