Campaign Systems -
I'm wedded to the Volley & Bayonet rules for my Marlburian miniatures gaming. This is (as of Historicon '08) the 2nd Edition of Volley & Bayonet (referred to from now on as VnB2). I've been lucky to have the playtest version.
At Enfilade! this year (2008) I got to watch Bruce McFarlane's Battle of Torgau using the Humberside Extensions of DBA (aka DBA-HX). I have been experimenting with them and how to convert back and forth between a favorite campaign system and the miniatures table. The first tests were quite successful.
The campaign system is the boardgame Frederick the Great. It captures much of the feel of 18th Century warfare. I've tried the box-to-box system, and while it is very good, and given to much calculation, I've settled on the FtG system because I can do it in my sleep, and it has a CRT for use if you don't want to actually game out a battle.
Some things don't quite transfer over from FtG and DBA-HX and back again. Think of them as something I'll deal with in the future. But for right now, they work quite well.
So what was this playtest?
I found a local gamer who knew the game FtG rather well and was relatively experienced with DBA 2.2 (and the unwritten rules thereof), and emailed him a map I made up with Campaign Cartographer 2 (copyright Profantasy). We dickered back and forth about die rolls and the size of forces. We settled on the long-awaited disagreement between Saxe-Schweinrot and Ober-Bindlestiff. There is some dispute about the exact location of the border, and Saxe-Schweinrot wants a barrier of fortresses. Since few, if any, of the fortresses on the border are fortified to any real extent (they have a curtain wall and covered way, but that's about it), this is an issue.
Both sides mustered the forces allowed by the map. This resulted in 12 brigades of foot and 5 of horse for Saxe-Schweinrot, and 14 brigades of foot and 6 of horse for Ober-Bindlestiff. What followed was "normal" for anyone who has played FtG. We didn't rush out and have a mighty clash of arms. Instead we each sought to snap off some towns and deny others to the enemy. There were a couple of stare-downs where we tensed for a battle, but it didn't happen. In both cases (at least early in the campaign) it was because the forces were too even. Experience with 18th Century miniatures and FtG suggest very strongly that you avoid battle if the numbers are close to even.
Then my opponent sent a flying detachment deep into my territory to snap up a couple of barely defended depots. He was successful, too, causing me to start suffering attrition until I could get back in supply. I ignored that when he made a mistake with his route and I was able to come down on him with most of the main army. In FtG terms I had 15 points, he had 5. We decided not to game this one out. The CRT gave him 40% losses, I had 5%. He lost 2 SP destroyed, and 2 captured. The leader got away with 1 SP, and was demoralized (no fooling!). I lost 1 SP.
With most of my troops snapping off that detachment, my opponent attacked on another front and captured two towns. By now I had my supply back in order, and marched out to fight him and regain the towns. He had 8 SP, I had 11. This one we put on the table. The dice ignored me through the first half of the fight. In the end I lost 20% (roughly) of my force, and he lost 25%. Each lost 2 SP, so there were no prisoners, and nobody was demoralized in FtG terms. But in miniatures terms I broke two of his three commands while he broke only one of mine. One of his fled, one was pinned in position. Mine refused to move. In miniatures terms he lost, but narrowly.
How to resolve this discrepancy (draw vs. loss)? We decided that it was a narrow victory for me. His force fell back grudgingly at the end of the day, not at all convinced that it had lost, and most definitely not demoralized. It had been roughly handled, but ended the day with forces still in hand. Our after-battle conversation centered more on tactics (neither of us were that familiar with DBA-HX) than on rules.
With both sides run down in numbers, we agreed to a truce for the balance of the season (only five more turns anyway). A ceasefire was put in place and we drew a line on the map to show the border. Neither of us is satisfied with it, so a future conflict is almost assured. Both of us have ideas on how the campaign system can be tweaked.
So, with that in mind, go to the DBA Resource Page at http://fanaticus.org This is a great resource, and you can follow the links to the Humberside Extensions, aka http://ermtony.pbwiki.com/DBA+and+HOTT
As for Freddie the Great, check around. There were two versions, one by Avalon Hill (bought out by Hasbro) and one by SPI. They are identical.
I admit that the report doesn't give much detail of the campaign. That might come later as we iron out the kinks (and create more elaborate maps).
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
New Ennoblement
His Excellency the Elector announces the newest member of the nobility in Ober Bindlestiff. Please, one and all, welcome the von Tap family. The eldest member of the von Tap family was raised to the nobility for a singular accomplishment without peer in this modern realm.
Ritter Horace von Tap invented a means for dispensing beer from a barrel to a mug. In his honor it will be called a 'beer tap'.
Among the singular appurtenances of nobility, Ritter von Tap will be graciously allowed to raise a company of troops for the Army. It is hoped that it will be a cavalry troop because he is a Ritter. Further details will be announced as they come forth.
Ritter Horace von Tap invented a means for dispensing beer from a barrel to a mug. In his honor it will be called a 'beer tap'.
Among the singular appurtenances of nobility, Ritter von Tap will be graciously allowed to raise a company of troops for the Army. It is hoped that it will be a cavalry troop because he is a Ritter. Further details will be announced as they come forth.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
New Regiment
A new regiment has joined the Army. It is the Dublin Boozeleers, under command of General Guinness as Colonel-Proprietor. Red coat, dark brown cuffs, white trim on the hat, silver buttons. The flag is a Guinness label imposed on a field of dark brown.
Origins - I was browsing through www.mudcat.org one day, looking for some specific lyrics, and came across a song entitled General Guinness. I immediately had to raise them. I have the figures, the only question I had was if they would serve with Saxe-Schweinrot or Ober-Bindlestiff. After going back and forth, they will serve in the Saxe-Schweinrot army. It'll be a bit before I have the flag done.
There are a lot of things to be found while browsing through folk songs. The people at Mudcat (aka Digital Tradition) have some gems there. That's where I raised McAlpin's Fusiliers (from a song about the navvies who were building the infranstructure in Great Britain).
Origins - I was browsing through www.mudcat.org one day, looking for some specific lyrics, and came across a song entitled General Guinness. I immediately had to raise them. I have the figures, the only question I had was if they would serve with Saxe-Schweinrot or Ober-Bindlestiff. After going back and forth, they will serve in the Saxe-Schweinrot army. It'll be a bit before I have the flag done.
There are a lot of things to be found while browsing through folk songs. The people at Mudcat (aka Digital Tradition) have some gems there. That's where I raised McAlpin's Fusiliers (from a song about the navvies who were building the infranstructure in Great Britain).
Monday, February 4, 2008
Rumors, More Rumors, and Even More Rumors
Rumor #1
Word has come to the palace that a border clash occurred between Ober-Bindlestiff and the Electorate of Tinkelwasser. The army fought bravely. Kudos for all sorts of people.
Er, Ober-Bindlestiff doesn't share a common border with Tinkelwasser. Rurislavia is in the way. We asked famed international traveler Prince Tedron of Methylonia about what had happened as it seemed he had some knowledge. He muttered something about 'map reading errors' and was last seen at the art gallery frowning theatrically at various works on display.
It appears that eight regiments of foot and three brigades of horse may have crossed the border into Tinkelwasser, and there encountered a similar force. A battle quickly blew up in everyone's face, and inertia on the part of one commander caused the battle to be either a defeat or a hard-fought draw. Casualties were heavy on both sides.
Who is the Electorate of Tinkelwasser? It's a Prince-Bishopric that is famed for beer. Little else is known reliably at this time.
(We fought a battle using Volley & Bayonet, I turned the enemy's right flank by seizing a village they were holding, but had no reserves to exploit the situation. The enemy counterattacked on the other flank and pushed it back, but couldn't turn that into a rupture. Both sides went exhausted shortly after that.)
Rumor #2
A distant land (the Rebbeinate?) has announced that its women do not wear shoes as they are considered decadent. Far be it for us to dictate fashion to other countries (though millners worry that the taboret worn by the ladies of Baritara and Arles are low enough that those ladies might suffer from chest colds). A subscription is being raised to pay for a ship to travel to the Rebbeinate to see if this rumor is true. It is filling up fast.
Rumor #3
At the Annual Charity Ball the Electoress and the First Mistress appeared in "native costume" that is said to be worn in the Bindlestiff Virgin Islands. The dresses were shockingly short (rumor has it that you could actually see their ankles and calves -- and such pretty calves they were!), and daringly deep, even for modern fashions. Why one observer suspects that the First Mistress may have left her corset behind to flaunt her natural curves! What is this modern age coming to?
Rumor #4
The Elector spent this season Coursing with the Hounds. The Hounds family "grows them well, if you know what I mean". He is rumored to be returning to the capitol.
Rumor #5
The more pedantic may have noticed that certain unnamed conventions are no longer being followed in these notes, specifically the location of commas/periods and quotation marks. The Elector has decreed that we are to immediately disregard this particular odious practice as the comma/period are not being singled out for emphasis.
Rumor #6
Upon the return of the Elector, the entire city will be geared up for the Winter Ball. This will undoubtedly result in the traditional Autumn Confinement nine months from now, and so plans are being laid. Tickets are available through Ticketmeister, or by directly contacting Ticketmeister's owner, Paul-Allen v. Bajillions-of-Bucks.
Word has come to the palace that a border clash occurred between Ober-Bindlestiff and the Electorate of Tinkelwasser. The army fought bravely. Kudos for all sorts of people.
Er, Ober-Bindlestiff doesn't share a common border with Tinkelwasser. Rurislavia is in the way. We asked famed international traveler Prince Tedron of Methylonia about what had happened as it seemed he had some knowledge. He muttered something about 'map reading errors' and was last seen at the art gallery frowning theatrically at various works on display.
It appears that eight regiments of foot and three brigades of horse may have crossed the border into Tinkelwasser, and there encountered a similar force. A battle quickly blew up in everyone's face, and inertia on the part of one commander caused the battle to be either a defeat or a hard-fought draw. Casualties were heavy on both sides.
Who is the Electorate of Tinkelwasser? It's a Prince-Bishopric that is famed for beer. Little else is known reliably at this time.
(We fought a battle using Volley & Bayonet, I turned the enemy's right flank by seizing a village they were holding, but had no reserves to exploit the situation. The enemy counterattacked on the other flank and pushed it back, but couldn't turn that into a rupture. Both sides went exhausted shortly after that.)
Rumor #2
A distant land (the Rebbeinate?) has announced that its women do not wear shoes as they are considered decadent. Far be it for us to dictate fashion to other countries (though millners worry that the taboret worn by the ladies of Baritara and Arles are low enough that those ladies might suffer from chest colds). A subscription is being raised to pay for a ship to travel to the Rebbeinate to see if this rumor is true. It is filling up fast.
Rumor #3
At the Annual Charity Ball the Electoress and the First Mistress appeared in "native costume" that is said to be worn in the Bindlestiff Virgin Islands. The dresses were shockingly short (rumor has it that you could actually see their ankles and calves -- and such pretty calves they were!), and daringly deep, even for modern fashions. Why one observer suspects that the First Mistress may have left her corset behind to flaunt her natural curves! What is this modern age coming to?
Rumor #4
The Elector spent this season Coursing with the Hounds. The Hounds family "grows them well, if you know what I mean". He is rumored to be returning to the capitol.
Rumor #5
The more pedantic may have noticed that certain unnamed conventions are no longer being followed in these notes, specifically the location of commas/periods and quotation marks. The Elector has decreed that we are to immediately disregard this particular odious practice as the comma/period are not being singled out for emphasis.
Rumor #6
Upon the return of the Elector, the entire city will be geared up for the Winter Ball. This will undoubtedly result in the traditional Autumn Confinement nine months from now, and so plans are being laid. Tickets are available through Ticketmeister, or by directly contacting Ticketmeister's owner, Paul-Allen v. Bajillions-of-Bucks.
Monday, November 19, 2007
So-called Light Troops
There has been considerable buzz in the cafes about "light" troops. According to rumor, these are either troops made out of light, perhaps the mysterious "eighth ray", or some such. Others think they are soldiers who weigh less than other soldiers, and thus cost less to feed or clothe. Finally, though, word has come from the Elector's Palace describing these "light" troops.
Light troops are soldiers who are used for outposting, scouting, and raiding, much like our dragoon squadrons are today. However the term appears to come from the weight of the horses they ride (less than those in the regiments of horse), and for their habit of having "light" fingers, and snatching up everything that isn't nailed down (Count Furioso has noted that most light troops have clawed hammers for those things that are nailed down).
The Elector appointed a panel of experts to study the subject, and they concluded that there might be a use for such "light" troops, but only if they refrain from looting. The Colonel-General of Dragoons has also studied such troops independently, and concluded that their use would be similar to the already well-equipped and well-trained dragoon regiments. Why, he asked, should we duplicate something that already exists?
This valid point was not lost on the Elector. Apparently he modeled the uniform, and found it less utilitarian than gaudy. It consists of tight breeches--the ladies would like that--a tight dolman or tunic with braiding across the chest, a half-jacket that hangs from the shoulder but is insufficient in size for the trooper to close it, and a hat that looks like an inverted flower pot.
The soliders who viewed this were not impressed (and neither were the generals). It reminded some of Zirconi the circus rider, only twice as gaudy.
After much deliberation the decision was made to raise another brigade of dragoons instead.
Light troops are soldiers who are used for outposting, scouting, and raiding, much like our dragoon squadrons are today. However the term appears to come from the weight of the horses they ride (less than those in the regiments of horse), and for their habit of having "light" fingers, and snatching up everything that isn't nailed down (Count Furioso has noted that most light troops have clawed hammers for those things that are nailed down).
The Elector appointed a panel of experts to study the subject, and they concluded that there might be a use for such "light" troops, but only if they refrain from looting. The Colonel-General of Dragoons has also studied such troops independently, and concluded that their use would be similar to the already well-equipped and well-trained dragoon regiments. Why, he asked, should we duplicate something that already exists?
This valid point was not lost on the Elector. Apparently he modeled the uniform, and found it less utilitarian than gaudy. It consists of tight breeches--the ladies would like that--a tight dolman or tunic with braiding across the chest, a half-jacket that hangs from the shoulder but is insufficient in size for the trooper to close it, and a hat that looks like an inverted flower pot.
The soliders who viewed this were not impressed (and neither were the generals). It reminded some of Zirconi the circus rider, only twice as gaudy.
After much deliberation the decision was made to raise another brigade of dragoons instead.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
St. Mary's
...and of course no visit to Ober-Bindlestiff would be complete without a visit to St. Mary's.
St. Mary's is an old and venerable institution in Ober-Bindlestiff, predating the actual formation of the country. Where monasteries devote themselves to beer, St. Mary's is involved in other things that bring pleasure, all of them quite open and aboveboard, and not involving anything even suggestive of carnal sins or carnal pleasures.
Spokesperson for St. Mary's, Sister Mary Margarita, put it best when she said, "There are a lot of things you a visitor to our halls do, our chapter has devoted itself to one of the more harmless ones."
Echoing her are other sisters of the Order. "Even the most impoverished nobleman, or even those of modest upbringing and means, can stop in our sacred lounge and have a few," Sister Mary GinFizz said. "We provide a restful atmosphere from the cares of the world," Sister Mary Vodka Martini said. "We've decorated with everything a discerning patron could want."
Unlike some other establishments, St. Mary's caters to both genders. At first they kept separate rooms, the women on one side, the men on the other. But in the last few years, with a bow to modern principles, they have allowed the genders to mix. Sister Mary Whiskey Rocks put it best when she said, "It's the natural order of things, and provided they behave themselves, who are we to criticize?"
The Order of St. Mary's of the Lounge was founded in the late 1500s, but really did not flourish until the 1680s. In 1681 the Mother Superior of the Order, Mother Mary Scotch and Soda, discerned a need to end the public drunkeness so rampant in the city. Her Order had produced mixed drinks for over a century, but she helped set up a lounge, complete with ferns and a harpsichord player in the corner. Aware of the needs of a modern gentleman in that bygone era, she even provided a dueling ground to handle any untoward disturbances.
This dueling ground is still in operation, but things have changed with the times. No longer do participants duel to the death. Instead honor is deemed satisfied with first blood. And Sister Mary Menopause, who is noted for her ill-temper, enforces the rules.
Those seeking more carnal pleasures are directed down the street to the Convent of Our Lady of the Night St. Jezebel, which is under the control of Mother Superior Lilly Marlene. Others, who find they cannot navigate the streets of the town due to having imbibed a large amount of spirits, are escorted across the street to the Monastery of St. Ignacius of the Flophouse, where they can be put up for the night.
Let it not be said that St. Mary's shies away from those who wish to merely make a purchase and leave. Many orders are fulfilled to speed people on their way into the evening. The Order has many arrangements with the Yellow Cartage Company to see people home. Truly, what other Order is so thoughtful.
So the next time you are in town, be sure to stop in at St. Mary's. It will truly be a night you may even remember the next morning!
St. Mary's is an old and venerable institution in Ober-Bindlestiff, predating the actual formation of the country. Where monasteries devote themselves to beer, St. Mary's is involved in other things that bring pleasure, all of them quite open and aboveboard, and not involving anything even suggestive of carnal sins or carnal pleasures.
Spokesperson for St. Mary's, Sister Mary Margarita, put it best when she said, "There are a lot of things you a visitor to our halls do, our chapter has devoted itself to one of the more harmless ones."
Echoing her are other sisters of the Order. "Even the most impoverished nobleman, or even those of modest upbringing and means, can stop in our sacred lounge and have a few," Sister Mary GinFizz said. "We provide a restful atmosphere from the cares of the world," Sister Mary Vodka Martini said. "We've decorated with everything a discerning patron could want."
Unlike some other establishments, St. Mary's caters to both genders. At first they kept separate rooms, the women on one side, the men on the other. But in the last few years, with a bow to modern principles, they have allowed the genders to mix. Sister Mary Whiskey Rocks put it best when she said, "It's the natural order of things, and provided they behave themselves, who are we to criticize?"
The Order of St. Mary's of the Lounge was founded in the late 1500s, but really did not flourish until the 1680s. In 1681 the Mother Superior of the Order, Mother Mary Scotch and Soda, discerned a need to end the public drunkeness so rampant in the city. Her Order had produced mixed drinks for over a century, but she helped set up a lounge, complete with ferns and a harpsichord player in the corner. Aware of the needs of a modern gentleman in that bygone era, she even provided a dueling ground to handle any untoward disturbances.
This dueling ground is still in operation, but things have changed with the times. No longer do participants duel to the death. Instead honor is deemed satisfied with first blood. And Sister Mary Menopause, who is noted for her ill-temper, enforces the rules.
Those seeking more carnal pleasures are directed down the street to the Convent of Our Lady of the Night St. Jezebel, which is under the control of Mother Superior Lilly Marlene. Others, who find they cannot navigate the streets of the town due to having imbibed a large amount of spirits, are escorted across the street to the Monastery of St. Ignacius of the Flophouse, where they can be put up for the night.
Let it not be said that St. Mary's shies away from those who wish to merely make a purchase and leave. Many orders are fulfilled to speed people on their way into the evening. The Order has many arrangements with the Yellow Cartage Company to see people home. Truly, what other Order is so thoughtful.
So the next time you are in town, be sure to stop in at St. Mary's. It will truly be a night you may even remember the next morning!
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Flags!!!!
Today, after some work (and a lot of searching), I present the national colors of Saxe-Schweinrot.
The field is green, and because a certain culinary style is so popular in the country, the mottos on the flags were obvious.
Saxe-Schweinrot was settled by people from the Franco-Spanish border region (displaced by Louis XIV during the numerous court cases that proved all of these lands devolved to him (thus the War of the Devolution). This explains the motto on one side in Spanish, and the motto on the other in French.
Enjoy
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