DBA on a grid

Thanks! and since this thread is for DBA on a grid, I'll just cast "resurrect" on that post and discuss there.

The PIP roll is, as I see it, a highly effective abstraction of command intent vs capability.

I see the roll not as being a case of "Sir, you can move any four of our elements" but rather the following:

"Sir, we deployed 6 messengers/couriers a while back, to relay orders. 2 are still not back from the forward lines yet. If you want to give any orders, send them out with these 4 guys now. Otherwise if you delay, other priorities will arise/they will get picked off by arrows ... etc".

Be aware that choosing blocks from a bag simulates a DIFFERENT viewpoint/model of command. Not better, just different.

In face to face play, I tried something similar: Spend 1 PIP, then roll. On a 1 you were done. On a 2+, you had the remainder to spend as normal.

Two issues arise:

1. How to deal with Elephants/Horde/Artillery and/or out of command elements costing >1 PIP to move
2. When you don't know how many PIPs you will have, you become ultra-conservative, and very reluctant to release wing troops into the fray, for example.

We had a lot of trouble with these when we tested our games using the unknown PIPs.

Here is a thought for you Nangwaya.

Say you have 5 green blocks and 1 red block in your bag.
(I don’t have red & green blocks, but I do have lots of small red & green dice)

First you announce that you want to move a particular element or group.
Draw a block out of the bag and place it on the table.
If it’s green you have 1 PIP to spend, so use it to make the move then announce again.
If it’s red you have no PIP, and all movement ends (so place all blocks back in the bag).

When the element/group costs 2 PIPs to move, draw 2 blocks together from the bag.
If both blocks are green, then fine, you move and can carry on announcing and drawing.
If one of the blocks is red, then you only have 1 PIP to spend on something else.
Again, a red block means all movement ends so place all the blocks back in the bag.

(Your first PIP is free, and you don’t have to draw for it...because no matter how low
you roll a die, you’ll always have at least 1 PIP per bound)

Another Advantage of grids: How About Setting up 3 identical boards in seperate Rooms/ seperate parts of the room-one for each Player and one for the unpire. The umpire has both sides Forces on his board, the other Players only their own troops and those they can "see" - which is decided by the umpire. A few simple rules. visibilty behind hills or other troops or in Woods etc-Zero.Other troops visible say from 12 squares away, but troop
type unidentifiable - other than perhaps mounted or foot (umpire places element sized "chits" to indicate such. One could even go further and have the umpire throw dice for combat etc. That way at a convention one can invite someone to play who knows only the rudiments of the rules. I bet my bottom Dollar/Euro that the games would prove quite different...

Ha! Some of us do that already Oriel.
Or at least have a couple of pints at lunchtime during a tournament... 🍺

(By the way, I’ve finished playtesting and should have the “Playing on a Grid” booklet ready
for posting to the Fanaticus Wiki sometime next week...if I can keep out of the pub that is!)

When PB first brought out his dba rules - many years ago, my initial thought was - Phil Barker has just re-invented Chess!  And  i can see how Chess was derived as a wargame. I am not sure to what degree the rules reflect ancient warfare- that is a moot point. I do agree however that wargames should be fun and it is up  to each player to decide what components he likes/dislikes. 

dba, in my opinion and experience encourages "gamesmanship" - ie placing elements at odd angles to prevent the opponent from charging etc.  
or shifting Auxilia from one end of the board to the other, ´cos the opponent has elephants in that area. Once an army was deployed, there was very little
opportunity to swop units around. Thus the convention of placing a strong reliable reserve in the centre.

My main bone of contention is, how much could the commander "see" and in my opinion visibility or lack of visibility was a vital factor. There are so many
reports in military history where the commander recieves a report that there is a whole army of thousands on his flank when in fact it proved to be a force of
300. There again it is up to the player whether he wants to reflect this sort of thing or not.

As mentioned i have been playing on grids over the last two years and in my opinion the advantages outweigh any diadvantages. I have already written the
necessary alterations - so am interested to see how they compare to Senator´s.

I had an idea that could help Grid DBA a bit to avoid any wheeling.
For 2 pips an entire group may make a diagonal move Of 1BW as part of its move. The limit of 1BW left or right per move is there to prevent too much lateral shifting.

So even if the group would move 2 BW, it could move 1BW forwards and then make a diagonal move 1BW either left or right.

This would allow shifting before the clash of battle lines without crazy diagonals.

I would also have the grid demarcated into 1/2 BW squares which would allow the final aligning lateral shift when contact is made.