Bussaco With 'Valour & Fortitude'

We gave Valour & Fortitude another go last night, now we're feeling a bit more confident with how to play it. It was a simple scenario based on a section of the 1810 Battle of Bussaco; a horde of French would be attacking a thin red line of British and Portuguese up a long rugged slope.

This is the flocked area is the slope, with its highest point (and the British/Portuguese) in the foreground and the French in the distance at the foot.

The British had three small brigades on the ridge, with a larger brigade of reinforcements due on the right flank. The French had several large infantry brigades.

The French discuss their plan. March up the slope seemed to be the best option.

And here they come. As they advanced they sorted themselves out into an imposing line of attack columns.

The two armies were soon in skirmish range, and the firing began. Both sides took minor hits.

Over on our right we looked a bit vulnerable, but our reinforcements arrived in the nick of time to form and line and offer resistance to the French. On the left though we were looking very thin on the ground compared to the advancing enemy. The French closed to musketry range and started to take some proper hits. But they had a lot of units.

The French attack! Our unit on the far left was hit by three supported units, and very much outmatched. Darren had made cunning use of an event card to ensure that all of teh attacking units were fresh as well, so we were really up against it.

As it was, we had cards in or hand too. We lost the fight - badly, I might add - but used a card to automatically pass the following morale test. That kept us in the fight for another turn, in which we used a card to rally off hits and avoid being shaken. We lost the fight again, and only had good die-rolls to save us from rout. But good die-rolls are enough. Elsewhere Darren's large brigade was starting to crumble.

At that point we called an end to things. The French may well have pushed through on our left, but elsewhere they were looking pretty weak; attacking up a rough slope into deadly musketry had really taken its toll.

I think we had a good handle on the rules this time, and were even able to make clever use of the event cards as well. It was a simple scenario that allowed us to focus on the basics, and that really helped.

Thanks to Ralph for putting everything together.