First game with published rules (v. brief)
Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 12:43 pm
After taking part in beta testing, and being really keen in dong so, things got in the way and I haven't played since about March '07.
However, last weekend I played my first game with the published rules.
800 points a side, Classical Indian vs Principate Roman.
The Indians maxed out on elephants, and had a fair few cavalry, deployed on opposite wings. The centre was made up of various foot, with a couple of chariots off to the near right. The Romans had a strong centre of legionaries, a few auxiliaries and few skirmishers - slings and horse.
As it was our first game in well over a year, tactics were a very simple race: can the Romans break the centre of the enemy before being swamped on the flanks.
In short, no, but very nearly. The centre collapsed totally and rapidly once the legionaries got into melee, but the flanks were not strong enough to hold off the encirclement. It came down to both sides needing one more VP, and the Indians got it first.
So that's pretty boring, but my reason for posting really is to say how chuffed I am with the published rules. The books look fantastic. They are clear and easy to use, and though this was our fiest game in 18 months, it went quickly and smoothly. A couple of complex combats were easily resolved, and everything we wanted to find in the books was right where it made sense (to us, anyway).
I think we're playing again on Saturday night, and this time I might keep proper notes, and maybe take a couple of pictures.
However, last weekend I played my first game with the published rules.
800 points a side, Classical Indian vs Principate Roman.
The Indians maxed out on elephants, and had a fair few cavalry, deployed on opposite wings. The centre was made up of various foot, with a couple of chariots off to the near right. The Romans had a strong centre of legionaries, a few auxiliaries and few skirmishers - slings and horse.
As it was our first game in well over a year, tactics were a very simple race: can the Romans break the centre of the enemy before being swamped on the flanks.
In short, no, but very nearly. The centre collapsed totally and rapidly once the legionaries got into melee, but the flanks were not strong enough to hold off the encirclement. It came down to both sides needing one more VP, and the Indians got it first.
So that's pretty boring, but my reason for posting really is to say how chuffed I am with the published rules. The books look fantastic. They are clear and easy to use, and though this was our fiest game in 18 months, it went quickly and smoothly. A couple of complex combats were easily resolved, and everything we wanted to find in the books was right where it made sense (to us, anyway).
I think we're playing again on Saturday night, and this time I might keep proper notes, and maybe take a couple of pictures.
