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Post by Simon on Aug 9, 2021 11:53:16 GMT
Hi all, Just to let you know that I recently played a couple of solo games of Stevie's Simple Ancient Battle rules - essentially DBA on a grid. I played them on a drawn grid but Stevie says you can also play them on a virtual grid. I really enjoyed the games and, although there are some unavoidable differences from the original, the games felt like a DBA game. In fact, the requirement to face orthogonally on a square grid made them look more like a real ancient battle than some normal DBA games do. Stevie has clearly put a lot of thought into these. I will try playing them over Zoom when I can find a suitable victim, oops, I mean willing opponent. The rules can be found here: static.wikia.nocookie.net/fanaticus-dba/images/5/5e/SIMPLE_ANCIENT_BATTLE_RULES.pdf/revision/latest?cb=20210723143835Go on - give them a go! Cheers, Simon |
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Post by stevie on Aug 10, 2021 9:10:33 GMT
The actual or virtual grid movement system from those simplified SAB rules
would also make HoTT much easier and less complex to play…
…IF players are willing to use the alternative modern BW movement instead
of the mind-numbingly slow, archaic, antiquated, and old-fashioned paces.
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Post by vodnik on Aug 10, 2021 10:26:31 GMT
...for me the feeling of DBA is gone. Basing was never a problem but the interpretation of the rules. Even if there are more troop types, for me, Triumph is the clearer version then DBA...
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Post by stevie on Aug 10, 2021 12:04:36 GMT
No problem Vodnik. If players think that a complicated “Triumph” is clearer and better than a complicated “DBA 3.0”, then they already have a choice over which rule-set to use. However, those players that like the “DBA 3.0” effects and outcomes, but wish it were less complex, they have been given no choice at all… ...until now that is.  There are many players out there that would prefer a far simpler less complicated set of ancient rules. Now they too can have the choice over which rule-set they wish to use. In other words, why have complex, convoluted and fiddly procedures and mechanisms when simpler ones can do the same job and give the same effects? Nobody likes complicated rules... |
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Post by vodnik on Aug 10, 2021 21:43:54 GMT
...the problem is that we have not so many gamers in Switzerland. A few years ago we did change from DBA22+ to Triumph. But not all, a few of us with me; we play also DBMM240AP & ADG, now in Version 4. So we have no problems with rules wrten like DBA in any versions...
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Post by davehollin on Dec 29, 2022 18:36:19 GMT
for me, the simplified DBA a la Stevie is a revelation. DBA 3.0 still suffers from poor writing and is too complicated vs its original premise. If you are going to do complicated you may as well pick a better alternative set that has better writing and better diagrams etc. DBA on a grid with unified bases works for me personally....all hail Stevie!
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Post by carll on Dec 29, 2022 19:12:32 GMT
Inspired by some Portable Wargame (PW) books, I recently had a go at merging (square) grid based playing with rules that are mix of DBA3, and PW ideas, and a few Armati wargame ideas (sorry Paul, but its just a few). All intended for solo play. But would work with two or more players who are familiar with DBA (although its not DBA).
I did load them to SoA Forum thread on grid gaming with ancients and happy to share here (but I have to admit not sure how to load them here... them being two A4 Word pages, two separate files as used table format with text insert), small files.
I think DBA provides us with a "lingua franca" for fast ancients games across continents (or towns!) and enjoyable games too, which I have enjoyed since very first DBA publication. So my ideas were simply to create a quick play game like but different to DBA or the PW ancient rules of say Bob Cordery.
CarlL
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Post by Cromwell on Dec 30, 2022 9:09:23 GMT
I play some wargames on a grid, notably "For King and Parliament" by Simon Miller which is based on the "To The Strongest" rules. I have also used version 2 of "Regiment of Foote" by Peter Pig which is grid based and both work well.
I am going to give DBA on a grid a shot and see how it goes, however I do like DBA 3 as it stands and not sure how I will feel. I will wait and see before giving my final opinion.
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Post by davehollin on Dec 30, 2022 11:55:58 GMT
I will look forward to your opinion if you do DBA on a grid
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Post by Baldie on Dec 30, 2022 13:46:21 GMT
Did have a thought on playing chess with an additional roll off for combat.
Think I woke up then and had another turkey sarnie
I am not keen on grid based gaming but love Bag The Hun for some reason.
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Post by jim1973 on Dec 31, 2022 3:45:28 GMT
You can take this to the extreme and try the 3x3 portable wargame rules. They are in the Portable Wargame Compendium: Wargame VaultHere are some reviews and descriptions: Bob CorderyThe StrongholdThere is something interesting about something so simple. Jim |
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Post by martin on Dec 31, 2022 9:47:32 GMT
You can take this to the extreme and try the 3x3 portable wargame rules. They are in the Portable Wargame Compendium: Wargame VaultHere are some reviews and descriptions: Bob CorderyThe StrongholdThere is something interesting about something so simple. Jim Yes, Jim…it’s an interesting concept. I recently (May-June) ran a solo mid-C19th Europe ‘imagi-nations’ campaign by using PW for the first battle (8x8 grid) and then PW 3x3 for the subsequent clashes. The 3x3 games are fast, and can be engaging, but I think I prefer 8+ x 8+ , for a bit more manoeuvre. One guy recently posted (on fb) a Königgrätz refight, using a 6x6, which made for a bit more manoeuvre, but took about twice the time of a 3x3….looked good. |
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Post by davehollin on Dec 31, 2022 19:02:18 GMT
grids are the future..... :-)
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Post by Baldie on Dec 31, 2022 19:51:22 GMT
grids are the future..... :-) Heretic |
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Post by carll on Dec 31, 2022 19:52:29 GMT
Grids are a variation davehollin.
I think they simplify issues about movement and ranges (albeit the very presence of a grid can create some visually strange issues about combat and ranges) but essentially they make it less likely that there are disputes about angles in shooting or flanking manoeuvres in combats.
They can range in intention from skirmish to board game like strategy rather than tactical games, but its often the downsizing (not same as 'dumbing' down) of rules to make then easier to play and a game faster to complete that makes them fun.
The original DBA rules booklet was simple in this sense but ground breaking, some off its off shoots, have become complex and not so quick to play.
When I see some of the questions raised here I realise that keeping it simple and clear and playable are fine balancing points.
CarlL
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