Whilst scenarios will never be completely balanced, and there is always some variation around cards and dice, most C&C Napoleonics scenarios offer some chance to both sides. Sometimes it's useful to have terribly one sided scenarios, teaching aides or to provide a challenge between players of different experience.
However, there are 6 official scenarios that I would never play competitively, and whilst there have been some attempts (in one case many attempts) to make the scenarios more balanced, I thought I'd throw it out there to players to suggest some simple changes to the Victory conditions or Special rules that would make the scenario more attractive to play. I think I'll preclude wholesale changes to the Order of Battle or setup, since this starts into the realms of a different scenario (but feel free to design a new version of the action)
Below is a listing of the 6 offenders, taken from the Most Unbalanced List
www.commandsandcolors.net/napoleonics/ar...ario-statistics.html
I include a short summary of what I regard as the key unbalancing features of each.
113 Alba de Tormes (28 November 1809)
www.commandsandcolors.net/napoleonics/ar...&view=article&id=166
My experience of this scenario is that the French cavalry obliterate the Spanish Right, killing the Spanish LC, forcing the Spanish to square up twice, at which point the Spanish can not longer form squares and are slaughtered by the cavalry.
This exactly follows the narrative description, so the scenario plays very historically.
My suggestion here is give the Spanish a 4 banner start.
218 Champaubert (10 February 1814)
www.commandsandcolors.net/napoleonics/ar...&view=article&id=222
The Russians are hopelessly outclassed here, and the brittleness of the 3 strength infantry is clear. A French bayonet charge spells Russian doom here.
The clue in the narrative is that the Russians should have retreated, and I'd suggest that the Russians getting an Exit VP for units that exit would be a good thing. If nothing else it would force the French to hurry.
501 Sahagun - Cavalry Action (21 December 1808)
www.commandsandcolors.net/napoleonics/ar...&view=article&id=397
The 4 block French cavalry hit harder than the 3 block British cavalry, especially the Heavy Cavalry. Maybe something as simple as reducing each French cavalry to 3 blocks at start, just to give some parity.
103 Gamonal (10 November 1808)
www.commandsandcolors.net/napoleonics/ar...&view=article&id=155
This scenario has probably had more suggestions for fixing than any other, and the suggestions are varied. The Spanish aren't in a good position, but my experience is they have a fighting chance, but they need a head start, and rather than Guerrillas, they need the Time Pressure Objective Victory Condition.
506 Dohna (9 October 1813)
www.commandsandcolors.net/napoleonics/ar...&view=article&id=403
This is a newish scenario, and whilst it seems pro-Russian, it is early days. I'd consider the Time Pressure Objective to allow the French to gain banners for Scout cards.
413 Blankenfelde (23 August 1813)
www.commandsandcolors.net/napoleonics/ar...&view=article&id=354
The French have few units, and no cavalry. However, the French can win by picking their attack route. I actually wonder if the problem is the 5 banner victory objective, with the Prussians gaining a Banner for no French occupation (essentially a 1 banner start). Also early days on this, but maybe simply removing the first Special Rule.
However, the objective here is to gather some suggestions from other players, since sometimes a good solution just isn't apparent until a fresh set of eyes looks at it.