Doubles Games and Tourney's

[DanH]

I'm rather new to FOG ( less than 20 games) and I was wondering if anyone could give some guidance on how to play a doubles game. I would be interested in rules and game structure guidance and advice. Also, how would one conduct a doubles tourney.....
Thanks in advance for any and all comments....
DH

[kevinj]

The game itself is played just like a normal (singles) game, but with 2 players a side. Typically Doubles games will use more points (900 is usual in the UK vs 800 for Singles).

Most UK tournaments don't place any hard and fast restrictions on division of the army (for DBM it was normal for each player to control as even a number of commands as possible), generally players will look after the BGs on their side of the table. You do need to make sure both players have completed each phase before moving onto the next, but other than that each pair will have their own way of playing. A team with 2 experienced players may just discuss their plan at the beginning and then play pretty much independently for the whole game, others will discuss more during the game. If one player is significantly more experienced they are likely to take a leading role, some people use Doubles games as an opportunity to learn the game in a more competitive environment. Generally this is tolerated as long as the discussion/explanation isn't slowing the game down excessively.

As for organising a tournament, it's much like any other, except you don't need as many tables as you would for singles! The format was very popular in the UK, but has become less so in the last couple of years, possibly because people have now become more familiar with the game but don't have the time/money to attend 2 types of competition. There are still a number of events here though, but I've no idea how it is in other countries.

[grahambriggs]

In terms of the rules themselves, there's really no change. i.e. all the sequence of play and mechanisms are exactly the same. It's just that where the rules specify that a 'player' does something, it's actually the pair of players. So, for example, if you have 13 BGs to shoot with, the players will share the task of roling the dice. You don't get to shoot a unit twice or anything like that.

The way it usually works is that if I'm playing with Steve, we'll divide up the army between us. e.g. I might take the attack wing in one battle, while Steve takes the centre and a refused delaying wing and then we might swap around the next game. It's a good idea to have each player with one part of the army otherwise it's easy to get confused.

Working out the plan for the battle can be collaborative, or one player can be delegated to do that (of course, they'll need to communicate it to their partner....). A good doubles pairing tends to coordinate well and with two sets of hands can do things much more quickly. Unfortunately, some pairings, particularly new ones, feel the need to discuss every move of every BG at length and this of course slows the game to a crawl.

Doubles play with a more experienced partner can be a good way for the inexperienced player to get the hang of things - as there's someone who can tell you how to achieve what you want to do.

[DanH]

Kevin, Graham,

Thank you so very much for the information. It really clears up, for me, the idea of a doubles game and tourney. I see now that you have a regular game (points selected as app. say 900) and two palyers that mutually decide how to break up the command of the army list and then work together as a team to play it out. I was concerned that there were rules governing how you divide the army responsibility. I was really unclear about the army division but now understand it can go however the players decide. It could even be that one player controls the main army and the other any allied force.(Correct?) Just however the team decides to break it up....... Thanks so much........

Here in South Mississippi, USA we do not play doubles. But, I think I will try to start some of these double games. Seems like a good way for 4 people to work through the new rules variations of V2. Given a month or so, I will try to coordinate a doubles tourney for some fun....

Again thank you both for all the help and information ........

Wish you and yours all the best, Thanks again

DanH

[grahambriggs]

Yep Dan you could have one player take the main army and one an ally.

The other thing to bear in mind is it's often a good idea if there are inexperienced players to give them the more straightforward parts of the army - e.g. move the infantry centre into contact, or attack the enemy wing with the best cavalry. That way they get to learn the basic mechanisms of the rules without having to cope with the more tricky bits (like hang on for as long as possible with an inferior force).

[DanH]

Graham,
Thanks again for all the help and suggestions. Looking forward to running with this. From time to time I'll let you know how it is going. Hope this day is all it can be for you. Best .....
Tx again
Dan

[hazelbark]

The only reasonably consistent doubles "event" in the US is Cold Wars in PA.

They are great social games and you can do larger event and have fun.