Scenario for the Battle of Talavera at Historicon

A week ago, Jared, John, Mike and I did a play test of my scenario for the Battle of Talavera, using Field of Battle 2nd edition rules by Brent Oman. 

We got about halfway through the game in 2 hours, but learned what I needed to know to improve the scenario for Convention play. In the foreground are the village of Talavera de la Reina, and the Tagus river. 

Overview of the table at the end of the play test.

View from the French lines.

View from the French Right; the British are deployed on the other side of the Portina stream. 

French Dragoons, Chasseurs, and Hussars attempting to turn the British left flank... thus far without success. 

The French exchanging volleys with the British... and not getting the best of it!

French light cavalry successfully charge the Pejar de Begara redoubt.

French attacks on Talavera itself have gone nowhere thus far! The Spanish deployed their best infantry units forward; if they can be broken, the rest of the infantry are all weak D4 defense die types, albeit in good defensive positions!

The repulsed French columns of the first attacks upon Talavera. 

The Spanish defenders of Talavera. 

The largely indifferent Spanish cavalry in reserve. 

British infantry in the center.

The British left flank with supporting Cavalry; the French horse battery has been successful at taking pot shots at the English troopers!

The Battle of Talavera, July 28, 1809

1 infantry unit = 1200  men, 1 cavalry unit = 800 men, 1 artillery unit = 12 guns


FRENCH ARMY
Marshal Jourdan and King Joseph: Average  LD 10
Average Sequence Deck
47 Units

Madrid Garrison:  GD Desoilles  LD 10
1 Legere  DD8, CD12
2 Ligne    D6, CD10
1 King Joseph's Guard  DD8, CD12
1 6# Foot Artillery  DD6, CD12

1st Light cavalry Division: GD Merlin  LD 10
2 Chassuers a Cheval  DD6, CD10
1 Hussar  DD8, CD10

1st Dragoon Division:  GD Latour - Mauborg  LD 12
3 Dragoons  DD6, CD12
1 6# Horse Artillery  DD8, CD12+1

2nd Dragoon Division:  GD Milhaud  LD 12
3 Dragoons  DD6, CD12


1st Corps, Marechal Victor  LD 12


Light Cavalry Brigade: GD  Beaumont  LD 10
1 Chasseur a Cheval  DD6, CD10

1st Infantry Division:  GD Ruffin  LD 10
1 Legere  DD8, CD12
4 Ligne  DD6, CD 10
1 6# Foot Artillery  DD6, CD12

2nd Infantry Division: GD Lapisse  LD 10
1 Legere  DD8, CD12
4 Ligne    DD6, CD 10
1 6# Foot Artillery  DD6, CD12

3rd Infantry Division: Vilatte  LD 10
1 Legere  DD8, CD12
4 Ligne    DD6, CD 10
1 6# Foot Artillery  DD6, CD12


4th Corps, GD Sebastiani  LD 10


1st Infantry Division:  GD Liger - Belair  LD 10
1 Legere  DD8, CD12
4 Ligne    DD6, CD 10
1 6# Foot Artillery  DD6, CD12

2nd Infantry Division:  GD Leval  LD 10
2 Baden  Infantry  DD6, CD10
1 Nassau Infantry  DD6, CD8
1 Hesse-Darmstadt Infantry  DD6, CD12
2 Polish Infantry  DD8, CD12
1 6# Foot Artillery  DD6, CD12



Allied Army:  Sir Arthur Wellesley  LD 12
Skilled Sequence Deck (to account for joint command with Cuesta)
48 Units

1st Division:  Sherbrooke  LD 12
1 Guard Infantry  DD10, CD 12
2 Elite Infantry (Fusiliers/Highlanders)  DD8, CD 12
1 Line Infantry  DD6, CD10

2nd Division:    Roland Hill  LD 12
3 Line Infantry  DD 6, CD10
1 6# Foot Artillery  DD8, CD12

3rd Division:  MacKenzie  LD 10
2 Line Infantry  DD6, CD10
1 Rifle (60th)  DD8, CD 12 (Rifles)
1 6# Foot Artillery DD8, CD 12

4th Division: Campbell  LD 12
3 Line Infantry  DD6, CD10
1 6# Foot Artillery  DD8, CD 12

Cavalry Division:  Payne  LD 10
1 Dragoon Guard  DD8, CD12
1 Dragoon  DD6, CD12
1 Light Dragoon  DD6, CD10
1 Hussar  DD8, CD10



Spanish Army:  Cuesta  LD 10
(uses Allied LD roll and  sequence deck, but as Cuesta would have a "Poor", sequence deck himself,  Marked cards in the deck may not be used by Spanish troops (1 each Leadership, Move 1 Command Group, and Maneuver; counts like a Lull, except no loss  of initiative)

Vanguard and 1st Division:  Zayas  LD 10
1 Grenadier DD8, CD10
1 Light Infantry  DD6, CD10
2 Line Infantry  DD4, CD10
2 Militia Infantry  DD4, CD8
1 6# Foot Artillery  DD6, CD8

2nd and 3rd Divisions:  Iglesias  LD 8
1 Light Infantry DD6, CD10
4 Line Infantry  DD4, CD10
1 Militia Infantry  DD4, CD8
1 6# Foot Artillery DD6, CD8

4th and 5th Divisions:  Manglano  LD 8
1 Grenadier  DD8, CD10
1 Light Infantry  DD6, CD10
4 Line Infantry  DD4, CD10
1 Militia Infantry  DD4, CD8
1 6# Foot Artillery  DD6, CD8

1st Cavalry Division: Henestrosa  LD 8
1 Line Cavalry  DD6, CD12
1 Dragoon  DD4, CD10
1 Hussar  DD4, CD8

2nd Cavalry Division:  Duque de Alberquerque  LD 10
1 Line Cavalry  DD6, CD12
1 Dragoon  DD4, CD10
1 Garrochista  DD4, CD8

The Madrid Garrison arrives on the first French MOVE card, anywhere between the two roads X and Y inclusive. They may enter in March column and/or deployed

Terrain:
Class IV (impassable) -  Mountain and Rio Tagus

Class III - Church at Talavera, Woods

Class II -  rest of Talavera, Vineyards,  Hills, Redoubt  Walled Gardens
Orchards are Class II for movement only, block LOS. No effect on combat otherwise.
Portina Stream Class is II, except the marshy banked northern portion is class III

Victory:
The French are awarded a one time 4 bonus MP if they take the Talavera Church (the most southeasterly building), and 2 MP each for the other three buildings of Talavera. Similarly, they are a warded a 1 MP bonus each for taking the redoubt and each of the walled gardens. It does not mater if they subsequently lose control of these points.

If the French exit a unit from the table via road exits  A or B at any time, the Allies must pay a one time loss of  3 Morale Points (for each road so exited. not per unit exited) to the French immediately.  This can only be claimed once per game for road A and once for road B.

Game ends when one army fails Army Morale. If the other side has 0 - 6 Morale Points remaining it is a marginal victory, 7 - 12 MP's is a minor victory, 13 - 23 MP is a major victory, and 24+ MP's is a Decisive victory.


Resources:

Talavera OOB:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Talavera_order_of_battle

The scenario in Volley and Bayonet - Road to Glory was the main inspiration for my own version. I have significantly adapted the OOB to fit my own collection, particularly with regard to the Spanish, including giving the Spanish a limited amount of decent troops.

Rafa's Talavera scenario for Napoleon's Battles:
http://www.rafaelpardoalmudi.com/nbtalavera_1.html

JJ's Talavera scenario for Carnage and Glory:
http://jjwargames.blogspot.com/2016/11/talavera-208-1809-2017-in-support-of.html