Paulus' comments elsewhere about Russian Guards being too good.
I've heard the that said about all Russian armies from the start of LaSalle (and then the same said about the Austrians, French and now Spanish)
Let's look at a couple of things.
Granted, Russian artillery with its 5 x gun batteries are able to take out a marching column with a single battery. I know, i've done it. Once. But artillery is relatively easy to deal with once you're up close and personal. Also, the way you can move and unlimber makes counter-battery fire very likely to limber up the other.
Russian Generals (the system not the players, obviously) are quite often poor, as they should be. This shouldn't be underestimated particularly when taking on the French with their Superior Commanders.
All Russian armies in the Empire onwards have the standard 6 Infantry Battalions when defending. Infantry & Grenadier Divisions don't have access to Organic Cavalry.
Guards have access to Organic Cuirass and also Guards Cavalry. Indeed, they are a handful, particularly when Defending (and have the Objective already) and the modified Send in the Guards Rule [from the Tips download] is adopted. However, they still have to break the enemy army. If not, the opponent wins by default.
So, are Guards nasty and better than an Infantry Division? Damn right they are as well they should be although there are Pros and Cons too and Guards aren't a no-brainer to my mind.
I take Grendiers as i have the Pavlovs. I win my fair share but have also been on the receiving end of some maulings. Its difficult to attack with them without Cavalry and Defending can be a nightmare without the Cavalry coming on in good time.
I'm coming to the conclusion that Sam has created a very subtle set of rules and there is more to the AB lists than first meets the eye sometimes.
However, no set of rules are perfect and LaSalle is too easily dominated IMO by Organic Cavalry and those lists that have it as part of their Core armies.
But its not the rules/lists is it its the player. There will always be those players who trawel through the RB looking for an advantage with no particular army in mind. Fair play to them if that is what floats their boat. They'll still have to go to the trouble (sic) of buying the figures & painting them to use.
Me, i was initially drawn to the Russian Guards because i had an army mostly painted and i was trying to use as few figures as possible in order to get them onto the table. I'm working towards building up the Infantry so i can field it with as an Infantry Division with an Infantry Reserve choice. Not because it will be particularly good; although it will hold its own, with 13 Battalions (when Attacking), 20 guns [and the ability to use Home Field Advantage]!! It will look mighty fine though.
And then i can game with similar minded individuals who will take (mostly) infantry armies and LaSalle will really come into its own IMHO.
But i will look at my Lancers, Hussars, Dragoons, Cuirass, Cossacks and Horse Artillery staring accusingly from their box and have to admit that i miss them & that its almost un-Napoleonic not to use them. Still, i will know that their time will come again, when its right and proper and not just because it improves my list
James