CAN THERE EVER BE TOO MUCH SCENERY?

Started by theboxroom, 24 September 2022, 07:44:13 PM

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theboxroom

The image is my layout for my learning game no. 4 of BKC4. It's a 4x3 table using 10mm figures with opponents coming on at the top and bottom edges for a learning confrontation battle of 2000 points each. I replaced the two central hills with woods.
Am I right in thinking that there was too much terrain? It was very slow to develop and became a tank battle at a distance with my infantry getting slaughtered by off-board artillery.
Should I be looking at fewer hedges and maybe only a couple of hills?
I've played numerous other rules that seemed to need full tables. Is BKC4 the exception?
Any help in terrain layout greatly appreciated.
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paulr

I don't play BKC so can't provide any guidance on terrain density

It is a great looking table  :-bd  =D>  :-bd  =D>
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fred.

Good looking table!

I say its a pretty good terrain density. Perhaps a few too many hedges, but I'd certainly not remove all of them. 
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Big Insect

That looks like an ideal table (IMHO).

Like everything, it does depend a lot on what type of battle you are looking to play.
I have played a game on a table with a mass of low rolling hills, roads, a few ditches and the odd small badly damaged villages (not a tree in sight) - but there was a mass of armour on table (on both sides), along with air support (on both sides) and very little by way of mechanised or motorised infantry.
It was a fast and devastating game. Very high casualty rates on both sides - all very Barbarossa in nature.

Equally, I have played a game were the entire table was winter (snowy) forest - with just roads and a few frozen lakes and snow covered clearings - and not an armoured vehicle on table - just a few trucks, 4x4s and even some motor cycle scouts (they might have been Kettenkrads but I cannot remember) but the Soviets did have a few snow-mobiles (nice). But in effect the entire table was rough going of one sort or another - other than the roads, clearings and lakes. Lots of ambushes going on as well.

Your terrain looks spot on for a nice mixed formation game.
Not too many long lines of fire. Not too much by way of BUAs. A few hedges, but not full bocage.
You should be able to get a fair amount of movement in, before you find each other and the shooting starts  :D

I'd love to know how it goes.
Cheers
Mark
PS: it also looks great.
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fsn

Ah! If only geography was kind to warriors.

No, you don't have too much terrain - what you have is a different tactical situation.

 

As a solo gamer, I randomly generate terrain. One gets all sorts of things which just add to the fun, especially when I randomly generate where and when units enter the battle. I remember a Dark Age battle in which the Norman army was divided by a river and the unified Saxons encircles and destroyed the Norman cavalry whilst the Norman infantry looked on helplessly.

In late WWII games, one of the interesting things is how the allied tanks can use terrain to get to the flanks and rear of those pesky panzers, whilst avoiding the impudent popping panzerfaust.

No, I like the table the way it is. Why not play it again, and see if you can get a better result?  Remember ... 
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theboxroom

Different tactical situation!
One phrase and the fog lifts.
Thank you very much.  :)
Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish. -John Quincy Adams

sultanbev

" CAN THERE EVER BE TOO MUCH SCENERY?"
No is the short answer, regardless of what rules and periods you do.

The terrain density looks on a par with our 10mm games, ours are possibly denser. Although I don't have any recent pics. There may be some on the Burnley Wargames Club facebook page, but I've not got access to that, not being on FB.

In the terrain you display, if the infantry on foot are getting slaughtered by indirect artillery fire it suggests something wrong with the spotting rules unless it was pre-planned fire that got lucky. There's plenty of places for the infantry to hide and approach under cover. Especially with no hills to overlook the terrain.

This is a typical 6mm table I did some years ago (for a 1950s modern game)

theboxroom

Quote from: sultanbev on 25 September 2022, 10:42:00 AM" CAN THERE EVER BE TOO MUCH SCENERY?"
No is the short answer, regardless of what rules and periods you do.

The terrain density looks on a par with our 10mm games, ours are possibly denser. Although I don't have any recent pics. There may be some on the Burnley Wargames Club facebook page, but I've not got access to that, not being on FB.

In the terrain you display, if the infantry on foot are getting slaughtered by indirect artillery fire it suggests something wrong with the spotting rules unless it was pre-planned fire that got lucky. There's plenty of places for the infantry to hide and approach under cover. Especially with no hills to overlook the terrain.

This is a typical 6mm table I did some years ago (for a 1950s modern game)

Yes, there was an error with the spotter. We're still learning bit by bit. And, I was far too lenient on the spotter. Another re add d through of the rules has given me more options. Thanks for your help.  :)
Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish. -John Quincy Adams