Not much of a post this week as most of my free time has been absorbed with testing out some simple rules to use for my recently completed War of the Spanish Succession (WSS) units.
The rules themselves started out as a One-Hour Wargames (OHW) variant. Then veered towards something that looked a lot more like the Charge! elementary game as I wanted to have different mechanisms for musketry, artillery and mortars, and charges (melees). Having played through a few games I feel like the rules have reached a point which I an happy with (well for the present anyway). I now need to update the original rules I started with all the additional scribbles they have accumulated through play testing.
For the test games. Rather than just throwing some terrain on the tabletop with units aligned on either side of the table. I sourced a scenario from "Scenarios for Wargamers" by CS Grant - Positional Defence (1). Not having quite the same sized tabletop and number of units the scenario was scaled down.
Test game underway
Over the weekend I did manage to squeeze in some time to add a few commanders and mortars to the armies. I will be continuing with the WSS project in the next few weeks. My original goal was to have sufficient units for the OHW scenarios, with that achieved I have decided to increase the number of units for each army. Adding to each:
- one extra infantry bringing to 5 the total available,
- along with two extra cavalry units bringing a total of 4 available (along with the 2 existing dragoon units).
British commanders and along with a mortar and crew
French commanders and along with a mortar and crew
I often find Neil Thomas' rules a good starting point when developing my own rules as well. A bit like Trigger's broom, - I replace the firing rules, then the melee rules and so on. So I think I'm playing the rules i started with and end up with something completely different.
ReplyDeleteI agree, they certainly are a sound starting point and in some cases I have done a complete circle. Adding new rule mechanisms only to jettison them later, returning pretty much to the original.
DeleteAn interesting mash ... OHW and Charge, looking forward to seeing how these play out.
ReplyDeleteA few more games are definitely needed to make sure I am on the right track (in my own mind).
DeleteAhhhh, the 'Fontenoy' scenario, good choice!
ReplyDeleteI'm always surprised at how good the printed troops look on the table.
It is surprising how effective they look in unit blocks. I have scaled up the figures from 25mm to 40mm as it makes them easer to cut out as see on the tabletop.
DeleteNice additions, Peter! With new recruits always joining the colors, is a project ever finished?
ReplyDeleteThere is a truism about projects never finishing. Although my tabletop size does put a cap on the number of units I can usefully have.
DeleteHi Peter, those paper soldiers have a real charm about them. In a strange kind of way they remind me of the style of animation used by Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin.
ReplyDeleteThe figures are beautifully drawn and have been scaled up to 40mm so I can better see them on the tabletop.
DeleteSome excellent additions there.
ReplyDeleteThanks. More mortars and artillery will have to be added if I start doing siege games.
DeleteLooks like good progress on the rules, and some fine new additions!
ReplyDeleteThanks. I will soon have a break from the rules to play some WW2 Western Desert games, then revisit them and see what I think of them.
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