Friday, August 20, 2010

Truants Game Day, 8/20/10 - Napoleonic Fast Play

So my buddy Adrian & I managed to pull off a decent Napoleonics game using fast-play rules we developed last Friday. Since the sagacious Truants who participated all said they had a good time with them, I feel relieved. Most of the gamers had decades of experience and offered some great ideas, and possible tweaks to the rules. Of course, we appreciated their insight - and were expecting this since this is the first game we used the rules. The one thing we decided (just last night) was to add a saving throw for cover instead of the earlier rule to decrease dice to the shooters. Actually this is what I had initially wanted, but...oh, well, I'm just happy its back. There was a lot of discussion after the game about morale checks and leader influence - but nothing earth-shattering as the spirit of the rules are for fast-play, convention players. Since the rules are so simple, and the players so experienced, I managed to snap a few pictures - most came out okay - here they are:
We called the game after several turns; which incidentally were started by the side determined by die rolls at the top of each turn, instead of the I Go - You Go  method. This game was a hard one to call - the British had their left flank in control - all of their Rifles and most of the Highlanders were intact. They had also managed to decimate the French Cavalry - both heavy & light units. The center of the battlefield was looking like a sure French victory - the French Light Infantry having eliminated the units of British Infantry there. The British right - which started out with a Rifle unit and Spanish Guerrillas occupying the town, was pretty much now in French control. Although, right outside of the town, there were a good amount of British infantry facing a small French artillery battery. Considering the British not having any artillery nor cavalry makes me really want to add a horse artillery unit to their side. It was a pretty balanced game though; and the French cavalry could have possibly had a greater impact.

In any case, there is one last Truants game next Friday, before we all head "back to school" - literally, as two of the members are educators. Unfortunately, I won't be able to make the last game as I have to go to a graveside memorial service for a relative. I'm sure it'll be a great last game too - Kevin Smyth is hosting another ACW naval game - I really like those a lot. Well, I'll be otherwise focusing on the Samurai game we're hosting next month. We plan on adapting the rules we used today to that game too!

9 comments:

  1. Great looking game with awesome figures! I'm sorry I missed it.

    Ted

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  2. Thanks, Ted; yeah, we missed you again. I think you would've enjoyed our fast-play rules. Adrian & I plan to adapt it to the Samurai game we're running at Fort Steilacoom next month - "Fix Bayonets." Hope you can make that one. Dean

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  3. Some day I'll be able to actually play in one of your games. Love your figures Dean. Is your game at Fix Bayonets in the morning or afternoon?

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  4. Kevin:

    Thanks! Our game at Fort Steilacoom is scheduled for the morning period. Same as yours :)! See you there! Dean

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  5. Very nice looking game Dean and glad to see the haggis munchers in action. Its good to see your figs and read your battle reports before I play my first large scale Naps Skirmish in a few weeks time.

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  6. Thanks, Paul. I hope you have a great time with your game. I really like simpler, fast-playing rules - might not suit everyone's tastes, but the folks yesterday seemed to like it. Best, Dean

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  7. We have a saying Down Under: 'Fast game's a good game' - simple, straight forward rules and no fuss usually makes for an entertaining and fun game. With the added bonus of your wonderful looking figure - good to see those hussars and Highlanders in action!

    Cheers,
    Doc

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  8. I agree with Doc's quote that a "fast game is a good game". Nothing sucks the fun out of gaming event than tedious rule mechanics that require lots of page turning and debates.

    I also like games that give the targeted player a saving throw - this might sound silly, but saving throws let both sides participate in action rather than just one player doing all the activity. Perhaps that's due to my misplaced faith that, when needed, I can roll a "6" on command!

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  9. That's a great philosophy for fun gaming - one that I will be using foremost in the future. In fact, a couple of interesting (to me anyway) projects have been sidelined due to the thought of rule complexity. Now I will relook those - including a small Egyptian/Syrian Napoleonic game. Earlier, I had thought of using Sharp Practice, but couldn't quite come up with the "Big Man" to "Groups" & "Formations" formula for the game. Thanks again for your great comments! Dean

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