Battle for Hougoumont with FFOL:BB

[trev]

To try out the Fistful of Lead: Bigger Battles rules for Napoleonics we used our new Hougoumont terrain from Sarissa Precision.



The figures were painted by my club mate Dean.  We only used the single based figures but you could use multi-based figures too.  There were six units a side.  Three line, one light, one grenadier and one special.  Rifles for the British and Marines for the French.  It wasn't a particular orbat just what we had.







The stats were modified from the suggested Horse and Musket era examples in the rule book.  I made the French army trait Quick, to represent the rapid French maneuovre and the British had Deadeyes to represent their famed prowess when shooting.  FFOL is as much hollywood as history, so a bit of cliche is all good.









Destroyed or routed French units were replaced with fresh units to represent the waves of attacks throughout the day.  We were only trying the rules, so played to the time we had but if this were a scenario I would set a limit.  Maybe 12 turns.



In our game the redcoats held the castle as they did in 1815.  Although there were some dicey moments.  An attack on the side gate was only just held by the rifles and the French Marines twice drove back the British from the front wall.





The remnants of the French Grenadiers run from the Riflemen after a very bloody melee.



The FFOL reload rule works nicely in Bigger Battles to represent the first volley and making use of 'sixes' to reload can be vital.  You can't always wait long enough to play the six on the right unit though and the difficult turn decisions ramp up the tension.

The game was lots of fun and I expect we will try another, perhaps with cavalry next time.

Unit card PDF's attached.

Edit:  Posted in too much of a hurry earlier.  Hope this is better.

[Elk101]

Great write up. I know that the FfoL author would approve too as you have done exactly what he intended the rules to be used for.

[BaronVonJ]

Yes, great use of the rules. Using that Reload card at the right time can be decisive. Thank the wargaming gods for Aces.

[trev]

Thanks guys.  Bigger battles does work nicely for these scenario type games.  The castle is too big to use for a battalion level game, it would be a village or town at that scale, but is perfect for a smaller skirmish as a key objective. 

We used it for a werewolf game using the Horror book too.   

[Malamute]

We used it for a werewolf game using the Horror book too.   

Even better