Winter Tournament - with small armies

[flatsix518]

I'm actually starting to have second thoughts about the small army concept.

One reason I advocated for it is that I thought the games would be quick and short. In fact it's the opposite. The games seem to drag on quite a bit. Especially when one or the other army is a mounted or high mobility army. A lot of maneuver takes place, and some of it is a bit silly. For sure, the 200 pt game requires a substantially different playing style than the larger games. I'm very much concerned about starting a tourney where everyone plays two games against each opponent in their "group" (or the whole tourney if not heavily subscribed) -- and every game goes 16 to 24 turns. They all become very drawn out.

In fact, one of the reasons I returned to FoG play from PanzerCorps -- is because the games are quicker. The typical PanzerCorps game is 20 to 30 turns. Takes a couple of weeks to play. The typical FoG 500pt game goes 10 to 16 turns.

Just thinking out loud. Also, I haven't play-tested a heavy infantry vs heavy infantry 200pt matchup.

John
Flatsix518

[fogman]

for tournament play, the best is to keep the armies similar; pikes, cavalry, spears based, etc. Otherwise you get games where players will win from matchup and or terrain alone, not to mention cases where one army would refuse combat altogether by parking itself in rough terrain, or galloping around. the more things are equal the better.

[solly]

Now I'am playing my second test game against Turk1964: Huns against Sciri - 19 units against 19 units
I think that cavalry armies are favourite in little game for it's mobility, and I don't think that mass armies have much more chance than elite (and very small!) armies.
I remain in my first thought: max 24 units without other limit

Small armies are very funny for me! . . .
Ready for the first tournament.

John, yours is this funny idea and yours the responsability for definitive rules and start the game.

Cheers, Sauro (Solly)

[Turk1964]

I agree with Solly the Cav type armies are the way to go here,but you still need some infantry as well.If time is an issue maybe restrict the game to Max 15 moves could be an option.I like the idea of small 200 point games as there is plenty of room to manouvere and the games are very challanging.

[flatsix518]

All,

I hate to say it, but my enthusiasm for this idea is fading pretty quickly. It's mostly about the number of turns required to play these games.

Maybe I should have understood this...but it really was counter-intuitive for me. I thought games would be quicker and faster to play.

If someone else wants to take this over and organize a tournament, I'm happy to pass the baton.

(sigh) -- I think I'll get back to pickup games to test run armies for Season 10 LoEG...

Thanks to everyone who got interested in this.

Best regards,

John

[bagration1812]

All -

In addition to the issues John mentioned, the 'luck factor' has the potential to me more pronounced in a 200 point game. It is easier to fade run of bad dice with a 500 point army than with a 200 point army. 3-4 bad rolls can cost a sizable chunk of your troops in the smaller format.

Still, I enjoyed the emphasis on maneuver and positioning and I think games of this size could be helpful for sharpening skills in these aspects of the game.

Cheers -

Tom

[solly]

Some bad dice and you loose the game: it's true. But it's true that you must calculate the risk: with few possibility to recovery the unlickily situation.
One for me, one against me: equal . . . Maybe.
But I think that is not important. It's important for me to play a singular tournament with my friends in every side of the world.
If I can, I pick the idea (thanks John!) for organize this little tournament.
Basic rules are:
200 points
max 24 units
more than five square from the camp and the short side of the map
One to one challenge (two challenge) like already says
Italian, or swiss italian metods of playing (it's subjets is the number of players)
Started in 20 december (one day before the end of the world. . . so Maya says!)
Who want to play?

[bagration1812]

I'll give it a whirl. Count me in for some shooty horse-type armies.

Cheers,

Tom

[Turk1964]

Count me in Solly I find these smaller games much more challanging than larger games.You really have to think about every move and then some....

[voskarp]

I'm in!

[Supervark]

I would like to have a go also.

[solly]

Salutations to all my friends.

At this moment interesting players are:
Solly, myself, my really name is Sauro
Flatsix518, the first who have the idea
iversonjm
Turk1964
Supervark
ianiow
Fedem
voskarp
fogman
bagration1812

ten players is a good group, any others are welcome

Ciao! Sauro

p.s. I'm not able to make a table like in season 9, my tecnology is stopping in paper, pen and the forum for the result. . . if anyone want to help . . .

[FedeM]

Hi,

Thanks but I will not participate.

Cheers!

[ianiow]

Take me off the list too Solly.

I agree with Flatsix. It would have been good if the games were short like a DBA game, but playtesting has revealed that the games will be about chasing skirmishers around the map for 24 turns which will be far to frustrating!

Thanks,
Ian

[fogman]

sorry solly, i never intended to play in a 200 pts game. i posted to express an opinion.

[Turk1964]

Gday all. Ive been play testing the 200 pt armies and found them very challanging and think its a great concept.You have to chose an army that is diverse enough to answer any army you face and must include skirmishers and some Cav.If you field a straight infantry army then your looking for trouble as Ian indicates you will be chasing your opponent all over the battle field.Luck can be a big factor but then again its the same in bigger games where you get 3 bad turns in a row and lose all your cohesion rolls and the games pretty much over. In these small games you really have to think out every move and try to outsmart your opponent 2 to 3 moves ahead.Im all for a tournament with small armies and aall new players should give it a whirl as it teaches you to think about your moves and the possible consequences.

[Supervark]

I am still up for it. What period or book?

[tarankiko]

I´m in too.

[solly]

Gday to all my friends (good evening for european).
At this moment interesting players are:
Solly (myself)
Turk1964
Supervark
Voskarp
Bagration1812
Tarankiko
and maybe Iversonjm

From one or two day I will write defitive rules.
It is sure that the armies can't have more than 25 units.
it is sure that every players will have two match againts every others.
It is sure that we play in four periods, like listed in season nine tournament.

If you have some others friends, everyone is welcome!

Ciao to all!!!