Waterloo Express!

 

Yesterday's Wollongong Wargamers meet was also the 211th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, 18 June 1815. We were committed to run a second playtest of the draft Valour & Fortitude Version 4. Therefore...

Unfortunately, real life intervened with a couple of key players having to drop out. The plan was heavily curtailed. The Prussians weren't coming!

The French order of battle was slightly reduced:

Caesar, the French commander, strategically deployed his two additional 'Divisional Leaders' we were playtesting so as to have good C2 right across the 10 foot battlefield:

French brigades were large, which also eases C2 and makes for a quicker game:

Historically, Caesar deployed the French in strength on his left wing, opposite Hougomont. With the Imperial Guard leading Reille's Corps from the outset. So not that historical!

In the centre, D'Erlon's Corps was well supported by cavalry...

Very well supported!

 

Stormed on three sides by the Old Guard, Hougomont fell after a bloody melee...

An evening's game of this size was always going to be short, so I tentatively advanced a counter attack to retake the chateau - General Haig's drinks cabinet couldn't be left in French hands!

But the Old Guard beat me to the punch and came on fast!

It was time to send in the heavy brigade! The Scots Greys duly charged and broke a square!

But this didn't have much of an impact on the French hordes. I came down off the ridge in a bid to make my volley fire tell...

It worked for a short while...

At least I had gained some breathing space!

On my left, the French cavalry kept me pinned to the ridge, the British gunners doing all the work:

Belatedly, my Light Brigade joined in the fun!

Only to be met by the Imperial Guard Heavy Cavalry - Light Dragoons against the Horse Grenadiers!

To cap it all the French assault on La Haye Sainte in the centre fell at the first assault!

On a positive note, we had a good and thorough playtest which picked out a couple of anomalies and questions. (These have been posted on the Valour and Fortitude - Gamers Group)

But overall, we concluded that Valour & Fortitude is now even better at delivering large games fast with authentic outcomes. And just as much fun as before!