SP2: Resupplying Hougoumont Solo Video AAR

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Contrarius
Posts: 551
Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2018 1:35 pm

Re: SP2: Resupplying Hougoumont Solo Video AAR

Post by Contrarius »

Started the scenario and figured it would be best to keep things simple per the “Escort Duty” scenario in the rules, which is very similar. So, no shooting at the cart and no need to record driver/draught horse casualties.

Forgot how slow carts move in the rules — 2D6 per turn is not much when you keep throwing ones and twos! You also need to pull the right card to get Sgt Fraser on the table in the first place. On my first attempt he came on table only in Turn 3 — the last group to deploy of both factions!

So, I figured:
1) Fraser + cart + escort start Turn 1 already on the board at the Deployment Marker.
2) Cart gets +1 on each die when moving on the road.
3) If the cart goes off-road it risks bogging/broken wheel on a double one.
And if that’s not enough to get things moving, then:
4) Can use ‘Stepping Out’ to move Sgt Fraser’s entire command, including cart, an extra D6 once per turn.
Contrarius
Posts: 551
Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2018 1:35 pm

Re: SP2: Resupplying Hougoumont Solo Video AAR

Post by Contrarius »

Ran the scenario through twice with very different results.

The first time because of the delay getting Sgt Fraser on the table, things didn’t go well and he ended up badly wounded (reduced to Level O) and routed off his own baseline with the ammo cart.

Second time things went much better. I started with Sgt Fraser already on table and the cart got moving straight away, which combined with the various movement bonuses I’d concocted, meant swift progress initially. Unfortunately, the Frenchies quickly caught up thanks to repeated flags drawn in their favour. Sgt Fraser had no choice but to go off road, finding shelter behind the Hanoverian Jäger Corps riflemen sent to assist him. The rifles’ fire held the French fusiliers at distance but the voltigeurs quickly gained ground and caused some painful damage.

The finale was just like a Bernard Cornwell novel, with the wagon tearing through the gates of Hougoumont, to the cheers of its defenders, with Sgt Fraser down to just one man plus himself and carrying 3 shock!

Excellent scenario, well suited for beginners or to jog the memory of folk who haven’t played for a while. Though I do think it needs a few minor mods as mentioned in my earlier post.
Abwehrschlacht
Posts: 219
Joined: Thu Dec 05, 2019 10:13 pm

Re: SP2: Resupplying Hougoumont Solo Video AAR

Post by Abwehrschlacht »

Sounds like you had fun!
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