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Post by jim1973 on Apr 19, 2020 7:58:06 GMT
The French elected not to avoid the mud. Why? Superiority in numbers? Or did the French not realise the full extent of the mud? This is the crux of the problem. No one doubts that those who fought these battles knew a lot more than those of us who paint their miniature replicas. So why did the French advance? Why did Varus enter Teutoberger Vald? etc. I think the trouble is that we have 100% hindsight and no strategic objectives when we play. stevie's countdown clock helps provide some impetus to force a battle. But there was more to it historically. Level of supply, season of the year, weather, politics, ideology and many other factors would have been at play that may have forced a general to push a bad position against his better judgement. DBA3 has none of these. That's why the collision course battles are so interesting. A meeting engagement that can't be planned to within the mm. Baldie is right, an exact simulation would be boring. A close game, regardless of armies, with maybe a little bias to those that won more often than not, would be the ideal. It's when this bias is reversed that people start to question the mechanisms as is so well illustrated in this thread. Well, with my spare time, I think I may start to plan a method to give a strategic situation that can influence game play to some extent. Cheers Jim |
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Post by jim1973 on Apr 16, 2020 4:39:20 GMT
Been thinking about this more, and a super simple PIP type solution might be this: At the beginning of the game after deployment but before the first bound, roll 1d6. 1-2: Game lasts 9 bounds 3-4: Game lasts 10 bounds 5-6: Game lasts 11 bounds Default is 10 bounds if players agree. Everybody knows right up front, but after they've actually put their troops down, so it's random, but you can at least plan a little bit. Defender wins at sunset if tie, or no result. You can take the time parts of this system devised from PBs DBM and DBMM rules: Time and Weather Rules
Uses the deployment dice rolls and gives the feeling of "standard battle" v "Pressed for time", which each general would know at deployment. Cheers Jim |
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Post by jim1973 on Apr 11, 2020 22:27:46 GMT
Great news! Best wishes to all.
Stay safe.
Jim
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Post by jim1973 on Apr 11, 2020 8:50:01 GMT
As if toy soldiers aren't enough of a temptation, now I have blog envy! Well done.
Jim
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Post by jim1973 on Apr 11, 2020 8:47:32 GMT
To each their own. We are never going to get DBA 4 (I think it's officially DBA 3 and not DBA 3.0 for a reason) as PB is not going to write it and I suspect obtaining the copyright might be difficult. That's fair enough as the rules are part of the huge legacy of PB.
The best we have is the FAQ committee and they do a great job within the constraints of the rules as written. We all know this and hats off again gentlemen.
But the rules aren't perfect (which ruleset is?) and hats off to people like stevie, primuspilus, Joe Collins, medievalthomas and others who are genuinely motivated to improve the game both as a game and as an abstract plausible simulation of history.
I can only see change evolving slowly over time through player preference. Power to the people! This has happened before. "Nobody" used the BUA rules in 2.2. Players forced the Shooter/Warband changes in HOTT by simply playing it in a way that made more sense and improved the game. So change can become convention but it needs to be promoted. Look at Tony's "Road to Nowhere", "Wimp Wars" and "Collision course" games. They show the versatility of DBA 3 beyond the RAW. I think that videos, battle reports and perhaps tournaments (yes, tournaments stevie!) using these suggestions would help promote them to a wider audience. If everybody plays it a certain way then it will become the default (see HOTT issue above). Maybe even clubs could have a Heresy Day and try out some suggestions but most importantly, report back in detail. But of course, all this will wait until we can get out of our houses!
Cheers and stay safe
Jim
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Post by jim1973 on Apr 11, 2020 1:33:15 GMT
An Alternative..., there is an alternative...reduce the heavy foot CF by 1:- So Bd becomes CF 4 against foot (they already are when shot at, so this simplifies the rules). Sp becomes CF 3 against foot, with +1 for side support (and side support applies even when shot at). Pk stay as CF 3, but only gains +2 for rear support. Combat against mounted stays just as it is now. But to make this work two other adjustments will be required:- Wb will have to lose rear support, or they’d be too powerful. And the bad going penalty will need to be reduced from -2 to -1 (at least for foot). (8Bow will also need to lose side support...but they’ll have to do this anyway with the ‘blanket’ or
‘conditional’ fix, or they’d be as powerful as Bd in close combat). Hmmm, I think I may like this one. Apart from Ax improvement it has other advantages. Doubles the chance of Pk destroying Bd (1/36 to 1/18) so you have an opportunity to break through before disorder and the short line causes you grief. Does allow for Sp to be destroyed in TZ by Bw (not Bd though) if the shooting priority rule is too much to change. Gets rid of supported Wb (I thought the Romans were always too outnumbered to outflank Celts?) but also makes them a greater challenge for other Heavy Infantry. I'll have to try this one! Cheers Jim |
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Post by jim1973 on Apr 8, 2020 7:16:19 GMT
Other than the 4AX not having a plus against 3Ax (I think solid auxilia should be better than fast), I am thinking that the conditional pluses are the better option with as noted less disruption. The blanket upgrade is simpler though. Currently, 4Ax will defeat 3Ax at a ratio of 7:5 because of "solid wins on equal" but they have equal chance of destroying each other (1/18). At +1 for 4Ax they defeat 3Ax at a ratio of 2:1 with 1/9 chance of destroying the 3Ax but the 3Ax has no chance of destroying the 4Ax. This is a big effect. It could be negated by penalising 4Ax in bad going but it comes down to your opinions on what effect you want to model and does it make the game more fun. I have been guilty of throwing around "+1" here and there but the effect is so dramatic that my house rules are moving towards the surgical strike. I think stevie is on the right track when he discusses the options side by side (e.g. Should Thracians take 4Ax or 3Ax? Should Gauls take 4Wb or 3Wb? What type of cavalry? etc) If a side by side comparison clearly favours one over the other then there is a concern. It's that Rock/Paper/Scissors that I love about DBA. DBA 3 is the best iteration of the game. But the fact that there have been 3 editions shows that it can be improved. Take the example that you are safer if your heavy infantry line is just inside TZ of massed archers rather than just outside. This is more than trying to adjust your favourite troop type to make it a bit better. This sort of interaction, which when exploited by experienced players, makes it harder to covert players to DBA 3. I'm not a tournament player but the meta from tournaments would be interesting to review. I would be interested in seeing how successful the little metal men that represent the Great Captains of history (think Alexander, Ghengis, Attila, etc) perform in the hands of DBA 3 players. But enough isolation banter. Time to paint Sumerians. Cheers Jim |
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Post by jim1973 on Apr 5, 2020 9:30:57 GMT
I’m just trying to make a start about reaching some sort of consensus, even if I have to compromise. Can I at least assume that most of us agree that:- 3Ax should be allowed to ‘evade’ a full BW like mounted when recoiled? 4Ax should have a CF of 4 against foot, but move and recoil as they do now? 4Bows/4Lb/4Cb have a CF of 3 against foot, but all 3Bow stay at CF 2 and can also ‘evade’ like mounted? And get rid of that daft 1 BW shooting priority limitation? Wargamers with time on their hands to debate rules. There is a recipe of disaster  As stevie is in the mood to compromise then we should take the opportunity. 3Ax should be allowed to ‘evade’ a full BW like mounted when recoiled - Agree. But it would be an anomaly if only 3Ax is allowed. Why not other "fast" troops? This would include 3Bw. 4Ax should have a CF of 4 against foot, but move and recoil as they do now - Agree. Provides clear distinction between 3Ax and 4Ax. Keep CF4 against Wb but should be QK by Wb in open ground. This allows Roman Ax their initial role against Wb. Vulnerable against a concerted charge but able to ferret them out of terrain and bring them to battle. 4Bows/4Lb/4Cb have a CF of 3 against foot - Agree. Seems universal that people think Bows are underwhelming. Massed missiles have existed throughout the history of warfare so they can't have been that bad! And agree that their effect needs to be judged against contemporary troops and not against future incarnations. Now 8Bw needs some tweaking... And get rid of that daft 1 BW shooting priority limitation - This is a difficult one. The logic that humans will target those presenting an imminent threat is inescapable. Self interest cannot be denied (see toilet paper purchasing recently). But stevie will argue that it's the effect that matters and in a game and it does. So how to balance? What about shooting outside the threat zone allows you to gang up but shooting inside a threat zone gives -1 to the target. So outside the TZ Persians can only concentrate fire on 1 hoplite element for 3 shooters and get -2 but inside TZ they can target the entire phalanx with a -1? Cheers Jim |
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Post by jim1973 on Mar 27, 2020 12:51:09 GMT
I also picked up this faux suede for desert battlefields. Just cut it to fit inside and works well. The nature of the suede gives natural enough looking shadows and shades. Faux suede - stoneCheers Jim |
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Post by jim1973 on Mar 27, 2020 12:46:34 GMT
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Post by jim1973 on Mar 24, 2020 11:14:00 GMT
Important Message: Make sure you don't paint the last miniature in your lead pile. This could be hazardous to your health. Panic buy a few DBA armies to keep yourself safe. <Sigh> Take care all Fanatici during these troubling times. Keep safe and give a thought to those doing it even tougher. Cheers and best wishes Jim |
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Post by jim1973 on Mar 24, 2020 11:05:21 GMT
Hi Tony. Have you considered something like Patreon to raise a little money and maybe get a better editor? We all love your videos and since they give us so much enjoyment but take up so much of your time, it is the least we could do. I'd be happy to chip in as I would rather you play games then wrestle with technology. Cheers Jim Not really since it really isn't about the money ATM. Just to drive this point home, I bought a high-end laptop mainly for the express purpose of keeping videos going. Then I salute you sir! You are a true gentleman amongst wargamers. Seriously, thank you Tony (and Mitch) for your time and efforts in promoting our wonderful hobby. Cheers Jim PS Now if only DB-RRR was upgraded to DBA3 then those Steel Fist ECW figures on Kickstarter would be even more tempting...  |
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Post by jim1973 on Mar 23, 2020 0:48:09 GMT
If you haven't tried editing videos before, it is unlike painting in so many ways. With painting even when you are a slow one like me, after 4 hours you have something to show for it. I spent more that that just trying find the right music/couldn't dowload it/starting over/looking for files etc. and had nothing to show for it. Hi Tony. Have you considered something like Patreon to raise a little money and maybe get a better editor? We all love your videos and since they give us so much enjoyment but take up so much of your time, it is the least we could do. I'd be happy to chip in as I would rather you play games then wrestle with technology. Cheers Jim |
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Post by jim1973 on Mar 18, 2020 11:01:17 GMT
My thoughts and best wishes to all during these uncertain times.
This time will pass but it is likely that we will all be touched by this crisis. And it won't be because of a lack of toilet paper!
Stay safe and look after each other.
Jim
PS At least our little lead men will give us a pause from the worries of the day.
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Post by jim1973 on Feb 25, 2020 11:23:14 GMT
Stunning! Work of art. One day I will treat myself.
Jim
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As stevie is in the mood to compromise then we should take the opportunity.
