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Post by vtsaogames on Jul 9, 2019 2:07:35 GMT
When introducing new players to DBA it helps to give them a handicap. The worst way to learn a new game is by being thumped soundly over and over again. It also tends to drive the newbie away. What you want at the end of the procedure is a new opponent, not a surly guy who swears off DBA. Our club (the Corlears Hook Fencibles) has 2 players who are DBA virgins. Back in the day I would give myself a -1 to pip die rolls and a +1 for the new guy, as long as they thought they needed it. In time, pride would have them give up one and then the other handicap. The problem was every now and then I would roll a 1, which stopped me from doing anything. The new player always had at least 2 pips.
Now I think the better way would be for the grognard (me) to roll two dice and use the lowest one. That way I always get at least one. Likewise, the new player rolls two dice and uses the high one. Every now and then they only get one pip and don't ever get 7. Perhaps in August this will be tried.
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Post by paddy649 on Jul 9, 2019 6:00:21 GMT
+1 and -1 to every die roll seems to be a major handicap and you are right it would unbalance the game as I feel would always taking the lowest of 2 die rolls.
Have you tried giving the newbie a number of re-rolls? i.e. play a normal game but allow the newbie to pick up and re-roll their dice up to 10 times per game BUT only allow one re-roll per situation. So they can re-roll terrain, PIP or combat dice as they see fit.
That way the newbie will see the impact of their decisions but not experience the full pain plus understand what does/doesn’t matter in the game. It doesn’t totally eliminate the 6:1 in favour of either player plus it gives a graduated way to reduce the handicap - reducing re-rolls to single figures and down to zero eventually. So challenge the newbie to win with as few re-rolls as possible and they will improve.
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Post by martini on Jul 9, 2019 10:37:38 GMT
Many years ago I ran a DBA campaign. Set in the time of Alexander's successors, there were more countries than players and a number of the players were new to the rules. If a player invaded a country which was not allocated to another player then I took the role of the defender and limited myself to only 9 elements when facing newbes. The worked reasonably well. I didn't win many battles but that was OK by me because I regarded it mainly as a learning exercise for the newcomers.
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Post by stevie on Jul 9, 2019 10:56:05 GMT
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Post by martin on Jul 9, 2019 10:58:42 GMT
Howz about - he/she only needs three kills for a win? Or you need five?
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Post by vtsaogames on Jul 9, 2019 15:21:05 GMT
+1 and -1 to every die roll seems to be a major handicap and you are right it would unbalance the game as I feel would always taking the lowest of 2 die rolls. Have you tried giving the newbie a number of re-rolls? i.e. play a normal game but allow the newbie to pick up and re-roll their dice up to 10 times per game BUT only allow one re-roll per situation. So they can re-roll terrain, PIP or combat dice as they see fit. That way the newbie will see the impact of their decisions but not experience the full pain plus understand what does/doesn’t matter in the game. It doesn’t totally eliminate the 6:1 in favour of either player plus it gives a graduated way to reduce the handicap - reducing re-rolls to single figures and down to zero eventually. So challenge the newbie to win with as few re-rolls as possible and they will improve. I wasn't clear. The handicap would only apply to pip die rolls, not every roll. Though some of the ideas above have got me thinking.
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Handicaps
Jul 9, 2019 16:29:45 GMT
via mobile
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Post by paddy649 on Jul 9, 2019 16:29:45 GMT
My PIP dice always seem to give me that -1 handicap anyway!
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Post by Baldie on Jul 9, 2019 18:51:21 GMT
My PIP dice always seem to give me that -1 handicap anyway! This
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Post by bluestone28 on Jul 11, 2019 6:57:16 GMT
and mine dice is always a "1" at the worst moment! (it's my own rule, if your dice can be a 1 at the worse moment it will happen! )
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Post by Cromwell on Jul 11, 2019 7:07:12 GMT
Once Sammy Davis Jnr was walking out with Bing Crosby to play golf. The following conversation took place as they made their way to the first tee. Crosby "What's your handicap?" Davis "I am a short, black, one eyed Jew. Is that enough?!
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