04-26-2010, 02:29 PM
Problems with the HPS ‘Historical’ scenario:
British and French deployments, as well as Prussian arrival routes are not based upon any known historical sources. It’s not like this information is hard to come by: Adkin's The Waterloo Companion is the best source for French (and other) deployments at Waterloo among others. Unfortunately HPS did not use John Tiller’s accurate historical scenario that he created for BGW; hence all historical scenarios in HPS Waterloo are a complete fantasy.
There is no doubt that Prince Jerome’s 6th Division launched the French attack at 1130 with an infantry assault and bombardment. A quick glance at the HPS historical scenario shows that 6th Division on the left is not anywhere near in position to attack anything, ensconced in a wood and more than 1000 yards away from the enemy. French 4th Division is on the right, on its way to someplace too; but who knows where? French IG is also on its way up the pike and French III & IV Cavalry Corps are not anywhere near where they were when finally deployed by Napoleon. Below is a close up showing only a very few of the problems and gross inaccuracies: In this historical set up, you are forced to attack the Hugomont orchid with Bachelu’s 5th Division (highlighted), because the 9th and 6th Divisions are too far left and to the rear to do anything. In historical fact it was the 6th and 9th that led the initial II Corps assault with the 5th Division held in reserve. VI Corps (marked by the cursor) is also too far to the rear and to the left; they were actually centrally located.
Prussian route of march is also madly askew; the first arrivals should be through Lasne, and not so far south. In this “historical” scenario everyone but the I Korps infantry and cavalry come on through Couture or south of there. This is clearly wrong as most arrivals marched through Lasne. The Prussians would and did take the more northern route through Lasne to avoid any possible interference from Grouchy. It’s all a made up fantasy, from a scenario designed noted for fanr=tasy scenarios; and it creates insurmountable problems for any wargamer wishing to recreate a Napoleonic battle. In this ‘historical’ set up you are forced to begin moving everything at once, just to get into position to attack. In Napoleon’s actual deployments every unit in the French Army was in position to attack, or quickly assist the attack, without doing any addition movement. This is the essence of Napoleonic deployments and the game designer here doesn’t understand this. So what to do? Luckily there is a scenario editor. Learn how to use it, do some easy research (or find John Tiller’s French set up in an old BG Waterloo game) and also hope that one day, the HPS Waterloo team will recognize that none of their ‘historical’ scenarios are of any worth whatsoever and make some changes.
Good Luck, Prinz von Egan
British and French deployments, as well as Prussian arrival routes are not based upon any known historical sources. It’s not like this information is hard to come by: Adkin's The Waterloo Companion is the best source for French (and other) deployments at Waterloo among others. Unfortunately HPS did not use John Tiller’s accurate historical scenario that he created for BGW; hence all historical scenarios in HPS Waterloo are a complete fantasy.
There is no doubt that Prince Jerome’s 6th Division launched the French attack at 1130 with an infantry assault and bombardment. A quick glance at the HPS historical scenario shows that 6th Division on the left is not anywhere near in position to attack anything, ensconced in a wood and more than 1000 yards away from the enemy. French 4th Division is on the right, on its way to someplace too; but who knows where? French IG is also on its way up the pike and French III & IV Cavalry Corps are not anywhere near where they were when finally deployed by Napoleon. Below is a close up showing only a very few of the problems and gross inaccuracies: In this historical set up, you are forced to attack the Hugomont orchid with Bachelu’s 5th Division (highlighted), because the 9th and 6th Divisions are too far left and to the rear to do anything. In historical fact it was the 6th and 9th that led the initial II Corps assault with the 5th Division held in reserve. VI Corps (marked by the cursor) is also too far to the rear and to the left; they were actually centrally located.
Prussian route of march is also madly askew; the first arrivals should be through Lasne, and not so far south. In this “historical” scenario everyone but the I Korps infantry and cavalry come on through Couture or south of there. This is clearly wrong as most arrivals marched through Lasne. The Prussians would and did take the more northern route through Lasne to avoid any possible interference from Grouchy. It’s all a made up fantasy, from a scenario designed noted for fanr=tasy scenarios; and it creates insurmountable problems for any wargamer wishing to recreate a Napoleonic battle. In this ‘historical’ set up you are forced to begin moving everything at once, just to get into position to attack. In Napoleon’s actual deployments every unit in the French Army was in position to attack, or quickly assist the attack, without doing any addition movement. This is the essence of Napoleonic deployments and the game designer here doesn’t understand this. So what to do? Luckily there is a scenario editor. Learn how to use it, do some easy research (or find John Tiller’s French set up in an old BG Waterloo game) and also hope that one day, the HPS Waterloo team will recognize that none of their ‘historical’ scenarios are of any worth whatsoever and make some changes.
Good Luck, Prinz von Egan
