Putting together generic multi period scenarios

[Norm]

I am having a go at making up three or four basic scenario's, you know the sort 'capture the bridge', capure the village' etc, but making them short and fast for a typical mid-week play and also making them usable over different periods. Anyway, here is a link for the first one one the blog. LINK



http://battlefieldswarriors.blogspot.com/2022/11/generic-multi-period-scenario-creation.html

[paulr]

A great idea Norm

It might be a bit clearer if you changed the order in which you describe the process to something like this.
1. Forces - including Optional rules for forces (so you know if you have elite cavalry)
2. Admin (including choosing baselines)
3. Special Rules
4. Winning

I look forward to seeing the rest

[Norm]

Thanks Paul, yes that makes much better sense. Going out now (wargaming :-) ) will reconstruct in the morning.

[steve_holmes_11]

This is very useful.

I've recently been discussing scenarios (or the lack of useful ones for otherwise excellent rules).

What I learned is that producing scenarios isn't easy, and requires a bit of lateral thought.
I find that part way through design I've picked a side and am scheming over how to crush the enemy.

[fred.]

Thanks for sharing Norm

On deployment, I assume each player is deploying on a long edge?  Can the player at the top (North) edge of the map deploy to the West of the river? 

We tend to avoid rivers in many of our games - would be very interested if someone plays this with melee focused armies. 

[Norm]

Thanks all.

Steve, I suppose there is a bit more latitude in working with a new scenario when playing solo as you can tweak along the way without offending or causing argument.

I agree about the subconscious design around a preconceived notion as to how the situation 'should' play out. I must admit that the scenario was staged with horse and musket in mind, so I am keen to test it against WWII forces to stress the scenario.

Fred - yes, long edges only and units can deploy either side of the river. The presence / shape / placement of this river gives the players as much to think about as the bridge itself. What is really interesting is that in my mock up, I put all of the forces on one side of the river and hadn't even considered putting a brigade sized formation on the other bank, it just goes to strengthen Steve's points above about pre-conception creeping into the scenario intention / design.   

[Chris Pringle]

Hi Norm,

Nice idea. Can I offer you a concept to consider as a basis for one of your generic scenarios? The two scenarios I always recommend for new BBB players - or just for a quick fun game - are Langensalza (1866) and Montebello (1859). What they have in common is an incentive for the weaker side to attack, basically as a bluff to look stronger than they are. So long as they keep attacking, they either deter the opposition from committing reinforcements (the French discouraging the Austrians at Montebello) or deter them from attacking (the Prussians pinning the Hanoverians behind the river Unstrut in front of Langensalza). This makes for nice asymmetry and unpredictability and the games are always fresh. I imagine the concept would translate well across periods. If you like it, help yourself.

Scenarios freely available in the BBB group files:
https://groups.io/g/bloodybigbattles

Chris

[Norm]

Thanks Chris, I have just taken possession of a Montebello boardgame (in the `jours de Gloire system), so I will explore that.

[Chris Pringle]

Thanks Chris, I have just taken possession of a Montebello boardgame (in the `jours de Gloire system), so I will explore that.

Sure, do that, but I encourage you actually to look at the scenario special rules in the BBB scenarios to see how they create the 'bluff' effect, in case you want to adopt/adapt them.

[Norm]

Chris, how do I get Access to that scenario? I visited, but am not a member of groups and cannot see a files button anywhere and the search panel has not given me an obvious location.

[Chris Pringle]

You do have to join the group, but don't worry, it's easy, it doesn't cost anything and you can leave when you've had enough! Once you're in, you'll see the Files in the lefthand menu. Go to the 1859 and 1866 folders to get the scenarios.

Chris

[Big Insect]

There is a very good Search & Destroy scenario from Future War Commander.
Ideal for routing out insurgents - I can see it being used for Romans hunting German tribal raiders, through Normans tracking down Hereward the Wake right the way through to modern & sci-fi.

I'll dig out my FWC copy and publish it here (when I can find my rules book).