IanC
Munifex
Posts: 16 
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Post by IanC on Jan 14, 2017 18:29:41 GMT
Anyone using a house rule for incendiary pigs? I've just been using them as Psiloi with a +1 against elephants and -1 against anything else. Just wondering if anyone has other ideas?  |
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Post by stevie on Jan 15, 2017 11:38:25 GMT
I like your idea of having incendiary pigs with the same combat factors as Psiloi with +1 against elephants and -1 against anybody else...but I think they should be treated more like scythed chariots.
Consider:-
• A herd of pigs are unlikely to be easy to control or obey orders, so they cost 2 PIPs to move, unless moving into contact with the enemy (which represents the moment they are ignited), just like SCh.
• The destruction of flaming pigs surprises no-one, so their loss does not count, just like SCh.
• They are unlikely to last long, so are destroyed if they score equal or less in combat, just like SCh.
• They are likely to flee if shot at, unless at least partially shot in the rear, which causes them to scatter, just like SCh (note that if shot at they are not in contact, so have not been ignited yet, so flee as Ps).
• They don’t really care about corner-to-corner overlaps, just like SCh.
Ideally it would be visually nice to have two bases of pigs, each 1 base width deep.
At first they are just a herd of pigs with one or two handlers for moving around the battlefield, and this is swapped for the flaming pigs version without handlers just before they make contact. Before being set alight they are classed as foot and move and interpenetrate like Ps (but PIP costs are as SCh). Once ignited, they are classed as mounted and move and interpenetrate like SCh (they move faster when on fire!). (this is a bit like dismounting...they are permanently swapped for another element) 
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Post by paulhannah on Jan 16, 2017 18:25:47 GMT
Hi, Ian, nice meeting up with you again on this fair site. Very nice photo of splendidly painted minis. (I would expect nothing less of you.)
Stevie's suggestions for incendiary pigs sound good to me. I seem to remember on the Old Fanaticus site, someone had suggested treating them as Artillery. That's a more abstract approach, in that it doesn't attempt to simulate the movement of the little piggies, just the effect.
But, here's a must any time you use them: Serve up a nice order of bacon! Extra crispy, please.
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Post by bob on Jan 16, 2017 21:55:30 GMT
This is A clever house rule. Those old-timers among us will remember in DBA one there were armies with stampeding cattle and war dogs. Flaming pigs were available in the old W RG rules because those were at a lower level generality. Would an army Have 1/12th of its force made up of flaming pigs? Perhaps instead of being a separate element, some pigs could be added to a Ps element, like you show, but they would just give the elephants a minus one in combat. The effect would only be used once. Given that DBA is a game of checks and balances, there would need to be a negative effect to the PS to keep the game even. Perhaps they would need 2 pips to move while using the pigs. No moving in rough for bad going with them either.
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Post by stevie on Jan 17, 2017 8:06:09 GMT
Good ideas Bob.
Oh, there is one more thing I forgot to add on my previous post...
• Ignited pigs, trying desperately to run away from the flames, are unlikely to halt if their opponent recoils, flees, or is destroyed. They are more likely to keep going, or pursue, just like SCh.
(Psiloi don’t pursue of course)
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IanC
Munifex
Posts: 16
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Post by IanC on Jan 17, 2017 22:37:51 GMT
Stevie, I love the Sch analogue - what a great idea. I'll work on that. Thank You (now I need a 4-squared flaming pig base - with 16 pigs on it...  ) Hi Paul - nice to meet you here. I miss the old fanaticus site - it's still there but many links are broken. I am inspired by your great collection of armies, particularly your camps and especially the Alexandrian Light house. I wonder if we could have an "Eye Candy" folder where such photos can be added? Hopefully I will see you at Enfilade. Ian |
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Post by stevie on Jan 17, 2017 23:26:48 GMT
I’m glad you like it Ian, although I should warn you that I have never actually tried out these ideas on a wargames table. I would be very interested to hear how they turn out. But please keep to your idea for combat factors...as Ps, but with +1 versus El and -1 versus everybody else. And here is yet another thing I forgot to add to my previous post.... • Flaming pigs are unlikely to want to climb up assault ladders, so cannot make front-edge contact with an enemy city, fort or camp, nor do they make good defenders of such places, just like SCh. Perhaps ‘ SCh’ is not only an abbreviation for ‘ Scythed Chariots’, it also stands for ‘ Swine Combustible Herd’.  |
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IanC
Munifex
Posts: 16
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Post by IanC on Jan 17, 2017 23:53:43 GMT
Perhaps ‘ SCh’ is not only an abbreviation for ‘ Scythed Chariots’, it also stands for ‘ Swine Combustible Herd’. |
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