The real experimentation was to see if the mechanics would work for a satisfying 'wargame' rather than a roleplaying game or adventure. The random events and pro-British dice did result in some very amusing and characterful results. I enjoy the complications and considerations that make trying to change formations and deploy very tricky. Its got some nice little decision points and the card system certainly made for some tense and gut-wrenching moments.
The Buffs and Black Watch battalions advancing in line.
Henri Darlon, with a peleton of Hussars, feels obliged to skirmish with the British lines to try to buy the French infantry time to advance and deploy in the village.
It had a nice look, IMO.
The Hussars get clustered and confused at the bottom of the gulley. The situation is entirely untenable.
While most of the Hussars withdrew, Henri dismounted his detachment and clambered up the side of the dry riverbed to come to grips with the Buffs skirmishers. Inspired by Henri's fervour and leadership, the light horsemen were able to clear the woods of Englishmen.
It is clear though that the Hussars cannot fight the British on their own and that they cannot even survive long trying to skirmish against them.
Two companies of French infantry deploy wide on the left against the Highlanders but they suffer horribly from the fire of the Scottish line. The remnants of the Hussars try to form a line behind the infantry but there is no room to deploy.
French voltigeurs get into the woods that were cleared by the Hussars. they would later be driven out by a charge of the Buffs but it would take some serious fighting.
Henri trots past the battered infantry and takes over the unenviable job of suffering the fire of the Highlanders. Many saddles are emptied but the remnants of the Hussar squadron do get their charge off.
The fight on the right was horribly inconvenienced by terrain. The French column hit the bottom of the gully and was unable to move forward or back for the remainder of the battle.
Overview shot just before the final charge of the Hussars. Henri would get to lead three charges today and would triumph in each case but in the end, the cavalry was spent and forced to retire with less than a quarter of their riders still in the saddle. Though British formations were thrown back on three occassions they were each time rallied and brought forward again while the French continued to get mauled by the British musketry. It was a decisive British vitory in the end with the French withdrawing.
In retrospect, even with the church catching fire, the French infantry should have deployed a couple of companies into buildings and then kept the rest of the troops back as supporting firing lines or attack columns. Hussars, despite obliging the British infantry to react to them, cannot survive extended fire from the infantry. They have to be used very carefully.
A level 4 Big Man with a couple Graspez le Saucission cards is adding 6-8 dice in every charge. In that sense, they can be a little Warhammery in how much they affect the outcome of a fight. That isn't wholly a bad thing as it does make them feel heroic and exciting.