By Fire and Sword

[nikharwood]

Once again Anatoli's Blog comes in very handy . For me too many horses to paint (at present ) but a great resource for the future, given that Pike & Shotte covers this period as well.

Yep - good point SteveJ....I thought I'd ordered Pike & Shotte last weekend, but didn't - so I'll have to rectify that methinks...

Good luck dude

Let us know how you get on!

Expect an update over the weeked, Nosher mate...

The satisfying thump (literally... think I might need new floorboards near the front door) of BFAS hitting my doormat today. Had a brief flick through.

Immediate thoughts?

Like
1. The fact that its a proper book

2. Decent background history on the period and forces involved

3. Great to see less popular forces covered

4. Feels like it is value for money - proof will be if its playable

5.  Once I got my head around the army lists I wont need to buy anything new at skirmish level

Dislikes
1.  Somehow feels quite cluttered... I dont know if anyone has a copy of Napoleons Battles? Feels a bit like that...

2.  Pages and pages of army lists - very similar to FOW. Not really sure its all necessary?

3.  The army lists are quite confusing - explanation on how they work feels a bit vague

4.  Lots of GW influence (WYSIWYG, collecting armies, painting figures - dont need it, been doing the hobby for years, dont need advice on paintbrushes, paints etc)

5.  Once I got my head around the army lists I WILL need some more figures to play Divisional Level games

IMHO it's quite playable, once you get the hang of it. We had our misunderstandings at first, but asking a few questions at their forum helped. To me, the strong points are the way battles are set up, based on force point difference. Also, the fact that it uses D10's, and not the ever present D6's gives you a different spread of probabilities. Most units have low hit chances (4's or 3's or even less), so when you do get a number of good scores it can really make a difference. The down side is that you have the rules, and then the army special rules, and then the unit special rules. It all stacks up, it's in different places in the book, and it's not always clear how they influence each other.

That's a consequence of it first being aimed at the Polish market, I guess. It makes it more accessible to beginners. For the English edition, they could have left it out, since it's mostly the old farts who are buying the book (myself included).

Yep - agreed. I think one of the things I like the most is simply the sheer pleasure of it as a "proper book" - it's really nice to pick up & flick through, which is what I seem to be doing this week without sufficient time to read it in-depth properly. I've not managed to digest the rules themselves fully yet - but on the basis of the flick-read I've given them, I'm encouraged.

Yep decided that my 15mm heresy was a scale too far and will be doing them in 10mm Pendraken loveliness, but because of the smaller figures I thought I'd shrink the bases down to 30x15/30x20/30x30, anyone see any problem with that?

Plus it has the advantage of making my 6ft x 4ft table that much bigger when doing divisional (and maybe bigger) games.

Sensible man. Everyone knows that 15mm is the devil's own scale etc etc 

I wouldn't see any problem at all in changing base sizes as long as you're consistent - I'm likely to end up bunging everything onto 40x20 (or poss 50x25) just so that it'll all work with P&S / RenaissanceMaster etc anyway I think.

I'm hoping to be able to finalise my lists on Saturday / Sunday - will bung 'em up here if anyone's interested?

[OldenBUA]

because of the smaller figures I thought I'd shrink the bases down to 30x15/30x20/30x30, anyone see any problem with that?

Base size shouldn't make much of a difference, I think.

I'm hoping to be able to finalise my lists on Saturday / Sunday - will bung 'em up here if anyone's interested?

I would like to see what you came up with, yes. Might come in handy later.

[Nosher]

Everything crossed on the interview/job front dude.

[nikharwood]

I would like to see what you came up with, yes. Might come in handy later.

Cool - just finalising the lists at the moment, will bung them up later...

Everything crossed on the interview/job front dude.

Announcement imminent  

[nikharwood]

Right - news on the interview now posted: http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,9388.0.html

I'll put my lists up in a separate thread...

[nikharwood]

Lists & codes here: http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,9389.0.html

[nikharwood]

Thanks Steve...another rulebook ordered. You're such a bad influence 

Can you send the nurse over again please? 

Oh - by the way - got these from Speedy Hen for £17.79 post-free 

[Steve J]

Wow, that's a good price! I will check these out for future purchases... .

[TinyTerrain]

I  must admit I recently found Speedyhen and have been very impressed.

I just managed to get 2 FOG suppliments for less than 8quid each (not for use with FOG but for the army lists) and The Force on Force Bush Wars book (again for the background info and army lists) for just over 8 quid......all post free!

New and cheaper than Ebay!

Cheers,

Craig
Tiny Terrain Models

[nikharwood]

Hail Caesar is there for £17.79 too...

http://www.speedyhen.com/StoreFront/Product/Rick-Priestley/Hail-Caesar/2920654

[nikharwood]

Here's the search result for 'wargames' - bargains galore...

http://www.speedyhen.com/StoreFront/Search/Books?Keyword=Wargames&fq=01120

[Steve J]

I would have saved £5 or more ordering from Speedy Hen if I'd known about them last month!

[GordonY]

The rulebook arrived today, only had a quick flick but, FWOAR!!!!

Now thats real wargaming porn.

[nikharwood]

The rulebook arrived today, only had a quick flick but, FWOAR!!!!

Now thats real wargaming porn.

Yes. Yes it is. 

[Nick the Lemming]

It is a nice book, and the lists from the kickstarter are still coming every few weeks too. Not sure how many new lists have been added so far since then, but it's quite a few. I think they're all available on the BF&S website too if you didn't do the kickstarter.

[Nosher]

Still trying to summon the energy to give this a go. I have the book, I have the figures already to go, but my gaming mojo has been seriously in decline since late last year.

I haven't raised a brush in anger since October, have played two solo games since December (and packed both games away early because I got bored a few moves in) and I haven't been to the club since December.

Yes works busy, and yes I'm studying. I've joined a gym and smash myself four to five times a week and I've also joined a new volleyball club and train once a week and play most weekends. Pre-season cricket has kicked in and training is in full swing. I'm also mentoring some new coaches under the new ECB coaching scheme.... busy boy, but thoroughly enjoying the new fitness regime which I have neglected for far too long

In between watching the six-nations and The Musketeers and there seems to be little time for anything else, but wargaming has certainly taken a back seat - simply not feeling the love for it at the moment.

[fsn]

Hang in the Nosher. Your wargaming Mojo will refill.

You'll find yourself in a beach volleyball game with bikini clad lovelies thinking "I wonder if the WWI Pendraken Highlanders would be suitable for 1940." You'll be massaging your box in the slips pondering the relative merits of the longbow and the musket or you'll be watching some young lady on the running machine thinking "that's the same motion as captured in SF21x." Perhaps you'll see an episode of "The Musketeers" and think, "Hmm, FSN is right and they're not giving Constance enough to do, but this episode gives me an idea for a scenario" or you'll be watching the rugby and thinking "no, this is actually very boring, I think I'll go and play with myself." and toddle off to the games room.   

ECB will give way to ECW and you'll be back.

If not, post some pics of your collection, and I think I deserve a 10% discount. 

[nikharwood]

Hang in the Nosher. Your wargaming Mojo will refill.

You'll find yourself in a beach volleyball game with bikini clad lovelies thinking "I wonder if the WWI Pendraken Highlanders would be suitable for 1940." You'll be massaging your box in the slips pondering the relative merits of the longbow and the musket or you'll be watching some young lady on the running machine thinking "that's the same motion as captured in SF21x." Perhaps you'll see an episode of "The Musketeers" and think, "Hmm, FSN is right and they're not giving Constance enough to do, but this episode gives me an idea for a scenario" or you'll be watching the rugby and thinking "no, this is actually very boring, I think I'll go and play with myself." and toddle off to the games room.   

ECB will give way to ECW and you'll be back.

If not, post some pics of your collection, and I think I deserve a 10% discount. 

Wot he sed 

[Hertsblue]

Still trying to summon the energy to give this a go. I have the book, I have the figures already to go, but my gaming mojo has been seriously in decline since late last year.

I haven't raised a brush in anger since October, have played two solo games since December (and packed both games away early because I got bored a few moves in) and I haven't been to the club since December.

Yes works busy, and yes I'm studying. I've joined a gym and smash myself four to five times a week and I've also joined a new volleyball club and train once a week and play most weekends. Pre-season cricket has kicked in and training is in full swing. I'm also mentoring some new coaches under the new ECB coaching scheme.... busy boy, but thoroughly enjoying the new fitness regime which I have neglected for far too long

In between watching the six-nations and The Musketeers and there seems to be little time for anything else, but wargaming has certainly taken a back seat - simply not feeling the love for it at the moment.

Too much exercise is as bad as too little. Don't leave your best performances (whatever they be) on the training ground.

[Nosher]

I have a day off today and have been trying to read through the rules...

The Fast Play Sheet is very poorly laid out and pivotal sections appear to be missing from it. I cant think of another ruleset where I am having to flick from one page to another to work out sequences of play quite as much as I am having to do so with this set.

This definately isn't a pick up and play game - even at skirmish level. It has taken me the best part of the morning to figure out two opposing forces, get my head around the scenario and work out how to incorporate all of the additional set up rules depending on the scenario.

Feeling like I need another nights sleep before having another go at making things make sense...