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Post by timurilank on Sept 7, 2018 17:30:35 GMT
Any plans I had to return to the horse and musket period were temporarily sidelined by many ancient and medieval projects. In addition to the historical match series all the DBA terrain was made uniform, a dozen Biblical armies were added to the collection, and another variant of the campaign rules was created to place the Merovingian Dynasty at centre stage. The months of July and August were devoted to the design and testing of historical scenarios for the Dark Age era for DBA 3.0.
From now until the end of the year it will be ‘over the hills and far away” adding British and Portuguese forces to the Napoleonic collection. The early campaign in Portugal has held a fascination for me and as part of this project I plan a number of historical scenarios for use with the DBA-HX3 rule variant. This variant can be downloaded from the Fanaticus Wiki for free.
18th Century Sojourn; Portugal 1808/09 – project
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Post by Cromwell on Sept 8, 2018 8:21:14 GMT
That sounds to be an interesting project. I enjoy Napoleonic games set during the Peninsular war.
I notice you are using DBA-HX3.
I use DBN for my Napoleonic engagements, usually I use the attrition variant.
What are your views on DBN?
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Post by timurilank on Sept 8, 2018 13:18:21 GMT
Cromwell,
I have played DBN but that was quite some time ago and I do believe this required DBA 2 for its basic system. I did not pursue DBN any further as this was the period of time I sold most of my DBA armies. It was during the play test period of DBA 3.0 that I thought DBN should also be revised to the newer version. This did not happen so I proceeded with the help of a dozen other Fanatici did that but selected DBA-HX (Humberside extension) had two practical reasons; it was truly an old variant using DBA 1.1 and more importantly it offered a large number of army lists. Tony Barr had no problem with the upgrade to 3.0 and the army lists were presented in a different format so as to offer players more options.
The changes from 2.2 to 3.0 now meant skirmishers could perform like their ancient counterpart by moving rapidly through difficult terrain and screening troop formations improved as they could shoot with the same restriction for moving and shooting applying for them as well. Further, side support and equal combat results are useful features to replicate troop differences, i.e., elite, line and conscript.
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Post by timurilank on Sept 11, 2018 11:22:23 GMT
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Post by strelnikov on Sept 12, 2018 15:17:17 GMT
Cromwell,
I have played DBN but that was quite some time ago and I do believe this required DBA 2 for its basic system. I did not pursue DBN any further as this was the period of time I sold most of my DBA armies. It was during the play test period of DBA 3.0 that I thought DBN should also be revised to the newer version. This did not happen so I proceeded with the help of a dozen other Fanatici did that but selected DBA-HX (Humberside extension) had two practical reasons; it was truly an old variant using DBA 1.1 and more importantly it offered a large number of army lists. Tony Barr had no problem with the upgrade to 3.0 and the army lists were presented in a different format so as to offer players more options.
The changes from 2.2 to 3.0 now meant skirmishers could perform like their ancient counterpart by moving rapidly through difficult terrain and screening troop formations improved as they could shoot with the same restriction for moving and shooting applying for them as well. Further, side support and equal combat results are useful features to replicate troop differences, i.e., elite, line and conscript.
I've been playing Phil Barker's "Horse, Foot, & Guns" (HFG). It has very similar game mechanics, but is more detailed than DBA. However one of the interesting things I like about it is that troops cannot move directly into close combat unless they begin a bound within a minimum distance of the enemy (1/2 BW for infantry, 1.5 BW for mounted). This usually ensures that the advancing force will undergo at least one bound of fire from the defender. If the phasing player witholds fire & wins or ties the distant combat roll, they can "press forward" into close combat in the same bound. This creates some interesting battle effects.
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Post by timurilank on Sept 13, 2018 10:25:54 GMT
Strelnikov,
The HF&G rule set are good and I would recommend them to players wishing to refight the American Civil War or Franco-Prussian war era. That is the reason DBA-HX3 has an end date of 1850. You did mention some interesting ideas, closing to combat – withholding fire – which might be worth experimenting with.
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Post by vodnik on Sept 13, 2018 13:31:33 GMT
...you could try the Vae Victis Rules. Rebel Yell is for ACW & Kepis Rouge is for Franco-Prussian War...
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Post by timurilank on Sept 13, 2018 14:58:45 GMT
...you could try the Vae Victis Rules. Rebel Yell is for ACW & Kepis Rouge is for Franco-Prussian War... Vodnik, Thanks for the tip, but I will not be expanding my horse and musket period beyond this current project. I have a large collection of Franco-Dutch 1670, a huge War of the Spanish Succession, an even larger Seven Years War collection and topped off with the British in India of 1845. After the planned historical scenarios I will do a series of brief campaigns using one of the above collections.
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Post by strelnikov on Sept 13, 2018 17:35:48 GMT
I use HFG for Napoleonics right now.
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Post by timurilank on Sept 20, 2018 7:38:55 GMT
Portugal 1808/09 – project focus
I have posted some thoughts on how this project will be done and this is similar in method for the ancient and medieval scenarios done early this year. Between the wait for the delivery of miniatures time will be spent on research and writing draft copy for the various historical scenarios 18thcenturysojourn.blogspot.com/2018/09/portugal-180809-project-focus.html
The next post will offer a timeline of Soult’s campaign in Northern Portugal.
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Post by timurilank on Sept 25, 2018 8:16:44 GMT
Portugal 1808/09 – timeline This lists the significant events encountered by the French forces on their march from Corunna to Oporto in early 1809. You will note that the majority of the conflicts involve not only the Portuguese in their defence of its northern region but also Spanish activity that took place in Soult’s rear. There are some interesting conflicts to explore and by next week I should have an idea would make better scenarios.
18thcenturysojourn.blogspot.com/2018/09/portugal-180809-timeline.html
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Post by timurilank on Sept 28, 2018 7:47:27 GMT
The flocking is all that remains to complete the 15 cavalry, 15 foot and 5 generals. I should receive shortly the Portuguese and British from Timecast, however a second order for Spanish troops encountered some difficulty. The Spanish line is ‘Not Available’ so these were ordered on XAN Miniatures of Spain. At the moment XAN produce infantry for the British, French and Spanish forces. Cavalry and artillery will follow in the near future. These look impressive and I will post comparison photos when they arrive. www.xanminiatures.com/en/ In between painting I am busy with the scenarios for which the first is completed and a second is nearly done.
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Post by timurilank on Sept 30, 2018 8:51:32 GMT
While searching for painted irregular Spanish cavalry I also found 50 guerrilla types which can easily be converted to Portuguese/Spanish resistance. Included in that discovery trip were 4 suitable generals that will now serve Spain.
Feeling pleased at saving the time and cost of ordering three packs.
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Post by timurilank on Sept 30, 2018 13:47:12 GMT
Nice to see things are heating up in Spain. Kings and Generals have just uploaded the Siege of Zaragoza. Bailen is just around the corner. Great presentation. www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvD0VqF9saY
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Post by timurilank on Oct 1, 2018 20:15:57 GMT
That was a few hours well spent.
I have rebased 50 partisan foot and 6 cavalry to make 23 elements of militia, Ordenanza and irregular cavalry and add to this the generals, personalities and camp followers placed on circular bases bringing the total to 32.
The bases are covered with Milliput which fill the gaps between figures but adds an extra heft to the element. These will not be tumbling down any hill slope soon.
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