Solo rules for ECW wargaming continues

Following my previous post, I have been further developing the decision tables for solo wargaming with my old Hinchliffe English Civil War (ECW) miniatures. In order to test them, I have been engaging in a series of games where both sides use these decision tables. It has been interesting to observe the course of the games and the various manoeuvres of each army. The latest version of the decision tables can be found later in this post, along with some photographs from a game where both armies are being directed by decision tables (yes, its a long post).

A game about to start

There have been a number tweaks to the decision tables after each game and also to the rules. Some of those larger changes are listed below along with reasons.

Decision table structure and creating decision cards

Decision structure where the Army’s Stance determines the Tactical decision table to use.

The decision structure remains the same, with an overall army level decision table to determine the army's stance and the corresponding tactical decision tables to be used. I have introduced the terms "Army Stance" and "Tactical Cards". A quick thank you to the Jolly Broom Man for suggesting the term "Stance" in his comment - I was struggling to find a suitable term. To simplify matters during gameplay, I have cut and pasted the decision tables onto cardboard so a player can select the card and just focus on the tactics of the current stance without flicking through pages. I will redesign these cards once I am satisfied I am done with amendments.

The decision tables have been cut out and pasted to cardboard from various cereal and biscuit boxes recovered from our recycle bin.

The aggressiveness of an army’s attack stance, or its defensive activity when in a hold stance, is determined by the score of a D3 dice with limits the number of units which can be moved as you work down the priority list of actions on the decision table. Once the number of moves has been met or you have worked through all the priority list items, then the army’s movement phase is over.

Note: I am currently using armies made up of 6-8 units. If using armies were to have a larger number of units I would use a D3+n, added 1 for each additional two units over 8. For example, a 12 units army would roll D3+2.

Change the rules to better align with decision tables

I had originally thought an IGO-UGO approach in the rules would work best, but what I have found is this creates a few other decisions which then have to be addressed in the decision cards. The sequence of events I now use in the rules aims to simplify the decision making the cards have to consider:

At the start of each game turn each player rolls a D6. The highest scoring player will move first as Player A, re-rolling any ties. The sequence of play for each turn:

1. Player A rolls a D3 and can move that many units.
2. Player B rolls a D3 and can move that many units.
3. Both players' units shoot simultaneously.
4. Both players' units melee simultaneously.
5. Remove eliminated units.

Another alteration made to the rules was to remove certain tactical decisions from the tables and write them into the game rules. This was especially so for the shooting and melee rules, such as determining the order of priority for shooting targets. Doing this had a couple of benefits:

1. It simplified the decision tables.
2. It took away from both generals their ability to select a unit’s targets, not that generals did that I suspect, and certainly levels things up when you are playing one army in a solo game against a decision table.

An example of target priority from the rules.

Target Priority. Select a unit in range that causes the most damage. Where there are multiple choices, then pick the nearest unit.

By combining these rule modifications with decision tables, the focus very much shifts towards generals making battle decisions regarding troop movement, whether it's advancing into combat or defending a particular position.

Note - I will post the full rules once I have written up the changes.

Examples of the decision cards as they currently stand

Here is the second draft of the decision tables which are aligned to the change in the rules.

ARMY STANCE

Decision table for determining an army’s stance. Work through them in the order they are written.

1) The army will retire if any of the following apply:

It is outnumbered and has fewer than two infantry or cavalry units.

2) The army will take a hold its position if any of the following apply:

It is the opening turn of the battle.

It is outnumbered when just counting infantry and cavalry units, or has no cavalry units (ignore dragoons, commanded shot, and artillery detachments)

It still has multiple artillery units who are able to engage the enemy at a distance.

It holds the objective it was tasked with taking.

3) The army will attacking if any of the following apply:

It has more cavalry units

It is yet to hold an objective it was charged with taking.

It equals or outnumbers the enemy when counting infantry and cavalry units.

Select the tactical stance card that meet the above and apply to the tabletop. Review the army stance at the start of each turn.

TACTICAL CARD - HOLD STANCE

This decision table is used when an army is in a HOLD stance.

During the movement phase apply these actions in the order they are written until the number of moved units meet the score of a rolled D3 dice or you get to the end of the list.

1) Any unit can pivot to face an imminent threat.

2) Dragoons and commanded shot units, if not already within 12” distance of an enemy unit, will advance to be ready to harass infantry or cavalry.

3) Cavalry units, unless they have a terrain advantage, will charge other enemy cavalry within range.

4) Cavalry units, unless they have a terrain advantage, will charge other enemy infantry within range.

5) Infantry will hold their position, only moving their reserve or second line to protect the army flank or fill gaps in the line.

TACTICAL CARD - ATTACK STANCE

This decision table used when an army is in an ATTACK stance.

During the movement phase apply these actions in the order they are written until the number of moved units meet the score of a rolled D3 dice or you get to the end of the list.

1) Any unit can pivot to face an imminent threat.

2) Dragoons and commanded shot units, if not already within 12” distance of an enemy unit, will advance to be ready to harass infantry or cavalry.

3) Cavalry units on either wing, but starting with the right wing, will charge other enemy cavalry within range.

4) First line cavalry units on the strongest wing, or the right wing if they are of equal strength, will advance to engage the opposing enemy wing, targeting the enemy cavalry first. 

5) First line cavalry units on the remaining wing will advance to engage the opposing wing.

6) Infantry in the centre will advance to engage the enemy. If not all can advance this turn, start with the right most infantry unit unless there is a unit trailing behind, then advance that unit to maintain a consistent line.

7) Reserve and second line units, infantry or cavalry, will advance and position themselves no closer than 6” to the first line.

TACTICAL CARD - RETIRE STANCE

The Decision table used when an army is in an RETIRE stance.

During the movement phase apply these actions in the order they are written until the number of moved units meet the score of a rolled D3 dice or you get to the end of the list.

1) Any unit can pivot to face an imminent threat.

2) Cavalry units, unless they have a terrain advantage, will charge other enemy cavalry within range.

3) Cavalry will retire.

4) Infantry will retire.

5) Dragoons and commanded shot will retire.

Photographs of a game using decision tables for both armies

The following set of photographs is from one of my recent games using the decision cards to direct both armies.

The Royalist army lines are on the left and Parliament’s on the right.

Both armies exchange artillery fire, and detachments of dragoons advance on the flanks to harass. The Royalist cavalry on their right flank make the first major move and begin their advance. 

Wth low scoring with the D3 dice the only action has Parliamentarian cavalry charge the advancing Royalist cavalry.

The Parliamentarian general has charged forward his right flank and started advancing his centre off the hill.

The Royalist right wing which has been successful, and avoided charging off after the routed enemy, has regrouped to threaten Parliament’s flank.

The Royalist left wing held steady and has seen off Parliament’s cavalry.

The Royalist centre can be seen making their slow advance as their cavalry attack Parliament’s centre which is in a hold stance.

Parliament’s centre having seen off the attack on their flank begin to regroup on the hill in preparation to retire as the Royalist centre continues its advance.

The next post will continue the ECW solo theme…