XTR (1991, $13)
Designers: Ralph Braun; Shawn McEvoy
Players 2
Period Napoleonic
Scale Tactical
Turn 10 minute
Map 25 yards
Unit 50-100 men

Components
Box Command magazine, No. 11
1 16 page rulebook
1 postcard bound into magazine
1 34”x22” unmounted mapsheet
200 die-cut counters

Counter Manifest
123 blue
71 red
3 black
2 white
1 for Command 10 (Alexandros)

XTR says:

“[A] simulation of the first two hours of the fight for Hougoumont Chateau during the Battle of Waterloo. From 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., the only serious fighting at Waterloo occurred at this farm. What Napoleon had intended as a demonstration in the middle of the Allied line became a French bloodbath as brigade after brigade of his troops assaulted the fortified position. It was a desperate fight, with the French even managing to enter the chateau compound at one point before being counterattacked and cut off. Wellington later remarked that the outcome of the entire battle rested on reclosing the gate the French had used to enter.”

The reviewer says:

“[I]t was critically important that the chateau be taken before the main attack. Despite its importance, both sides fed troops into the battle piecemeal. It is this piecemeal reinforcement that makes it a workable game. Otherwise it would simply be a French bloodbath, or simply overrunning the walls ... [I]t is a simple system ... experienced players will find nothing unusual ... The problem with the game is that there is really only one practical strategy for the French to take the chateau ... The result is a game that is fun and exciting, but with tactics that tend to fall into a repetitive pattern.” Terry Rooker et al, in F&M 79.

Comments:

Despite my lack of interest in Napoleonics, this game is tempting me to give it a try.

Collector’s Notes:

I recently acquired a few dozen issues of Command magazine which brought my collection from zero XTR games to, well, dozens. Up until getting these I was pretty much oblivious to Command. I have since become aware that several issue games are highly sought after, although Hougoumont has not struck me as one of them. Boone lists low/high/average prices of 4/46/9.90 at auction and 5/20/12.39 for sale.

Other games from these designers:

None that I can find.

H is For Capsule Reviews

Introduction
H-Hour
Hell Hath No Fury
Hero
Hitler’s War (Metagaming)
Hitler’s War (AH)
Hougoumont
Hyper Battle