1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? -
2) What armies were confronted? -
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? -
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? -
5) How many players were in the game? -
6) What went well? -
7) What could have been improved? -
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - King of Tokyo
2) What armies were confronted? - Megazilla, Mekazilla, Cybercat
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - for Mrs Lemmey and Lemmey the smallest, yes.
5) How many players were in the game? - 3
6) What went well? - all of it.
7) What could have been improved? - a table cloth, the dice are LOUD! ;)
Rach, our 6 year-old, won! We only played to 10 Victory points, but it was fun.
Well done that man =D> =D> =D>
Was Lemmy the smallest Cybercat, or am I stereotyping :-\
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? - Flames of War V2 :-[
2) What armies were confronted? B Company, 2nd Battalion, East Yorkshire v 5/125 Panzergrenadierregiment, June 1944
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - mainly, only play it when my son is in town, so quite rusty
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? - not much it was a narrow win to the British commanded by the grandson of a member of the unit
7) What could have been improved? - using a better rule set ;)y
Off to a swift start there chaps. Get my first 2019 workout tomorrow with a 10mm Maurice SYW game.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Fast Play Fleets - Star Trek
2) What armies were confronted? - United Federation of Planets v Klingon Empire
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - no, but have not played them for a couple of years
5) How many players were in the game? - 2
6) What went well? - the Klingon massed tactics
7) What could have been improved? - the range of Klingon weapons, ending up just out of your torpedo range while inside the enemies is not good
Another game I occasionally play with my son when he is in town
The author sums up the rules as Crash Bang Wallop ... Zoom
Game played on 1 January 2019.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? Whipping Bobby Lee.
2) What armies were confronted? Federal & Confederate, Battle for Wilson's Creek.
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? Bit rusty, not played for a few years.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? No.
5) How many players were in the game? 5 (large table 6 x 12 ft.)
6) What went well? Well designed scenario reflected the complicated nature of this battle.
7) What could have been improved? Nothing really game went well, the Union forces performed better than history.
Martin
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Black Powder
2) What armies were confronted? - Bavarians vs Saxony 1867/8
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - uttery
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - no
5) How many players were in the game? - three
6) What went well? - The Saxons fought the larger and more aggresive Bavarians to a halt.
7) What could have been improved? - all the generals!
Report to follow!
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Warmaster Ancients
2) What armies were confronted? - Imperial Romans v Britons in 10mm Pendraken goodness (there may have been one or two miniatures from other wargames companies, but that is just between me and you)
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Yes, not played for a while but it all came flooding back
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - No, played many times including the Fantasy variant
5) How many players were in the game? - Two
6) What went well? - Two players happy to set up a simple pick up game, not worrying about the points system but simply playing with what was available, keeping the terrain simple. Not filling the table with figures and having room to move troops, elbows, dice and paraphernalia.
7) What could have been improved? - The humans of course! As usual inertia was caused by the Gods of dice hating us.
No games as yet !
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Maurice
2) What armies were confronted? - No frills Austrian v no frills Prussian
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - bit rusty after 3 years, but soon got back into it.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - No
5) How many players were in the game? - two, with one observer
6) What went well? - once we got into the game we really started to motor. I had some terrific luck with my artillery, which removed a unit after only two bombardments. I had a slight hiatus when my left centre was harassed by charging grenadiers, but I managed to rout one and see the other one off. It looked like a proper C18th battle, with the cavalry going in on my left flank and seeing off the opposing cavalry, then falling back to regroup before going forward again about forty minutes later.
7) What could have been improved? - it was my opponents first go at these rules, so the only thing that could have been improved was the speed of play and a conclusion to the game. However we did manage to get through the card deck and into the reshuffled pack in 2 1/2 hours, but it was looking like another couple of hours or so would be needed to finish, we were unable to leave the game up as I was committed to an ACW game this coming Monday, so we packed up.
My opponent loved the uncertainty generated by the card play (years of playing FoG had left him a little jaded). Similarly the observer, also a FoG aficionado, was impressed and would like to have a go, and was even more enthusiastic on discovering I have a Russian army waiting in the wings. Furthermore a fourth member of our group has a very large Pendraken AWI collection so we would also look at playing some games from that conflict using Maurice. The other guys are looking forward to adding in elements of the advanced rules, plus irregulars and then getting into a campaign. All in all a very positive start to 2019.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - To The Strongest!
2) What armies were confronted? - Crusaders and Saracens
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - not overly, still a fair amount of book flipping
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - Second time, though first time playing "properly" rather than just demoing through the book.
5) How many players were in the game? - Solo
6) What went well? - Saracen archery!
7) What could have been improved? - Layout of the rule book, it's very difficult to find the desired information quickly, with the need to read several paragraphs spread across different chapters in the book to work out what to do in a particular situation. Could really benefit from a rules summary or extended quick reference.
Battle report coming soon...
Re. TtS - that rulebook has a long way to go to be as full of fluff as both BP1 and BP2!
Quote from: Leman on 04 January 2019, 08:58:07 PM
Re. TtS - that rulebook has a long way to go to be as full of fluff as both BP1 and BP2!
Yeah, compared to the likes of BP and especially HC given they cover the same era, there's a fair difference in what you get. I don't mind less fluff if the core rules are tight, just felt they meandered a little. Enjoyable game, but think I'm going to need to do a bit of work to do my own quick reference material and unit info to extend what's provided.
Quote from: mmcv on 04 January 2019, 03:18:36 PM
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - To The Strongest!
2) What armies were confronted? - Crusaders and Saracens
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - not overly, still a fair amount of book flipping
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - Second time, though first time playing "properly" rather than just demoing through the book.
5) How many players were in the game? - Solo
6) What went well? - Saracen archery!
7) What could have been improved? - Layout of the rule book, it's very difficult to find the desired information quickly, with the need to read several paragraphs spread across different chapters in the book to work out what to do in a particular situation. Could really benefit from a rules summary or extended quick reference.
Didn't you find the index at the back of rhe rulebook useful? I found it helped me answer pretty well all my queries in seconds. There is also a Quick Reference sheet available to download free from the bigrdedbatshop website.
Battle report coming soon...
Quote from: mollinary on 04 January 2019, 09:37:27 PM
Didn't you find the index at the back of rhe rulebook useful? I found it helped me answer pretty well all my queries in seconds. There is also a Quick Reference sheet available to download free from the bigrdedbatshop website.
Index was useful for general areas but I found I had to flip about a lot to get to the info I needed. For instance, the effects of generals and what happens when they get hit in combat I spent about ten minutes flipping about reading different sections and what I needed was buried in an unmarked paragraph.
Rally was another one I didn't really grasp until I read FK&P, which did clarify it more.
I did use the QRS provided and it's useful for the activation and modifiers info, though had to cross reference a lot for other stuff.
I know Simon is always updating and some of the stuff in the Even Stronger supplement added some interesting tweaks. I know version 2 is in the works too, which I imagine will tidy up a lot. I had a lot of fun with the game, just a minor frustration with finding some of what I need in the rules.
Mmcv,
I share your pain regarding what happens to generals, it is the one thing I always have to look up! Now, after many searches, I know off by heart it is on p51 under 'Failing a Save' which is how it is also marked in the index. I certainly think it would also be useful to index it under 'Generals' Saves'. I will suggest it to Simon.
Yeah I agree a small addition to the index with its own sub heading for that would make it easier to find. I didn't twig that the general wounding behaviour would be under the failing a save, though can see why it is now, but was looking for something in and around other General rules or under its own sub heading.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Test of Honour - Warlord's Samurai skirmish game.
2) What armies were confronted? - Japanese against Japanese, around 15 - 18 each side.
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - No, first play through and we were feeling our way inot it.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - Yep!
5) How many players were in the game? - Two.
6) What went well? - I think we had most of the rules figured out by the end. The token draw activation provides a method to suppress opposition by forcing them to dodge and waste their activation.
7) What could have been improved? -
It's a bit early to say, but the game seems a bit shallow, lots of die rolling to resolve combats very slowly.
Relatively few tactical decisions - just smite the oppo's before they smite you, and hope to roll big.
I think a better scenario and smaller forces would have provided a better introduction.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Longstreet
2) What armies were confronted? -Union v Confederate, eastern theatre 1861
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - no, but a bit rusty
5) How many players were in the game? - 4
6) What went well? - Game flowed quickly once we were into the flow of it. The three new players loved the unpredictability caused by interrupt cards.
7) What could have been improved? - It took two sessions, and in the second session we both forgot to use morale to reduce hits and we also forgot that red banner cards should be removed after use (which is why three swamps appeared during the game).
All three new players agreed that it had been great fun and want to play again.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Frostgrave (At last)
2) What armies were confronted? - Dwarves vs Goblin wizard bands
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - not yey
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? - my apprentice got off every spell he wanted! Poison dart slowing down opposing dwarves so he could get my knight off table with a chest.
7) What could have been improved? - my Witch, hopeless, and my dice, which rolled low, I only got 1 of Chris's warriors, he offer 3 of mine, in a turn, and KO'ed my Witch! Thankfully she recovered afterwards from being badly hurt, with a little help of 100 Gold Coins!
3 chests each, I just got away with it...
A boardgame this time - not even a war themed one.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Flamme Rouge - a bicycle racing boardgame
2) What armies were confronted? - Red team and Blue team (Each with a sprinter and endurance guy)
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Yes, very simple, no exceptional situations, very slick game engine, clever use of cards to manage cyclist energy.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - Yes
5) How many players were in the game? - Just two, 3 or 4 would have added a bit more tension.
6) What went well? - Game played very quickly, rules were clear and required no checking during play. Racetrack constructin is also good - nice robust pieces.
7) What could have been improved? - The expansion set isn't available in the UK - I've ordered from Spellen Domein in Tilburg.
I love Flamme Rouge! The more players, the better it is IMHO.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Post of Honour ( a work in progress set of simple SYW rules by Keith Flint).
2) What armies were confronted? - Austrians vs Prussians.
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Sort of, given it was my first game.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - Yes.
5) How many players were in the game? - Two, the author and myself.
6) What went well? - My Austrians managed to ge the jump on the Prussians and maintained it for most of the game.
7) What could have been improved? - As we were playtesting, not a lot really, mainly just clarifying and tweaking rules here and there. Oh and my shooting at times could have been better.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Mortiem et Gloriam
2) What armies were confronted? - Early Scots vs Vikings (No photos due to massive amount of proxies)
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - indeed
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - this year, yes.
5) How many players were in the game? - two
6) What went well? - light horse shooting a unit of huscarl into submitting, average blokes taking on foaming at the mouth uber warriors.
7) What could have been improved? - my dice rolling, Nick broke me 15-8 In the end, at one point I was 10-0 down!
[/quote]
Hi
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Simon Miller's and Andrew Brentnall's (Mollinary) 'For King and Parliament' (ECW)
2) What armies were confronted? - Royalists v Parliamentarians
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Yep, and my third game.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - See above
5) How many players were in the game? - Two.
6) What went well? - used D10's and chits instead of playing cards and tried out some tags (covered in clear sticky backed plastic, so that they could be used again) attached to units where we marked off ammunition and 'dash'. Both worked well. A lot of fun, so much so in fact that we are repeating the same scenario on Tuesday (Battle of Soggy Bottom).
7) What could have been improved? - Used 15cm grid which limits me to 12 x 8 boxes, looking forward to the warmer weather when I can start using the garage again and have a larger table.
Cheers Paul
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - From Shako to Coal-scuttle
2) What armies were confronted? - French Imperial v Prussian 1870
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Very
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - Yes
5) How many players were in the game? - Solo, but a couple of people called round to try out the rules and have a turn or two.
6) What went well? - Apart from a bit of page flicking the game flowed smoothly and quickly. The initial dice rolls made for unpredictability and excitement, especially suitable for a solo game .
7) What could have been improved? - a bit more info on the QRS, a problem I intend to address.
The early parts of the game are shown in the five photos I posted in Playtesting FSTC. As the game unfolded the Prussian artillery proved their worth, while the French eventually lost all their artillery, mainly to counter battery, but the last battery falling to close range needle gun fire. The Prussians stuck to advance formation, with which they were able to launch a number of devastating charges. Although the French countered in some places and used their chassepots to slow down the Prussian advance they were thrown out of the town in move 11. They attempted to retake it in move 12 (the final move) but their charge was halted and the Prussians remained in control. As night fell the French withdrew from the town whilst their right flank streamed away in disorder, covered by a unit of cuirassiers.
There are some very simple victory point tallies. Both armies had inflicted more than 30% losses, each gaining one point. However the Prussians had numerous units within the French half and two cavalry units within 8" of the French base line giving them a 3:1 victory - a major tactical win.
Below: The Prussians from the left wing and centre are driving the French away.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4861/45886731295_33e95277a7_z.jpg)
Below: The shattered French right removes itself from the field, covered by a brave unit of cuirassiers, whose charge has just been halted by the Prussians.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7805/32926104718_ed7692b1ca_z.jpg)
Final thoughts: it might be worth working in a gone to ground rule once I am more familiar with gameplay. I certainly find these faster than TDFG, similar to Neil Thomas, but with a bit more meat, and ideal for small-scale scenarios of the battalion level variety. I am hoping to devise some scenarios based on Leonce Patrie's book, and will use these rules to fight them out, especially as there are some interesting additional rules that can be added in to give more nuanced play and period flavour, such as surprise attacks, weather, unpleasant going, elites and militias etc.
Lovely looking table, figures, building, etc
Take care
Andy
From the man who needs a piece of straw tied to one shoe. The French LEFTflank collapsed and streamed away, almost entirely caused by continuous artillery bombardment.
Lovely stuff, good to see FPW out
Quote from: steve_holmes_11 on 16 January 2019, 11:01:12 PM
A boardgame this time - not even a war themed one.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Flamme Rouge - a bicycle racing boardgame
2) What armies were confronted? - Red team and Blue team (Each with a sprinter and endurance guy)
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Yes, very simple, no exceptional situations, very slick game engine, clever use of cards to manage cyclist energy.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - Yes
5) How many players were in the game? - Just two, 3 or 4 would have added a bit more tension.
6) What went well? - Game played very quickly, rules were clear and required no checking during play. Racetrack constructin is also good - nice robust pieces.
7) What could have been improved? - The expansion set isn't available in the UK - I've ordered from Spellen Domein in Tilburg.
The Expansion arrived yesterday.
3 games later, I'm pleased to announce it's a worthwhile addition which adds some interesting possibilities - more players, new terrain, dumy teams to bulk out a race or permit solo play.
Hi
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Simon Miller's and Andrew Brentnall's (Mollinary) 'For King and Parliament' (ECW)
2) What armies were confronted? - Royalists v Parliamentarians Same game as last week, but changed sides and with a new player.
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Yep, and my fourth game.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - See above
5) How many players were in the game? - Three including introducing a friend to the delights of FK&P
6) What went well? - Just a jolly good game, King Charles only slightly wounded this time and Lord Goring killed again!
7) What could have been improved? - Went back to using small cards but on balance we decided afterwards that we definitely prefer D10's and chits. Royalist luck - second time they have lost this scenario in just 7 days!
Cheers Paul
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? Sail and Steam Navies 1840 - 1880
2) What armies were confronted? Battle of Mobile Bay - the Federal Navy vs the seccesish
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? As there was a game presenter things moved well, so fairly comfortable with the basics at the end.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? Yes
5) How many players were in the game? three (2 fed 1 rebel)
6) What went well? Once I got better at maneuver the heavy guns of the monitor squadron produced much satisfying damage on the enemy (the CSS Tennessee was a beast to bring down)
7) What could have been improved? The torpedo mines created a massive amount of damage and were essentially unavoidable - the general feeling was to tone them down a bit for the next game.
Opening move:
(https://leadenshipsandtinmen.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/20190121_231948955_ios.jpg?w=800)
The Tennessee rams and shoots its way through Farragut's squadrons (assisted by the guns of Fort Morgan):
(https://leadenshipsandtinmen.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/20190122_001315677_ios.jpg?w=800)
Lovely looking game Bill 8)
Great looking game
Fabulous looking game. I assume the scale is 1:600, my favourite for ACW naval. Is the fort from a commercial supplier or home made?
:-bd =D> :-bd
So does this mean you will be 'staring' on LittleWarsTV ;)
The ships are indeed 1/600, mostly Thoroughbred. The fort is scratchbuilt (by the owner of the ship models) although it's guns are also from Throughbred.
Paul, I don't know about "staring" as I am a bit slow-witted in real time, still one never knows. :)
Between visiting Terry and making the occasional run up to York, my horizons have been greatly expanded recently.
Quote from: paulr on 25 January 2019, 08:09:00 AM
:-bd =D> :-bd
So does this mean you will be 'staring' on LittleWarsTV ;)
Not sure if that should be starring or staring. I think I prefer the latter.
Far less likely to appear in a bloopers clip as you don't need to learn as many lines if you are staring in video!
You might also land a role in a Blink 180 video.
Quote from: Leman on 25 January 2019, 03:39:20 PM
You might also land a role in a Blink 180 video.
Only if my physician changes my medication.
Quote from: Nick the Lemming on 25 January 2019, 02:49:28 PM
Not sure if that should be starring or staring. I think I prefer the latter.
star
ring #-o
Sellswords and SpellSlingers
Apologies to Sunjester if I've spelled Sotoyoma's name incorrectly.
SCENE: FOREST CLEARING IN A STORM AT NIGHT. MOST OF THE TIME ALL THAT CAN BE SEEN IS THE SILLOUETTE OF THE TREES AGAINST THE NIGHT SKY. OCCASSIONALLY A FLASH OF LIGHTNING WILL ILLUMINATE THE SCENE, SHOWING THE PARTY GATHERED AROUND, WITH SOTOYOMA TRYING TO LIGHT A FIRE. NIGHT TIME.
Sotoyoma (voice in darkness)
Bugger... Bugger... Bugger...
There is a brief spark that dies instantly
Sotoyoma
Bugger.
Christos
Aren't you supposed to be a Ranger?
Sotoyoma
Bugger off you mad god-botherer.
Lightning flashes, revealing the party hunched in the rain, Sotoyoma trying to light the fire with flint and steel.
Sotoyoma
It's not my fault. Everything is wet. The wood is wet, the tinder is wet
Gunnar
I'm wet.
Sotoyoma
Yes. We're all bleeding wet. No one can light a fire in this weather.
The Wizard Eduardo
I can.
Robin
STOP HIM!
Eduardo
FIAT L- erch
Lightning flashes irregularly, showing the party wrestling Eduardo to the ground in a series of vignettes.
Eduardo
Geroff. Do you want this fire lit or what?
Gunnar
Two words. Pig. Roast.
Eduardo
It was cooked, wasn't it?
Christos
It was charcoal on the outside, and still oinking in the middle.
SCENE: INTERIOR, TAVERN. THE PARTY ARE SAT AROUND A TABLE WITH MUGS OF ALE, AND THE REMAINS OF DINNER ON PLATES. EVENING.
Sotoyoma
Did you ask for a receipt for the armour repair?
Gunnar
Aye, laddie.
Sotoyoma
And?
Gunnar
The smith asked what a receipt was.
Sotoyoma
And?
Gunnar
He had to go and find someone who could read and write. That cost an extra silver penny.
Sotoyoma
But did you get a receipt?
Gunnar
Aye.
Gunnar hands over a scrap of parchment.
Gunnar
I dinnae know why you want it.
Sotoyoma (distracted by checking parchment)
Taxes.
Bravely Bold Sir Robin
Taxes?
Sotoyoma
Yes, armour repairs are tax deductible – reasonable wear and tear.
Eldarando
When do we pay taxes?
Sotoyoma looks at them with exasperation
Sotoyoma
What do you think that I am saying to the gate guards when we enter a city? I'm paying our taxes. Why do you think I ask for money from you all?
Gunnar
Ach, I though that was just bribes. I dinnae know ye were doing anything immoral.
;D ;D ;D
=O =D> O:-) =O =O
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - FOB2
2) What armies were confronted? - Imperial France v Prussia 1870
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - very
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - no, but revisiting after a couple of years
5) How many players were in the game? - solo
6) What went well? - after a shaky first couple of turns soon got back into the game
7) What could have been improved? - Not a lot really
I did spell the name wrong - its Sintamo. (lit. Elvish for Ranger Smith)
Isn't that the Archbishop of York?
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - For King & Parliament
2) What armies were confronted? -Five Armies: Fairfax, Manchester, Covenant, Rupert, Newcastle
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - very
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - no, as I co-wrote it!
5) How many players were in the game? - six, plus myself as umpire.only one experienced palyer
6) What went well? -it was fun, and fought to a conclusion in five hours including an hour for lunch
7) What could have been improved? - The players were brilliant, but I need to look again at scenario specific issues, in particular victory conditions and command and control issues.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - BKCII.
2) What armies were confronted? - AVBCW BUF vs Communists.
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Very.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - Not by a long way.
5) How many players were in the game? - Solo.
6) What went well? - Most things to be honest.
7) What could have been improved? - Not a lot really.
AAR to follow in due course.
Looking forward to Mollinary's and Steve's AARs and pics.
Seconded ;)
Thirded
Fourtheded
Your wish is my command, as the AAR is now in the Batrep section :).
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? - For King and Parliament.
2) What armies were confronted? - Royalists v Roundheads at the Battle of Montgomery, 1644
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Yes, but it was the first time for all the players.
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? - The speed with which the players picked up the rules was impressive as was the game flow. The Forlorn Hopes were more stalwart then usual. The horse leaving in droves as they pursued the broken enemy caused much comment and excitement.
7) What could have been improved? - As the presenter/referee I made a substantial hash of the counter-charge rules but was forgiven (I think :) )
A brief AAR and pics are here:
https://inredcoatragsattired.com/2019/01/31/the-circus-performs/
:-bd =D> :-bd
Great to hear another group has rapidly picked up and enjoys the FK&P mechanisms :)
Quote from: d_Guy on 31 January 2019, 08:14:38 PM
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? - For King and Parliament..........
A brief AAR and pics are here:
https://inredcoatragsattired.com/2019/01/31/the-circus-performs/
Great missionary work, Bill (assume you are not only the first to introduce FK&P but also 10mm to what looks like a great bunch of wargamers)! :)
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Last Days Apocalypse
2) What armies were confronted? - 2 sets of survivors vs zombies
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - not initially
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - yes, hence the answer above
5) How many players were in the game? - 2
6) What went well? - One of my gang decided to deal with the opponents well...
7) What could have been improved? - One of my other characters, who despite being a combat monster, died in the first round of combat!!!
Full report later.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Target for Tonight
2) What armies were confronted? - RAF vs Luftwaffe
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 plus me as umpire
6) What went well? - All RAF aircraft carried out their attacks returned to base
7) What could have been improved? - the German defenders had a rough night, failing to damage any of the bombers and losing a Fw 190 Wilde Sau fighter shot down by one the bombers over Berlin and several others falling to supporting RAF Mosquito intruders during the raid. Further navigation training for some RAF crews may be necessary since 3 out of 6 Lancasters went off track during the evening. One of Roy's crews came dangerously close to running out of fuel since it took them no less than 5 attempts to find their base in early morning fog and they came within 1 pip of crashing into elevated terrain, though they finally managed to get home safely on the smell of an oily rag.
As several of our regular group were not available I ran a "casual" game of TfT which proved quite successful, both players commenting afterwards that it was pretty good representation of a raid and that they would be happy to play again.
Definitely an interesting simulation/game :-\
The tension definitely builds as you steadily move toward the target even though there are no decisions to make as you move along in the stream :-w :-SS
Unless your navigator gets confused :-/
A couple of interesting mechanisms using playing cards and a small squared board are used if you run into night fighters and on the run into the target
Both are a mix of skill, tactical decisions and luck
Overall a very atmospheric game
Bacon and eggs for breakfast for me this morning :)
Hi
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Impetus 2nd Edition
2) What armies were confronted? - Late Roman Republican v Gauls
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - It was a trial game and there is a lot different from original Impetus, I suggest treat them as a completely new rule set if you are familiar with Impetus.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - Yes
5) How many players were in the game? - 2
6) What went well? - Most of the things that were ambiguous in the original ruleset are now clearer.
7) What could have been improved? - Bearing in mind that these have been about 3 years in gestation it was disappointing to see that there were mistakes in the movement table in the main rule book and the QRF at the back of the book. That said I appreciate that the author is a one man band. Javelin range seems much too long to me (twice the distance of a basic infantry move and javelin armed troops do not get any penalty for firing after their intial move). Roman artillery have the same basic move as light infantry (it used to be less than heavy infantry in the original).
Cheers Paul
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - The Portable Wargame by Bob Cordery.
2) What armies were confronted? - Mid 19thC Blue vs Red.
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Very much so, given this was my first game.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - Yes.
5) How many players were in the game? - Solo.
6) What went well? - Despite only a brief read through of the rules, everything pretty much seemed intuitive, which is great.
7) What could have been improved? - Just some minor details I missed, but that was the reason for playing a trail game, to get to grips with the basic mechanics.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Soldiers of God
2) What armies were confronted? - Crusaders vs Saracens
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Somewhat, bit of flipping about at the start but got to grips with things quickly enough.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - Yes.
5) How many players were in the game? - Solo.
6) What went well? - Rules generally made good sense and easy to pick up. Quick reference gives most of what you need for the game once you have the core rules down.
7) What could have been improved? - I didn't initially start tracking the morale properly, just adding on paper at the end of the turn, though from turn three or four I started using counters to keep track during the turns which was easier.
I received the rule set as a birthday present from my partner and as I had the day off thought I'd use it as a distraction from the head cold I'm battling! After a quick read through the rules I put together a couple of evenly matched forces and got to it. The card driven system was an interesting change as it made you really have to think about what you could do each turn. The main downside of this was the relative lack of melee cards meant that by the last few turns it was just an attrition grind of endless rallying disorder. This was maybe due to the type of forces I deployed or just the nature of the battle plans, or possibly just something I've missed in the rules. Will be having another read through the rules now I've a better feel for how they play and will be sure to get another game in at some point in the future as it has a lot of potential for the period.
Also thanks to orcs (I think it was) for the recommendation when I first joined.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Soldiers of God (again) - figured I'd give it another blast today while I had the space cleared and a free afternoon.
2) What armies were confronted? - Crusaders vs Saracens
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Yes, missed the distance limit on one of the rules until halfway through the game but otherwise was very comfortable.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - Second.
5) How many players were in the game? - Solo.
6) What went well? - Much more dynamic game than last time with more drama and action and went back and forth between the two sides throughout.
7) What could have been improved? - As I mentioned I missed the distance limited on one rule, though it didn't make too much difference in the end.
Much more fun battle than last time. Playing solo you have to try and "Chinese wall" yourself and make decisions as if you didn't know what the other side was doing or what cards they held, but there's enough of a random element to things that it can work well. Can imagine it being a lot of fun with another player though so will have to try that sometime in future!
I've taken some pictures so will maybe put together a battle report as well.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - The Portable Wargame by Bob Cordery.
2) What armies were confronted? - Mid 19thC Blue vs Red.
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Very much so, even though this was my second game.
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? - Pretty much everything really. I liked the exhaustion point rule, as it really makes you think when you can take hits, or when it might be wise to retreat. Given I set up, played the game and packed away in less than an hour, makes these perfect for quick pick up games.
7) What could have been improved? - Just some of the die rolls for either side at times.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Big Battle DBA, but with only 2 armies a side
2) What armies were confronted? - Early Crusader & Armenian v Egyptian & Syrian
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - No, but hadn't played for a while
5) How many players were in the game? - 3, hence the reduced number of armies
6) What went well? - early moves by the Syrian Light Horse attacking the Armenian camp and catching the Armenian General in the flank
7) What could have been improved? - not managing to kill either the camp or the general then being pushed into a corner by some Armenian spear
After a very promising start it ended up a decisive loss for the Egyptians and Syrians
Hi
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - To the Strongest!
2) What armies were confronted? - Parthians v Romans
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? - Game itself went very well, having smaller but more numerous commands/generals.
7) What could have been improved? Me having a plan....any plan.
Cheers Paul
I can't face answering this. My Sassanids were very roughly handled by the Huns this weekend. Don't want to talk about it.
Quote from: FierceKitty on 12 February 2019, 06:29:59 AM
I can't face answering this. My Sassanids were very roughly handled by the Huns this weekend. Don't want to talk about it.
Quote from: FierceKitty on 08 February 2019, 01:54:57 PM
Gazing upon the slain body of my enemy, beholding the humiliation of his tribe, and hearing the lamentation of his women.
O:-)
Quote from: FierceKitty on 12 February 2019, 06:29:59 AM
I can't face answering this. My Sassanids were very roughly handled by the Huns this weekend. Don't want to talk about it.
O err missus!
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - FOGR
2) What armies were confronted? - Trastamara Spanish v French
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Definitely getting there
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? - Previously decided to make my own QRS sheets. Came out as five one-sided sheets. I photocopied them, then did cut and paste to get one impact sheet with its POAs, one movement sheet with CMTs, one shooting sheet with POAs, one melee sheet with POAs and one Cohesion sheet, plus death rolls etc. Once laminated these could easily be slid across one another, as the turn sequence is very formulated. I found these five sheets far easier to use than the exceptionally busy back-to-back sheet available on the web. This time I actually won
7) What could have been improved? - I just need to remember one or two salient points to get a flawless run through.
The rules do give a good way of dealing with the various pike based formations of that 200 year period. I do think they would work better if they were just for European-type warfare, then I wouldn't find myself reading through a long and convoluted sentence only to find that the last word is elephants.
I commanded the Spanish, with three colunelas, lots of light and medium arquebus and a smattering of various types of horse, up against several units of French gendarmes, light cavalry, lots of crossbows and one grand battle of superior Swiss pike. A simple plan - mither the gendarmes with my light horse, pin the Swiss with my colunelas and send the rest of my light horse and arquebusiers around the French left flank to come in on his camp. Although I never got to the camp the opposing light horse and crossbows were heavily damaged and one unit of gendarmes was caught by a colunela and also heavily damaged. Thus the French were unable to continue. Having said that, the Swiss inflicted massive casualties on two of the colunelas such that it was something of a Pyrrhic victory, but a nice change to win.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Le Feu Sacre III
2) What armies were confronted? - Austrian v Bavarian
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - No, but I have high hopes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - No
5) How many players were in the game? - One, Geographical isolation means I frequently play solo
6) What went well? - The ebb and flow of cavalry fights
7) What could have been improved? - keeping note of unit status, I do not like ugly markers denoting "shaken"
Quote from: grahambeyrout on 12 February 2019, 03:46:20 PM
7) What could have been improved? - keeping note of unit status, I do not like ugly markers denoting "shaken"
A suggestion, if I may? I have taken to using wool roving in different colours as markers. It looks enough like dust or smoke that it adds to the scene rather than detracting.
https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/sewing/needle-felting/wool-roving
Chris
Bloody Big BATTLES!
https://uk.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/BBB_wargames/info
http://bloodybigbattles.blogspot.com/
And the inevitable question: what is wool roving?
Quote from: Leman on 13 February 2019, 08:52:12 AM
And the inevitable question: what is wool roving?
Follow the link I gave and you'll find it. It is soft skeins of fine woollen threads that cut up easily into wispy puffs of smoke.
Quote from: Leman on 13 February 2019, 08:52:12 AM
And the inevitable question: what is wool roving?
Wild sheep
Durrr...... missed that, Chris. Thanks for waking me up.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - The Portable Wargame by Bob Cordery.
2) What armies were confronted? - Mid 19thC Blue vs Red.
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Very much so.
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? - Using cards to generate the Turn sequence.
7) What could have been improved? - The die rolls in close combat. I want to do some minor tweaks of the rules by adding things like Skirmishers, Grape Shot etc.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Sellswords and Spellslingers (my own VSF version)
2) What armies were confronted? - Brave chaps and chapess in service of her Imperial Majesty vs dastardly Balkan brigands
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Oh yes!
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - No
5) How many players were in the game? - 2 players plus myself as umpire/GM
6) What went well? - Pretty much everything
7) What could have been improved? - Not sure, it's still a bit of a work in progress
Hi
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Impetus 2nd Edition
2) What armies were confronted? - Gauls v Early Imperial Romans
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Getting there, but slowly.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - Second 'trial' game.
5) How many players were in the game? - Three
6) What went well? - The new set up rules are quick and easy.
7) What could have been improved? - Trying to forget the original rules. The Romans had a lot of 'shooty' type units (but within the army list). For a time it felt more like playing Brits v Dervishes (to me at least) with the Gauls being simply mown down by Roman firepower, not what I want from an ancients game. Still early days yet.
Cheers Paul
Played a quick introductory game of Cruel Seas with my 1/600 stuff.
Took some pics, will post an AAR in my Cruel Seas 1/600 thread (http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,18206.0.html)
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Cruel Seas
2) What armies were confronted? - Brits vs Germans
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - More or less
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - 4th game but first where I was the only one who knew the rules
5) How many players were in the game? - Five
6) What went well? - Players picked up the rules quickly, everyone was very complimentary about the boat models, British firing
7) What could have been improved? - German firing!
3 E-Boats (1x S38 and 2 x S100) vs 2 Fairmile "D" MTBs. One model per player.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - IACTA ALEA EST!
2) What armies were confronted? - Sassanid Persians and early Huns
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Very much so
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? - A Hun skirmisher unit ended up evading my Gyanaspar but leaving the field in the process, and the Armenian cataphracts managed to ambush the Hunnic nobles in flank, with dire results. That aside, no bad omens, no desertions.
7) What could have been improved? - i) The die rolls in close combat; three ones in a row. As it happened, the Hun attacks were foiled by our heavy armour, so it wasn't fatal. ii) I wish my elephants would try a bit harder when I need them to trample a unit of hostile nobles; that lumbering saunter is really frustrating, but here too their shooting still contributed significantly to the Persian victory.
8 ) Is it true what they say about you Africans? - I've had no complaints.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Poseidon's Warriors
2) What armies were confronted? - Rome (John) vs Carthage (Andy) vs Syracuse (Me)
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - yup
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - narp
5) How many players were in the game? - 3
6) What went well? - Causing the Roman admiral to back off when he realised the whole Syracusian fleet was after him, when he had sent half his force to hold off Carthage.
Making the Roman admiral put on his waterwings, twice! ;D
7) What could have been improved? - The Carthaginian admiral breaking off and routing his fleet, while in the strongest position to crush both other players (1 followed by a 1 reroll will do that to you), leaving Syracuse with the win!
A triple header yesterday a road trip and 3 games of under 2 hours.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Studio Tomahawk's Congo (2nd episode of their Mungo Mah Lobeh campaign) http://www.studio-tomahawk.com/en/congo/ (http://www.studio-tomahawk.com/en/congo/)
2) What armies were confronted? - African Forest Tribes against White man Expedition.
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Yes have played many times and always enjoyed the game.
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? - Excellent game full of environmental surprises and challenges. Highlights for my forces, tribal archers seeing off some Sikh regulars. and my scouts pinning a pursuing warband and taking 6 hyena skins as loot. A great outing for the archers.
7) What could have been improved? - From My tribal perspective, some initial bad luck put my key units on the back foot form the outset and we were playing catch-up from that point on.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Palaeo Diet (Eat or be Eaten) - First 3 games of the Fireside Tales campaign book. http://www.ganeshagames.net/product_info.php?products_id=327 (http://www.ganeshagames.net/product_info.php?products_id=327)
2) What armies were confronted? - Prehistoric people against tough wildlife - Lion, Boar, Angry birds and other hominids.
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Yes, through we were learning as we went along.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - No, had one session last year.
5) How many players were in the game? - Three playing cooperatively against programmed wildlife.
6) What went well? - Game moved quickly, and produced believable behaviour in the programmed enemy. Turn limits were just right to hurry us along, and the programmed enemy were dangerous enough to inspire caution.
7) What could have been improved? - We were reading the reaction table wrong for the other hominids for several turns. Next time ...
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Test of Honour (Warlord Samurai game) https://store.warlordgames.com/collections/test-of-honour (https://store.warlordgames.com/collections/test-of-honour)
2) What armies were confronted? - Ninjas, Bandits, Samurai.
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - No, rules scattered across multiple books, a plethora of cards which refer to rules with no reference.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - Second time, I had expected it to run faster this time around.
5) How many players were in the game? - Three - a simple 3 way beat-up.
6) What went well? - We have a better grasp of te combat system than previously.
7) What could have been improved? - Hard to say, After 2 games I regard the game as an exercise in rolling a lot of dice with pretty figures, but few tactics other than wait for your turn then bash somebody.
Why not give Osprey's Ronin a whirl. I have had a lot of fun with that game and everything is in a nice slim Osprey book. Playsheets etc downloadable from the Osprey site.
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? - Over The Hills, plus House rules to use for the French Revolution.
2) What armies were confronted? - 1792 French and Austrians
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Reasonably given it was a test of the House rules and will be seeking some clarifications on some of the basic rules.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - No. Second
5) How many players were in the game? - Two
6) What went well? - The overall impact of the House rules gave me the result I expected.
7) What could have been improved? - Need to review House rules for French Volunteer battalions 'En Tirailleur'. The base rules assume a level of organisation and training
for infantry in an open order formation that did not exist in the early years of the Revolution.
This test involved a French force of 8 Volunteer battalions, 3 Line battalions, 1 Chasseur-a-pied battalion, 1 regiment of Line cavalry, 1 regiment of Chasseur-a-Cheval, 1 8pdr battery
and a Horse artillery battery. The Austrians defended a village with 5 Line battalions, 1 Volunteer Jager battalion, a small unit of Grenz, 2 squadrons each of Cuirassier and Chevauleger,
1 12pdr battery, 6dr regimental and 3pdr battalion guns.
The next test will reverse the attacker and defender roles. That will be followed by a 1793 test, with the French troop quality being improved. That will also enable me to employ
'Embrigadement' formation for the French mixing Line and Volunteer battalions in Brigades. These would not be Demi-Brigades, which did not come into being until the first 'Amalgame' of 1794.
Once the tests reach 1794 the Line battalions will be removed and the capability of the new Demi-Brigades will be increased again. The overall objective is to reasonably represent the development of the French Army with a target of parity with the Coalition forces in 1794/1795.
Sorry for a somewhat long winded review, but to some extent this will be something of a journey.
Sounds an interesting journey, let us know how it goes :-\
Will do. If anyone currently uses these rules and would be interested in a copy of the House rules for French Revolutionary Games, let me know and I will let you have a copy as they develop
Quote from: Leman on 24 February 2019, 12:10:55 PM
Why not give Osprey's Ronin a whirl. I have had a lot of fun with that game and everything is in a nice slim Osprey book. Playsheets etc downloadable from the Osprey site.
It's my pal who has the Samurai Itch.
I humour him, as he humours some of my niche interests.
My own interests east of Suez lie with the Ming, the Mahajipit, Malacca, Somalia, Abyssinia and the Portuguese navigators.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - BKCII
2) What armies were confronted? - Italians vs Greeks, Balkans 1941
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Very.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - No, I've played them since their publication.
5) How many players were in the game? - Solo
6) What went well? - The Italian air support, the Italian artilley and the Italian armour (if you can call L3/35 tankettes armour).
7) What could have been improved? - Pretty much everything from the Greek point of view, plus the Italian infantry HQs command rolls. Oh and both sides had loads of Blunders.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Post of Honour
2) What armies were confronted? - Prussians vs Austrians SYW
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Pretty much.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - Second time out.
5) How many players were in the game? - Two, myself and the author, Keith Flint.
6) What went well? - The Austrian deployment and shooting
7) What could have been improved? - The Prussian plan of attack.
A game of the Osprey Pikeman's Lament with the excellent Mr Westmarcher.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Pikeman's Lament
2) What armies were confronted? - Covenanters Vs Roundheads
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Yes
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? - Plenty of action, no dominant troop types and enough critical fails to keep us both on our toes.
7) What could have been improved? - Typical "first time with the rules" slowness. And my Roundheads running away.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Pike and Shotte
2) What armies were confronted? - 10mm Allies v French
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Yes, very
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - Third
5) How many players were in the game? - Four
6) What went well? - French Cavalry attacks
7) What could have been improved? - More movement, lomger play time
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Kings of War
2) What armies were confronted? - 15mm Orcs/Goblins v Dwarves
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - yes but I was being well tutored
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - Second time, but very comfortable with it
5) How many players were in the game? - Two
6) What went well? - The orc and Goblin assaults
7) What could have been improved? - Bigger armies!!!
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Loose files and American Scramble
2) What armies were confronted? - British v rebellious scum
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Not really
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - Yes
5) How many players were in the game? - 21/2
6) What went well? - It was interesting the way troops had to spend time redressing lines.
7) What could have been improved? - No QRS which made keeping on top of things a bit of a pain. Different dice for different troops. Keeping track of who fired so can't move, and finally leaning over the table with my bad back to play a game that doesn't really interest me.
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? - Disposable Heroes 2
2) What armies were confronted? - US v Germans at Foy (1945)
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Yes, have played DH 1 and DH PointBlank
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - Yes, good GM present
5) How many players were in the game? - 4
6) What went well? - got our smoke laid really fast. Heavy weapons fire was spot on. Coordinated attack prevented Germans from covering all approaches
7) What could have been improved? - this was a trial game to debug for Cold Wars this weekend. The Germans had too many liabilities to overcome and this will be corrected in the new scenario
Some pictures and a few more details are here:
https://inredcoatragsattired.com/2019/03/14/agy-3-11-19/
Good to see you are getting some non-solo gaming in d_Guy :)
Thanks, Paul. Greatly enjoying gaming in periods where I don't have to paint all the figures, not to mention actually talking to other gamers.
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? - Ten More Sons!
2) What armies were confronted? - Poles and Muscovites in the Time of Troubles
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Yeppers
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - Far from it
5) How many players were in the game? - 2
6) What went well? Hussars mostly did what they're there for, and the armoured Cossacks surpassed hopes. I note I can still win at times.
7) What could have been improved? Lithuanian hussars failed to sweep away the Muscovite guard cavalry, despite good dragoon support, and nearly got swamped by the Russian counterattack. Artillery did not a dam' thing.
Quote from: paulr on 14 March 2019, 11:43:00 PM
Good to see you are getting some non-solo gaming in d_Guy :)
Yes, likewise .... and hobnobbing with the current wargaming world's glitterati, too. ;) :-bd
Jealous! Who me? Not at all .... OK ... perhaps a little. ;D
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Twilight of Divine Right
2) What armies were confronted? - Swedish vs Imperialists: Battle of Lutzen 1632
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? - The game went smoothly and we managed to get a conclusion and talk to people as well
7) What could have been improved? - more money to buy goodies at the show
We staged a re-fight of the battle of Lutzen 1632 at the recent WMMS show. Photos, etc, here - http://www.wfgamers.org.uk/resources/C18/Twilight/Lutzen1632.htm
Great looking game and nice to see smaller scales at a show 8).
Quote from: Westmarcher on 15 March 2019, 09:16:28 AM
Yes, likewise .... and hobnobbing with the current wargaming world's glitterati, too. ;) :-bd
Jealous! Who me? Not at all .... OK ... perhaps a little. ;D
If they are "glitterati" that would actually make me a "paparazzo". :D
Quote from: Hwiccee on 15 March 2019, 02:47:45 PM
We staged a re-fight of the battle of Lutzen 1632 at the recent WMMS show. Photos, etc, here - http://www.wfgamers.org.uk/resources/C18/Twilight/Lutzen1632.htm
Good looking game and report (coincidentally just covered Lutzen when reading
Swords for Hire). The large bases are quite effective in representing the formations of the different tactical doctrines of the era although I did notice what appears to be a little warping(?) in one or two cases (possibly solved by sub-dividing the bases or simply using thicker material?).
Quote from: Steve J on 15 March 2019, 03:19:13 PM
Great looking game and nice to see smaller scales at a show 8).
Thanks. There was also a very nice WSS game in 10mm next to us but unfortunately I have no photos of that :(
Quote from: Westmarcher on 16 March 2019, 02:27:25 PM
Good looking game and report (coincidentally just covered Lutzen when reading Swords for Hire). The large bases are quite effective in representing the formations of the different tactical doctrines of the era although I did notice what appears to be a little warping(?) in one or two cases (possibly solved by sub-dividing the bases or simply using thicker material?).
Thanks Westmarcher. The figures are not mine, my army is the smaller German states Protestant army, but I will pass on your comments. I think that the warping is likely to be because the figures you are talking about are kept outside in a shed.
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? - Ten More Sons!
2) What armies were confronted? - Poles and Muscovites in the Time of Troubles
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Oh, yus.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - still far from it
5) How many players were in the game? - 2
6) What went well? Hussars did exactly what they're there for, and the drabs gave useful fire support. Dragoons pulled off an effective ambush. Tsar Ivan III was captured, which will look good in the newspapers.
7) What could have been improved? Pancerni Cossacks charged a Streltsi unit and were sent running. Small price to pay.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - MeG (Mortiem et Gloriam)
2) What armies were confronted? - Late Republican Roman vs Dacians
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - incredibly
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - hell no
5) How many players were in the game? - 2
6) What went well? - first charge whipping out a cohort, killing all the elite legions, wounding Caesar.
7) What could have been improved? - my cavalry being caught and run over by legions...
Top game, first run out of borrowed Dacians for this weekend. Lost 10-15 but learned a lot.
Quote from: mad lemmey on 22 March 2019, 06:54:50 AM
. . . whipping out a cohort, killing all the elite legions, wounding Caesar.
What? So you whipped out your cohort, and the Romans just disintegrated. What is this, Carry on up the Danube?
Oooer mrs
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? - Another go at "Test of Honour" - the Warlord Samurai rules. This time with campaign rules.
2) What armies were confronted? - Japanese all round.
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Getting to grips withit.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - Second through fourth plays.
5) How many players were in the game? - 2
6) What went well? We are much quicker at the game now. Quests (Drawn cards in a campaign context) add some interesting side-objectives, through most rely on pure luck.
7) What could have been improved? Still feels like the dice are playing us, rather than us playing the game.
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? - Black Powder with Glory Hallelujah supplement
2) What armies were confronted? - Yanks and Rebs
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Very
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - No
5) How many players were in the game? - 2, Last Hussar and myself
6) What went well? - Pretty much everything, we are very comfortable with the rules now
7) What could have been improved? - Last Hussar's dice :d :P
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? - For King and Parliament
2) What armies were confronted? - Royalists v Parliament
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Very, but a little rusty
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - No, but haven't played with them for a few months
5) How many players were in the game? - 3, Our regular host Roy, Pierre the Shy and myself
6) What went well? - Pretty much everything :)
7) What could have been improved? - the Royalist chits
This was a test/practice game for Cheriton at Easter and I'm very please to say all went pretty well
So without too much more waffle on to the pretty pictures ;)
The troops of both sides advance, the Royalists on the left
- Sergeant-Major-General Sir John Paulet's 'Tertias' of Foot
- Major General Sir John Smyth's Brigade of Horse
- Colonel Matthew Appleyard's Brigade - attacking the wood
Parliament on the right
- Major-General Richard Browne's London Brigade of Foot
- Sir William Balfour's Brigade of Horse (from the Earl of Essex's army)
- Lieutenant-Colonel Walter Leighton's Brigade - well forward defending the wood
(https://live.staticflickr.com/7860/33624545728_924a088378_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/TehzZ3)
The Royalists have secured the ridge
(https://live.staticflickr.com/7871/33624545328_00f40571cc_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/TehzS9)
Close fighting in the wood, both sides have already lost a unit of commanded shot
(https://live.staticflickr.com/7812/33624544828_7045dcf367_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/TehzHw)
Parliament's Sir William Balfour's Regiment of Horse advance towards the limbered artillery on the road but fails to activate for a second time so doesn't charge home
(https://live.staticflickr.com/7885/33624544168_ed7b691d9f_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Tehzw9)
More close fighting in the wood, the Royalists have lost a second unit of commanded shot and a unit of artillery
(https://live.staticflickr.com/7858/33624543858_84940e400e_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/TehzqN)
Parliament's Sir William Balfour's Regiment of Horse overran the artillery and turned and threatened the flank of Sir Humphrey Bennet's Regiment of Horse
They failed to activate for a third time that turn so didn't charge home
Sir Humphrey Bennet's Regiment of Horse successfully drew to turn to face the threat, 8, but Lord Hopton decided to redraw to improve the odds of activating again to charge
He drew a 2 and so Sir Humphrey's Horse failed to turn :( X_X
(https://live.staticflickr.com/7807/33624543658_283fa002a1_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Tehznm)
Parliament's Sir William Balfour's Regiment of Horse has destroyed Sir Humphrey Bennet's Regiment of Horse and set off in pursuit in the general direction of Alresford accompanied by Sir William Balfour
Royalist Sir George Vaughan & Colonel Andrew Lindsey's Regiments of Horse (one unit) have destroyed Colonel John Middleton's Regiment of Horse and are pursing to the south accompanied by the lightly wounded Lord Hopton
(https://live.staticflickr.com/7910/46585903495_a26965a0b2_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2dYCW5F)
The final act, Colonel Matthew Appleyard's Brigade loses it's last unit and Colonel Appleyard is forced to ride off the field. With only one victory point remaining the Royalists concede
(https://live.staticflickr.com/7803/33624543328_95d20d087c_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/TehzgE)
I say, those look brilliant shots.
=D> =D> =D>
(I'll let you off the waffling.) ;)
Cheers - Phil
Impressive looking game!
Great looking game 8).
A great looking table. =D> =D> =D>
Looks really good, well done. You must be pleased after the amount of work it has taken.
Looks like a real slog of a battle with all the terrain.
Now that is one seriously great looking game! :)
Thanks All :) :-[
Quote from: fred. on 31 March 2019, 08:13:55 AM
Looks really good, well done. You must be pleased after the amount of work it has taken.
Looks like a real slog of a battle with all the terrain.
That's less than half the space and troops and about a third of the hedges for Cheriton ;)
This test included the most congested parts of the table but there aren't many really open spaces in the battle
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Ten More Sons!
2) What armies were confronted? - Time of Troubles - Polish invasion of Muscovy
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Errr, sort of....
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - nope
5) How many players were in the game? - 2
6) What went well? - Two big ambushes of boyar cavalry; we overran the royal hussar troop and killed their king in a single round, wiping out the rest of the regiment with him.
7) What could have been improved? - Other hussars caught and broke my royal troop, capturing the Tsar. Two morale checks followed; Poles became shaken, but Russians broke and left the field.
ON THE FIRST DAM' ROUND!
One of the ambushes rolled four (count 'em) 1s in a row and caused no damage to a desperately vulnerable unit of Pancerni Cossacks.
8 ) How's Lee feeling? - Ridiculously smug.
One more picture; the Dvorani not yet deployed to fight.
Ouch!
Great report, Paul. Looking forward to "the big one." :-bd
(sorry, the painting diaries just don't float my boat and, although it's a testimony of the tremendous amount of work you've put in, I unfortunately tend to switch off and lose touch of your progress - the photos and battle reports are therefore very much appreciated and are the kind of thing I personally enjoy and admire. Thanks for sharing.)
Outrageous fortune, Kitty! :D
Quote from: Westmarcher on 31 March 2019, 10:36:41 AM
Outrageous fortune, Kitty! :D
Certainly was....About time Kitty changed his signature back to what it used to be. ;)
Cheers - Phil.
Hey! I won the previous three games!
Coal-dust covered, leek-eating, longbow-lugging, sheep-shagging, massed-male-voice-choir-singing Cambrian twerp!
FK, I must object in the strongest possible terms to that language you used to insult Techno...
He is CAMBRIAN not CUMBRIAN.
CAMBRIAN is Welsh, CUMBRIAN is Westmoreland, Cumberland and part of Lancashire.
It's also MALE voice choirs.
Although, he is probably pre-cambrian given his vintage...
Corrigenda duly and gratefully noted. I was trembling too much with PTSD to attend to details as well as it behoved me to.
Looking really good, Paul! You seem to be ready for your up-coming show. :-bd
Hadn't really looked at Cheriton in detail, now see your need to keep making hedges!
I like that you have added brigade labels, really good idea.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - The Portable Wargame
2) What armies were confronted? - Nominally 1860's Prussians vs Austrians
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Pretty much
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? - Dave picked up the game pretty quickly and we had a nice game.
7) What could have been improved? - Close combat still rather too drawn out and I forgot a few things due to coming down with a heavy cold (that's my excuse!).
Next up some Spanish Civil War action with BKCII or IV depending upon when I recieve them.
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? - For King and Parliament
2) What armies were confronted? - Royalists v Parliament
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Very, but still learning
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - No, but one of the players hadn't played with them for a few months
5) How many players were in the game? - 3, Our regular host Roy, Lester and myself [Pierre the Shy's attendance had been vetoed by higher authority]
6) What went well? - Pretty much everything :)
7) What could have been improved? - the Royalist chits again
This was the second test/practice game for Cheriton at Easter and I'm very please to say all went pretty well
The troops of both sides advance, the Royalists on the left
- Colonel Thomas Howard's Brigade of Horse
- Colonel George Lisle's Tertia of Foot
- Patrick Ruthven, Earl of Forth - in reserve
- Sergeant-Major-General Sir John Paulet's 'Tertias' of Foot - slow to advance initially (failed activations)
Parliament on the right
- Sir Michael Livesey's Brigade
- Major-General Christopher Potley's Brigade of Foot
(https://live.staticflickr.com/7872/47499305852_f970e24ba8_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2fnmmMb)
Cheriton on the left, then Yew Farm, Hinton Ampner Manor and Hinton Ampner
Parliament having only 2 brigades lead to a couple of very short Parliamentary turns later in the game with both brigades failing to activate their first unit :o X_X
After a few turns the Royalist had lined the hedge on their left and Parliament was working to out flank them
Colonel Ralph Weldon's Regiment of Foot failed to activate when attempting to turn onto the flank of the Royalists leaving them exposed
(https://live.staticflickr.com/7837/46828415884_225b242561_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2em4SyL)
With the rapid approach of Royalist Horse, Waller's Dragoons have given up thoughts of securing Yew Farm and withdraw behind the hedges and stream, leaving their horse holders exposed
(https://live.staticflickr.com/7889/46828415764_88bfaeb6a9_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2em4SwG)
On the other flank Colonel Weldon's Regiment has survived being hit in the flank, just, and managed to turn to face, most of Major-General Christopher Potley's Brigade has come up in support and is pouring close range musket and cannon fire into the Royalists
(https://live.staticflickr.com/7853/46828415604_c06309c7ff_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2em4StW)
Colonel Weldon's Regiment breaks and runs allowing Lord Hopton's Regiment to turn and face the rest of the Parliamentarians
The Parliamentary fire is slackening as the cannon run out of ammunition
(https://live.staticflickr.com/7880/46828415434_4cf51c2292_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2em4Sr1)
The Royalist charge to drive off the shot heavy Parliamentarians but Arthur Haselrigge and Major-General Christopher Potley's Regiments fight back and Lord Hopton's Regiment and Sir Allen Apsley & Sir John Paulet's Regiments both rout
(https://live.staticflickr.com/7861/46828415234_b43265f2d2_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2em4Sny)
Sergeant-Major-General Sir John Paulet rapidly joins his sole remaining Regiment, Colonel Talbot & Colonel Francis Cooke's Regiments of Foot
Back on the Yew Farm flank the combined fire of Colonel Charles Gerard & Sir Henry Bard's Shot and Colonel Anthony Thelwall & Sir Theophilius Gilbey's Shot (Royalsit) has put one of Waller's Dragoons units to flight. The rapid departure of their flank guard has disordered Sir Edward Cooke's Regiment of Horse
The London Trained Band Shot (Parliament) have repeatedly failed to activate to move across to support the remaining unit of Dragoons
(https://live.staticflickr.com/7828/46828415084_0f489dffc7_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2em4SjY)
Back on the other flank the last unit of Sergeant-Major-General Sir John Paulet's 'Tertias' of Foot, Colonel Talbot & Colonel Francis Cooke's Regiments of Foot, routs
We made the mistake of allowing Sergeant-Major-General Sir John Paulet to join a nearby friendly unit, but one not under his command :-[ I have updated my QRS
Colonel William Eure's Dragoons (Royalist) comes under pressure from Sir Arthur Haselrigge's Regiment of Foot and Colonel Samuel Jones' Regiment of Foot
(https://live.staticflickr.com/7866/47499305192_03b42d208d_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2fnmmzN)
The destruction of Colonel William Eure's Dragoons left the Royalists with only 2 Victory Points out of their original 13
With the stabilisation of the Parliamentary position near Yew Farm and the evening getting late victory was awarded to Parliament
(https://live.staticflickr.com/7820/46828414914_5125f5c180_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2em4Sh3)
Another really useful test game, my thanks to Roy and Lester
One more tweak for my QRS and a couple of useful lessons
1. Dismounted Dragoons can hold off Horse if defending linear obstacles, one of Waller's Dragoon units had held off about 4 charges across the River Itchen
This bodes well for the Commanded Shot of both sides operating on this flank
2. Battalia are not as maneuverable as Horse or Commanded Shot, the -2 rather than -1 when doing something clever (due to their larger size) makes a significant difference,
particularly given how badly we draw chits
Another great game of FK&P enjoyed by both sides even though the game ended up a significant Parliamentary victory
THAT is a wonderful table. Jealous.
Pure eye candy 8)
Beautiful and the right side won! ;)
Great report and quite the spectacle! :-bd What size is the table?
Thanks all :) :-[
The table size is 8'x5' old money or 2.4m x 1.5m
The full battle at Easter will be on a 4.8m x 1.8m table
Wow :o - top that!
Just before I went on my walking holiday I had a FPW Square Bashing game:
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Walter Schnaffs
2) What armies were confronted? - French Imperial v Prussian (1870)
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - very
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - this was my 6th or 7th game
5) How many players were in the game? - three - one French defender v two Prussian attackers
6) What went well? - the Prussians were in a good position to put in two flank attacks
7) What could have been improved? - the poor French lost about half their army to the reserves in the pre-battle build up.
The Prussian artillery, being superior, had more bombardment assets than the French. They were very lucky putting in an early bombardment with the 6pdr corps artillery asset (off table) taking out 50% of the French artillery before it had fired a shot. The French failed to put in a bombardment at all with their reserve artillery (once again it was in the wrong place awaiting the right moment). The Prussian commander built up two massive infantry attacks on each wing, the left reaching the area behind the French right flank, the right, supported by cavalry, pushing back, but not destroying the French left flank. Nevertheless the Prussians gained three of the four objectives, and it was clear that the French would be unable to reclaim them. At this point (2 hours of tabletop play) the French conceded and determined to withdraw under cover of darkness.
During this game we used the new cards, available for download on the Peter Pig forum, to determine the two forces andconduct the pre-game events. This sped the game up and made army building very easy. It also put the French in a position where they had to decide whether to spend leftover points on enhanced assets or mitrailleuses (the only way to get these primitive machine guns). The Prussian put his leftover points entirely into the bombardment asset.
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/55575507_122692315556704_7738361577862070272_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&_nc_ht=scontent-lhr3-1.xx&oh=c5a90226b8ce96343257d6e7ce142dcd&oe=5D406959)
The main French artillery line had been on that hill, behind defences but to no avail.
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/55865174_122692275556708_3834220053641822208_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_ht=scontent-lhr3-1.xx&oh=bd8ae8e3b5f8e977d06c311643c85124&oe=5D3E1798)
The Prussian build up on the French left flank which secured the isolated building objective (marked by the yellow counter)
Ouch
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - BKC IV
2) What armies were confronted? - Germans v Americans
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - This version yes
5) How many players were in the game? - 4
6) What went well? - Rules flowed well, back to the feel of BKC II
7) What could have been improved? - Just need more table time with the rules
That sounds a promising start for BKC IV :) :) :)
Hi Paulr
Just wanted to say how fantastic your Cheriton game looks. I was wondering though, if you make any changes to the rules regarding hills?
In the photos it looks as if you have a 'slope' going in one direction covering more than one box (or it maybe the way I am looking at the photo). Usually in FK&P (and TtS! for that matter) a hill (whether gentle or rough) is simply in one box or more if placed side by side. Grateful for any information.
Cheers Paul
Muscovites and Poles again...Lee's just clobbered me again. Devious little oriental.
Quote from: T13A on 08 April 2019, 12:02:47 PM
Hi Paulr
Just wanted to say how fantastic your Cheriton game looks. I was wondering though, if you make any changes to the rules regarding hills?
In the photos it looks as if you have a 'slope' going in one direction covering more than one box (or it maybe the way I am looking at the photo). Usually in FK&P (and TtS! for that matter) a hill (whether gentle or rough) is simply in one box or more if placed side by side. Grateful for any information.
Cheers Paul
Thanks
The battlefield is representing a real place and the contours are based on a modern topographical map. This means that they do not line up entirely with the grid. We say that if the majority of the grid square is hill then the entire square counts as up hill. We use a similar approach for other area features.
For streams they are deemed to be on the edge they are nearest to, this allows more natural looking streams
I recall there being a comment to this effect somewhere in the rules but couldn't locate it when I had a quick look.
I found it, carefully hidden in the second to last paragraph under the heading Terrain on page 10 ;)
"If this cloth, or the edge of a terrain feature such as a hill, should run slightly inside or outside of the edge of the box then so much the better, for this enhances the naturalistic appearance of the battlefield."
Our definition of 'slightly' is less than half ;)
The beginning of that paragraph also applies, "Regarding terrain pieces, each should occupy either one or two boxes. Pieces of similar type, placed next to each other, can be combined to create larger features such as a long ridge which might extend across four or five boxes."
'Four or five boxes' is a sensible limit for sensible size tables but the Cheriton table is a bit bigger than most ;)
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - A Mere Question of Pluck
2) What armies were confronted? - British and Boer at Talana Hill
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Aim of the game was to get back into playing the rules for Wor Lard. Glad I listened to the suggestion.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - No, but the last time was five years ago.
5) How many players were in the game? - Four including myself but I running the game. Two British and one Boer.
6) What went well? - The whole feel of the early 2nd Anglo-Boer war. British units not knowing exactly the Boer are and getting bogged down under Boer rifle fire. The Boers nervous as the mass of British ranks set against them.
7) What could have been improved? - General knowledge of the ruleset by all the players, including myself. I missed out large chunks.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - BKCII.
2) What armies were confronted? - SCW Nationalists vs Republicans.
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Very.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - No, been using them since publication.
5) How many players were in the game? - Two.
6) What went well? - Pretty much everything and anything the Nationalists did.
7) What could have been improved? - Pretty much everything and anything the Republicans did. I was the Republicans :(.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - BKCII.
2) What armies were confronted? - SCW Nationalists vs Republicans.
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Very.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - No, been using them since publication.
5) How many players were in the game? - Two.
6) What went well? - Pretty much everything and anything the Nationalists did.
7) What could have been improved? - Pretty much everything and anything the Republicans did. I was the Nationalist commander ;) .
Very drole Dave :D.
Plagiarism is the lowest form of drole ...
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Pikeman's Lament (Osprey)
2) What armies were confronted? - Covenantors Vs A contingent of New Model Army.
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Yes, checked the rulkes a couple of times - just to be sure.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - Second outing between Westmarcher (of this forum) and I.
5) How many players were in the game? - 2
6) What went well? - The rules played smoothly with mimimal confusion - Westmarcher has been promoted to Lieutenant
7) What could have been improved? - My rolling for activation and in combat leaves much room for improvement. - Lodowicke Muggleton remains in enemy captivity.
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? - For King & Parliament
2) What armies were confronted? - Royalists v Parliament
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Yes, although we all learnt a few more bits about them as we went along
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - Most of the players had played quite a bit of TtS and some FK&P, 2-3 had not played either before
5) How many players were in the game? - about 10, I lost count :-[ We played 3 games with 7 or 8 players per day, some couldn't make all three days
6) What went well? - Everything :) :D :D :D :D :D
7) What could have been improved? - Pierre the Shy being able to make it, some of the chit drawing.
I think the record was failing to activate the first unit of a brigade for 3 turns in a row X_X
As most of you will know I staged the ECW Battle of Cheriton at the New Zealand National Wargames Convention over the first 3 days of Easter using For King & Parliament rules
I am very pleased to say that it seems to have gone very well with all players enjoying the game(s) and lots of positive comments from other players and the public :) :) :)
Personally I had an absolute ball :D
I have a number of people I need to thank
Firstly all the players
Everyone played the games in a great spirit, there was much banter, laughter and applause - some genuine, some ironic ;)
An extra thank you to Mark who provide me with accommodation for 3 nights at short notice when my initial plan fell through
At the end of the first two games I asked "who is playing tomorrow", it was very gratifying to see 4-6 hands promptly shoot up :)
Secondly Simon and Andrew
For all the support and assistance they gave me in putting the scenario together
Most importantly for writing such a great set of rules, the period feel and different character of the different units made the games fascinating
The rules played incredibly smoothly with no disputes or bizarre results and were very easily picked up by the players with no experience
We only occasionally referred to the QRS I had put together and I can only think of 3-4 occasions when the rule book was required to check something
All the mechanisms work really well and generate a really tense exciting game,
once a unit is badly disordered the draw of each chit can be the difference between a unit surviving or not :-SS X_X
The victory points are a really clear way of keeping track of how each side was doing, this kept all the players focused on how the different parts of the battle were going
They also generated lots of banter about who was gaining the most victory points for their side :) and also who was losing the most :-[
Unlike many multiplayer games I've played in there was intense interest in the last few activations of the last player to finish their turn
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/46937844184_fc0bd2324a_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2evJHMA)
Thirdly various members of this forum
Thanks for convincing me to go with sabot basing, the ability to represent Pike or Shot heavy units by the arrangement of the bases on the sabots was very useful in the heat of battle in the middle of the table
Also being able to field the 15 units of Commanded Shot at Cheriton as Pike and Shot units in future battles will be invaluable
Your continued interest in the project has also helped motivate me
I'll be putting together three battle reports once I have recovered a bit and processed the 100 photos I took
Glad to hear it went so well after all your hard work!
Seconded !!
Cheers - Phil
There was a lot of work that went into it but then I enjoyed the work :)
Except for soaking hedges in PVA and there were only 300 of them @-)
I actually only used about 280-290 hedges
The enjoyment I got from the three games was well worth the effort involved :)
I will definitely be playing the scenario again as it is a fascinating battle :-\
I've also had some suggestions from some of the players for other scenarios I should look at
Fab news
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Cruel Seas
2) What armies were confronted? - Kriegsmarine vs Royal Navy
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Yes,
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - I've played this a few times now
5) How many players were in the game? - Orcs and myself
6) What went well? - We tried a rule tweak to turn large ships from the centre rather than the stern. This helped to make them less maneuverable compared with the fast torpedo boats.
7) What could have been improved? - My aim with torpedoes!
Oh dear... ;D
Quote from: paulr on 22 April 2019, 08:29:09 AM
There was a lot of work that went into it but then I enjoyed the work :)
Except for soaking hedges in PVA and there were only 300 of them @-)
I actually only used about 280-290 hedges
That is a fab photograph of the table - shows off the sheer size and extent of the work you put in. The photo's also great in illustrating how absorbed everyone was in the game. :-bd
Quote from: sunjester on 22 April 2019, 09:48:50 AM
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Cruel Seas
............
7) What could have been improved? - My aim with torpedoes!
Has anyone ever wondered how many missed torpedoes are lying on the sea bottoms throughout the world? :-\
Quote from: Westmarcher on 22 April 2019, 10:07:49 AM
That is a fab photograph of the table - shows off the sheer size and extent of the work you put in. The photo's also great in illustrating how absorbed everyone was in the game. :-bd
I was preparing to take some photos at the end of the turn and looked up and saw that shot
As you say it captured how absorbed everyone was as the two players at the far end of the table fought out the last combat of the turn
This is one of the real strengths of FK&P a simple yet tense combat system that links very clearly to Victory points making every combat important to everyone playing
Quote from: paulr on 22 April 2019, 11:25:59 AM
I was preparing to take some photos at the end of the turn and looked up and saw that shot
As you say it captured how absorbed everyone was as the two players at the far end of the table fought out the last combat of the turn
This is one of the real strengths of FK&P a simple yet tense combat system that links very clearly to Victory points making every combat important to everyone playing
Wow! A great photo showing that all the trouble you took in preparing the terrain paid off. Inspiring! Really looking forward to the play reports.
It also shows that all the trouble you & Simon took in preparing the rules paid off :) :D
I have played in a lot of multiplayer games and these definitely had the most player engagement in other parts of the battlefield due to the tangible impact on victory points
The report on the first refight of Cheriton can be found here http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,18482.msg277002.html#msg277002 (http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,18482.msg277002.html#msg277002)
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? - White Man's Burden
2) What armies were confronted? - Victorians and Mahdists
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - But yes, my old.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - Far from it
5) How many players were in the game? - 2
6) What went well? Steady and effective shooting by imperial foot; cavalry charges were damaging but didn't get carried away.
7) What could have been improved? Those Fuzzy-Wuzzies move fast. They were streaming over a ridge I was hoping to grab before I got anywhere near it. Must remember how quickly they move; I was indebted to the event for my aquittal.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - BKCIV.
2) What armies were confronted? - SCW Nationalists vs Republicans.
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Sort of as it's a development of BCKII, with good bits from BKCI and CWC.
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? - Pretty much everything and anything the Nationalists did.
7) What could have been improved? - Pretty much everything and anything the Republicans did, again :(. Bascially I got my arse kicked! Also we couldn't figure out the Recce command bonus, so simply reverted to BKCII.
Quote from: Westmarcher on 22 April 2019, 10:10:36 AM
Has anyone ever wondered how many missed torpedoes are lying on the sea bottoms throughout the world? :-
Not really, but I believe the correct answer is lots :)
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? -
5 men at Kursk ( I could play today, but received the new BKC IV rules yesterday and did not had time to read them ;) ) I wanted to test "5 men".
2) What armies were confronted? -
Small squads, russians vs. germans in the last days of the war.
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? -
Yes. The quick scenario is easy to play. I only had to check twice in the rules.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? -
Yes
5) How many players were in the game? -
Two, first game for both of us.
6) What went well? -
The game ! ;) Our patrols met and fight. My russians took the first casualties, but then my opponent took too much risks :D
7) What could have been improved? -
My map and terrains ! ( I'm in a new house and did not find all my stuff :-[ ;) )
I like these rules and will give them another try ( while reading BKC 4 in the same time ;D )
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? - White Man's Burden
2) What armies were confronted? - Victorians and Mahdists
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - I did.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? -nope
5) How many players were in the game? - 2
6) What went well? Steady and effective shooting by imperial foot; cavalry charges were damaging but didn't get carried away; good positioning. Ammunition well conserved..
7) What could have been improved? Not much this time. Luck smiled on me.
Quote from: Westmarcher on 22 April 2019, 10:10:36 AM
Has anyone ever wondered how many missed torpedoes are lying on the sea bottoms throughout the world? :-
How much iron/steel wasted in cannonballs and shells rusting away.
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? - BKCIV
2) What armies were confronted? - Italians vs Allies, Sicily 1943
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Pretty much
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? - The US Airborne command and control as well as the scenario in general. The Italians didn't do too badly either.
7) What could have been improved? Not much, but I do need to re-read the new rules and make notes of changes from BKCII. Also we need to start using some of the special abilities, but don't want to get into too much detail at present.
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? Bloody Big Battles
2) What armies were confronted? Russians vs Allies in the Crimea
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? A little, had given it a bit of a read through beforehand
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? Yes
5) How many players were in the game? - 1
6) What went well? The Russian shooting, I've never seen so many 11s and 12s in one game! They repeatedly threw back the supposedly superior Allied troops.
7) What could have been improved? Remembering that the British could have just charged straight across the stream rather than standing exchanging pot shots for several turns!
http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,18539.0.html
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? BKCIV
2) What armies were confronted? Russians vs Germans, Eastern Front, Spring 1943 The start of another go at our "Journey To Kursk" campaign.
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? All players had played BKC before many times.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? First time using BKCIV but we soon had the differences sorted out .... we think :)
5) How many players were in the game? 5 - 3 Russian and 2 German
6) What went well? In Turn 3 my panzer commander ordered 6 PzIVs and 3PzIIIs to fire and rolled a double one. So they fired twice. I rolled again, using my opponents dice, at his request, and rolled a double one! So fired twice. My opponent then rolled on my behalf, with my dice, and .... yup, rolled a double one. There is no point in my doing the lottery or playing poker for at least a decade, I have clearly used up at least that length of time's supply of good fortune!! When the dust settled the force facing me had lost so much it broke and was removed. The remaining Russians opted to continue the attack in hopes of eliminating my partner and regaining the advantage. They were disappointed.
7) What could have been improved? The Russians seemed to do everything right except their die rolling when making saves. Artillery was spectacularly effective at hitting where troops weren't. We need to learn what the special abilities do better (or drop them altogether).
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? - White Man's Burden
2) What armies were confronted? - Egyptians and Mahdists
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Very.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - nope
5) How many players were in the game? - 2
6) What went well? Ummm...Lee's reassured that she can still win.
7) What could have been improved? I suppose I might have done a little better if I'd resisted the temptation to go onto the offensive against the better and more numerous Dervish cavalry.
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? - BKCIV
2) What armies were confronted? - Italians vs British, Sicily 1943
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Pretty much
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? - The scenario worked well and both sides artillery made a difference. The Italian bomber was as effective as ever. The campaign is going nicely with the third game already sorted broadly speaking as it's a logical follow on from this one. Details to follow.
7) What could have been improved? - Less Italian command blunders would have helped, with one HQ having two in a row!
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Saga Crescent and Cross
2) What armies were confronted? - Crusaders v Saracens
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - reasonably
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - second game
5) How many players were in the game? - two
6) What went well? - managed both rules and Saga dice reasonably well
7) What could have been improved? - rolled an awful lot of 1s and 2s in combat
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59948936_138145740678028_6688060603031879680_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_ht=scontent-lht6-1.xx&oh=5785376732eb597c990c18407cd44d1c&oe=5D5B1897)
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Walter Schnaffs
2) What armies were confronted? - Prussian v French Imperial
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Very
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? - Quick setup owing to the new WS cards available to download from the Peter Pig site. Game flowed quickly and smoothly.
7) What could have been improved? - The cards gave me an entirely infantry army, with only two guns, one mitrailleuse and one unit of chasseurs, whereas the Prussians pulled a shed load of artillery and a much more balanced army. The draw also meant I was the attacker. I gave it a go and did succeed in capturing three of the four objectives, but at a terrible loss of complete units which gave my opponent an overwhelming victory. He also had and excess of points left, many of which were added to his corps artillery bombardment, which was remarkably successful.
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59761662_138148434011092_8871410582322937856_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_ht=scontent-lht6-1.xx&oh=178cf204aec1b3fba55055474259d6ef&oe=5D6F7B43)
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Peter Pig's Hammerin' Iron
2) What armies were confronted? - USA V CSA naval
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - was learning but fairly easy.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - Yes, first time.
5) How many players were in the game? - 6 (with 1 or 2 more tag-teaming in)
6) What went well? - for the CSA (my side) virtually nothing. The current was against us and when I needed it to help in reversing direction it up and quit. Our gunnery was abysmal. Our shore battery gunners got out picnic lunches and watched. The enemy shallow draft attack squadron shot through our in-water static defenses like they weren't there. The current made their fast movers even faster. Spar torpedos and fire rafts were a pain in the butt.
7) What could have been improved? - all the above for our side. It was however a very fast moving, very fun game.
Pics and brief AAR are here:
https://inredcoatragsattired.com/2019/05/11/agy-5-6-19-hammerin-iron/
:-bd =D> :-bd
Yet another period I must resist X_X
Attractive models of the least attractive ships ever to float!
I had trouble with the floating bit. It's true, some make a Rube Goldberg device look sleek and stylish.
Quote from: d_Guy on 12 May 2019, 04:54:13 AM
I had trouble with the floating bit. It's true, some make a Rube Goldberg or Heath Robinson device look sleek and stylish.
A small addition for our English members ;)
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Ball and Bayonette
2) What armies were confronted? - Prussians and Austrians
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Yes, but I wish Lee would read the rules herself.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - It was not.
5) How many players were in the game? - 2
6) What went well? - Daun tried to lead a cuirassier charge against a Prussian battery. The Bayreuth dragoons caught a unit of pesky hussars and sent them packing. On the whole the Prussian foot earned their beer.
7) What could have been improved? Big games should start before lunchtime.
Very true!
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - If the Lord Spares Us
2) What armies were confronted? - BEF vs Germans France 1914
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Very - even remembered to add all the units cards in the turn that they appeared :)
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - No
5) How many players were in the game? - 4
6) What went well? - I was actually on the winning side of a scenario that I designed :o :P The first turn of the cards on the second night we played bought the 2nd Battalion of the 81st German Infantry Regiment into play so I decided to fire my Maxim 08 stand first up at short range I got to roll 5d6 and rolled 5 6's :o :o....end of one complete British dismounted cavalry squadron...that caused a bit of a reaction as normally my dice rolls can be classed as average at best. Here's a picture to show the situation with the dice where the unfortunate squadron was situated.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47854068071_08c1c45a41_c.jpg)
7) What could have been improved? Wording in the British scenario briefing was evidently a bit confusing.
I based my fictional scenario on the famous action by the 4th Guards Brigade at Villers Cotterets on 1 Sept 1914. The Germans had two Infantry Regiments plus and attached Jager battalion and some artillery. The orders were to advance through largely wooded terrain and exit off the far side of the table. The British had 3 battalions of infantry plus some aritillery initially with two dismounted cavalry regiments coming on as reinforcements. The fighting in the wood was very bloody with three British and two German units being largely destroyed, but eventually the German numbers told and we were able to move round the British right flank and would have been able to exit two battalions.
The scenario was well received by all the players and overall worked well.
An intriguing, if bloody, scenario with both sides having to work hard :-\
It gave us two evenings of very enjoyable gaming :) :)
We were all shocked when Pierre the Shy rolled that well, usually he doesn't get that many sixes in an evenings gaming ;D
Having just finished a podcast series on the war to (not) end all wars this looks very interesting!
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? - BKCIV
2) What armies were confronted? - Italians vs British, Sicily 1943
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Pretty much
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? - The British getting 5 command rolls in a row!
7) What could have been improved? - Both sides command rolls which were pretty poor throughout, but especially the Italians early on.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - IACTA ALEA EST!
2) What armies were confronted? - Scythians 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? - Skirmished the Companions into disorder, then charged and routed them; some serious flank attacks in support of the noble cavalry. Bad European morale when Alexander routed off the field. Very open battlefield suited my army.
7) What could have been improved? Sarmatian allies got too close to enemy line and were roughly handled by Hypaspists; Dahae nobles attacked in the expectation that the Massagetae would be at their side, but were let down and wiped out by two-pronged Macedonian counter-attack.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - IACTA ALEA EST!
2) What armies were confronted? - Indians 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? -Concentrated archery in the centre, under personal supervision of Porus (elephants can support shoot overhead) routed two pike phalanxes, and when they rallied and returned, they got walloped even worse in melee. The Argyraspids, usually very reliable, caught but failed to damage a chariot unit. An early ambush routed the Cretan mercenaries before being carved up by the counter-attack.
7) What could have been improved? - I lost a unit of cavalry when they got over-excited and charged a pike unit; the others, and some of my chariots, never got across the river, where I'd had them in case a small force tried to get at my camp. There should have been a good pincer movement at one stage, but control broke down in the other direction and my intended flank attack missed its chance. A unit of elephants panicked while withdrawing from a threatening attack, routed, and necessitated a fatal morale check.
From the invaders' point of view, a little exploitation of synaspismos (Hellenistic testudo, more or less) when under fire could make a big difference!
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Saga Crescent and Cross
2) What armies were confronted? - Crusaders v Moors
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - reasonably
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - third game
5) How many players were in the game? - two
6) What went well? - managed both rules and Saga dice reasonably well
7) What could have been improved? - Still totally unable to predict what my opponent might do or how I might react. Totally destroyed. I don't actually think I like playing games. I do enjoy painting, sorting out armies, putting them out on a nicely designed table - and then the fun stops.
Quote from: Leman on 22 May 2019, 01:21:10 PM
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Saga Crescent and Cross
2) What armies were confronted? - Crusaders v Moors
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - reasonably
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - third game
5) How many players were in the game? - two
6) What went well? - managed both rules and Saga dice reasonably well
7) What could have been improved? - Still totally unable to predict what my opponent might do or how I might react. Totally destroyed. I don't actually think I like playing games. I do enjoy painting, sorting out armies, putting them out on a nicely designed table - and then the fun stops.
Do you have fun when you win though?
Can't remember when I last won. Finding I much prefer solo games these days, but keep going to the club for the social aspect.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? -
Age of Hannibal from littlewars.tv
2) What armies were confronted? -
Romans vs Celts. 6mm, but these rules are equally suited for 10mm.
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? -
Yes. It is the easiest I ever saw! Moreover, it comes with quickreference sheets.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? -
Second time
5) How many players were in the game? -
Two
6) What went well? -
Most of it, but we particularly loved the terrainbuilding at the beginning if the game. It basically simulates the maneuvering for the best field of battle. It is almost a minigame in itself. The morale clock is also great. By pestering the roman invaders with my skirmishers and chariots, I managed to break down their morale to the extent that they froze, and I won. Seems highly realistic to me.
7) What could have been improved? -
Maybe add a category of 'slingers'. They're currently either skirmishers or archers.
We will keep on playing this. It is a ruleset for ancients, and my ancients are all 6mm, but as soon as i can persuade some club members with 10mm ancients to try it, i'll post a batrep.
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? - BKCIV
2) What armies were confronted? - Axis vs British, Sicily 1943
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Very
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? - The Fallschirmjager mortar fire which was simply devastating.
7) What could have been improved? - Not much.
The game was the natural end to our mini-campaign, which has been fun. AAR to follow.
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.
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
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! =D>
:D
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!
Quote from: Westmarcher on 29 May 2019, 08:25:03 PM
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! =D>
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.
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.
Link to Honours of War forum.
http://honoursofwar.com/
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!
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.
(https://scontent.flhr4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/61423729_144293443396591_3224064217749389312_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_ht=scontent.flhr4-1.fna&oh=a001a121df0e750cd20fe1d79f68f853&oe=5D608E1B)
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
Quote from: FierceKitty on 08 June 2019, 10:22:29 AM
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.
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
(https://gamingreference.blogspot.com/2019/06/they-couldnt-hit-broadside-of-barn.html)
Nice report
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.
(https://scontent.flhr3-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/62378929_148222469670355_2715202093156663296_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_ht=scontent.flhr3-2.fna&oh=d308eb2400688a08fd8423afa51cf949&oe=5D9E3EE0)
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
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.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Bloody Big Battles
2) What armies were confronted? - French vs Prussian, Wavre 1815
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? - Considering I hadn't played these rules in about 2 years, it all came back very quickly. Also the Prussian guns helped stave off two turns of French assaults on one of the villages, allowing the Prussians to hold on until the last turn.
7) What could have been improved? - Not much really, as both sides had their fair share of high and low die rolls.
Next week a 'what if?' follow up with the French pursuing the Prussians, not realising Napoleon had been defeated and therefore suddenly coming up against some Allied units. Looking forward to it.
Quote from: Steve J on 20 June 2019, 05:47:12 AM
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Bloody Big Battles
2) What armies were confronted? - French vs Prussian, Wavre 1815
Thanks, Steve. Keen to see how Dave designed the scenario for this battle, as it is a challenging one to recreate.
Chris
Bloody Big BATTLES!
https://uk.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/BBB_wargames/info
http://bloodybigbattles.blogspot.com/
Dave used the Volley & Bayonet book by Chadwick as a guide IIRC. We played on a 4' x 4' table, so had to miss off of the battlefield and probably bathtubbed some units for an evenings gaming. A sort of AAR will follow once I rested up after a rather hectic week on the work front.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Bloody Big Battles
2) What armies were confronted? - Union vs Confederate, Gettysburg
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? - Other player wasn't a war gamer but picked up the rules quickly enough and was able to focus on the tactics of the battle rather than worrying about the rules.
7) What could have been improved? - Not a lot, Confederate forces had a few bad rolls while Union did well on day 1 that stalled the rebel advance. But it balanced out on the second half of the game with some superb assaults from the Confederate veterans.
Will have to reread the rules and see what, if anything, I got wrong, but it flowed pretty smoothly.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - BKCIV
2) What armies were confronted? - Italians vs Greeks 1940
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 Italian shooting and command rolls, with the scenario working out quite well.
7) What could have been improved? - The Greek shooting.
Mark Fry kindly came over for a game, which we both enjoyed and will form the start of a mini-campaign. We also had a good chat before and after the game, which was nice and look forward to meeting up again soon.
AAR to the Wavre 1815 Game, for those in the Bloody Big Battles Yahoo Group there is much eye candy in the photos:
The Prussian commander (Steve J) had sent an email to the French (me) earlier in the day saying he would be late home from work and hence we would have to postpone. The French ignored the Prussians request to parley i.e. I didn't see the email and turned up anyway much to the surprise of the family. It all ended well as Steve (Prussian Commander) soon arrived home and felt bullied enough by the French to play a game .. the table was set up by him earlier anyway. We agreed on an eight game turn which was probably enough for the French to storm one of the three crossing points at Wavre (on the French right), Bierges in the centre or Limale on the French left.
The French assigned III Corps to attack the left (Limales) and IV Corps to take Wavre. Bierges was to be ignored by the French in this battle. France had the initiative and true to form the command rolls meant they struggled through the woods and attacked piecemeal for the first three hours/turns. The Prussians simply sat in their positions bombarding and volleying from the Northern river bank. The IV Corps even had its artillery destroyed as it advanced ... not a good start.
However, the French managed to get established and a heavy firefight began on both positions. The Prussians cavalry was dispersed by Pajol's horse artillery and the Raw troops in Liamles began to feel heavy pressure with one Brigade being destroyed in the open. Wavre held firm being classed as a Town rather than a village.
Throughout IV Corps took heavy but also dished out heavy casualties but it could not break the Prussians or storm over the bridgehead in 8 hours of heavy fighting.
III Corps attempted three assaults across a bridge with artillery shooting in to their flank and failed to break into Limales with the bayonet. But on the 8th and last turn the Raw, Disordered and Spent Prussians in Limales finally broke and fled the village leaving it open to French III Corps and the Cavalry to flood over the River. A tough and hard won French victory (just). Next week Grouchy, thinking he has beaten the Prussians will pursuit towards Waterloo not knowing the result of Napoleon's defeat!
More to follow. .... this is what might follow... with Wavre and Waterloo now completed and much of the initial forces in tatters there is the pursuit and subsequent actions to carry out.
Grouchy has managed to storm over the river forcing the Prussians back, they have their Trained brigades in quite good order plus the artillery but the cavalry and Landwehr have disappeared! Grouchy has received some additional orders: "Grouchy you buffoon, the Emperor has lost Waterloo because of your incompetence! Your are to march to his aid pushing aside the Prussian resistance and falling on the rear of Wellington's lines stopping his pursuit. Don't blow this one, otherwise don't bother coming back to Paris - signed Marshal Ney."
Wellington has been bled but is still standing, Blucher is now pursuing the Corsican back to Paris. Picton's Corps has forces in tact from Waterloo but they are spread out and still reforming. They hope to be able to stem the tide of Grouchy's pursuit and rear assault. Contrary to French propaganda Uxbridge is also intact and has not lost a leg! Thus he has been busy reforming the Light Cavalry, unfortunately the Heavies get mauled by the French Guard Cavalry in the Northwood re-fight (wherever that is!). Thus expect a randomised arrival schedule so cunning that even the umpire doesn't know how it will work ... yet.
Nice summation of the game Dave :).
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Post of Honour
2) What armies were confronted? - Austrians vs Prussians SYW
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 Austrian deployment and commands, despite having all Dithering commanders.
7) What could have been improved? - The Prussian deployment and their sole Dithering command getting stuck in a town for nigh on 3 moves didn't help their cause.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - playtest version of the forthcoming Breakthrough! ruleset by Frank Chadwick
2) What armies were confronted? - 9th SS Pz Div Hohenstaufen and friends vs Guards Armoured Div and 11th Armoured Div
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. (In fact we ran it three times with varying cast.)
6) What went well? - Terrific ruleset; and the battle situation makes for a great game with both sides forced to maneuver and having plenty of options to choose from.
7) What could have been improved? - my terrain could be prettier and my armies need to be based for the rules.
This was a Normandy game for the 75th anniversary of D-Day (though the actual Bluecoat battle happened in August 1944). AAR here:
http://bloodybigbattles.blogspot.com/2019/06/operation-bluecoat-wilderness-in-bocage.html
Chris
Bloody Big BATTLES!
https://uk.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/BBB_wargames/info
Sounds an interesting rule set. What does a base of troops represent in the game?
Quote from: fred. on 23 June 2019, 12:20:32 PM
Sounds an interesting rule set. What does a base of troops represent in the game?
One 2" base is a battalion. One inch is 500m. Three game turns per day: AM, PM, Night. Thus our scenario pitched two British divisions against nearly as many Germans on a 24x20km battlefield, covered 3 days' battle (8 game turns), and took about 3.5 to 4 hours to play.
Thanks Chris, so a very large scale then. Sounds interesting our group has liked Rommel, but this moves things up another step. And my WWIII is largely on 50x30mm bases, so two of those together should work.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Steve Holmes's Age of Discovery variant of Dragon Rampant
2) What armies were confronted? - 16th C. Portuguese vs Somalis
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - Yes. However, Dragon Rampant is the fantasy variant of Dan Mersey's Lion Rampant and therefore very similar to The Pikeman's Lament which I have played.
5) How many players were in the game? - Me and our own Steve Holmes.
6) What went well? - Well, almost everything for Steve who won.
7) What could have been improved? - Possibly my tactics and troop choice and definitely my dice rolling.
I'm not really a Fantasy war gamer and with all of the games Steve and I have played so far having been of a historical nature, I thought it was time Steve got the chance to roll out his fantasy figures and try out his "Age of Discovery (in the Far East)" variant of Dragon Rampant.
Steve had compiled his own army lists based on historic powers from the 16th Century which, Steve's words, saw the age of exploration, the spread of firearms and other significant developments in several parts of the world. It's about as late as Dragon Rampant can be applied. His lists combine historical armies with folklore from their place of origin. Depending on the force I selected (Colonial Portuguese, Somali, Ming Chinese or Indonesian), I had the choice of Dragons, a Giant, Undead types like a Pontianak (a female vampire ghost), a Karkadann (an enchanted rhino), a Quilan (a giraffe like creature) and Rui She (Imperial Guardian Lions). What did I go for? A killer crocodile unit ....
Strangely enough, in the scenario Steve devised and I selected, Steve did not get the option of including any mythical beasts because it was supposed to be a surprise seaborne raid by my force and his force was supposed to be "hastily assembled." Yet he still won. Essentially, the scenario basis was that my force were patrolling inland seeking loot. In this scenario I had to find 3 trails at the far end of the table through patchy terrain that would take me further inland. To win I had to exit at least one unit at at least two of the three trail entrances. Trouble was Steve's Somali force was in the way!
To some extent, the game therefore reminded me of an American football game. As I advanced, I had to try using some units as blocking units, while others ran behind them ready to change direction as the situation developed. Not having any cavalry, I also had to be mindful of Steve's sole horse unit so much of my movement had to be wary of this mounted threat and either between or via slower forest areas for two of my troop types. I made good progress to begin with and Steve was the first to lose men and units. But, although then becoming outnumbered due to these losses, his superior numbers of missile troops and the mobility of his cavalry then began to tell. I should probably have held my killer crocs back to make the break for a trail objective when a gap presented itself because they were my fastest unit but, instead, I tried using them as a battering ram; a tactic which ultimately failed. So, cutting a long story short, I lost 5 units out of six and Steve lost two(?), meaning I only had one unit left which although successfully reaching its objective was not enough to win the game. Thanks again for hosting an entertaining game, Steve.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Bloody Big Battles
2) What armies were confronted? - French vs Allies, the day after Wavre 1815
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? - Three
6) What went well? - 2 Prussian Brigades holding of 2 French Corps with artillery support until the penultimate turn. Their sacrifce left Grouchy and Co unable to pursue Wellington and Co.
7) What could have been improved? - The French advance on the right flank was really, really slow which allowed the Prussians to hang on for so long. As this was a 'what if?' scenario and the first run out, the Allied random arrivals needed a tweak which we all agreed on at the end of the game.
A very fair summary there.
It was the first outing for the scenario, and this army pairing.
I thought my number was up when Westies explorers quickly dispatched my two units of close fighting warriors.
There was a following lull in combat during which we regrouped.
Battle re-commences with the Portuguese impetuous crocodiles rushing forward, whiel the Emir's son led his cavalry unit against an Arquebus unit on the flank.
The Portuguese followed up with a sword and buckler unit of "gentlemen adventurers", who dented the Somali line, but found themselves in range of three shooting units.
Eventually the battle was decided by firepower.
The next episode will see the two main forces clash as the Portuguese march inland seeking settlements to loot.
Fantastic creatures will be available to either side, and the objective will be to scatter the enemy force.
Many thanks for a great game..
Quote from: Westmarcher on 27 June 2019, 10:07:09 AM
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Steve Holmes's Age of Discovery variant of Dragon Rampant
2) What armies were confronted? - 16th C. Portuguese vs Somalis
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - Yes. However, Dragon Rampant is the fantasy variant of Dan Mersey's Lion Rampant and therefore very similar to The Pikeman's Lament which I have played.
5) How many players were in the game? - Me and our own Steve Holmes.
6) What went well? - Well, almost everything for Steve who won.
7) What could have been improved? - Possibly my tactics and troop choice and definitely my dice rolling.
I'm not really a Fantasy war gamer and with all of the games Steve and I have played so far having been of a historical nature, I thought it was time Steve got the chance to roll out his fantasy figures and try out his "Age of Discovery (in the Far East)" variant of Dragon Rampant.
Steve had compiled his own army lists based on historic powers from the 16th Century which, Steve's words, saw the age of exploration, the spread of firearms and other significant developments in several parts of the world. It's about as late as Dragon Rampant can be applied. His lists combine historical armies with folklore from their place of origin. Depending on the force I selected (Colonial Portuguese, Somali, Ming Chinese or Indonesian), I had the choice of Dragons, a Giant, Undead types like a Pontianak (a female vampire ghost), a Karkadann (an enchanted rhino), a Quilan (a giraffe like creature) and Rui She (Imperial Guardian Lions). What did I go for? A killer crocodile unit ....
Strangely enough, in the scenario Steve devised and I selected, Steve did not get the option of including any mythical beasts because it was supposed to be a surprise seaborne raid by my force and his force was supposed to be "hastily assembled." Yet he still won. Essentially, the scenario basis was that my force were patrolling inland seeking loot. In this scenario I had to find 3 trails at the far end of the table through patchy terrain that would take me further inland. To win I had to exit at least one unit at at least two of the three trail entrances. Trouble was Steve's Somali force was in the way!
To some extent, the game therefore reminded me of an American football game. As I advanced, I had to try using some units as blocking units, while others ran behind them ready to change direction as the situation developed. Not having any cavalry, I also had to be mindful of Steve's sole horse unit so much of my movement had to be wary of this mounted threat and either between or via slower forest areas for two of my troop types. I made good progress to begin with and Steve was the first to lose men and units. But, although then becoming outnumbered due to these losses, his superior numbers of missile troops and the mobility of his cavalry then began to tell. I should probably have held my killer crocs back to make the break for a trail objective when a gap presented itself because they were my fastest unit but, instead, I tried using them as a battering ram; a tactic which ultimately failed. So, cutting a long story short, I lost 5 units out of six and Steve lost two(?), meaning I only had one unit left which although successfully reaching its objective was not enough to win the game. Thanks again for hosting an entertaining game, Steve.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Naval Thunder x 4
2) What armies were confronted? - Battle of The River Plate x3, Scharnhorst vs Duke of York x 1
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - yup, but had to look up torpedoes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - for me, no, for Paul, yes, then no, no, and no...
5) How many players were in the game? - 2
6) What went well? - Some dice
7) What could have been improved? - many more dice...
Game 1: Spee sunk by torpedoes from Achillies, as Achillies turned turtle and the burning wreck of the Exeter slid under.
Game 2: British do doughnuts to produce smoke, then fire through own smoke using radar to sink the Spee.
Game 3: Swap sides, Exeter silenced all of Spee's main guns before being crippled, secondary guns cripple Acjlhillies as Do we slips under.
Game 4: B turret and fire directors crippled in first salvo on DoY,
Leaves Scharnhorst as more accurate ship, staying at long range to eventually silence all DoY main guns and fire control, then escape to the fjords for repairs.
Mark 8, me 2 (2 wins, 2 draws)
Been on holiday in Cape Town for a few weeks, which explains my lack of AAR. Shall be back in the saddle later next week.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Rebels and Patriots
2) What armies were confronted? - British vs French, Then British Rangers vs Indian War Party
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - Not for me, but it was for LH
5) How many players were in the game? - Two
6) What went well? - Most things, except my shooting in the second game
7) What could have been improved? - It's another Dan Mersey set of rules from the Lion Rampant stable, with various improvements taken from previous sets in the range. I had tweaked the army lists, I didn't like they way First Nation Indians were treated as large massed warbands so I made them all skirmish units like those on the British side, which seemed a better reflection of their tactics. We enjoyed both games, but my impression was that these rules work better for games with mainly conventional units and a few skirmishers. Our second game, which was all skirmish units, didn't seem as satisfactory to me. It may be I need to tweak things a bit more for skirmish only games, but I should probably play it a bit more to make a final decision.
A picture of the table I took before the first game (and forgot to take any more photos all evening #-o)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48149541567_8de1024511.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2gmNZcM) (https://flic.kr/p/2gmNZcM)
:-bd =D> #-o
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Bloody Big Battles
2) What armies were confronted? - Battle of Dioran, July 1913, Greeks vs Bulgarians
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 scenario in general was excellent and a challenge for both players. The Bulgarian shooting early on, followed by the Greeks in close combat.
7) What could have been improved? - The Greeks' command rolls (Dave) as the terrain made it hard to get units moving forward. The Bulgarians suffered the same problems later on.
A great game full of incident and a full AAR to follow, once I've got my head around my hastily scrawled notes!
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Bloody Big Battles
2) What armies were confronted? - Hungarians vs Austrians & Russians, Battle of Temesvar, 1849
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? - The scenario rocked! This was the final battle of the Hungarian war of independence and it has a 'last days of the Reich' feel to it. The invading Allies now have a very well-oiled military machine, while the Hungarian army has an elite core still but is generally pretty demoralized and has scraped the barrel to field 10,000 scythe-armed levies. The game therefore had that wonderful asymmetry of quality vs quantity, both sides had to maneuver, there was tons of action. The boys are keen to refight this one so we have a rematch scheduled for two weeks' time.
7) What could have been improved? - We could have done with some actual scythe-armed levy figures. Any recommendations for which Pendraken figures to use?
Full AAR on my BBBBlog:
http://bloodybigbattles.blogspot.com/2019/07/hungarys-last-battles-szoreg-and.html
Chris
Bloody Big BATTLES!
https://uk.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/BBB_wargames/info
QuoteAny recommendations for which Pendraken figures to use?
LoA16 - League of Augsburg scythemen?
Scythe armed levy? LOA16 - scythemen.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Rommel, by Sam Mustafa
2) What armies were confronted? Plucky Brits and Jerries - North Africa 1941
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - Yes
5) How many players were in the game? - Four plus umpire (me)
6) What went well? - Everything. It was a basic game and our first time. We got some bits wrong, others bang on. The command post and ops idea we liked a lot
7) What could have been improved? - We played 2 brigade groups per side. That might be the limit, perhaps 3 per side for 4 hrs of play. I'd like to use more.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Bloody Big Battles
2) What armies were confronted? - Germans vs French, Loigny/Poupry 1870
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? - Tow
6) What went well? - For a bathtubbed game the scenario tweaks worked well. Both sides had their fair share of good die rolls etc.
7) What could have been improved? - Not a lot really, other than my positioning of the German re-inforcements early on. I took a gamble as to where to place them, which failed this time.
It was close run thing and half way through the French Garde Mobile looked like they were about to crumble, then the famous Veteran Rouge Pantalons charged with Elan. Never trust a Republican when an Imperial Elite will save the day.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Four Against Darkness
2) What armies were confronted? - 4 adventurers against the denizens of a dungeon
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Somewhat
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - Yes
5) How many players were in the game? - One
6) What went well? - The game was good, successful run and plenty of decent rolls. First time playing any sort of pen and paper RPG so good intro to the genre.
7) What could have been improved? - Nothing with the game itself but the rule book is a bit if a mess. Rules scattered all over the place, some tables repeated multiple times while others hidden in amongst other rules. They do provide some "pocket books" you can print out as quick reference but there was a fair bit missing from them so a lot of flipping through the pdf. Some important rules I didn't discover until towards the end of the game. I'll know better next time! Will probably try and make up a cheat sheet of the key bits missing from the pocket books and take it from there but all and all a fun morning diversion and looking forward to the intrepid adventurers' next outing.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Bloody Big Battles
2) What armies were confronted? - Russians vs Turks, Kurudere in the Crimea 1854
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 Turks played a blinder considering they were leaderless and with some really bad troops. The scenario is really good and worked well, even though it was slightly bathtubbed. Having plenty of space to deploy cavalry to good effect was great fun. The game ebbed and flowed as was the closest game we've played for quite some time.
7) What could have been improved? - Not a lot really, other than Russian shooting and command and control.
Quote from: Steve J on 24 July 2019, 09:37:53 PM
2) What armies were confronted? - Russians vs Turks, Kurudere in the Crimea 1854
6) What went well? - The Turks played a blinder considering they were leaderless and with some really bad troops. The scenario is really good and worked well, even though it was slightly bathtubbed. Having plenty of space to deploy cavalry to good effect was great fun. The game ebbed and flowed as was the closest game we've played for quite some time.
Sounds great! Kurudere is certainly a battle with a very different feel from most C19 actions. We've been fighting the Hungary 1848 battles where the Turks' chief of staff learned his trade. Good to hear that his plan went well for once.
Chris
Bloody Big BATTLES!
https://uk.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/BBB_wargames/info
http://bloodybigbattles.blogspot.com/
There was Turkish Delight all round after that battle. I think it was time for an early Revolution following that display of Russian indifference against an ancient enemy. An inglorious technical victory because the Russians held the ground but with both armies exhausted and bled out. Turkish troops certainly had motivation on the day.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - A Song of Fire And Ice
2) What armies were confronted? On our table, Starks vs Lannisters, next to us was Free Folk vs Bolton/Starks, and at the end was Stark vs Night Watch
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - by the end, pretty much so.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - yes
5) How many players were in the game? - Two per game, so 6 of us.
6) What went well? - Game 1 took out Robb Stark with his unit and the Stark Cavalry to win.
7) What could have been improved? - Game two, failed to kill a thing!
We got two games in on the time the others finished one! Very bloody rules, very simple basics, bit lots of tactics and nuances that are driven by event cards. The right cards at the right time is awesome, the wrong cards and it's bloody...
Really enjoyed it.
What figures did you use for those games Will?
The ones that came in the game...
But if you want the rules for free, look up the War Council app, it's all on there...
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - L'art de la Guerre (LaDG)
2) What armies were confronted? This was a multi-game competition held at the 'Attack' show at Devizes, UK - 28mm armies - restricted to armies that fought Republican Rome (& their Republican Roman enemies). I played with my naked (well partly fur clad) Ancient German (Cimbri or Teutones) tribal war-band army - lots of impetuous heavy war-band; some elite medium cavalry and light foot javelinmen.
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Yes - this is my current 'go-to' Ancient and Medieval gaming set - it works well in 28mm, so it is nice to get old armies out and dust them off - also as most armies are c.20 bases - it's not too huge an effort to create/collect new ones.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - No - I play this a lot - both at club and in open competitions - this was a 200 point event - but we also play a faster smaller 120 point game that is great fun of an evening. It works well in 28mm and 15mm and I am sure in 10mm as well - as the bases are large enough to get a lot of 10mm figure on - so it would look very impressive.
5) How many players were in the game? - Two per game, so I think there were 20 of us in total in the competition
6) What went well? - Game 1 was a mutual destruction (rare in LaDG) - I faced a beautifully painted Aventine Ptolemaic army (we both broke simultaneously); Game 2 - a Draw - I fought a Republican Roman and managed to mangle one end of his heavy infantry line, but he trashed my cavalry but neither of us broke within the time; Game 3 - a Win against another Ancient German - here is where my cavalry paid off, as they outnumbered their opposite numbers & turned a flank and in LaDG that is almost certain death for the opposing army; Game 4 - a Loss to a Carthaginian (who came overall 2nd) - a good game - better combat dice against his veteran African infantry and I might have done better (but do not mention Balearic slingers - see below).
7) What could have been improved? - Game one - I could have been more cautious against the Ptolemaic cavalry wing - it fought much better than I anticipated. And in the final game ... Note to self - do not (ever, ever) send troops into rough going against elite Balearic slingers (you have been warned!) - 2 elite LF slingers and a mediocre Carthaginian elephant in Brush destroyed 5 of my units - 2 LF javelins, and 2 dismounted cavalry (MF elite swordsmen) and 1 mounted Medium cavalryman ... it was bloody... & the dice deserted me, but equally my opponent has 'previous' for playing his light troops in terrain very well.
Really enjoyed the event and LaDG is the rules set that just keeps on giving for me - a nice mix of older style DBA mechanism, FoG and Armati, with more flexibility and larger armies than straight DBA. The single base is a unit also works much better for me - I don't feel like I am buying and painting a lot of extra figures for nothing.
I just hope that they do not muck it about too much once they release version 2 shortly - just fix the errata and a few army list tweaks and that would do me fine 8)
There is a 120pt, 28mm, 4 games in one day LaDG event at the IPMS model show at Thornbury on Sunday 8th August I shall compete in next - hmmm as this is an 'open' event (but with no Knights allowed to be fielded) I am contemplating fielding my Hussites - just for a bit of colour and fun you understand :D or maybe I should go for an all out impetuous mounted charging army with a Sarmatian or maybe a pre feudal Norman ... choices, choices, choices :-
Mark
Mark as you well know a new edition always muks things up ! :'( :'( :d
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? – Computer Strategies Clash of Ideologies V7 - Interwar 1918-1939.
2) What armies were confronted? – POUM Militia/Spanish Foreign Legion. Madrid 1936.
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Yes. If you have used one of Computer Strategies games you will be familiar with all of them.
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? – This is Computer Strategies latest rules which I've been helping the author develop. I have run the game more than a dozen time now during the process, either SCW or 1940 Fall of France/Low Countries scenarios. This game was the first one set in a built up area, at platoon level with a 1:1 troop ratio. Everything seemed to work fine during a two hour game. The rules reflect the 'flavour' of the SCW.
7) What could have been improved? – Could do with a demolition charge/bangalore torpedo type option but other than that. nothing really. All the 'wrinkles' seem to have been ironed out now, with any luck, the last being some anomalies with grenades.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Honours of War
2) What armies were confronted? - It was a solo game between Prussian vs. Austrians.
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - I did not really play for a year and half (although I ran some games for friends) And did not play Honours of War for even more... I also asked what was the highest number of units a player can use and got good advices on honoursofwar.com
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - After 2 or 3 turns it was ok, memories came back.
5) How many players were in the game? - Only me and myself :P ;) ( summer hollydays ..)
6) What went well? - All the game has been OK. The prussian had a risky plan, but the austrians were too slow, although they counter attacked.
7) What could have been improved? - I had to redo some bases, but mainly I will put some things next to each general to show his quality ( I don' t want to look back to the roster each turn.)
And I must find where are my trees ! ( I moved twice lately ... they're somewhere.. in a case ...)
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? – BKCII.
2) What armies were confronted? – British vs Germans August 1944.
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Very.
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 British shooting and saving rolls were excellent for most of the game. For an improvised game (more of which in my AAR) it went really well.
7) What could have been improved? – The German command rolls, shooting and saves. They never recovered from initial British fire supremacy. A few tweaks here and there, but again, ore on that later.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? – BKCII.
2) What armies were confronted? – British vs Fallschirmjager 1944.
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Very.
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 concept of fighting in a BUA on a 2' x 2' board broadly worked.
7) What could have been improved? – The broad game mechanics sort of came undone in the enclosed fighting environment. More thought needed to be honest. An AAR to follow.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Mortiem et Gloriam
2) What armies were confronted? - Late Roman (10mm) vs Free Company (18mm)
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - indeed
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - no
5) How many players were in the game? - two plus an observer
6) What went well? - legion taking on the world
7) What could have been improved? - legion vs the world
A very tight game, both armies within a smidge of breaking at the end. Top work
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Wings of Glory
2) What armies were confronted? - Two Hurricanes v two Italian fighters
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - not too bad
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - no
5) How many players were in the game? - Three: one per Hurricane and one controlling both Italian planes
6) What went well? - I shot down an Italian plane
7) What could have been improved? - My spatial awareness and predictive skills are crap - good job the Battle of Britain didn't rely on me. I was shot down in turn, as was the other Hurricane.
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/68806544_165419091284026_3043346592527548416_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_oc=AQnXIZ24oTcg8EXsHTccbi7c92iLg4p-Iq4WnT-Yv35OtHL1qmEdGdmyBKhX4X_Y0EctxqfgVLSYxUmLPk6BgCtf&_nc_ht=scontent-lht6-1.xx&oh=3e3f85f69b84d537beb73f862ced14ac&oe=5DD2A647)
) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - IACTA ALEA EST!
2) What armies were confronted? - Achaemenid Persians against Alexandrian Macedonians
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - indeed
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? - Held them long enough for our cavalry to break a flank and wrap them up. Special mention to the Agrianian peltasts who held and broke an attack by Scythian light horse.
7) What could have been improved? - My rules have been making hoplites too effective against phalangites. This has been ammended; pikes now negate the protection of the long thrusting spear.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? – Black Powder
2) What armies were confronted? – 1866 Austrian vs Prussian
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Very
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? – Last Hussar lost!
7) What could have been improved? – As the rules are written, the mechanics for the Dreyse Needle Gun do not work. I had tweaked the rules to better reflect the capabilities of the opposing weapons, but had made the needle gun too deadly at close range. We are trying again next week with re-adjusted rules.
As the rules writers made it abundantly clear they have little interest in C19th Europe after the Crimea, why am I not surprised.
How well does BP handle Austrian stosstactik?
It is not even mentioned in the rules and there is no supplement for later C19th Europe. Personally the best set of rules for handling Stosstaktik is Bruce Weigle's, which now has an 1871 style QRS for the 1866 rules. I mentioned in another thread that his 1871 Fast Play rules are indeed very much quicker than his originals. He has now produced new play sheets for each of the previous theatres covered, plus a few pages explaining how to adapt the new sheets to the original scenarios. Half scale and quarter scale are better explained and he suggests that some of the bigger battles can be broken down into a number of sub scenarios to be played at the half or quarter scale (which would really suit 15mm figures - although I use 10mm and 6mm for these rules). Quarter scale has 4 bases to a battalion and would give a good game with more nuance with Austrians. Play sheets and additional information can be found in downloads at the bottom of his home page:
www.grandtacticalrules.com
Only because I've never posted on this thread, felt I owed it to do so at least once - Hordes of he Things....aka, HOTT. Big surprise - right!!!
Terry
where are we going with this Terry. I still have to give my HOTT Leonardo inspired armies a run out.
Well Leman, I guess where I'm going is that I play almost nothing but HOTT, with an occasional DBN or DBAHX game. I am however, reading through a new set of solo skirmish rules (Doom Squad) that I may give a try (although I've never been much of a fan of skirmish games form the ones I've seen). You definitely need to get into HOTT and then join in one of the Good, Bad and Ugly Tournaments near you - there are several in the England and Scotland. Other than that being honest - HOTT provides me with everything i need, so go with the old adage - If it ain't broke, don't fix it!
Terry
Quote from: Leman on 23 August 2019, 08:32:50 PM
It is not even mentioned in the rules and there is no supplement for later C19th Europe.
To be honest the basic rules do not really reflect the WSS, ACW or Napoleonic periods either, but they can give very enjoyable games for those periods with a bit of adjustment.
BP works well as a basic mechanism to add "period flavour" with either official supplements or home-brewed adjustments. I'm still working through my own ideas for the mid-19th century wars.
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – General Quarters I/II
2) What armies navies were confronted? – US v Japan
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? – Not by a long way, these are our go to WWI & WWII naval rules, we also use them for pre-dreadnought
5) How many players were in the game? – Four, sort of
6) What went well? – Japanese gunnery
7) What could have been improved? – American gunnery, the Japanese destroyer squadron actually getting on table (so only 3 active players)
This was a refight of the Battle of the Komandorski Islands, 26 March 1943. It was always going to be tough for the Americans, they had one heavy and one light cruiser and four destroyers. The Japanese had two heavy and one light cruiser supported by one light cruiser and two destroyers. The Japanese heavy cruisers both exceeded the Washington Treaty limits so their heavier armour and greater displacement made it difficult for the one US heavy cruiser to inflict damage on them. The Americans did have radar fire control, would it be enough :-\
We hadn't played naval for a while and the US players didn't fully realise just how over matched they were. Their cruisers closed to under 8,000 yards to support the torpedo attacks by their destroyers. At these ranges the Japanese optical gunnery was accurate enough to sink the US light cruiser and immobilise the heavy cruiser. In exchange one of the Japanese heavy cruisers was crippled by the final salvos of the US heavy cruiser before she lost power.
A tactical victory to the Japanese, almost warranting promotion :)
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – General Quarters I/II
2) What armies navies were confronted? – US v Japan
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? – Not by a long way, these are our go to WWI & WWII naval rules, we also use them for pre-dreadnought
5) How many players were in the game? – Four
6) What went well? – Japanese gunnery, the Japanese destroyer squadron actually getting on table (but never getting to fire a shot)
7) What could have been improved? – American gunnery and torpedo damage
The first game had taken an hour an a half so after our regular coffee/tea break we ran the scenario again. The American players elected not to swap sides as they hoped to do better the second time
This time the US cruisers stayed at longer range where their radar fire control meant they hit more often than the Japanese but were not penetrating due to the heavier Japanese armour. The US destroyers charged!
They managed to close the range without suffering much damage and the two leading destroyers launched 10 torpedoes each at the Japanese heavy cruisers. The Japanese cruisers turned to avoid the torpedoes and avoided all but one spread of 5 torpedoes. None of which managed to hit :o
The leading US destroyers withdrew under smoke #:-S
The US cruisers shifted fire to the Japanese light cruiser and immobilised her.
The second pair of US destroyers used the smoke from the leading pair of US destroyers as cover to close the range and both launched 8 torpedoes at the Japanese heavy cruisers. One Japanese heavy cruiser managed to turn and avoid the torpedoes, the other was caught in a spread of 8 torpedoes :o Fortunately for the Japanese only two hit and both did the minimum damage possible #-o
At this stage the US forces broke off the action with all four destroyers withdrawing under smoke and both cruisers withdrawing at their best speed of 18 knots
The Japanese decided not to pursue as one of their heavy cruisers was down to only 8 knots following the torpedo hits. One of their light cruisers was crippled and dead in the water. The Japanese destroyer squadron was disappointed as they were still trying to close on the Japanese heavy cruisers and hadn't got to fire a shot (as scenario designer I commanded this squadron in both games)
The Japanese had one light cruiser crippled and one heavy cruiser damaged in exchange the US heavy and light cruisers were damaged and three of their four destroyers had some damage.
The US would go on to win the "battle of the Memoirs" :)
If those two torpedoes had inflicted maximum damage the Japanese heavy cruiser would have sunk and the US commanders would have earned a promotion :D
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – Bloody Big Battles
2) What armies were confronted? - Russia vs Turks in the Crimea
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? – Pretty much everything as it was a dry run of the Battle of Kurudere, but this time on a full size board, for a show on Sunday.
7) What could have been improved? – Slight tweaks to our deployment, both on board and placement of reserves.
Good luck for the show on Sunday, hope it all goes well :-bd
Quote from: Terry37 on 24 August 2019, 07:02:06 PM
Well Leman, I guess where I'm going is that I play almost nothing but HOTT, with an occasional DBN or DBAHX game. I am however, reading through a new set of solo skirmish rules (Doom Squad) that I may give a try (although I've never been much of a fan of skirmish games form the ones I've seen). You definitely need to get into HOTT and then join in one of the Good, Bad and Ugly Tournaments near you - there are several in the England and Scotland. Other than that being honest - HOTT provides me with everything i need, so go with the old adage - If it ain't broke, don't fix it!
Terry
I'm rekindling my HoTT interests after a 'rest' period - where can I find the Good, Bad and Ugly Tournament detail Terry?
Settled down with my copy of HoTT last night and had a look at some of the semi-historical stuff - particularly Da Vinci Italian and Boxer Rebellion armies (I have a beautiful 10mm Warmaster dragon). Also quite like the idea of a WWI War of the Worlds setting inspired by Atte's recent work).
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - FOGR
2) What armies were confronted? - Early Gustavan v Poles
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Getting much better at last
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - no
5) How many players were in the game? - two plus an observer
6) What went well? - My cavaliers saw off an early incursion on the right flank of my Gustavan army, freeing up the cavalry and dragoons there to go to the help of the left wing. My artillery played havoc with some approaching Russian cavalry seeing them off with a charge from my reiters, who, although weakened stood firm against a unit of winged hussars, thus preventing them forming a continuous line with the other unit of winged hussars. The latter were also roughly handled by my own cavalry and mini-unit of cuirassiers.
7) What could have been improved? - a number of sub-period play sheets to enable us to move away from the mass of tiny tables that are incredibly confusing to look at. Two of us reckon this will much improve our game enjoyment.
Gustavan right flank
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/69813310_167139237778678_4571977598371889152_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_oc=AQms4x3FjxACq8TDNdUWvAKQx1N2H-pS_VhwrFlVZpZTSl9oSPwsNaEX_bZNai7VK3IMxscW17Wmo8eP-5OpGk2I&_nc_ht=scontent-lht6-1.xx&oh=844b75d1791a6abcb8d74c4bbb3ed10c&oe=5E0AD7A8)
The right flank with two units of winged hussars approaching
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/69269172_167139271112008_734170362274643968_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_oc=AQknL24ENimF0tFAwqnXVeV354-f9YOp9lV1hT4TnoRLw36xGOOVPis6u5DCTRX9N7boZsV1YGPU9T7uwLmwumg0&_nc_ht=scontent-lht6-1.xx&oh=0a9ec18b54aa998750ff2db815766815&oe=5DFFCA7A)
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/69376732_167139294445339_2381633084450668544_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&_nc_oc=AQld70QjM5l5W3hMY9tmPLfWfwRic42A9bSedUYTEijn6iiRCazdVquelXbj37MOjxvpyE4DEEwFgIPI7lxrGsjZ&_nc_ht=scontent-lht6-1.xx&oh=5e4b8e4b600967793e58e07a5b77afae&oe=5E1276BB)
Swedes are the one enemy that I find really can give my Poles trouble. Those wonderful lancers can't dent the pike and shot line, and there are enough guns to make any dithering fatal.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? – Black Powder
2) What armies were confronted? – 1866 Austrian vs Prussian
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Very
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? – the look on Sunjester's face when the Austrians rushed on and made a near perfect deployment.
7) What could have been improved - Sunjester's legendary dice gods not turning up in the denouement.
This was the tweaked version SJ and I tried. I know very little about this war, but wanted to get his 15mm Austrians on the table.
He'd rewritten the needle gun so instead of twice the amount of shooting dice,the Prussians got to reroll misses, which should decrease hits on average by 25%, but still 50% more than non needle gun shooting. The command tweak encourages the Austrians to use battalionmasse, or what ever they called it in 1866.
It was a historical scenario, both sides rushing down a road to attack the other, not realising they were both coming down the same road. The Prussians suffered from their entry being one the corner quarter behind a river which takes time to ford, and arty can only use the bridge. The dice gods slept for the first 3/4 of the game, SJ deploying in a confused mass, with divisions getting in each others way. Meanwhile the Austrians rushed on, deploying correctly in position to block with 1 line, and smash with 2 columns. One Prussian AdC was heard to say shut they can't be be Austrian. They are doing it correctly." My single cavalry unit even had success in a frontal charge to disrupt a division by catching a brigade (we play this period at next level up) as it forded the river.
Then the dice swung back, and my shooting became abysmal, while his save throws demonstrated the familiar SJ luck, my commands went askew, leaving a division that should have charged part way to target and enfiladed by his massed artillery.
A battle that historically had the Prussians fleeing back the way they came ended with a tactical victory-draw to the Austrians.
Leman,
I do like those pics - very nice painting and basing.
Phil
Nice reports
Mostly Pendraken stuff done by my mate (and opponent in this instance), Paul.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? – Honours of War
2) What armies were confronted? – 1744 French vs English Militia
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – A bit rusty as it's been some time since we last played.
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? – Dave's die rolling, with lots of 6's allowing him to move rather quickly. The scenario in general as this is the start of a mini-campaign, with a strong narrative to drive it.
7) What could have been improved - Not a lot really. We were a bit rusty but if we weren't sure on something, we went with what seemed most reasonable.
Nice one Steve. My next game is HOW (also a bit rusty).
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – Ball and Bayonette
2) What armies were fighting? - SYW Prussians and Austrians
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? – Not a bit of it
5) How many players were in the game? – two
6) What went well? – Prussian musketry and getting there when they were needed
7) What could have been improved? - Wretched melee and artillery rolls.
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – Ronin
2) What armies were fighting? - Sohei vs Sohei
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Bit rusty but I got there
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? – Teaching my son the rules ... and pretty much everything he did thereafter!
7) What could have been improved? - I could have won one initiative roll, that would have been nice :) He chose the order of things in every turn and struck first in every combat.
I bought a pile of "Ninja All Stars" chibi ninja second hand because I liked the sound of the game and also liked the figures but the combat rules were awful (IMHO) so I switched to "Ronin" instead. We stat the ninja as factions from the rules, not ninja.
Couple of pictures of the action. Translucent skulls are light wounds, cream skulls are serious wounds, white tokens are stun and red tokens are dead body markers.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? – Honours of War
2) What armies were confronted? – 1759 Austria vs Prussia, (Zinna, a scenario from the forum HoW)
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? – The game was fine.
7) What could have been improved - A very tough scenario for the austrians. I should have rotate the map 90° on the side to gain more space.
I like this picture :
(http://2d6.fr/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/HoW_Zinna1759_solo_IMG_20190908_04.jpg)
Great looking battlefield Ronan.
Yep, great looking terrain 8)
Yes, really good looking artillery and table.
Fourthed :) :)
Very cool
Sorry I'm late - looks wonderful.
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – Black Powder 2nd edition with Glory Hallelujah supplement
2) What armies were fighting? - ACW uninion and confederate
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? – Solo
6) What went well? – The chaos that the order system throws up made for dynamic play.
7) What could have been improved? - my own fault, poor tactics and some unlucky dice when attacking a building ended really badly for the attackers.
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – Ball and Bayonette
2) What armies were fighting? - SYW Prussians and Austrians
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? – Not a bit of it
5) How many players were in the game? – two
6) What went well? – From my point of view, just that Lee is very pleased to have clobbered me.
7) What could have been improved? - Not having an Austrian off-table flank march turn up in my rear and kill Frederick, causing a general collapse of morale.
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – Sell Swords and spell slingers
2) What armies were fighting? - our band of plucky adventurers vs {checks scenario} everybody from the look of it
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? – Not a bit of it
5) How many players were in the game? – two Me and Sunjester
6) What went well? – FIREBALL
Calm down Eddie.
Also it turns out a really good way to annoy the Ranger is for the dwarf to find the path leading out of the wood. And for the elf to find the short cut.
7) What could have been improved? - not enough undead for Brother Christos
Lemmy.
Think of this as a trailer for SJs write up.
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – Volley & Bayonet Wing scale Indian Mutiny variant (pulled together from a couple of local Colonial variants)
2) What armies were fighting? - Loyalists v Muntineers
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? – First & second time testing this variant
5) How many players were in the game? – one
6) What went well? – the variant seemed to work pretty well, both games played differently as both sides used different tactics
7) What could have been improved? - not a lot so far, I need to try a different scenario
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? – Honours of War
2) What armies were confronted? – 1744 French vs English Militia & Line Infantry
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Very.
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? – The scenario provided a game of manouevre, which was great. In the end the French got enough fire ascendancy to push one English flank back, thus unhinging the whole position. As it's part of our campaign, it worked a treat.
7) What could have been improved - Not a lot really, other than both sides artillery was rather ineffective..
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – Volley & Bayonet Wing scale Indian Mutiny variant (pulled together from a couple of local Colonial variants)
2) What armies were fighting? - Loyalists v Muntineers
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? – Third time testing this variant
5) How many players were in the game? – one
6) What went well? – the variant seemed to work pretty well, this time the Loyalists were attacking dug in Mutineers defending a village
7) What could have been improved? - the Loyalist attack on the village, with the Mutineers morale holding it was a disaster, I've tweaked the rules a little to make drilled cavalry slightly less effective
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – Regiment of Foot by Peter Pig (Old School wargaming!)
2) What armies were fighting? - Late Royalists vs Late Parliamentarians (using Last Hussar's vintage 25mm Minifigs and Hinchcliffe)
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 (although sometimes it felt like only one! :d)
6) What went well? – after a bit of a false start we got back into the swing of the rules fairly easily
7) What could have been improved? - some of LH's Royalists actually turning up on the table!
As you can see in the second photo, the Royalist centre is looking a bit empty, consisting of one man and his dog fending off a unit of veteran foot! ;D The units along the Royalist table edge are the latecomers waiting to arrive.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48768563102_6e19a42b84_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hivCJS)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48768563077_cb5c12ed5b_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hivCJS)
(https://flic.kr/p/2hivCJr)
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – Ball and Bayonette
2) What armies were fighting? - SYW Prussians and Austrians
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? – Not a bit of it
5) How many players were in the game? – two
6) What went well? – From my point of view, just that Lee is very pleased to have clobbered me.
7) What could have been improved? - Just about everything!
Sunjester comprehensively outmarched me during the pregame "campaign" segment (one of my favourite pieces of wargame rules, despite how long it takes.) Being out manoeuvred half my army was else where or still marching.
About my only success was a cavalry unit routing some infantry, however that meant they pursued off table and it was so close to the end of the game that even if they had come back, they would be too far away to command.
It was also the inaugural game of my expensive wargames table (weirdly called something like "dining table" by the shop). At 110cm it was ideal for RoF, which uses a 3ft table, as I had a strip where I could put my late arrivals as per the rules, showing where they were coming on.
I also used poker chips to keep count of campaign points and marches made, which seemed better than scrawling it on a scrap of paper.
The terrain is so sparse because I only selected one piece, hoping not to impede my great numbers of cavalry, which were then late/lost, and SJ sucessfully removed the woods that i had put slap bang in his middle.
Ouchies ;D
I was properly Paxoed
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – Ten More Sons!
2) What armies were fighting? - Mexicans and Conquistadors
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? – Not a bit of it
5) How many players were in the game? – two
6) What went well? – New ambush rules for the Cuachicqueh let them break into a weak enemy centre mainly composed of Tlaxcalans, with a few vulnerable Spanish crossbowmen. On the flank, the other veterans bogged down the rondeleros and allowed the Jaguars (Ocelomeh, that is) to get into the musketeers, with decicise results. The Spanish cavalry were used rather clumsily, so the lights were steadily pushed back until they fled the field, and the tiny handful of heavies were a bit diffident, so were surrounded and cut to bits.
7) What could have been improved? - Some rolls were less than I hoped (but others were lucky, so shouldn't complain).
Glad your ambush rules worked out FK!
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – For King and Parliament
2) What armies were fighting? - Royalists vs Parliamentarians
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Not initially, but moreso as game progressed
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? – Yep
5) How many players were in the game? – Just me
6) What went well? – Gave a good game overall, with a bit of back and forth.
7) What could have been improved? - My familiarity with the rules and the draws on the first couple of turns - high activations and low attacks, not what you want!
Report on it here:
http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,19064.0.html
Quote from: mmcv on 22 September 2019, 09:19:59 PM
Glad your ambush rules worked out FK!
As was I. :) Though they'll use scouts next time, of course.
Quote from: FierceKitty on 23 September 2019, 01:23:18 AM
As was I. :) Though they'll use scouts next time, of course.
How unsportsmanlike!
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? – BKCII & IV
2) What armies were confronted? - Germans vs Allies, Operation Market-Garden
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Very.
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? – The scenario worked well in showing how hard it was for either side to control Hell's Highway. Dave's shooting die were phenominal.
7) What could have been improved - My saving die rolls.
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – Ten More Sons!
2) What armies were fighting? - 16th century Indians - imperial vs rebel
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? – Not a bit of it
5) How many players were in the game? – two
6) What went well? – I took a bit of heavy artillery, and they made short work of the enemy elephantry. Rajput allies did fine work riding down the rebel left wing. A sneaky enemy LC envelopment went wrong and was wiped out.
7) What could have been improved? - Masked my own guns briefly early in the game. Some Hindu levies contemplated desertion, but thought better of it.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Tiger Kompanie (home made developed)
2) What armies were confronted? - Wittmans counter attack August 8th 1944
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - comletetley we obtained almost the exact casualties
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - no we are or have developed them
5) How many players were in the game? - three
6) What went well? - The Britsi and canadians did well caused the right type of damage
7) What could have been improved? - as all three are ex militarty it is the first time with a WW2 rule set that we werre happy with from start to finish.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? – Home-made Middle earth variant of Soldiers of God
2) What armies were confronted? – Angmar vs Dwarves of Moria and Elves of Eregion
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? – Most things, we are happy with how it is progressing.
7) What could have been improved - The saving rolls for the orcses :d
Quote from: Steve J on 18 September 2019, 09:23:51 PM
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? – Honours of War
.......
7) What could have been improved - Not a lot really, other than both sides artillery was rather ineffective..
Ha! So much for some critics who think artillery is slightly too powerful. ;)
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? – The Pikeman's Lament
2) What armies were confronted? – good question :-\ - I suppose it was probably two opposing TYW companies(?) because each side included a Scottish contingent uncannily uniformed in a similar fashion to Covenanters. :-[
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Slightly rusty but otherwise very comfortable.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? – No
5) How many players were in the game? – Myself and Steve Holmes
6) What went well? – Steve's mission (which he chose to accept) was to capture three war chest wagons (actually, two were pack horses) and run away off the table with them whilst the remainder of his company made a nuisance of themselves and got in my way. Mine was to escort them off another part of the table. Each baggage element was worth two 'Honour' points. Steve managed to snatch two early on and get them off the table. As I only managed one, Steve won the game 4-2 which was just as well for Ensign Dodger Bullitt, the officer in charge of Steve's company, whose coat prior to the game was on a shooglie (shaky) peg for not having gained any 'Honour' in previous missions. The bright spot for me was that Lieutenant Patrick Thistle miraculously (and inexplicably) came out of the skirmish with even more Honour despite losing two baggage elements. It was also good to get the wee guys out on the table (including two newly painted pike and shot units,* supply wagon and pack horses with drovers) and meet up with Steve again.
7) What could have been improved - My unit choice. I picked units that would be strong enough to guard and keep up with what I imagined would be a slow moving baggage convoy with two mounted units to act as 'a fire brigade.' I did not expect two baggage units to be captured so easily early on and so, had the wrong units (too slow) for conducting a chase. No negative issues at all with the Rules. They provide a fun, quick and relatively smooth game. :)
* both of which defied convention by acquitting themselves well and staying on the table.
Quote from: Westmarcher on 02 October 2019, 07:22:09 PM
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? – The Pikeman's Lament
2) What armies were confronted? – good question :- - I suppose it was probably two opposing TYW companies(?) because each side included a Scottish contingent uncannily uniformed in a similar fashion to Covenanters. :-[
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Slightly rusty but otherwise very comfortable.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? – No
5) How many players were in the game? – Myself and Steve Holmes
6) What went well? – Steve's mission (which he chose to accept) was to capture three war chest wagons (actually, two were pack horses) and run away off the table with them whilst the remainder of his company made a nuisance of themselves and got in my way. Mine was to escort them off another part of the table. Each baggage element was worth two 'Honour' points. Steve managed to snatch two early on and get them off the table. As I only managed one, Steve won the game 4-2 which was just as well for Ensign Dodger Bullitt, the officer in charge of Steve's company, whose coat prior to the game was on a shooglie (shaky) peg for not having gained any 'Honour' in previous missions. The bright spot for me was that Lieutenant Patrick Thistle miraculously (and inexplicably) came out of the skirmish with even more Honour despite losing two baggage elements. It was also good to get the wee guys out on the table (including two newly painted pike and shot units,* supply wagon and pack horses with drovers) and meet up with Steve again.
7) What could have been improved - My unit choice. I picked units that would be strong enough to guard and keep up with what I imagined would be a slow moving baggage convoy with two mounted units to act as 'a fire brigade.' I did not expect two baggage units to be captured so easily early on and so, had the wrong units (too slow) for conducting a chase. No negative issues at all with the Rules. They provide a fun, quick and relatively smooth game. :)
* both of which defied convention by acquitting themselves well and staying on the table.
Great game.
The scenario left the opportunity for a "smash and grab" by fast moving attacking units.
David suffered 2 significant misfortunes on important die rolls:
An early command roll left him behind in the race to the loot.
The push of pike he launched to break through my infantry screen also rolled poorly in the critical melee of the game.
Different dice in either case might have produced a very different result.
For my part, Ensign Dodger Bullitt has his long awaited victory.
Promotion is still far-off, but his superiors have shelved the idea of re-deploying his as a petard tester.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? – Honours of War
2) What armies were confronted? – 1744 French vs English
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Very.
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? – The scenario provided a very interesting game for both sides. The Light Infantry had a good game, helping gain the advantage in several places.
7) What could have been improved - The French command rolls, with one flank halting for 3 turns, effectively snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Oh and the Taunton Tarters seeing off some French Dragoons.
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – Iacta Alea Est
2) What armies were fighting? - Late Romans vs Hunnic alliance
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? – Not a bit of it
5) How many players were in the game? – two
6) What went well? – Good omens; and the Romans and allies got drawn into a cavalry fight against Huns, who have more and better. I also managed to get my Frankish allies into action, and they raised Hell in the Roman centre.
7) What could have been improved? - Those cart catapults are deadly! My one serious loss was the result of a single massed Napoleonic style salvo.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? – For King and Parliament
2) What armies were confronted? – Scots Royalists vs Covenanters - Battle of Alford
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? – 4
6) What went well? – The scenario worked really well. Initially the Covenant cavalry performed brililantly but 2/3rds of the Covenant commanders ended up being captured by the Royalists....a real roller coaster ride for both sides (a bit like Spurs current performance - play in the Champions League final then totally loose the plot - I see they were beaten 3 - 0 by Brighton overnight :'( :().
7) What could have been improved - The Royalist cavalry's average chit value was about 2 for most of the game :o
I had real issues with my PC during the week so only got the lists and map done the day of the game so I wasn't able to get DGuy and Paul to look the scenario over first. I did take some pics so I will put up a more detailed report at some stage (if the PC obliges ;)) and send off a completed copy of the scenario with my assumptions to DGuy to play.
A great game, despite:
- all my horse being destroyed :o
- one Colonel being captured by some rabble X_X
- the other Colonel, retaining a little more dignity, surrendering to a unit of Pike & Shot :(
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? – Nuts! ( 2nd ed.)
2) What armies were confronted? – Russians (coop) vs German (AI) ( I did not want to fight another player, so we choose Nuts! in coop)
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – more or less, as I did not played these rukles for a long time.
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? – The game came to a conclusion within 2H1/2, we had fun.
7) What could have been improved - Rereading the rules before playing, but we were able to find what we needed. The 1st ennemy unit we met was too much, we dropped its level after several turns.
I think we'll play again, I need this kind of games nowadays.
Edit : it was the 2nd edition.
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – Iacta Alea Est
2) What armies were fighting? - Late Romans vs Hunnic alliance
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? – Not a bit of it
5) How many players were in the game? – two
6) What went well? – Support artillery blunted the edge of several barbarian attacks; guards infantry attacked fore and aft at once beat them off decisively. Auxilliary bows got off some telling shooting too. Light foot supported Frankish allies to excellent effect. Cataphract charge under C-in-C broke Hun nobles and captured Attila.
7) What could have been improved? - The Roman cavalry, barring the cataphracts, left a GREAT deal to be desired.
Gave Black Seas, the new Age of Sail game from warlord a run through on my own; 2 v 2 French and British 74s. Put nearly all the optional/advanced rules in, as the basic game is obviously aimed at complete newbies.
Didn't have the QR or Critical hit tables separate, (now photocopied off) so flipping through the book, but felt I picked them up pretty quick. The damage seems to happen at the right speed, with ships needing a pounding to sink, but not so much you feel like you are getting nowhere. Hits do 1-3 points and you have about 5-7 dice for a broadside, so I did I wonder how long it would take.
RN started well, pounding the French, while the French gunners seemed to have missed the concept of ball AND powder AND point at the enemy. But then both the British caught on fire, magazine explosions averted 3 times only because the Captains had decided to send every hand to fight the fire and not worry about shooting, or even steering!
The only quibble I have with the rules is no graduated damage as the ship loses points. There are temporary conditions from the crit tables, but no permanent loss of gunnery or speed. Will give it a couple games to get properly familiar, then try a mod. Also might try a mod on order of movement. Anyone in the Aylesbury area want to join in let me know (you know who you are, not just SJ. There can be beer, if that helps...). I also put in a couple of player choice guidelines- no shooting at rigging if at point blank range, etc.
As you well know I am a bit of a wargames slapper! (some say just a slapper). So happy to give it a go at some point.
Orcs
Sounds a lot of fun. I would be up for a trial as normal wargames nights are out for a while...
Drop us a line. I'm quizzing on Tuesday nights, but can usually do any other evening or weekend.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? – Honours of War.
2) What armies were confronted? – Prussians vs Austrians. ( Zinna 1759 )
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? – A solo game to try again this scenario.
6) What went well? – The prussians attacked and won. It's a very hard scenario for the austrians. But it was a pleasant game.
7) What could have been improved - it was OK.
(http://2d6.fr/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Zinna1759_20191020_solo2e_02.jpg)
.
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – Ten More Sons!
2) What armies were fighting? - Late 15th century Italians and French
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? – Not a bit of it
5) How many players were in the game? – two
6) What went well? – Lucky shot by a Stradiot took out the French second-in-command just before a critical cavalry melee.
7) What could have been improved? - French artillery took a heavy toll of my Milanese centre, despite the rain. Venetian cavalry had trouble with the mud (but, to be fair, so did the French).
I've found the rule that says half gunnery at half ship points.
Need to play again now! Not sure if its adequate, also need to try my idea.
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – Dragon Rampant
2) What armies were fighting? - 16th Century Portuguese navigators against Somalis.
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? – No, I think it was game number 3 (or perhaps 2)
5) How many players were in the game? – two
6) What went well? – Generally remembered all the rules since our last game.
7) What could have been improved? - I forgot the winning conditions (of my own devising), which led to a protracted endgame.
Westmarcher (of this forum) and I played the second game of a linked mini-campaign of three battles.
Vasco Mourinho "The Goader of Goa" led his raiding party inland intent on looting the nearby Somali Town.
Al Masudi, the son of the Emir gathered a force of his own, determied that the invaders would return empty handed (or better still, not return at all).
The Portuguese had 2 companies of shot, one of offensive minded close fighters, a party of Chinese allies and their secret weapon, Adamastor - the exiled titan of the cape.
The Somalis had a scouting band of slingers, trained archers, the Emir's son led a fine cavalry unit.
He placed his faith in 2 warbands of fierce Hadendoa warriors, and Kardakaan - a legendary mutant rhinocerous that the locals venerated as the "righter of wrongs".
Both sides manoeuvred cautiously to begin.
The Portuguese trying to maintain order in their ranks.
The Somalis aimed to skirmish with their slingers, archers and cavalry before unleashing the more impetuous Hadendoa and Kardakaan.
The Portuguese drew first blood when the Emir's son inadvertently led his cavalry into range of the Portuguese shot.
Panic pinned the noble riders there for the duration of several volleys, after which they were a spent force for further combat.
Amid desultory fire, the Somalis responded with charges that routed one unit of enemy shot, and saw the Chinese allies heading back to the shoreline.
The other Portuguese shot quickly dispatched one Hadendoa warband as they attempted to regroup.
Then the Portuguese unleashed Adamastor who bounded from a patch of forest.
Both sides paused to draw breath as Kardakaan launched a wild charge at him; Titan and Legendary Rhino were set to duel to the death.
Victory went to the Titan, causing something of a wobble to Somali Morale.
Some skirmishing followed until the Portuguese were able to trap Al Masudi and his surviving bodyguard, and win the battle.
In the third and final act, Vasco Mourinho will attempt to lead his loot laden troops back to their ships.
Many Thanks to Westmarcher for attending, for humouring my vision of a fantasy age of exploration, and congratulations on his victory.
Love the background story 8).
Seconded :-bd =D> :-bd
Sounds a lots of fun
Quote from: steve_holmes_11 on 23 October 2019, 08:02:51 PM
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – Dragon Rampant
2) What armies were fighting? - 16th Century Portuguese navigators against Somalis.
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? – No, I think it was game number 3 (or perhaps 2)
5) How many players were in the game? – two
6) What went well? – Generally remembered all the rules since our last game.
7) What could have been improved? - I forgot the winning conditions (of my own devising), which led to a protracted endgame.
Westmarcher (of this forum) and I played the second game of a linked mini-campaign of three battles.
Vasco Mourinho "The Goader of Goa" led his raiding party inland intent on looting the nearby Somali Town.
Al Masudi, the son of the Emir gathered a force of his own, determied that the invaders would return empty handed (or better still, not return at all).
The Portuguese had 2 companies of shot, one of offensive minded close fighters, a party of Chinese allies and their secret weapon, Adamastor - the exiled titan of the cape.
The Somalis had a scouting band of slingers, trained archers, the Emir's son led a fine cavalry unit.
He placed his faith in 2 warbands of fierce Hadendoa warriors, and Kardakaan - a legendary mutant rhinocerous that the locals venerated as the "righter of wrongs".
Both sides manoeuvred cautiously to begin.
The Portuguese trying to maintain order in their ranks.
The Somalis aimed to skirmish with their slingers, archers and cavalry before unleashing the more impetuous Hadendoa and Kardakaan.
The Portuguese drew first blood when the Emir's son inadvertently led his cavalry into range of the Portuguese shot.
Panic pinned the noble riders there for the duration of several volleys, after which they were a spent force for further combat.
Amid desultory fire, the Somalis responded with charges that routed one unit of enemy shot, and saw the Chinese allies heading back to the shoreline.
The other Portuguese shot quickly dispatched one Hadendoa warband as they attempted to regroup.
Then the Portuguese unleashed Adamastor who bounded from a patch of forest.
Both sides paused to draw breath as Kardakaan launched a wild charge at him; Titan and Legendary Rhino were set to duel to the death.
Victory went to the Titan, causing something of a wobble to Somali Morale.
Some skirmishing followed until the Portuguese were able to trap Al Masudi and his surviving bodyguard, and win the battle.
In the third and final act, Vasco Mourinho will attempt to lead his loot laden troops back to their ships.
Many Thanks to Westmarcher for attending, for humouring my vision of a fantasy age of exploration, and congratulations on his victory.
Pictures of the real troops, please. This sounds worth seeing.
Quote from: FierceKitty on 24 October 2019, 07:03:41 AM
Pictures of the real troops, please. This sounds worth seeing.
I've struggled to post photographs here in the past, so may request some help form the camera-tech savvy posters.
I've also been heavily focused on painting to complete another large contingent.
Noted: I ought to break out the troops for a photo parade.
Perhaps I'll open a new thread where I outline the campaign background, with a photo-call for some of the contingents.
I'll close by saying that Dragon Rampant provides a fast moving battle for small contingents.
It has the sort of command/movement randomness that create heated debate on TMP (for example the endless debate about Bolt Action Vs Chain of Command).
I enjoy the fact that initial plans cannot be relied on to succeed or fail absolutely.
The troops aren't wholly obedient, but there is scope to adjust a plan in the light of enemy action or personal misfortune.
Most of all, the rules are fairly simple and consistent, meaning that duffers like myself can play at a steady rate, finish a game in under 2 hours, and not develop a frontal lobe headache in the process.
The rules are a straight life of the Medieval set, Lion Rampant, with added fantastic and magical elements.
I've exploited these to tack a couple of extra centuries onto the timeline, using the "Sufficiently advanced technology looks like magic" approach.
Good write up, Steve. It's just as well Jason and the Argonuats had yet to be released and translated into Somali, otherwise one of your intrepid Hadendoa might have had the idea of unscrewing that valve in my Titan's ankle .... :P
Thanks again for hosting an enjoyable afternoon.
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – Dragon Rampant
2) What armies were fighting? - 16th Century Portuguese navigators against Somalis.
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? – No, I think it was game number 4.
5) How many players were in the game? – two
6) What went well? – Generally remembered all the rules since our last game.
7) What could have been improved? - I probably missed the odd event to trigger army wide morale tests - but we are getting better at this stuff.
Game 3 of the mini campaign featuring Westmarcher (of this forum) as navigator Vasco Mourinho - the goader of Goa.
In our last adventure, Vasco's forces had defeated the Somali field army, led by emir's son Al Masudi.
The Portuguese raiders failed to capture the town with its immense wealth, but had seized some loot.
In today's game, the raiders were following a river leading back to the coast and their ships.
Some of the banks were swampy, otherwise the river banks were clear for an approximate musket range beyond which stood clumps of woodland.
The Portuguese had 2 units of heavy fighters, 2 of shot, 2 of arquebus scouts and a unit of undead in tow.
The undead bore a startling resemblance to Egyptian mummies.
Al Masudi entered on a flank through the woods.
He brought 2 units of close fighters (lacking armour of their Portuguese enemies), 2 units of slinger scouts, a warband of impetuous Hadendoa warriors and the mythical reaper figure Huur.
Huur bore a close resemblance to an Egyptian jackal god, and being over twice the size of a man caused fear in his enemies.
The Portuguese advanced their heavy units down the riverside plain, with the close fighters in front and shooters behind.
Their scouts and undead worked their way through the forest, the terrain better suiting their abilities.
The Somalis pivoted to oppose them, one unit of close fighters guarding the the forest flank, the remainder aiming for the plains to block a Portuguese march down the river.
After some posturing, the undead crept within charge range of the Somali close fighters, who caused a chunk of losses, drove them back, but failed to break them.
The Somalis won a second melee round, but their courage failed and they fled the table.
An unexpected win for the undead, who both leaders wegarded as little more than a speed-bump.
This caused the Somalis to divert Huur back into the woods to prevent a simple "home run", his presence was missed during the fight on the plains.
The heavy Portuguese column continued down the river bank with their loot while the Somali close fighters deployed on the plain, their scouts taking pot-shots from forest edge.
The Portuguese fancied their chances in a firefight with 4 shooting units against 2 relatively brittle scout units.
A lengthy sequence of abysmal dice saw the Portuguese fail to shoot for 4 or 5 turns while the Somali scouts produced a niggling stream of casualties to their lead units.
By the time this abysmal run of luck ended, their leading close fighters were badly depleted.
They charged the Somali close fighters - hoping their superior armour would decide the fight, but failed their morale check, fleeing back into sling range of the Somali scouts., and inevitable destruction.
Mourinho manoeuvered his shot units into effective range and drove off the Somali scouts and Al Masudi's close fighters unit, but not before his other close fighting unit had suffered more slinghots.
This left the Hadendoa facing 2 units of musketeers, awaiting a deadly volley, but the Portuguese misfired once again.
Seizing the initiative Hadendoa's wild charge slammed into one unit of shooters, who drove them off with sword and clubbed musket.
This was perhaps the third time when a vastly superior group broke while the odds were all in their favour.
The route to the coast was now open, the 2 surviving units of shot marched to their ships carrying their loot.
Back in the forest, the rump of the Somali scouts wiped out the undead with some accurate shooting, while the surviving Portuguese scout evaded Huur the Reaper and straggled into the Portuguese camp an hour behind the main force.
The Portuguese sailed for Goa with enough loot to satisfy their sponsors, and few enough survivors, that each soldier would enjoy an enhanced share.
In strict terms, the Portuguese gained 5 points for bringing 3 units and 2 loot home,while the Portuguese gained 4 for each routed enemy unit.
The Somalis also completed a 2 point quest "Smite their champions" by destroying the most expensive enemy unit.
This yields a marginal campaign victory to the Somalis (12 glory points to 11), though it's difficult to portray such a close and attritional fight as a clear victory for either side.
Points of note from today's battle.
1. A long sequence of poor activation rolls for the Portuguese saw them pinned, while Somali skirmishers caused a steady stream of casualties, and the heavier units established a defence in depth.
2. The three biggest close combat were won by the underdog after the favourites suffered poor morale results.
3. Scouts, in favourable terrain and facing heavy (ie slow) enemies can really turn the fate of a battle.
I'm off to revise the 3 battle mini-campaign, and hope to provide a few photographs of the figures involved.
Perhaps the Indonesians and Ming Chinese will get involved in later campaigns.
Sounds great
:-bd =D> :-bd
Quote from: mad lemmey on 30 October 2019, 08:10:39 PM
Sounds great
Lots of fun and great company.
The Dragon Rampant rules provide a quick moving small encounter, forces usually fielding between 4 and 7 units or 6 or 12 figures each.
Some of the magic units and heroes have far fewer figures.
The "roll to activate" mechanism divides opinion on other gaming forums - Since the days of Warmaster, some love it and some hate it.
It does serve to prevent a larger or heavier force form steamrolling their opponents.
In a marching encounter, like the one described above, it also makes the precise meeting point of the armies far less predictable.
This increases the importance of having a contingency plan, and sufficient reserves to carry it out.
Greetings
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Tripods and Triplanes
2) What armies were confronted? - 1/144 Martian tripod vs Entente air forces 1918
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Not yet
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - yes.
5) How many players were in the game? - Solo
6) What went well? - Two test games of the basic scenario resulted in a win for each side.
7) What could have been improved? - Remembering to put on the recovery tokens and remove them at the right time (needed to represent the recharge times of Marian weapons).
The basic scenario features the material from the basic boxed starter set - a Nieuport N.16 (not using rockets in this scenario) vs a Mk 1 tripod - the promise is that the biplane has to get a photo of the tripod from close range and escape with this intelligence off its own table edge without being fried by the heat ray or eaten away by the black smoke cloud that the tripod can deploy.
In game 1 the Nieuport escaped having suffered 6 of 10 damage. In game 2 the Nieuport was forced off the table (and therefore losing) by suffering rudder damage having lost 9 of its 10 damage points. I played on as if it had managed to get back on the playing surface and it was promptly shot down by the waiting tripod.
Regards
Edward
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – Alamein to Zem Zem
2) What armies were fighting? - Krauts and Commonwealth
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Reasonably. Don't play moderns frequently, so needed to look things up too often. Would that the opps would read the rules!
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? – Not a bit of it
5) How many players were in the game? – two
6) What went well? – Lucky shot by a 25 pdr took Rommel out, scout car got right around the side of an unheeding Tiger and shot it up, and one anti-tank gun crew once took the trouble to aim.
7) What could have been improved? - My air support were wasted points on the whole, I rolled very poorly for most order transmission and shooting (when I could shoot at all), and I lost most of my armour and the 32nd Melbourne. Lucky to get a draw.
Lee wasn't playing this time.
Note to typist: there is a difference between an armoured car and an armoured cat. Consult the pictures.
(Thus the term "cataphract".)
Someone needs a Cat-ana :)
(https://www.samurai-age.jp/data/images/image1%281%29.JPG)
To commit hara-kitty?
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – Hep! Deus vult!
2) What armies were fighting? - Crusaders vs East Romans
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Ho, yus.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? – Not a bit of it
5) How many players were in the game? – two
6) What went well? – Byzantines tried to make it a heavy cavalry operation. This is risking everything on red 27 against the Franks, and the Hospitallers and Templars took out the Roman horse, their Alan allies, and the Emperor himself. Checkmate,
7) What could have been improved? - The rest of my army hardly moved; very poor control rolls.
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – Honours of War
2) What armies were fighting? - Jacobites vs British 1744
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Very
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? – After a break of around 6 weeks, the rules came back to us in an instant, which is nice. The scenario worked well and added more fun and flavour to our Brexite campaign.
7) What could have been improved? - The French command rolls, which again stopped them gaining an emphatic victory, but allowed General Cope and his troops to make an orderly withdrawl.
It was another open goal that failed to be scored by the French! "Anything but a one" .... ^#(^
Orcs is your man when it comes to not wanting a One
So write and tell Mrs Orcs never to give him one.
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – Bloody Big Battles! (BBB)
2) What armies were fighting? - Napoleon vs Austrians: Wagram
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Very
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? – No.
5) How many players were in the game? – 4
6) What went well? – Epic game that really felt like punch, counter-punch, as each side reeled from the opponent's attack, then rallied and threw one of its own.
7) What could have been improved? - Having fought Solferino on Sunday I was still in 1866 mode and deployed my guns too far back. Could have been more effective if I'd rumbled them forward. Talk about generals 'fighting the last war' - I was 'fighting the next war'. Still managed a draw though.
I don't usually post about our BBB games but I was already on a high from talking to so many good people at Warfare during our Solferino demo/participation game (we fought it through one and a half times despite spending more time chatting than playing), and then Mark's Wagram scenario produced such an excellent and flavourful game I just had to share. 8)
Chris
Bloody Big BATTLES!
https://groups.io/g/bloodybigbattles
http://bloodybigbattles.blogspot.com/
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – Honours of War
2) What armies were fighting? - Jacobites vs British 1744
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Very
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 British shooting, which stopped the French attacks and Dave managed to get in a couple of Highland charges.
7) What could have been improved? - The Jacobites command rolls early (even with Dave's changed command die!) on stopped them from being able to co-ordinate their attacks with the French, which allowed the British to 'defeat them in detail' as it were.
We've reached the point now where we need a classic big set piece battle to sort this out, as neither side have been able to get that emphatic victory that might have decided the campaign outcome early on.
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – IACTA ALEA EST!
2) What armies were fighting? - Seleucids vs Republican Romans
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Ho, yus.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? – Not a bit of it
5) How many players were in the game? – two
6) What went well? – I was good and restrained, holding back my horse to support the powerful Roman and Italian allied foot. The Seleucids' Arab allies refused to move for hours. Both sides held their lines together well. I destroyed the Hetairoi and King Antiochus III with a determined attack of Pergamene allies under King Attalos, who died heroically but held them up for the Latin horse to flank charge them. Lee's feeling very pleased with herself for her victory, which I suppose counts as a good outcome too.
7) What could have been improved? - I moved horse and supporting foot into killer positions on both flanks, and then had two failures of control (each a one in six chance) which meant my pincers were themselves twisted off by counter attacks (and my elephants missed a go at the Agema). When army morale went shaky on both sides, I was the one whose army ran away. The Seleucid artillery, which normally has minimal effect, shot up one legion seriously.
Good game, nonetheless; both sides paid a lot of attention to maintaining the line, which kept things going a long time.
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – Neil Thomas' Ancient & Medieval Wargaming.
2) What armies were fighting? - Sea People's vs Sea People's.
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Sort of...
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? – No, but a few years since I looked a them.
5) How many players were in the game? – Solo
6) What went well? – The basic game mechanics worked well for a very simple game
7) What could have been improved? - I think they need some fleshing out, but easy to add detail as required.
Quote from: Ithoriel on 04 November 2019, 01:44:51 AM
Someone needs a Cat-ana :)
I love this picture!
My first flash image was Constantine after the Milvian Bridge.
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – Advanced Squad Leader - Starter Kit 1 (boardgame).
2) What armies were fighting? - German Vs Siberian Soviets.
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? – Solo
6) What went well? – Infantry only game, so little rule referencing. My back is bad (again!) so this small single gameboard sat under my nose at the table - no reaching or stretching, very comfortable.
7) What could have been improved? - I needed a magnifying glass to read a leaders name, this is not an important game function, but I was doing a bit of a write-up. Modern game counters do need larger fonts for older eyes :-)
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – IACTA ALEA EST!
2) What armies were fighting? - Seleucids and Republican Romans
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? – Not a bit of it
5) How many players were in the game? – three
6) What went well? – River in spate covered my flank; enemy suffered from desertions and frequent disorder in muddy going.
7) What could have been improved? - My own horse had mud trouble too; but this was an acceptable trade-off against a mounted-strong enemy.
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – Dragon Rampant
2) What armies were fighting? - 17thC English vs Forest of Dean dwellers
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Pretty much
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? – No, but a tad rusty
5) How many players were in the game? – Solo
6) What went well? – The broad game mechanics came back and flowed nicely. The morale save by both sides were rather good.
7) What could have been improved? - I forgot a few rules, but not surprising really, given I haven't played for a year or so.
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – Piquet, field of battle
2) What armies were fighting? - ACW
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? – Not a bit of it
5) How many players were in the game? – three
6) What went well? – The South won, and I was playing a confederate officer ! The game ran very well. And it was the first time I used my dedicated room (I had to move again, the 4th time in one year and a half :( so I'm glad there's something good ;) )
7) What could have been improved? - The North side was a bit too weak. I used the #7 scenario from "scenario for all ages", (as some people here incited me to buy ;) ) and choose to use 1861. The blue had to quickly get away.. but were badly commanded... I should have give them a better officer.
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – IACTA ALEA EST! (with medieval bogey table for the Moors)
2) What armies were fighting? - Vikings and Andalusian Muslims
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? – Not a bit of it
5) How many players were in the game? – two
6) What went well? – rainy weather hindered Muslim archery for a few rounds, and the muddy field delayed their horse a great deal; their Frankish allies deserted; the lighter troops failed a few evasion tests. When morale on both sides went shaky, we just pulled through, but they became shaken, and broke shortly afterwards. The Berserkir did useful service in just tying up some critical Umayyad units with their refusal to run away
7) What could have been improved? - My Huscarls did poorly under attack; brave enough, but casualties were more rapid than they should have been. Berber light horse made short work of a large warband, too, but that will probably always happen unless we get very dense terrain to cover our flanks.
Quote from: ronan on 07 December 2019, 06:24:02 PM
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – Piquet, field of battle
2) What armies were fighting? - ACW
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? – Not a bit of it
5) How many players were in the game? – three
6) What went well? – The South won, and I was playing a confederate officer ! The game ran very well. And it was the first time I used my dedicated room (I had to move again, the 4th time in one year and a half :( so I'm glad there's something good ;) )
7) What could have been improved? - The North side was a bit too weak. I used the #7 scenario from "scenario for all ages", (as some people here incited me to buy ;) ) and choose to use 1861. The blue had to quickly get away.. but were badly commanded... I should have give them a better officer.
A win, well done sir :)
Good to hear you now have a dedicated room :) :)
Hopefully you will be more settled over the next few years
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – Honours of War
2) What armies were fighting? - '44 Franco-Jacobites vs Hanoverians British
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Very
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 Hanoverian British cavalry charges die rolling
7) What could have been improved? - One French cavalry command roll might have turned the game in favour of the Franco-Jacobites
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – BKCII
2) What armies were fighting? - German Heer & Fallschirmjager vs US Airborne & British armour 1944
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Very
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? – No
5) How many players were in the game? – Sol
6) What went well? – This was my second attempt to fight on a 2' x 2' table with lots of buildings etc. Worked really well after making some adjustments.
7) What could have been improved? - Not a lot really given it was a quick game to test some ideas.
) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – Napoleon 20 ( a boardgame that plays at the army level with no more than 20 counters on the table)
2) What armies were fighting? - French / Austrian 1809 Battle of Wagram
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? – a two player game played solo
6) What went well? – The system is slick and easily remembered, the specific battle rules bring a good amount of chrome to what is a generic system
7) What could have been improved? - I did not have a full grasp of the module rules initially and a couple of them were only revealed to me during play and they mattered. A second playing with this short game will pick up on all of that.
Hello Norm
I have just bought Hanau 20 with a hope of discovering this system over Christmas. Glad to hear solo worked as that will be my first exposure to it.
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – HEP! DEUS VULT!
2) What armies were fighting? - Ayyubids and 3rd crusade Franks
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? – Not a bit of it
5) How many players were in the game? – three
6) What went well? – I was GMing this one; watched Lee slaughter a beginner.
7) What could have been improved? - Things were satisfactory. He wants revenge.
Quote from: Not Drowning, Waving on 15 December 2019, 08:17:32 AM
Hello Norm
I have just bought Hanau 20 with a hope of discovering this system over Christmas. Glad to hear solo worked as that will be my first exposure to it.
We have enjoyed all of our games with the system, either face to face or solo - a clever design.
Quote from: FierceKitty on 15 December 2019, 12:05:49 PM
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – HEP! DEUS VULT!
2) What armies were fighting? - Ayyubids and 3rd crusade Franks
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Yes
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? – Not a bit of it
5) How many players were in the game? – three
6) What went well? – I was GMing this one; watched Lee slaughter a beginner.
7) What could have been improved? - Things were satisfactory. He wants revenge.
;D ;D ;D
Mmm, he's got a few painful experiences in his future.
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? – Honours of War
2) What armies were fighting? - SYW Austrians vs Prussians in 10mm using Pendraken miniatures.
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? – Very
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? – No
5) How many players were in the game? – Two. Myself as the Austrian commander vs. our own Steve Holmes.
6) What went well? – Smooth playing game with very few stops to delve into the rule book to refresh our memories.
7) What could have been improved? - Only our knowledge.
This afternoon, we played one of Steve Jones's scenarios, The Action at Oberheim-Wollhausen - a pursuit battle in which a Prussian advance guard catches up with an outnumbered Austrian rear guard. Having no cavalry ("Vare vas mein kavalrie fuhrer, Jeb Schtuart?"), I had no choice but to turn and fight the pursuing Prussian horde of foot, cavalry and artillery whilst a rider rode forward to my retreating main army to bring back reinforcements. Fortunately, the fight was going so well that when these arrived on Turn 5, I was able to move on to the offensive. With my right flank anchored on Oberheim, I confidently pushed forward on my left, causing the Prussian right to fall back.
Unfortunately, my opponent was also having a say on the course of the battle. Meanwhile, Steve was building a massed battery in his centre and mounting his own flank attack on my right at Oberheim. Although assisted by the sterling performance of one of my Grenadier battalions which steadfastly held my extreme right flank for the whole game (forcing back not only one but two attacks by supported Prussian battalions - including a Guard battalion), Oberheim twice changed hands in a see-saw fight that saw me lose two infantry battalions and left another badly mauled. Despite this gallant defence on my right, however, my left wing attack began to falter as units fell like ninepins to a storm of defensive Prussian artillery and musketry fire. With darkness falling and only 1 unit more to lose, and Steve with 5 to lose, before either of us hit our Army Breakpoint (plus Mrs Westie was waiting to serve me my dinner), I conceded defeat and quit the field. Well done, Steve. Thanks for an enjoyable afternoon's gaming. That's the second time you've defeated me playing Honours of War. In the words of some Roman guy, "I will have my vengeance!" ;)
Sounds great
Quote from: mad lemmey on 17 December 2019, 08:25:10 PM
Sounds great
I was a great game.
The armies large enough to demonstrate some of the strengths of Honours of War.
The forces balanced enough to allow either force to conduct offensives.
Interesting terrain caused a few choke points, and these created some interesting wrinkles in our formations.
But most of all, thanks to my host for hospitality and a fine gaming experience.
Sounds like a great game :).
;D
Quote from: steve_holmes_11 on 17 December 2019, 09:12:13 PM
I was a great game.
I would like to point out I was not playing with him. I was playing
against him. Erm, he was
my opponent. :-[
.... actually .... I suspect he was trying to say, "I was great" .... =)
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Home brewed Smarties Mechs
2) What armies were confronted? - individual mechs
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - easy
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - yes, for all of us
5) How many players were in the game? - 15
6) What went well? - shooting
7) What could have been improved? - not much, but I've overdosed on others Smarties.
Each time you hit and did damage to an opponent's mach (free-for-all), you won an amount of their Smarties, if you lost all your Smarties, you die.
Great night.
Sure they were Techno's clix mechs...
15 players? Hmmm. Somehow, I don't believe everyone washed their hands ..... :-&
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Warlords of Erehwon
2) What armies were confronted? - Undead and Dwarves
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Yes, seems easy to pick up
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - yes
5) How many players were in the game? - 2
6) What went well? - everything, no real complaints
7) What could have been improved? - Hard to tell, was my first game.
I would play this again, if only to be able to give a proper verdict on it. Initial thoughts are that it is ok, but Dragon Rampant gives a better game. Will need to play a few more games to be sure.
I currently have no plans to spend money on it.
Cheers
Ian
My immediate thought on seeing the title of the rules was Erehwon station in the Southern Alps of New Zealand, famous as the back of nowhere ;)
https://erewhonhorsestud.co.nz/ (https://erewhonhorsestud.co.nz/)
The fantasy connection dawned when I remembered that Edros for the Lord of the Rings was filmed on the neighbouring Mt Potts Station
Bloody Big Battles. Fredericksburg. My first introduction to these rules. Bought myself a copy and looking forward to using it for my FPW forces. Thoroughly enjoyable experience.
Great. Choice Shireman :)
I've avoided both this thread and the "what are you reading" one due to it making me buy stuff :D
However - for the last third of the year we've played two Battletech campaigns (the original and the best giant heavy metal future of the 80's cribbed off the fall of Rome giant robot combat game!), using the new Alpha Strike "miniatures fast play" release. And they've been awesome :D
In the first the plucky underdog Davion Periphery March Militia stopped Lady Death Trevalanes ne'er so well Pirates cold, ground them down and then obliterated them.
In the second Clans Wolf and Diamond Shark cleaved through the Inner Sphere defenders with (mostly) ease (barring an amazing overheating Free Rasulhague Republic mechjockey taking very expensive chunks out of three times his mechs weight in Clan Assault mechs, and a similar "dead eye head shot" Kuritan Griffin jockey who cost us two pilots!), then hit the Com Guards dug in on Tukayyid and got totally Foch'd.
Brilliant.
Last game of the year was a first for us - Gaslands, semi-apocalyptic Dark Future/Mad Max/Car Wars from Osprey using Matchbox cars. Really good fun, simple, mayhem filled rules, eight new players, six casualties. The two survivors were one toddling up the back at 15mph, the other had a blinding start and was way ahead of the pack at 150mph!
I was catching him ready to machine gun him down when I skidded thru the first checkpoint and ended up facing the pack. I had a cunning plan for a strafing run past them and back into the flank of the race leader but turn order (Pole Position) shifted, I got dumped down the turn order and another driver had a WITNESS ME moment and drove his disintegrating wagon head on into me. I survived, the second car he hit survived, then he exploded and took both of us and the rest of the pack out!
Ludicrous fun and modding Matchbox cars is very addictive :D
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? -IACTA ALEA EST HEP ATQUE!
2) What armies were confronted? Vikings, Byzantines
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Ho yus.
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? - A unit of Cumans tried to get out of the way, then panicked and flad.
7) What could have been improved? - Everything else. The rules are a bit too rough on infantry armies against horse, I suspect.
Quote from: shireman on 24 December 2019, 06:50:40 PM
Bloody Big Battles. Fredericksburg. My first introduction to these rules. Bought myself a copy and looking forward to using it for my FPW forces. Thoroughly enjoyable experience.
Very happy to hear it, Shireman! I hope you'll enjoy refighting the FPW with BBB.
Chris
Bloody Big BATTLES!
https://groups.io/g/bloodybigbattles
http://bloodybigbattles.blogspot.com/
1) What ruleset did you use in your last game? -IACTA ALEA EST HEP ATQUE!
2) What armies were confronted? Vikings, Byzantines
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Ho yus.
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? - rain, and a river down the centre. Byzantine archery hindered, cavalry constricted. Still not an easy fight, but better than before.
7) What could have been improved? - My saving throws were mathematically absurd!
Quote from: mad lemmey on 18 December 2019, 09:16:59 PM
Sure they were Techno's clix mechs...
They
might have been...... ;)
Though I don't remember making any out of Smarties. :D (Milliput, Plasticard and a lot of bad language rings more of a bell.)
(I truly can't remember which ones I made now...There just seem to have been an awful lot of them.....Even if I went and dug the first two sets out of the shed and had a good gander, I don't think I could be certain.) :-\
Cheers - Phil
I'd forgotten you did some of the clickytech 'mechs Phil! Shame you don't remember which... I'm tempted to chug through and get the later TRO for the Dark Ages and see if I can spot 'em.
Also hurrah for smarties mechs :D
Crimbo limbo game today.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Cross of Iron.
2) What armies were confronted? - British Commonwealth v Italians.
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? - 6
6) What went well? - Generally most things, one of the Italian players was particularly lucky with his reinforcement rolls, needed 6's to get a tank threw 6 successes out of 8.
7) What could have been improved? - British infantry support for the tanks on the left flank.
A British win.
Martin
Off to see my old made Hugh yesterday and had a go at Frostgrave with him and his son.
We had played before, but we think it's been about 3 years.
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Frostgrave
2) What armies were confronted? - Wizards, Vs Wizards (and their henchmen)
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? - 3
6) What went well? - Close combat was pretty brutal. A high body count, but they all came back in the post-game reckoning.
7) What could have been improved? - Lots of shuffling through the rulebook for the bits we had forgotten.
Love me some Frostgrave - I got the Perilous Dark expansion the other month for co-op and solo play, looks really good!
Plus I bought Joe Mculloughs copy of Campaign Ops for Battletech this week, he was a total gent to deal with and threw in an autograph on a sticky panel for me to put in my Frostgrave book :D
1) What ruleset do you use in your last game? - Rebels and Patriots
2) What armies were confronted? - American Civil War - the usual Pairing
3) Did you feel comfortable with the ruleset? - Almost, I'd done a lot of reading, but first playing unveils a few misunderstandings.
4) and... was this the first time you used this ruleset? - Yes
5) How many players were in the game? - 2
6) What went well? - A surprising number of critical activations (Double one and double six) which enlivened the early parts of the game.
7) What could have been improved? - Better understanding of the rules - will re-read in the light of first game - and build my knowledge.
Game report.
Off to Westmarcher's for our first Rebels and Patriots clash.
A beautiful sunny day in the West of Scotland, better suited to outdoor pursuits than playing soldiers indoors, but plans were laid, too late to change.
Setting was the American Civil War, Widow Creek Bridge scenario - page 47 of the rules.
2nd Lieut. Mark Thyme (Westmarcher) led a Union patrol to scout, and hopefully capture the weakly held Widow Creek Bridge.
On the far side of the creek, 2nd Lieut William DuBois (Myself) rushed his reserves to reinforce the single Confederate squad dug in on the far bank.
Union Forces: 3 light infantry units 1 medium artillery. Commander able to re-roll one failed fire activation (Unused)
Confederate forces: 1 light infantry unit dug in by the bridge, 2 light infantry units marching to theirrelief. Commander has one additional point of troops (Spent to raise his unit to aggressive +1 to hit in melee, forgot to use then when eligible).
Both parties advanced toward the bridge down opposite sides of the creek.
2 of Thyme's union infantry squads rushed ahead, while the gun and third squad paused to shoot at the confederate reserves.
Casualties were light, until the union infantry opened fire on their own cannon, reducing it to permanent disorder. [Critical union fumble]
Hearing the confrontation, DuBois squad thought themselves flanked reversed direction and rushed back up the creek. [Critical confederate fumble].
A couple more failed command rolls on either side saw each armies lose time in the race to the bridge.
The rebels guarding the bridge scored the next critical activation which allowed two volleys (both ineffective).
A critical union failure saw casualties and disorder from some off-table shooting (The criticals were shooting better than my soldiers).
Mark Thyme (geddit!) led his zouaves to the front, their courage obvious to all [2 critical activations each increased their discipline; boosting activation, rallying and morale].
All the delays, alarms and excursions meant that the fight had barely begun the first end-game roll showed SIX.
Officially this meant game over with barely a man injured.
DuBois was having none of it, he brandished his sabre yelling "Let's finish the game you yellow liver Yankees".
Thyme was equal to the challenge "We'll take your bridge and hang Jeff Davis before dusk".
[We decided to play until maximum game length].
The remainder of the battle was swift and bloody, lead and powder eclipsed by guts and cold steel.
Thyme charged his zouaves against one confederate unit, these evaded, blocking the bridge in the process.
The victims of a second union charge had no space to evade, or to retreat when thrown back from their earthworks.
They suffered additional casualties, morale failure, disorder, a second blocked retreat and elimination.
Thyme's zouaves launched a second charge, this time onto the bridge, repelling its defenders to the far bank in disorder.
Only DuBois' squad remained to carry Confederate hopes - with a yell the southern gentleman led a counterattack.
Messy fighting on the bridge saw the bluecoats repelled, the two young officers briefly came face to face before being driven apart in the press of the fight.
With both commander's squads spent, fresh union reserves rushed to onto the bridge, but were unable to force a way past DuBois squad and the far bank before time expired.
The game ended before the US patrol could claim the eastern bank, yielding a partial US victory.
Thoughts on first game with the rules.
The rules provide a simple game engine derived from Lion Rampant and The Pikeman's Lament rules.
Changes from these earlier rules seem eminently sensible in an age of regular soldiers when almost everybody carries a long-arm.
The scenario seemed balanced, offering an opportunity to overrun a beleagured piquet before its comrades arrive in support.
The attackers choice of a cannon (slow moving but long ranged) was never adequately tested due to the unfortunate friendly fire incident (The commission of enquiry is underway).
Otherwise we played out a brawl between light infantry units (The lists specify light infantry being standard for the final par of the war as soldiers learned to fight in looser formations)
Light infantry are fairly resilient against enemy fire, typically losing one or two figures per enemy volley - insufficient to really disrupt morale.
This seemed a little weak, and a replay with earlier war "line" infantry, some green might play out rather differently.
Shooting was indecisive, but a determined charge could be relied on to see off the enemy.
Evading will only get a target so far when objectives must be defended, and +1 for attacking is a big advantage when most troops hit on a 6 in close combat.
(I'll re-read the close combat rules, since defensive advantages seemed rather thin on the ground).
Play was quick since all units enjoy the same activation scores and mostly the same options to act.
6 or more on 2d6 activates units or passes rally and morale tests - no fiddling through the rulebook to check different stats for different units (Once again they are all regulars here, not knights Vs peasants)
Our game proved particularly fluid; no units having time to form into close order in face of the enemy.
There was always a more pressing requirement; charge, shoot or rally.
It is interesting to contemplate how different force compositions might have altered the scenario.
* Cavalry would have made a speedier advance on the bridge, but their small unit size and limited use of cover cover may have seen them shot down quickly.
* Mounted skirmishers (essentially Cavalry committed to dismounted action) might have combined speed and elusiveness and made an effective flanking force.
* Foot skirmishers are no faster than light infantry, and would trade slightly improved firepower for considerable worse odds against a charge, so probably do worse in a game the ended in a knife fight.
The scenario was entertaining, and completed in 3 hours including selection of scenario, rule briefing, a couple of discussion breaks and regular pauses to consult the rule book.
Not bad for a first use of the rules.
Both officers survived the encounter with increased honour.
I have a feeling their paths will cross again before the war is over.
Sounds a lot of fun
R&P's is the best of the Rampant series IMHO.
Quote from: Steve J on 04 February 2020, 09:27:40 PM
R&P's is the best of the Rampant series IMHO.
Tough to tell on one outing, needs more practice.
After the friendly fire incident left our cannon permanently disordered, we were essentially all light infantry units, so didn't get feel for the variety of troop types available.
I've enjoyed the variety of troops n Dragon Rampant and Pikeman's Lament.
I think I prefer the more reliable activation in Rebels and Patriots.
Kudos to Steve for all his hard work in taking on the role of rules master, preparing the QRS, Unit Cards, Officer Rosters and otherwise organising the game. We forgot a couple of things (I had forgotten all about my re-roll option on the firing activation, Steve, unit you mentioned it there) but that's par for the course in the first outing with new rules. You can only assume that things evened out and if not, whether for or against you, c'est la guerre. I thought my artillery was doing quite well until that (un)friendly fire incident and then there was that other inexplicable event, the "off-table" attack. :o Before playing, I had looked at a few reviews, some of which had reservations or plainly disliked them (but mainly, well received) and, having played some of the other rules in the genre (e.g., Dragon Rampant & Pikeman's Lament), I was therefore slightly wary about how the differences in "the system" in Rebels & Patriots would play out. But new features in the game worked quite well so my overall verdict is favourable. Thanks again, Steve, for organising the game and for giving me the opportunity to get my ACW toys, which have not seen action for who knows how long, on to the table. =D>