Table Size

MarkSieber · Post by **MarkSieber** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 6:02 am

We have been playing 15mm at 650 points on a 4'x3', occasionally on a 5'x3' table. This helps get the armies into action quickly, and our time is now 3 to 4 hours per game, mostly closer to 3 hours. While I personally enjoy larger tables and more maneuver, it is only after a fair number of games that we are becoming comfortably familiar with the rules, and a large table can add a lot of time. For beginners & timed competition I recommend the 3' depth.

I also agree the reduced number of terrain picks seems like a good idea--thanks Hammy.

At the extreme end: I am working on a scenario for Pydna (168 BC, Macedon vs. Rome.) The battle escalated when troops from the two camps bumped into one another at a stream between the armies which had deployed close together. That play area is only be about 2' deep, but it still plays.

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 2:54 pm

hammy wrote:I will see about adding the 5 by 3 option for 600 point armies to the FAQ but I am not sure if it should be there or not.

As for terrain when running on a 5 by 3 table I reduce the maximum number of picks by 1 so each player gets one compulsary and 2-3 optional ones. You also need to make sure that all the terrain you choose is less than 10" in at least one dimension otherwise if you roll a 5 or 6 for placement it is impossible to get on the table.

Hey Hammy,

I am going to try this in our game on Saturday but find I must ask a question.

When you say reduce the max number of pics by one do you mean from each of the columns? Or overall the maximum total? I ask because if you choose Agricultural you can still choose up to 13 pieces of terrain. Reducing that to 12 doesn't seem to have that much effect.

So for example would Uneven OF for a 5x3 table be 3(1)?

Thanks

Brian

philqw78 · Post by **philqw78** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 3:46 pm

Reduce the maximum player picks by 1. So each gets one compulsory and two to three optional (instead of 2-4). There can never be more than 10 pieces on table as each player can only choose a maximum of 5, 1 compulsory plus 2-4 optional.

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 3:54 pm

philqw78 wrote:Reduce the maximum player picks by 1. So each gets one compulsory and two to three optional (instead of 2-4). There can never be more than 10 pieces on table as each player can only choose a maximum of 5, 1 compulsory plus 2-4 optional.

Thanks for that Phil, Got it now. Looking forward to trying it out Saturday.

Brian

EvilBob · Post by **EvilBob** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 9:47 am

Sorry but I need to resurrect this thread...

My usual opponent has been looking at FoG and has decided that he would like to give it a go but we have only got 28mm armies (well DBA armies that will need a lot of fleshing out) and a table that is about 4'10 x 3'. Is it feasible to play starter armies on a table of this size? From looking at the rules I'm not so sure but I have only played a couple of games when the rulebook first came out so I'm far from being au fait with the rules.

PS we can live with the table being "a bit cramped" if it means getting a reasonable game.

Cheers

Bob

hammy · Post by **hammy** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 9:49 am

EvilBob wrote:Sorry but I need to resurrect this thread...

My usual opponent has been looking at FoG and has decided that he would like to give it a go but we have only got 28mm armies (well DBA armies that will need a lot of fleshing out) and a table that is about 4'10 x 3'. Is it feasible to play starter armies on a table of this size? From looking at the rules I'm not so sure but I have only played a couple of games when the rulebook first came out so I'm far from being au fait with the rules.

600 points of 25mm is going to be tight on a table that size and I wouldn't really want to use a light horse army but I think that you will be able to get away with it.

EvilBob · Post by **EvilBob** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 9:58 am

Blimus, that was quick - you didn't give me time to add my PS

The first two armies to be expanded will probably be EIR and Britons followed by either Thebans and Alex Macs or Repos and Cathaginians (it will take about six months to paint up each pair so this is going to be a medium term plan). Would a LH army need more table depth or width? (4' depth is possible, width would need structural work on the house or some way of levitating above the table).

hammy · Post by **hammy** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:04 am

Depth really impacts the length of the game and width gives more room to maneuver.

Light horse work fine in 15mm at 650 points on a 5 by 3, I am just concerned that in 25mm with the bases being 50% wider that there will be no real way to avoid being shoved off table.

You would almost certainly want first move with light horse in 25mm on a small table. Otherwise when your opponents heavy foot are 16" in after their first move and will be 1" from your baseline in 7 more moves you will be feeling nervous.

The armies you have will IMO work fine on a table that size, there isn't going to be much in the way of wide flanking maneuvers but you wil definitely get a game and have lots of fun.

CLAVDIVS · Post by **CLAVDIVS** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:12 am

Hi All,

I have played 6 to 8 games with 25/28mm figures at 600 points strater armies and 650 points armies on a 6ft by 4ft table and this is the right size of table for 25/28mm figures games.
Games over 650 points should be played on a 8ft by 4ft table or if you can 8ft by 5ft table hope this help you out.

EvilBob · Post by **EvilBob** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:22 am

OK Cheers folk we will get the paint mill rolling. I wasn't even thinking about LH until you mentioned it Hammy and now I want Scythians!

daleivan · Post by **daleivan** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:36 pm

EvilBob wrote:OK Cheers folk we will get the paint mill rolling. I wasn't even thinking about LH until you mentioned it Hammy and now I want Scythians!

Please let us know how your games go on that table size with 25mm figures.

Dale

hammy · Post by **hammy** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:39 pm

daleivan wrote:
EvilBob wrote:OK Cheers folk we will get the paint mill rolling. I wasn't even thinking about LH until you mentioned it Hammy and now I want Scythians!
Please let us know how your games go on that table size with 25mm figures.

Dale

I suspect that there will not be a lot of subtelty. It is a bit like playing 900 points of 15mm on a similar sized table.

That said most of my 900 point 15mm armies are not capable of filling the table on a 6 by 4 so there may be some space.