What was the last rules set you played 2019

[FierceKitty]

1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - IACTA ALEA EST!
2) What armies were confronted? - Indians vs Macedonians again
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? - 2
6) What went well? - I had most troops where they were needed. The invaders paid for us before their victory.
7) What could have been improved? - Rain crippled my archery, and once bogged down a chariot unit whose support would have been useful. The Macedonians are a lot easier for their leader to predict and control, with disciplined command and movement effects. Freakish rolls meant that the royal elephants caught the companions , but only pushed them back, without destroying them.

[Shecky]

1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Mortem et Gloriam
2) What armies were confronted? - Western Han (me) vs. Mongol (Lance)
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - yes, except one thing. (See below)
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - nope but it was Lance's 2nd time. It was my first time to use my newly painted Han Chinese army.
5) How many players were in the game? - 2. Well 3 actually.  To be honest, 4. It's complicated. We're trying to teach the game to more people.
6) What went well? - I overran the Mongol Camp
7) What could have been improved? - the Mongols overran my camp.

We didn't do the camp fights correctly but as I say, we were consistent in our inconsistencies.

Here are pictures and a write up of the game:
https://gamingreference.blogspot.com/2019/05/a-bad-day-to-go-camping-western-han-vs.html

[Westmarcher]

1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Honours of War
2) What armies were confronted? - Prussia vs. Austria
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - yes.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - no, but it was the first time for my opponent.
5) How many players were in the game? - myself, as the defending Austrians, and our own Steve Holmes, as the attacking Prussians.
6) What went well? - Almost everything went smoothly, the game itself being played at a relaxed pace and the few rule queries we had, were quickly resolved.  We even had time for a cuppa and good chat, half way through. A good introduction to the Rules for Steve - plus, he won.
7) What could have been improved? - Not a lot really because the game moved along so well.  Obviously, one looks back and analyses the 'what-ifs.'  My only regret was not taking photographs to post on (and include a link to) the Honours of War Forum.

The scenario was, "Take the High Ground."  Steve's Prussians had to take two areas of high ground held by my Austrians besieging a nearby town. As the outnumbered defender, I considered that my choices were to either allocate one of my two infantry brigades to defend each area of high ground or concentrate my two brigades to defend one area only, and leave the Grenzers defending the hill-top church yard to their fate. I chose the former and, because I had no cavalry to counter Steve's cavalry, ordered my best troops, my Grenadier brigade, to march across the plain to the help of the isolated Grenzers - at which point, I was hopeful that the combined force might then have been in a position to fall on the flank of the main Prussian assault force. As it turned out, the Prussian cavalry and it's supporting light infantry were more bark than bite, managing only one charge which one of my Grenzer battalions easily evaded, but which did a great job in screening the main Prussian attack. In retrospect, my Grenadiers would have been better suited defending the other area of high ground where, although outnumbered two to one, their superior fighting ability would have coped better with the final musketry fire fight that finally decided the issue in the Prussians' favour.

An enjoyable game, nevertheless, and good company on a wet, West of Scotland afternoon. Well done, Steve! 

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

 
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Mortiem et Gloriam
2) What armies were confronted? - Senguko Samurai vs Frisuan🐄
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - utterly
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - erm.. nope!
5) How many players were in the game? - 2
6) What went well? - catching a pike block in the flank, hitting a unit with elite cavalry, taking Paul's camp in turn 3.
7) What could have been improved? - not getting beaten/enveloped/stomped on.

Lost 8-15, cracking game of elite vs hordes, too many hordes!

[steve_holmes_11]

1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Honours of War
2) What armies were confronted? - Prussia vs. Austria
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - yes.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - no, but it was the first time for my opponent.
5) How many players were in the game? - myself, as the defending Austrians, and our own Steve Holmes, as the attacking Prussians.
6) What went well? - Almost everything went smoothly, the game itself being played at a relaxed pace and the few rule queries we had, were quickly resolved.  We even had time for a cuppa and good chat, half way through. A good introduction to the Rules for Steve - plus, he won.
7) What could have been improved? - Not a lot really because the game moved along so well.  Obviously, one looks back and analyses the 'what-ifs.'  My only regret was not taking photographs to post on (and include a link to) the Honours of War Forum.

The scenario was, "Take the High Ground."  Steve's Prussians had to take two areas of high ground held by my Austrians besieging a nearby town. As the outnumbered defender, I considered that my choices were to either allocate one of my two infantry brigades to defend each area of high ground or concentrate my two brigades to defend one area only, and leave the Grenzers defending the hill-top church yard to their fate. I chose the former and, because I had no cavalry to counter Steve's cavalry, ordered my best troops, my Grenadier brigade, to march across the plain to the help of the isolated Grenzers - at which point, I was hopeful that the combined force might then have been in a position to fall on the flank of the main Prussian assault force. As it turned out, the Prussian cavalry and it's supporting light infantry were more bark than bite, managing only one charge which one of my Grenzer battalions easily evaded, but which did a great job in screening the main Prussian attack. In retrospect, my Grenadiers would have been better suited defending the other area of high ground where, although outnumbered two to one, their superior fighting ability would have coped better with the final musketry fire fight that finally decided the issue in the Prussians' favour.

An enjoyable game, nevertheless, and good company on a wet, West of Scotland afternoon. Well done, Steve! 

Thanks, and yet a couple of different die rolls here and there and it could all have been so different.

Great rules which moved along at a fair rate.
As a newcomer I had little idea how quickly or slowly units would wear down under fire, so it was a relief when my main attack broke through.
In a low cavalry scenario, artillery proved a real winner.

I'm feeling a lot more conversant with the rules after a single outing.
I think I'll need more practice before I'm able to contain those nippy little light battalions.

Thanks for hosting an excellent scenario.
And thanks to all the & years war advocates on this forum who contributed to my conversion.

[FierceKitty]

1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - IACTA ALEA EST!
2) What armies were confronted? - Persians vs Macedonians
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? - 2
6) What went well? - Some poor troops put up a determined fight, which may have kept us in the game long enough to win. If an outnumbered enemy with fewer cavalry leaves it to you to determine where the big horse attack happens, you've got a major advantage.
7) What could have been improved? - Some of my foreign troops refused to cooperate, and I had to be on standby lest they change sides. Others took a while to commit to the Persian cause.

[Leman]

Link to Honours of War forum.

http://honoursofwar.com/

[Westmarcher]

Thanks, Andy. I've now added the BatRep to the Honours of War Forum. As I mentioned, I forgot to take photos. I had even combed my hair. D'oh! But I did attach 3 pre-game photos which I had e-mailed to Steve in advance of the game to give him a fair chance to make his plan.

Thanks again for the game, Steve. Glad you enjoyed your first outing to the Seven Years War.

Incidentally, folks, the game was played on a 3 feet x 3 feet table using Pendraken figures. No prolonged standing and bending over table tennis size tables. Great!

[Leman]

An addendum re scales:

Interestingly HoW has been written to cope with various scales as the author, although a committed 28mm gamer, has had the foresight to make it easy for those who use other scales to play. The website has downloadable playsheets for 28mm, 20mm, 15mm, 10mm and 6mm. The normal range of a musket is equal to infantry unit frontage in the rules, and, as written for 28mm figures, these are both 200mm. The scenarios at the back of the book have also been drawn to this scale and fit a normal 6'x4' table (or thereabouts). However, using 10mm armies I have based up on 25mm squares, with four to a unit (Some 10mm players prefer 5 x 20mm square bases) means that the unit frontage, and musket range, is 100mm. This is the scale used for the 15mm play sheet. In effect it means that the scenario sizes can be halved for 10mm figures, hence Westie's  use of a small table.

A recent game of mine on a compact table, which itself is on a 6x4 table.

[FierceKitty]

1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - A Hundred Circling Camps
2) What armies were confronted? - Dixies and Dam' Yankees
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? - 2
6) What went well? - I was getting thumped by the southern cavalry when my off-table flank march arrived; they were met by an identical unit of rebel horse, and should have got bogged down all game; instead of which, I could roll only sixes. I did very well with the artillery duels as well; this opponent is not good at getting his guns where they're needed. Killed General Lee early on.
7) What could have been improved? - We both had ships, but the first shot of the battle disabled mine, and it drifted off uselessly. Virginia went on to make a nuisance of itself on my left flank until the rebel retreat. Grant and Burnside were both casualties, though the future president recovered after the battle.

[Leman]

1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - This morning - Saga Age of the Crusades
2) What armies were confronted? - Spanish v Saracen
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
6) What went well? - The game ran smoothly with little reference to the rulebook.
7) What could have been improved? - I made the mistake of combining two hearth guard units and thus losing a Saga dice. I would have been better splitting my bow unit in two to avoid that. Otherwise the game played well and, although I took massive losses from the Spanish crossbows, I did wipe out two Spanish units and ended losing by only one point.

[Norm]

1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - BKC IV
2) What armies were confronted? - Canadian v German
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - still feeling my way through it
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - No
5) How many players were in the game? -  solo
6) What went well? - The fact that whether you are using tank, infantry or artillery fire, the processes are the same, making play much slicker.
7) What could have been improved? - I should have put Commanding Officers in the O-o-B really, I should have downloaded the play aid sheets at the start of the game... rather than at the end!

[FierceKitty]

1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - IACTA ALEA EST.
2) What armies were confronted? - Imperial Romans vs Sassanids
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
6) What went well? - Honestly, Fanny Adams! OK, artillery killed their king, but it was one success among half a dozen failures.
7) What could have been improved? - Well, I blocked the evasion of one of my few light cavalry units, got them ridden down, and then had the routers disorder the legion behind them, who were caught in the follow-up. In retrospect, that was careless, and against these cavalry-strong enemies you can't afford that.

[sunjester]

1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Sharp Practice
2) What armies were confronted? - Billy Yank vs Johnny Reb
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - Yes for me, Jim has played quite a lot
5) How many players were in the game? -  Two
6) What went well? - The game ran reasonably well with minimal need to consult the rulebook, i picked it up quickly as the mechanisms are a mix if Chain of Command and I Ain't Bin Shot Mum, both of which I am familiar with.
7) What could have been improved? - I made the mistake of not taking shock off units quickly enough. They became difficult to move and allowed his skirmishers to keep out of my fire arc whilst picking me off.

[FierceKitty]

1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - IACTA ALEA EST.
2) What armies were confronted? - Imperial Romans vs Sassanids
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
6) What went well? - Honestly, Fanny Adams! OK, artillery killed their king, but it was one success among half a dozen failures.
7) What could have been improved? - Well, I blocked the evasion of one of my few light cavalry units, got them ridden down, and then had the routers disorder the legion behind them, who were caught in the follow-up. In retrospect, that was careless, and against these cavalry-strong enemies you can't afford that.

Same again, except I nearly won this time. Phew - I see why the Romans had trouble with these lads in reality.

[Shecky]

1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Mortem et Gloriam
2) What armies were confronted? - Western Han vs. Gorguryeo Korean
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? -  Four
6) What went well? - We're getting more people playing the game and building armies.
7) What could have been improved? - as always, die rolling.

Pictures can be found on my web site.
https://gamingreference.blogspot.com/2019/06/they-couldnt-hit-broadside-of-barn.html

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Nice report

[Leman]

1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Saga Age of the Crusades
2) What armies were confronted? - Spanish v Saracen
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
6) What went well? - The game ran smoothly with little reference to the rulebook.
7) What could have been improved? - This time I kept the Hearthguard units separate and instead split the 12 man archer unit into two sixes. Initially successful, but eventually overwhelmed by the three Spanish warrior units. Both warlords died.

[mmcv]

1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Pike and Shotte
2) What armies were confronted? - James vs William at the Boyne
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Mostly
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - Yes
5) How many players were in the game? -  Two
6) What went well? - Game played out well despite teaching and learning as I went. Played out my own scenario that worked surprisingly well.
7) What could have been improved? - messed up a few rules, mostly minor stuff but one at the end lost me the game awh well, was a fun game with a bit if back and forth without being totally one sided.

http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=18744

[Leman]

1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - yesterday - Saga Age of the Crusades
2) What armies were confronted? - Spanish v Moors
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Sort of
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - First time with the new battle boards
5) How many players were in the game? -  Two
6) What went well? - I started to use the early moves to build advantages on my battle board.
7) What could have been improved? - We got confused about shooting and melee. Made the mistake of not letting the defender fight back in melee, which totally ruined the plan I had for using my light cavalry. Got round the back of some Spanish warriors, lobbed my javelins and made to ride off. In his move my opponent attacked me and wiped me out without me replying, which could have made a big difference. Meanwhile my Black Guard had wandered off round the enemy flank and didn't do anything until move 6. Lessons learned (I think) - Get the Black Guard in early. Spend no more than two turns building up the battle board. Shoot whenever possible, as levies will get destroyed. Not sure that playing troops historically actually works that well - didn't seem to do my javelin armed cavalry much good. First they become very vulnerable when mounted (yet the Crusades supplement states that this is what Moorish armies relied on) and second their firepower with javelins is very limited being only 1 die per 2 figures. In order to make an attack with javelins you need 1 Saga die to activate to ride into range, 1 Saga die to lob your javelins (only 4D6 if the full 8 figures are there), 1 Saga die to then withdraw. Should you wish to increase the number of attack dice then more Saga dice need to come from the combat bonus area of the board. Oh, and you will also have picked up two fatigues for this manoeuvre. Considering this is supposed to be the top tactic of the Moors it means the rest of the war band is mostly doing nothing. With only 6 turns in a game using this tactic more than once means little else is going on. Furthermore (as happened to me) the Spanish have a response on their battle board which can cancel an activation of the enemy, so after careful planning my Moors were unable to throw their pitifully small number of javelins anyway. An interesting mental exercise but I'm not sure it is representing history.