The Battle of Rivoli 1797 - Posties Rejects demo game at Broadside 2025

Yesterday I posted my photo review of the Broadside Wargames Show, which took place in Gillingham, Kent over the weekend. Posties Rejects were there in force to put on our annual demo game at the show. This year, we presented the Battle of Rivoli, 1797. I say 'we' but in actual fact it was entirely the work of Richard, a fellow member of Postie’s Rejects. He painted all the figures, built the terrain, designed the scenario and acted as umpire for an epic clash that wasn’t just a visual treat but a historically rich and tactically engaging experience for the players and onlookers alike. Check out my short video of the game for a close-up look at the miniatures and all of Richard's hard work. 

The battle he recreated, the Battle of Rivoli, was fought on January 14–15, 1797, during Napoleon Bonaparte’s first Italian campaign in the War of the First Coalition. Near the village of Rivoli Veronese in northern Italy, Napoleon’s Army of Italy faced a significant Austrian force under the command of Feldzeugmeister Jozsef Alvinczi. The Austrians were attempting to break the siege of Mantua, which had been under French pressure for months. Their plan involved a multi-pronged attack through the mountainous terrain north of Verona, with the hope of catching Napoleon’s forces by surprise and forcing them to retreat. However, what followed was one of Napoleon’s most famous early victories.

The French, numbering approximately 22,000 troops, occupied high ground near the Rivoli Plateau. Despite being outnumbered, Napoleon's mastery of terrain, timing, and tactical concentration enabled his smaller force to hold firm and repel around 28,000–30,000 Austrian troops. The Austrians attacked in multiple columns, hoping to converge on the French position, but coordination issues and the rugged terrain made this difficult. Napoleon reacted quickly, reinforcing critical points of the line and using his artillery to great effect. By the second day of the battle, French reinforcements under Generals Joubert and Masséna arrived, overwhelming the fragmented Austrian columns and forcing a general retreat. Austrian casualties numbered over 14,000, while the French lost around 5,000. The victory at Rivoli secured Napoleon’s control of northern Italy and led to the surrender of Mantua shortly afterwards, effectively ending Austria’s hopes of reclaiming the region.

For the demo game, Richard chose to represent the armies and battlefield in 6mm using laser-cut MDF miniatures from Commission Figurines. These figures, painted entirely by Richard himself, allowed for sweeping, realistic unit formations and gave the game an epic scale that larger figures often struggle to capture. The entire battlefield, terrain, and all the models on the table were part of Richard’s personal collection. He not only painted every figure and built the terrain from scratch, but also designed the scenario to reflect the key historical dynamics of the real battle. He also acted as umpire during several test games in the lead-up to Broadside, refining the balance and ensuring historical accuracy, and also ran the game on the day with help from other members of the Rejects.

The rules used for this demo were Volley & Bayonet, a well-established system ideal for large-scale battles like Rivoli. We have played these rules many times and have found them ideal for recreating large Napoleonic battles. The 6mm scale figures were especially effective for conveying the scope of the battle. With large brigades represented by compact but detailed bases, visitors to the show were able to appreciate the overall flow of the battle in a way that just wouldn't have been possible in larger scales. The terrain included rolling ridgelines, the Adige River valley, and the key plateau where the French made their stand. Everything was constructed and painted to a high standard, with Richard’s craftsmanship receiving frequent praise from passers-by. And many attendees commented on how effective 6mm MDF miniatures can be for portraying big battles when painted and based well, as these were. 

The game was a gripping and dynamic experience for those that took part. I spent most of the game circling the table and speaking to visitors ('working' the crowd😆) while several members of the group focused on the ebb and flow of the game.  In the version we played at Broadside, the Austrians once again struggled to coordinate their attacks effectively, though they managed a strong push on one flank before French reinforcements and the uncanny dice rolling skills of Chris dashed their hopes.