What was the last ruleset you played 2017?

[paulr]

1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? – Big Battle DBA 3.0
2) What armies were confronted? –
     III/66 Fatimid Egyptian 969-1171AD, III/74b Other Seljuq Turkish 1037-1276AD, IV/6a Syrian 1092-1286AD vs
     IV/1a Komnenan Byzantine 1071-1142AD, IV/2 Cilician Armenian 1071-1375AD, IV/7 Early Crusader 1096-1128AD

3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? – third game of BBDA 3.0, second multi-player game
5) How many players were in the game? – four, two of our regular group couldn't make it

The Crusaders supported by the Armenians and Byzantines invaded Syria.



A couple of turns in the Byzantines (top left) are advancing lead by their Light Horse. The Armenians (centre left) have lost the race for the central gentle hill but their Bow have drawn first blood, an element of Turkish Cavalry. The Crusader (bottom left) Knights are slowly moving out to the flank behind a screen of Spear and Crossbows.

The Egyptian (top right) foot have grabbed the central gentle hill while their mounted deploy to cover the right flank. The Turkish (centre right) cavalry, including their General, have found themselves facing a wall of Armenian and Crusader Bow with only limited foot to support them. The Turkish Light Horse wait in column for an opportunity. The Syrian (bottom left) Cavalry move forward looking to outflank the Crusader Spear while their limited foot and Light Horse wait in reserve (are stranded due to a lack of PIPs).



The Crusader Knights and Syrian Cavalry clash on the flank, this went on for most of the game with the heavier knights often pushing the cavalry back but getting isolated when following up their success.



The Turkish cavalry have redeployed to the other side of the central gentle hill away from the bow and into a gap that has opened between the Byzantines and the Armenians. The Turkish Light Horse have also moved to right sensing opportunities. Casualties, mainly from Bow, are mounting for both the Turks and Syrians.

The Armenian Knights move to their left to support the Byzantines who are feeling threatened by the advancing Egyptian Cavalry.



The Byzantine Bow in the scrub are disrupting the Turkish and Egyptian Cavalry. The outnumbered Byzantine Light Horse are about to be overwhelmed by the Egyptian Cavalry.



The Egyptian Cavalry has destroyed the Byzantine Light Horse and are making progress against the Byzantine Cavalry. The Byzantine Knights on the small hill are not in a position to intervene.



With the Byzantines to their left about to become demoralised the Armenian infantry desperately charge up the hill into the Egyptian Spear and Blades. Even with overlaps the results are as expected, one element of Armenian Spear dead and various recoils along the line, the Egyptian blade following up.



At the top the Egyptian Cavalry mop up enough of the demoralised Byzantine Cavalry to break that command. With both the Armenians and the Crusaders having lost 3 elements, including Bow to an element of Syrian Horde this is enough to break the army.

On the other side both the Syrians and Turks has lost 3 elements and so were one element away from demoralisation. A close fought win to the Syrians, Turks and Egyptians.
I was pleasantly surprised when asked if we could play a third game next week. It looks like the rules and armies are a hit

[toxicpixie]

Excellent stuff! Looks good - nice work on the figures and the game

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Superb looking game!

[Westmarcher]

1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Lion Rampant
2) What armies were confronted? - One retinue of medieval thugs mainly mounted on horses vs. another retinue of medieval heroes (guess which side I was on) mainly with bows (in 28mm).
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - no
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - yes.
5) How many players were in the game? - two.

I paid a visit to Glasgow Wargames Club and was kindly invited to participate in a game of Lion Rampant. First game, not my period and not read the rules before but thanks to Rab (thanks for giving up your game) and my opponent Steve's expert guidance (and patience) I was able to experience an enjoyable set of rules and participate in an enjoyable game. Result? It didn't matter - but for those who are interested, I was told it was a "winning draw." 

[Luddite]

1) What ruleset do you use in your last game?

Warband

2) What armies were confronted?

Barbarians vs. Night Elves

3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset?

Yes

4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset?

No

5) How many players were in the game?

Two

[Chris Pringle]

1) What ruleset do you use in your last game?

At a class at the US Naval War College, using BBB as a serious educational tool for serving officers.

2) What armies were confronted?

Franco-Prussian War - French vs Germans at Froeschwiller, 1870

3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset?

Considering that almost all the players were total newbies not just to BBB but to wargaming, yes, very comfortable. (I was just an assistant instructor.)

4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset?

Not for this purpose, no, but first time for all the players.

5) How many players were in the game?

Eleven US military officers ranking from equivalent of army captain to lieutenant-colonel.

Full report on my blog here:
http://bloodybigbattles.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/wargaming-at-us-naval-war-college.html

Chris

Bloody Big BATTLES!
https://uk.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/BBB_wargames/info

[Roy]

X-Wing. At Skywalker's Redcar Ironbeards club. Got beat. Again.

but i did manage to actually shoot an enemy fighter down this time - progress! 

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Very cool Chris! 

[skywalker]

Roy Williamson your tactics are improving, next week you could get your revenge 

[paulr]

1) What ruleset do you use in your last game?

At a class at the US Naval War College, using BBB as a serious educational tool for serving officers.

2) What armies were confronted?

Franco-Prussian War - French vs Germans at Froeschwiller, 1870

3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset?

Considering that almost all the players were total newbies not just to BBB but to wargaming, yes, very comfortable. (I was just an assistant instructor.)

4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset?

Not for this purpose, no, but first time for all the players.

5) How many players were in the game?

Eleven US military officers ranking from equivalent of army captain to lieutenant-colonel.

Full report on my blog here:
http://bloodybigbattles.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/wargaming-at-us-naval-war-college.html

Chris

Bloody Big BATTLES!
https://uk.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/BBB_wargames/info

Impressive

[Leman]

1. FoG

2. Some Spanish Moors, can't remember which but they began with an A, v Navarrese c.1175

3. Nope, don't think I'm ever going to feel comfortable with these. They are just too fiddly.

4. I've now had about a dozen FoG games but I just have no feeling for them, which Is probably why I'm not arsed about understanding them.

5. Three players. I acted as the A Moors sub-commander, followed my orders, they won and I couldn't have cared less. Thank god we're moving on to 10mm ECW and Forlorn Hope next - a period and set of rules I really enjoy.

[Chris Pringle]

Very cool Chris! 

Impressive

Thanks, fellers. I'll admit to being chuffed. 

Chris

[Westmarcher]

Good for you, Chris.   

Newport's nice. All expenses paid?     Were they playing with miniatures or Kriegspiel type blocks?

[Chris Pringle]

Were they playing with miniatures or Kriegspiel type blocks?

Cheers, Westie. The armies are Baccus 6mm. There have been some casualties as they are a bit fragile for newbies with hands that are trained to kill.

When Nick first developed this class he used conventional 3D wargames terrain complete with hills, trees, houses etc. However the set-up time for such a complex battlefield is quite long, so we created a battlemat for instant set-up. I'm working on doing these for all the BBB scenarios now, with the idea of making the files available to BBB players in a suitable format.

Chris

[toxicpixie]

Looks great, Chris! Am only slightly jealous

[Leman]

Good write up on the blog and a great way to spread the rules and the C19th in general. And I am very jealous.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Field Of Glory Renaissance
2) What armies were confronted? - My 10mm LOA Anglo-Dutch vs Gennorm's 10mm Later Louis XIV French. Yes, two 10 mm armies facing each othe. It was glorious!
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Absolutely
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - this year...
5) How many players were in the game? - Gennorm and I plus two new players.



This is the end of deployment, ignore Mr Spratt at the end there....
Great game. French artillery blew away one of my units by turn 2! That meant that for three shooting phases the two French guns scored at least one hit (5&6 on 2d6) and I failed a save (1 on a d6), which I dualy managed...
They charged one unit of my Dutch Guards with the French foot guards and another unit, both impact foot, outnumbering me 2:1, out classing me in morale, and they and lost!

The French elite cavalry ploughed into my cavalry wing, and one of his units lost too! One of mine eventually broke, but it was enough to secure my flank.
However....
With their two infantry and one cavalry on my left broken, in reply to one infantry and one cavalry of mine,  (two Guard of units not wanting to fight, what is it about you and Guards Gennorm?), the French, with a smaller, more elite, and better army on the charge were worried.
Meanwhile, on the right, Mark's French cavalry could not miss, putting in an average of five hits a fight out of six (Impact mounted elites with a General on the way in, reroll any misses, YUCK!). Graham, with two of my cavalry shattered and broken, had to hold on, but were the cavalry contacts were far enough away to let him win the centre infantry tussle?
In the centre a combination of two batteries of artillery, the two Danish units and an Irish unit shot two approaching French infantry away why a well handled series of moves. Perfectly done, especially as the French morale Dice suddenly deserted them!
It only left the Dutch Guards to take the French artillery park that had caused to much consitination in the first half of the game for the Anglo-Dutch to walk away with a 18-7 win (or a masssive tonking for the French)!

[Womble67]

Sounds good

Take care

Andy

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

The Anglo-Dutch have intercepted a coded intercept to Louis xIV himself...
Gennorm:
"Your majesty I have good news and bad news of our battle against the Engish pigdergs".
"Tres bien Luxembourg, what is the bad news?"
"We got absolutely hammered Mon Roi".
"Merde, what's the good news?"
"I got a purple caramel-hazelnut from the Quality Street :0)"

[Gennorm]

two Guard units not wanting to fight, what is it about you and Guards Gennorm?

I forgot my New Year's Resolution about giving up guards for 2017 

N