GG03 Waterloo Epic (18 June 1815)

Played with 4 players on VASSAL today.

French had a good start, pressing on the Right flank, and had a miraculous die roll vs the Brit LT that ventured out of Hougomont in the woods. French took an early lead of 8-1, based primarily on taking Papelotte from the Nassau troops.

A bayonet charge up the centre around La Haye Sainte stretched this to 9-1 with a fantastic close combat roll, but here the French luck ran out. A Rifle Light in Hougomont was unhittable, and after 2 flag rolls on the reinforcements, the Prussian arrival was imminent. The British counter attack in the centre pushed back the charge, and took 2 banners. French pushed again, taking 2 more banners and La Haye Sainte. Score stands at 11-3.

Then the Prussians arrived, and despite efforts to draw back into defensive positions 4 hexes from the edge, the Prussian cavalry could manage to reach an unsupported artillery and eliminate it. La Haye Sainte was abandoned. From here things went very unluckily for the French, really working to get hits. The right flank managed to eliminate 1 Prussian LC, and knock the LNCR down to 1 block, but Blücher escaped. In the centre, the Leader order put Grenadiers into LHS. On the left, nothing hit and the riposte pushed back the Left. None the less, the Score stood at 13-5 controlling Papelotte & La Haye Sainte, with just 2 banners needed to win.

Bayonet charge on the Right was effective, eliminating a Prussian LT in a single blow, but Búlow got away. Then a 7d combined arms on a Brunswicker LC (2 blocks) managed just a single hit. 14-5.

Zeithen's Prussians arrived. Interspersed with the other Prussians.. that seems odd.
British attack on the Right to relieve Hougomont whilst in the Centre, LHS was lost with both the Grenadiers and DÉrlon being eliminated. 13-8

Again the French attacked on the right, eliminating the Nassau LT in Freihemont (14-, and 2 French cavalry attacked Orange's HC, eliminating 2 blocks with 13 dice in attacks. Again victory eludes the French by 1 block.

Massive Prussian Forced March of their flank eliminated a French LN, Jacquinot on a double swords, and then a YG. In the Centre, a French HC was surrounded and eliminated. 14-12, and the Allies have managed a 7 banner come back, surviving 2 near defeat experiences.

Final turn, a Cavalry charge on the Left catches Byng and his 1 block LC out with a cavalry forward card. This time no mistake on the 6d attack, and the French win 15-12. Huge comeback for the Allies on what on average should have beena 15-5 defeat. But that's C&C dice for you.

TY for the nice report!
I'm gonna check from now this French victory 60% tendency because I would prefer around 50/50 or an Allied 60% to stick with history.
Best regards General - GG

my suggestions are;

Extra Special Rules
• Guards count as 2 banners, Old Guard count as 3 banners
• Prussian retreat at 60 degree angle toward NE corner

mmm I'm more in favor of a simpler and classical one like:
• Hougoumont, La Haye Sainte and Papelotte (with blue border) are each one Temporary Victory Banners Turn Start for ANY SIDE that occupy them.
I can easily change it here for a try but any change on Vassal is more complicated as I must ask to Mark Benson - And I don't like to disturb him if I ever change again in 10 days LOL
GG

GG wrote:

mmm I'm more in favor of a simpler and classical one like:
• Hougoumont, La Haye Sainte and Papelotte (with blue border) are each one Temporary Victory Banners Turn Start for ANY SIDE that occupy them.

 

that would have made no difference to the outcome of our game, and changed the score to 15-13 French win.
Moreover, this kind of rule induces a 2 banner shift in scores, which would favour the French I think, though probably not significantly in this instance.

The Guard rule would have changed the score 1 in favour of the Allis in our play, but whether it would change the OG play is debatable.
The Prussian retreat rule would have saved the Allies 1 banner.

Sorry I don't agree: My proposition is strong toward the allies: It's rare when the French capture the 3 towns and the average in my numerous testing is 1 town captured > So the average will be 1 or 2 new points for the allies. Plus you must not take the example of your single battle because I experienced many battles (around 20) who were completely different: Even when losing, the Allies used to have a close score. So sorry but for the moment I stick to this new town points for the Allies but will wait to contact Mark.

OK - I changed a little bit the conditions of victory in favor of the allies - Check the second special rule - Plus the Allies now also stat with 6 Cdt cards

The Allies now also start with 6 Command cards - GG

I like how Guillaume has created additional scenarios that upgrade battles in the CCNappy series. With his EPIC Waterloo, not only can you fight the battle on a larger scale but also the scenario includes Prussian reinforcements.

I have so far played the scenario twice: 1) 15-3 French win (though many depleted Fr Inf units, 2) 15-11 French victory that with one more turn could have become a great Allied comeback.

Game does illustrate one important fact about CCNappy: The relic from "Battle Cry" of the same VP target for both sides is problematic. Scenarios like this plus historical Allied wins like Victoria and Albuera lean towards the French more than they should.

It is simply time to recognize the obvious: Each side needs a separate "Demoralization (flag) target."

PS. If the typical victory target of 15 flags for both sides is kept, maybe Prussian losses should not be counted in the total or don't include Prussian losses and give the French a 3 permanent banner bonus when they destory 5 Prussian units???

I do like different retreat directions for "Reinforcing units."  I suggest though that it either be NE or E for the Prussians, their nominal LOC.