Addicted? Moi?

[Steve J]

DBA does give nice, quick and fun games IMHO. Perfect for when you don't have time to set up big battles. Also not having to put your back out manouevering your troops across as 6'x4' table is also a bonus .

[Plasticoutsider]

Can't wait to get started.  Do people think I'll be okay using first edition army lists with second edition rules?  I shouldn't have ordered the figures before buying the rules. 

[toxicpixie]

Are they not both basically bows or blade in the main? Can imagine there's a lot of difference?

[Plasticoutsider]

Hi, this probably doesn't constitute much of a problem at all, but I've never played DBA before:

1st ed. Wars of the Roses - 3 3Kn/ 4Bd (men-at-arms), 3 4Bd (billmen), 3 4Lb, 2 4Bd or 4Bw or 3Ax, 1 Art or 2 Ps
2nd ed. - 1 3Kn or 4Bd (Gen), 1 3Kn or 3 Cv or 4Bd, 3 4 Bd, 6 3/4Lb, 1 Art or 3Sp

I'll probably stick with 1st ed army lists since the figures are on the way, it's a bit frustrating though.  Actually, in the great scheme of things, no it isn't!

[Hertsblue]

If it's only you playing, PO, it doesn't really matter, does it? Medieval armies weren't made up of fixed quantities of standard units, but of whoever was available at the time. The army lists of either edition are only an average of an average of several battles, so choose whichever pleases you.

[toxicpixie]

Hi, this probably doesn't constitute much of a problem at all, but I've never played DBA before:

1st ed. Wars of the Roses - 3 3Kn/ 4Bd (men-at-arms), 3 4Bd (billmen), 3 4Lb, 2 4Bd or 4Bw or 3Ax, 1 Art or 2 Ps
2nd ed. - 1 3Kn or 4Bd (Gen), 1 3Kn or 3 Cv or 4Bd, 3 4 Bd, 6 3/4Lb, 1 Art or 3Sp

I'll probably stick with 1st ed army lists since the figures are on the way, it's a bit frustrating though.  Actually, in the great scheme of things, no it isn't!

So... 1st ed. can have an extra Knight, and has the possibility of one less Bow but a really useful amount of light troops (2 Aux & a Psi), but the 2nd Ed has more Bow and a Spear or Cav stand if you wanted. Not a massive difference - in practice they always tend to up about a 50/50 Bow/Blade split with a couple of Knights in my experience

As Herstblue says, it's your game anyway, so set them up how you like

[Plasticoutsider]

Thanks both!
Not knowing the system, I wondered if the army lists were rigid (given the amount of space they take up in the rule book, and the abstract nature of having 12 bases in in each army).  Sounds like they're not though, so I'll go ahead and be my usual fluid self.

Can't wait to get painting.  I get my orders sent to the university were I work, so I'm starting to take a huge interest in the internal post...

[toxicpixie]

Well, technically they're set in stone but tbh with the WoR lists there's not a lot of difference and you can set up basically the same army... if you were playing in some hypercompetitive "rules as written ONLY" environment you find it a bit awkward, but DBA itself won't give you a problem

[Hertsblue]

Let's face it, playing DBA is like playing Beethoven's fifth on a child's xylophone - you can just about manage the basic theme. But it's fun and it's fast and if you roll poor dice you lose. Bitter? moi?

[Plasticoutsider]

So, like, if I roll well I might win?  Sounds like my kind of game!!! 
I read the rules last night; they're somewhat challenging
'[...] or mounted in close combat with enemy in, bad going on or off-road, or if mounted attacking a BUA unless elephants.' P.26
It reminds me of the shipping forecast!

[toxicpixie]

Heh, see the recent thread in Barkerese! He's famed for such sentences. In an attempt to be clear an cover all situations he makes them unreadable

[Plasticoutsider]

I like him more with each passing minute.  I'd rather esotericism than the shallow gloss of many rule sets.

[Plasticoutsider]

Wow, that sounded so pretentious!  Sorry everyone!!!

[toxicpixie]

You've not really played DBA until you've played it in the original Serbo-Croat, you know.

[Ithoriel]

You've not really played DBA until you've played it in the original Serbo-Croat, you know.

Surely, for true authenticity, one should read the rules in the language of the army one is deploying on table? 

[GordonY]

I like Barkerese, the bloody awful sentence structure means that by the time you had decrypted it and understood it you had actually learned the rule.

Also his rules were quite innovative DBA and DBM sat nicely between old school 6th Edition (write orders for all units) and the bloatware that was to become Borehammer (every unit moves, every unit shoots, every unit fights, every turn).

Phil has more than his fair share of knockers (its become the national sport on TMP) but for wargaming, he's the best thing since sliced Featherstone.

[toxicpixie]

I thought DBA was amazing, and I still do - even if it's long in the tooth now it's still a cracking game and as you say full of innovation at the time. Real breath of fresh air and very energising. I'm still of the opinion that the "big battle" versions (DBA and all its spin offs) were actually a step backward

Surely, for true authenticity, one should read the rules in the language of the army one is deploying on table? 

Haha, yeah... I think I need to learn about three dozen languages retrospectively

[Plasticoutsider]

Well I got a nice email this morning (sent late last night) telling me my Wars of the Roses figures are on their way.
Exciting!

[Plasticoutsider]

Well I got a nice email this morning (sent late last night) telling me my Wars of the Roses figures are on their way.
Exciting!

Update: figures are here!
That's amazing service.  Much appreciated.

[toxicpixie]

Actually, I must congratulate Leon & co as well, got an order thru yesterday from last week. Stirring stuff, see if I can get them painted for next weekend...