What Ruleset Did You Use In Your Last Game 2016

[Zippee]

1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Impetus
2) What armies were confronted? - Late Roman v Hun Confederation
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Yes
4) and... was the first time do you use the ruleset? No
5) How many players were in the game? - Two

Attila proved victorious in our re-run of Catalaunian Fields but it was a damn close run thing as ever. Moment of the game was Theoderic dying in a most historic manner. And Sangiban, rolling double and losing his activation just as the Huns swarmed over his command.

We love Impetus, as always it came right down to the wire with Aetius almost managing to grab victory in the closing moments with his second rate pseudo-comitatenses managing to hold the full bore charge of several large gothic warbands. In the end the Roman foederati Saxons couldn't stand against the Gepid nobles and the army morale collapsed as they were overrun.

[toxicpixie]

1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Impetus Baroque
2) What armies were confronted? - Early Imperialists vs Swedes
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Yes
4) and... was the first time do you use the ruleset? Yes
5) How many players were in the game? - One

As Ms Pixie and the bairn are away, I have some free time so am getting a few games in; last nights was Baroque "I can't believe it's not Bretenfeld". I've just completed some 2mm Irregular figures for it (@£25 for four armies worth, bargain!), and even using multiple blocks per base 60mm "brigade bases" mean a two foot board. Am hoping to drive some easy take up at the club, as it's got a low rules AND table foot print.

Anyway, poor maps meant Tillys deployment hampered him more than helped, Swedes are tough to close on, Tercios are scary until they get shot up, and the Finns are bloody terrifying when you can let 'em rip. Outcome looked like a Swedish defeat for most of the game, until Gustav's cavalry wing stopped dithering in front of a stalled Tercio and left it to race across the back of their lines and stave off a successful flank attack by the Germans. Good stuff, think after a few games it'll be dead quick as I'll have memorised the Reaction options and chances, and not have to keep stopping to think "errr, wait, hang on, some one should do something here, who can do what, err...". Good stuff, well recommended if you're at all an Impetus or c17th fan.

One thing it reminded me is that I really need to buy rules on paper. A tablet copy is great for reading and very portable, but flicking back and forth during a game on it is a pain. I finish with a piccy!

[fred.]

Interesting stuff - I think you could have fitted more of the little blocks on the bases 

I too am thinking about needing a hard copy of impetus - not sure whether to spring £15 to get the PDF printed properly or just print it myself, but it might use that much ink the professional printing and binding would be cheaper!

[toxicpixie]

Interesting stuff - I think you could have fitted more of the little blocks on the bases 

I too am thinking about needing a hard copy of impetus - not sure whether to spring £15 to get the PDF printed properly or just print it myself, but it might use that much ink the professional printing and binding would be cheaper!

Yes, I could have squeezed a lot more on - my inspiration for actually getting them sorted was http://steelonsand.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/2mm%20ECW where he's really got them packed in and it looks even better! However, cost and time and speed meant they were actually a little bit thinner on the ground than I'd have gone for. I'd actually have liked to use 15mm base sizes (12cm wide) and gone "full size" with even more figures on but that would defeat the object of being able to run two games in a one game space

I suspect just buying a copy on dead tree would be cheaper than printing

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Battlesheep
2) What armies were confronted? - Sheep vs Sheep
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Yes, it's battleships, with sheep!
4) and... was the first time do you use the ruleset? - yes
5) How many players were in the game? - 2, my eldest Imi and I.

Imi thrashed me! 🐏⚔🐏

[Leman]

Not sure I agree about the number of blocks per base. Sometimes the sheer number of blocks just makes them look like a blob rather than being able to see the formations being aimed for. Not sure I would do the blocks the same as I did for Langensaltza again. Will try to get a more accurate look next time, but it will probably mean more blocks without flags.

[Leman]

Lemmy got in while I was posting. my post is directed at Toxic.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Shame, coz it makes sense!

[toxicpixie]

For a limited value of "sense", Will Battlesheep, hey? I must keep an eye out for that for me and the bairn

Andy, I liked your Langensalza chaps - I went for 20mm by 15mm bases for 2mm BB, which in hindsight was an error. I'd already stuck and flocked a shed load of 1866 stuff for an abortive former project, so followed suit. Should have sucked up popping them off and going with larger squares (makes game play easier!), and used a couple of blocks per base for storm columns, or a line and a skirmish for Prussian style etc.

I know what you mean about too many blocks spoiling the look but so long as the base size and figure numbers look about right... which I *think* I hit?! Just bigger bases still could have even more representative figure to man to formation ratios...

[Leman]

Tbh I'm thinking the 3mm ACW blocks are looking better. My next 2mm effort will be the frontier battles in 1866 so I'll be looking to do Austrian columns v Prussian lines. Will use Millenary's photos for inspiration.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

This is not the game we played, but if anything looks more fun!
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/54137/battle-sheep

[Ithoriel]

If we're doing animal themed games you might like Battle Cattle: The Card Game

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2458/battle-cattle-card-game

I picked up a set second hand at one of the board game conventions.

[toxicpixie]

The 3mm blocks give a lot more "wiggle room" for actual painting instead of the very "squint at arms length" that the 2mm blocks give... your's in the photo's do look good!

Will, your link looks a bit like Wooly Bully? That's fun, I got that as a Crimble pressie for sister & BiL... Ithoriel, I have a copy of Battle Cattle! Fully compatible with the Car Wars card game

I wonder if I still have "Danger! Unexploded Cows!" in the loft...

[toxicpixie]

1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Frostgrave
2) What armies were confronted? - My Level 24 Necromancer versus a regular opponents level 16 Necromancer.
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Very.
4) and... was the first time do you use the ruleset? - Nope, not at all
5) How many players were in the game? - two

We're part way through the "Liche Lord" campaign, and last nights game was where he shows his hand - as usual we were skirmishing over treasure in the ruined city of Felstad, but this time over a square full of treasure, in a snow storm. Then the green lightning hit the obelisks at the corners, and the dead rose all across the city...

My opponent brought a knife to a gun fight, and rolled appallingly in the first couple of turns we contacted, going down to 50% losses and securing only one treasure for me seeing loss of a single warhound and securing the other five treasures. Quite rapidly he was down to just his Wizard in the central square facing everyone in my warband who hadn't run off with treasure (his apprentice and two archers decided to peg it with their single treasure token)!

I tried to set it up so my Wizard could finish off his, but stuffed it and killed him with someone else before I could get in, having been rather hampered by the skeletons rising all round me.

Fortunately for my opponent he didn't lose anyone permanently in the post game rolls, which is good as he's been hammered recently and got very little treasure. I used my new Telekinesis and Fog spells for the first time, and they're an awesome combo. I can see why our Enchanter had done so well before as they're his favourites Funny, when you start it looks like the blast spells are overpowered, just a little bit of thought and they become a bit irrelevant ;0

Later tonight, ECW Baroque, hopefully (solo), and tomorrow D&D.

[Bodvoc]

1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Baroque
2) What armies were confronted? -  1643 Royalist v Parliamentarian
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Mainly, yes.
4) and... was the first time do you use the ruleset? - We have had several games now and are getting used to the rules, not even needed the reference sheet for factors now.
5) How many players were in the game? - 3, two parliamentarian commanders trying to get across the river in a vain attempt to stop a Royalist advance, we got thumped, not helped by the fact that the dice did not allow us to finds the fords quickly enough and my gallant charge across the only bridge led to the untimely demise of Sir Thomas Fairfax.

Another great game of Baroque did lead me to wonder about how Dragoons are rated and I would quite like to hear from other Baroque players on this issue. With their VBU of 5 matching most Pike and Musket units rating also of 5 (or at best 6) a unit of dragoons is an equal match to most Pike and Shot units who get no bonus for their pike in the melee with Dragoons being rated as Mounted Infantry (not a Mounted unit as detailed in the troop classifications). 
Any thoughts or opinions?

[toxicpixie]

Played an ECW solo game the other night, and Dragoons... well, with even a point lower VBU they got blown away as soon as any serious P&M units got blasting! Or shoved out the way quite easily as the lines closed up. They were *very* useful whilst they lasted, though.

I'd have to play a bit more to really comment though. I try not to monkey with stuff these days until we've blasted through as written a *lot*.

[Leman]

1. FOG

2. Late Romans v Picts

3. Not really. Can't get my head around the abstract way units manoeuvre. Also find it difficult to play when it appears you need to know in intimate detail what your army is capable of and what your opponents army is capable of, and there are about three million army lists and honestly I'm not that arsed. Considering PP's Conquerors and Kings as a viable option.

4. No, but I'm just not getting a buzz from them.

5. Two players plus umpire.

[Zippee]

Peter Pig's C&K is a bit dodgy - we tried it, too many holes. If that's the style game you're after try Too The Strongest.

Better still just change to Impetus 

[Leman]

Actually, I discovered To the Strongest today, so may well give it a go.

[mollinary]

Actually, I discovered To the Strongest today, so may well give it a go.

I have now played it quite a bit, and find it great fun. I have even started working on an ECW variant with Simon Miller, the author. I used the Ancient rules to do Pharsalus for the SOA games day, and reprised it at Baccus' Joy of Six show the other week. It worked really well.

Mollinary