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Post by diades on Sept 15, 2018 21:48:54 GMT
I am sure there are many out there whose reasons for playing include a wish to recreate historic engagements. Sometimes the obvious twelve element pairings don't quite satisfy. Big Battle DBA is there as a means of getting closer. Locally, we find the demoralised command rules result in too swift a collapse and hence are constantly experimenting with house rules to compensate. Phil Steele has been championing the twenty-four element approach, where there is a vanguard twelve element force and a main twelve element force. Our favoured local approach at present is for 16 vs 16 element games on 800mm square boards. Victory at 6 elements destroyed. PIPs are d6+1. Occasionally allies must move on separate PIPs as per BBDBA. Occasionally a C-inC is permitterd the one off+1 for one combat. Occasionally a second in command element is permitted, whose only function is to allow command distance to be measured from as required. Occasionally stated above means agreed in advance to attempt an historic simulation. Terrain is as close to historic as possible. Today's recommendation was Chaeronea, Sulla vs Pontic. Sulla: Cv(gen), 2xCv, 5x4Bd ( inc 2ic), 4x4Ax, Art, 4Bw, Ps, LH Pontic: Cv (gen), 1x3Kn, SCh, 4x4Pk, 2x3Ax, Ps, LH, 1x4Ax, plus allied(move separately, but with 2 ic) 1x4Kn (2ic), 2x LH, 1 x 3Ax Pontic victory (7 (6G) - 5). Loads of fun.
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Post by lkmjbc on Sept 16, 2018 2:29:32 GMT
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Post by stevie on Sept 16, 2018 11:02:29 GMT
I too am very interested in using DBA to re-create historical battles. Medievalthomas has a rough HoTT style points system for balancing armies (see fanaticus.boards.net/post/13923/ ). Although slightly off topic, I myself have always found it difficult to reproduce the medieval type of deployment. Almost all ancient battles consisted of a left wing, a centre, and a right wing. However, medieval battles often had a van in front, then the main body, and lastly the rear guard, one behind the other. Now who wants to fight with only one third of their army, while the rest just sits behind watching? This is not confined to DBA, but to just about every ancient set of rules I’ve come across. (And still to this day I can’t think of a good solution to this problem)Some potentially useful player aids can be found here, such as the “Quick Reference Sheets” from the Society of Ancients, and the new “Army List Corrections” file: fanaticus-dba.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Reference_sheets_and_epitomes And this is the latest January 2018 FAQ: fanaticus-dba.wikia.com/wiki/FAQ_2018
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Post by timurilank on Sept 16, 2018 16:40:59 GMT
I too am very interested in using DBA to re-create historical battles. Medievalthomas has a rough HoTT style points system for balancing armies (see fanaticus.boards.net/post/13923/ ). Although slightly off topic, I myself have always found it difficult to reproduce the medieval type of deployment. Almost all ancient battles consisted of a left wing, a centre, and a right wing. However, medieval battles often had a van in front, then the main body, and lastly the rear guard, one behind the other. Now who wants to fight with only one third of their army, while the rest just sits behind watching? This is not confined to DBA, but to just about every ancient set of rules I’ve come across. (And still to this day I can’t think of a good solution to this problem)Some potentially useful player aids can be found here, such as the “Quick Reference Sheets” from the Society of Ancients, and the new “Army List Corrections” file: fanaticus-dba.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Reference_sheets_and_epitomes And this is the latest January 2018 FAQ: fanaticus-dba.wikia.com/wiki/FAQ_2018
Stevie,
From my reading, medieval armies would observe the use of heralds to agree upon a ‘time and place’ for battle, bringing both armies to follow a standard method of deployment not unlike DBA 3.0. Nations that were less inclined to follow chivalric custom, especially nomadic ones, might use the vanguard to locate, harass and lure the enemy toward a pre-determined battlefield. This would require battles to be fought over a number of days which is not unusual; the battle of Trebbia followed a cavalry action of the previous day.
Using two or three commands per side, a vanguard could consist of a general and five elements, the minimum allowed under the big battle rules.
During the night, either side may reinforce or reform the vanguard with the other commands. It was not uncommon for medieval armies to deploy in two wings.
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Post by stevie on Sept 16, 2018 17:24:02 GMT
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Post by hammurabi70 on Sept 16, 2018 19:38:27 GMT
The difficulty is in having a set of rules that requires the effective use of reserves and replicating the effects of fatigue during the day. DBA does not try to do either to a level you are seeking. Additionally, columns are easier to manoeuvre before the troops go into combat, not such a concern with DBA.
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