BBB First Thoughts and Queries

[toxicpixie]

You'd probably be well off playing the rules and period as written a few times before tweaking for other periods. See what you need to change an see what works. That said you're right on the money re:period within the period - there's a wealth of difference of ability, tactics, organisation, technology across a hundred years

[Leman]

Makes no odds to me. I'm sold on Honours of War for the C18th. I'm not even interested in the Napoleonic battles for BBB as I am definitely most interested in the post 1850 period.

[Chris Pringle]

Chris

I bought the rules but have not used them as yet. The reason for not using them is that I am having difficulty understanding where you
placed the benchmark for what is a bloody big battle and what isn't and therefore outside the basic idea of the rules.

This first occurred when you recommended using Montebello as a good starting point. To me at least this action does not qualify as a 'bloody big battle' which then left me confused with regard to the underlying concepts. Now mention is being made of the AWI. Again I find it difficult to see how the size of actions in that conflict can be reasonably recreated by rules designed for significantly larger engagements.

What am I missing?

Chad

Hi Chad,

Fair questions! The original point of BBB was to do what other rulesets didn't seem to (at least, not to the satisfaction of our group): to let you fight battles of about 40,000+ men a side in an evening.

But after publication, players began asking for smaller 'training scenarios' they could use to learn the rules before pitching into the big battles. Hence Montebello and Langensalza. Some players have been happily downscaling to create scenarios for divisional-sized actions in the Sikh Wars and other colonial battles. Others have been designing scenarios for the small Franco-Prussian actions that I had considered outside BBB's remit. So the 'shrinking' of BBB to cover SSS (Somewhat Small Scuffles) is all player-driven.

Similarly with the talk of extending forwards to WWI and back to C18. These are well outside my own main interest and expertise. The only reason I've been kicking these ideas around is because of public demand from players. I agree that the features you list would need to be considered in a C18 variant. I think they could be covered simply and realistically but I haven't given it any serious thought or research. Some time, maybe.

For now, there are something like 55 BBB historical scenarios available in the rulebook, the BBEB companion volume, and the Yahoo group files. Why not pick one you're interested in and give it a go?

Chris
Bloody Big BATTLES!
https://uk.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/BBB_wargames/info
http://bloodybigbattles.blogspot.fr/

[Nosher]

Thanks Chris

Sorry Nosher. Back to the original thread

No worries - and sorry to have not responded sooner. Working all weekend and now 'back at school - meant to be studying' and I am. Just studying something not work related

Even brought BBB away with me for the week away from home to break up essay writing/research reading

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Sorry to jump in chaps,
Wondering whether my 75mm by 75mm bases are at all usable with these rules?

[Chris Pringle]

Wondering whether my 75mm by 75mm bases are at all usable with these rules?

Morning Lemmey,

It would obviously be imperfect and in some ways inconvenient but I expect you could make it work.

For units of 2-3 bases you could use a single 75x75 base, and for those of 4-7, two 75x75 bases.
Artillery units might be a problem as each unit is a single 1"x1" base. Having them take up so much more room could distort things. But maybe it would still work.

You would need ways to note both what formation the unit is in (line, depth, or column of march) and how many standard 1"x1" bases it actually represents.

Chris

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Thanks Chris.
Am going to play Nick Overland in a couple of weeks, might have to use his kit (my artillery is on 1.5" by 3" depth)!

[Chris Pringle]

Actually I seem to remember having to do something similar when I visited a friend and we used his block-mounted ACW troops. It was OK. Since your artillery isn't unduly oversized, the rest should be fine.

Greetings to Nick O.

Chris

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Will do Chris. 

[Shedman]

Wondering whether my 75mm by 75mm bases are at all usable with these rules?

I use 40x30mm so I would treat your bases as two stands

As Chris says you will need some method of flagging 1/2 bases and formation

Alan

[Gennorm]

I've ordered the rules and supplement to collect at Salute.

Just been to the garage and checked my 10mm (Pendraken of course) Franco-Prussian War forces. About 80 bases of infantry and 8 guns plus a few cavalry bases per side on the 1" bases. Not painted in the same league as Lemmy's but reckon they should do. Also got similar number of Union in 6mm with the Rebs and some buildings in a bag. 2 new periods with minimal outlay. Result!

Nick

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Excellent news Nick! Looking forwards to it!

[Leman]

My next game down the club will be to introduce another member to BBB, via Spicheren, for which I have the troops and terrain ready prepared. Looking forward to it as I have become much more au fait with the rules.

[ronan]

Hello

I've read the rules and like what I read 
But no army ready.

What scenario would be OK for a first game ?  ( I also bought BBEB )
( I think I'll play Crimean War, but may proxy a scenario when I'm ready)

[Steve J]

On the Yahoo Group there are some small scale scenarios that are perfect for training games. Montebello and Langensalza spring to mind as good ones to start with. Hope this helps Ronan?

[ronan]

I'll check.
Thank you !

edit : I checked ! that's Ok. THANK YOU !

[Steve J]

Well as planned my thoughts on the day:

http://wwiiwargaming.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/bloody-big-battles-bash.html

And some more pics to tempt you...

[Techno]

Thanks for sharing those, Steve.

Great piccies. 

Cheers - Phil

[Fenton]

Took me a few minutes wondering why there were pikemen at the front of the army

Nice pics Steve

[Steve J]

Took me a few minutes wondering why there were pikemen at the front of the army