hello from dorset

[Dave Palmer]

cheers for all the responses

[Leman]

The results are looking very interesting!!??

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Don't blame me, I voted for the other guy!

[Westmarcher]

I don't understand what the vote is for.

As far as I can see, the question is, "Anyone else play in Dorset(?)"

So what are the four who have voted for saying (so far)? Are 3 saying "yes" or are 3 saying "no"? 

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Or vice versa 

[jimduncanuk]

Looking to start acw using the black powder rules. Anyone else play in Dorset.

Turn around now, walk swiftly towards the door ... too late someones locked it!

You'll just have to stay now.

Throw the guys some raw meat from time and time and they'll leave you alone. Keep your back to the wall.

Keep the awake ones busy by showing them pictures of your stuff and telling stories about your stuff, keep looking for an escape route.

[Last Hussar]

I'm based up in Edinburgh, don't currently play ACW and don't like Black Powder so pretty useless as a potential opponent.

Ever thought of joining TMP - this kind of comment is right at home there?

Sunjester and I are playing ACW with black powder.  We often play Lardies "They couldn't hit an Elephant", but as we are doing a large game broken down into divisional games we need something fast playing and not too tricky (especially after a couple of beers!).  Our ACW is generic 30mm squares - this is good for TCHAE (inch bases) F&F (1 1/8th,) and BP - 120mm units.  Plus fits nicely in the compartments of a 'Really Useful Box' hobby tray.

We play some changes to BP

Turn Sequence
The sequence given in the rules is modified to this.
•   INITIATIVE PHASE: Declare Initiative movements – there is no change to the basic rules for this.
o   Any units charged may deliver 'Closing Fire' at the end of initiative.
•   FIRING PHASE: Moving player declares firing.  Firing carried out as per the rules.  All firing units to be marked as having fired this turn (see modified Command Penalties).
o   A unit that fires in this phase is unable to give fire for the rest of its turn – i.e. until after the melee phase.
•   COMMAND PHASE: Give orders as per the Command phase of the rules.
•   MELEE PHASE: Conduct Melees
IMPORTANT - Because the Fire Phase is now before Command Phase, units that must retire due to being part of a Broken Brigade, now do so during INITIATIVE, not during the Command Phase.
If a unit moves on Initiative, any fire is at -1 pip on each dice.

There is an additional command penalty:
   "-1 if fired this turn"
Any unit that fired in the Firing Phase suffers -1 to its command.  If it is part of a group of units that have been ordered (i.e. a brigade order) then the entire group suffers the penalty, even if only one unit fired.  Note that this is NOT cumulative for each unit that has fired- e.g. if all the units in a 4 battalion brigade gave fire, the penalty is still only -1, NOT -4.



Orders
The Black Powder does something odd with the order system as written: It makes 2 moves the LEAST likely.  Any other possible combination makes more sense- 3>2>1, 1>2>3, 2>1 or 3.  The way it is written however means a unit is either really good, or really bad, rarely average.
To correct this we play to get three moves you have to roll HALF OR LESS of the adjusted CV.
For example CV = 8.  Three moves on 4 or below.
CV = 9, STILL three moves on 4 or below (9 / 2 = 4½)
CV = 7, three moves on 3 or below.
Remember the adjustments go on the CV, not the dice roll, so you need to make sure you calculate the correct CV before throwing

Ordering movement.
This is heavily implied in the rules, but to make it explicit: you must try and fulfil the order you give.  For instance you state "The brigade will advance to the hill" and you do not roll enough move, you must still move forward as far as you can, towards the hill- you must move as ordered.  If this puts you a poor position, you can't hold back a bit.  Likewise if you say advance, but don't say how far, the units will move as far as they can.
Additionally we assume 1" is about 10 yards or paces (I know the two are not exactly the same).  Thus instead of saying "Move forward 5" we order "50 paces forward".
Disorder after Melee
We play as written/implied in the rules, NOT as Jervis Johnson clarified on the Black Powder forum- that is a unit that charges and becomes disordered due to melee remains disordered until it's next turn ends, NOT the end of the current turn, i.e. through the opponent's turn.  Jervis said that its disorder comes off with all your disorders at the end of the turn.  This meant that a unit could charge into combat, be repulsed and retreat in disorder, only for that disorder to instantly come off.  It struck us as unrealistic that the consequence of a failed charge is less than the consequence to a defender pushed back.

Broken Brigades
The Broken Brigade rule in 'Black Powder' is considered overly harsh by a number players.  We have amended the 'Break Point, and the rules on rallying a Broken Brigade.
1)   A brigade is broken when OVER half the units in it are shaken or destroyed.  i.e.  in a six unit brigade four units shaken/destroyed are required to break the brigade – not three as per the rules.
2)   Units in a broken brigade can be rallied if the 'break' status is due to Shaken units, and disordered units may reform.  For the above  brigade with 6 units
i)   If 4 are destroyed, the Brigade is permanently Broken
ii)   If 3 are destroyed, and one Shaken, the Shaken unit may be rallied. Once it is no longer Shaken, the brigade is no longer Broken.  Remember 'Rally' is the last order a commander may give.
iii)   If 2 are destroyed and 3 Shaken, then 2 must be rallied to 2 hits or less to 'unbreak' the brigade.
While a brigade is broken it must still retire on initiative so units are more than 12 away from the enemy.  As movement on initiative counts as an order, a further Rally order can not be given that turn to the retiring unit.  This encourages the opponent to keep up pressure on Broken Brigades to stop them reforming, rather ignore broken brigades that are almost useless.

My Wife wants to retire to Dorset, so if you can wait 15 years or so...

[Ithoriel]

Ever thought of joining TMP - this kind of comment is right at home there?

Nah, I followed up with some positive comments on the forum and it's members ... don't think that's allowed on TMP

With TMP, I tend to peek in quickly and run away before anyone notices!

[FierceKitty]

Gave up posting on TMP months ago.

[Leman]

I thought only women suffered from TMP.

[Last Hussar]

Nah, I followed up with some positive comments on the forum and it's members ... don't think that's allowed on TMP

I know, however when has this forum passed up a cheap shot?

[fsn]

Yes, but what about the voting?

I feel . very strongly, but I also have strong . sympathies. My father was a right . and my mother once an evening at a . rally.

Then again, when there's mayonnaise is involved . seems best, unless it's a Sunday when . is by far the better option - except (yes, we know Techno) . isn't allowed in Wales when there's a "j" in the month. Still, it's raining, so I'm tending to .

I'm worried that the . vs . debate may split the forum. Obviously FK will be a . and Ithoriel therefore will definitely be .. Fantasy games are all complete and utter .s! Tankies, though in my experience enjoy a good . session.
 

[GrumpyOldMan]

I thought only women suffered from TMP.

Now we have to worry about all this, and dyslexia too......   

Not sure if it's coming or going..... 

[Last Hussar]

There's a joke about that - "why is pee yellow and...."

[fsn]

Go on.


Does it involve a straw?