An interesting and well-documented period, usually regarded as being poor for wargaming due to a lack of many pitched battles. HOTT, however, is perfect for this requiring only a small outlay of figures. Musketry range is assumed to be represented by element contact, leaving only artillery-type elements with a ranged attack. VERY approximately, each element represents about a brigade for foot or horse and perhaps a dozen guns for Artillery and Shooter elements. Hordes represent about twice this amount.

For this period I recommend an alternate PIP generation method, where the British roll d6, the French roll 1AD and the Russians roll d4, which is a shamless ripoff from Principles of War.

An alternative stronghold for the Allies could be the port of Balaclava with beach and sailing ships.

Stronghold - Dysentry-ridden, poorly equipped camp in 1854, well equipped and sanitary camp in 1855

Note a couple of apparent oddities - The Light Brigade are treated as Knights to represent total superiority over Russian cavalry and to model the brittleness of British cavalry in this campaign. Highlanders are not treated as Warband (as might be suspected) due to their disciplined fire at Balaclava. Other infantry are classed as Spears to give them a decent factor against cavalry and to reflect an increaed strength if deployed in depth (or column). The Turks are included mainly to make up a shortfall of 1AP, but in this theatre they were ignored by the Allies and hardly trusted with any responsibility so a Horde classification seems OK, and adds an element of little perceived value to the British army. Turkish infantry was actually quite good and indeed in the decisive theatre of the war (the Caucaus) actually won the war single-handedly before the Allies had even landed at the Alma.

Stronghold - Well equipped and sanitary camp in 1854, dysentry-ridden, poorly equipped camp in 1855

See British list for explanation of Turks. Light Cavalry could optionally be fielded as Knights to reflect superiority over Russians. 'Furia Francese' may call for French foot to be fielded as Warband, but in this conflict Spears vs Hordes closer simulates the tactical differences between French and Russian.

Alternatives - Drop 3 Hordes (3AP) and replace with Artillery to represent Siege Guns and Naval Guns

Stronghold - Part of Sevastopol defences or the Great Redoubt

Horde classification for the Russians represents several things - the depth of their columns, poor close fighting ability due to wielding smoothbore muskets against the Allied Minie rifles and the disorganised nature of Russian reinforcements. All of which describes an army of Hordes!

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