DBA - A case for less is more?

Started by Steve J, 28 April 2013, 05:23:49 PM

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Steve J

Well after many, many years of hearing about these rules, I finally had a chance to play them on Friday. I must admit I was very taken with them and have put up some thoughts on my Blog. I know they have those that love and those that hate them as rules, but I think this is the case with every ruleset!

http://wwiiwargaming.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/less-is-more-discuss.html

Nosher

Nice one Steve ;)

Still drag out DBA from time to time for quick games where time is tight. Prefer it to Dux Bellorum, in fact the first time I played DB I remembered playing DBA and thought it quite similar in scale and scope.
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Frank Carson

Phobos

Good game, in fact, and the origin for my beloved DBMM.

Luddite

DBA, especially the new version is an excellent set of rules.

Definitely 'love/hate' rules - i'm in the love camp.

DBA, DBM and HotT are perennial favourites.  DBR amd DBMM less so.

Played a v3 DBA big battle a while ago http://luddite1811.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/DBA%20v3
http://www.durhamwargames.co.uk/
http://luddite1811.blogspot.co.uk/

"It is by tea alone i set my mind in motion.  It is by the juice of Typhoo my thoughs acquire speed the teeth acquire stains, the stains serve as a warning.  It is by tea alone i set my mind in motion."

"The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules." - Gary Gygax
"Maybe emu trampling created the desert?" - FierceKitty

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GordonY

I love hauling out HoTT every now and again, why HoTT and not DBA, well you can just about chuck any minis that you have lying around into an army. I've just given my Orcy boyz a 28mm Minataur as a behemoth, busy painting up a 28mm young dragon as a forest dragon for my Elven pansies. But yeah if you want to fit in 4 or 5 games in a normal club night DBA or HoTT is the way to go, DBR/DBM/DBMM less so as they can tend more towards gameyness depending on the player.

SV52

The variations are pretty good too, like DBA RRR for Renaissance.  Different army lists than DBA of course with extra troop types but rules identical, uses same book.
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OldenBUA

DBA is a nice enough game on it's own, often discarded as DBM's 'little brother', but it's a bit more than that. And where it really shines (IMHO anyway) is the little campaign system. If you can get enough players together, and sufficient time, you should really try this some time. The added level of the slow attrition during sieges, the strategic position around the battle and all the diplomatic shenanigans makes playing for keeps =) very interesting. And it's quick enough to actually finish in a reasonable amount of time.
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Fenton

We had some nice short quick campaigns when it first came out, we could get as campaign done in a month with maybe a night a wekk set aside to play a lot of the games..fond memories, though it sort of died when DBM came out
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Hertsblue

DBA leans towards the "game" side of wargaming. I've always thought it was a half-way house between chess and proper free-form wargaming. The advantages have been set out above; the great disadvantage is that, as it's reliant on dice rolls, it can be something of a lottery. However, as an hour or so's entertainment it's first rate.
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Steve J

The DBA RRR version looks very interesting :). I am looking forward to the campaign side of things as well.

Fenton

Were using Basic Impetus now for the same thing..standard armies and quick games though not as quick as DBA was
If I were creating Pendraken I wouldn't mess about with Romans and  Mongols  I would have started with Centurions , eight o'clock, Day One!

Leman

DBA is great with 10mm figures on 28mm bases and a 4'x4' table. It looks like a battle, plays really well, armies can be assembled cheaply and quickly (in my case it means I can have more) and the armies can be expanded for use with Impetus. What's not to like! I do like Dux Bellorum though.
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Bishop Lord

A great set of rules though only used the 2.2 version, not the earlier ones though I may give the new 3.0 a go if and when it comes out.

Jason.
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SV52

Quote from: Bishop Lord on 30 April 2013, 07:24:00 AM
A great set of rules though only used the 2.2 version, not the earlier ones though I may give the new 3.0 a go if and when it comes out.

Jason.

Latest draft version is in the files section of the DBA Yahoo Group (need to be a member to get it).
"The time has come, the walrus said..."

2017 Paint-Off - Winner!

Luddite

Its jolly good too.

The tweaks have made it a much better game in my opinion. 
http://www.durhamwargames.co.uk/
http://luddite1811.blogspot.co.uk/

"It is by tea alone i set my mind in motion.  It is by the juice of Typhoo my thoughs acquire speed the teeth acquire stains, the stains serve as a warning.  It is by tea alone i set my mind in motion."

"The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules." - Gary Gygax
"Maybe emu trampling created the desert?" - FierceKitty

2012 Painting Competition - Runner-Up!

"I have become inappropriately excited by the thought of a compendium of OOBs." FSN