Some people just work out the best options, some dice for initiative and then just do each side in turn, like I do for HofT games, others play one side and program the "enemy" or dice for what each unit of the enemy will do, and I'm sure there are lots of other options.
Here is the situation at the start of turn 3. The defenders, underestimating the speed of the enemy advance have left a gun forward without adequate support. (To be fair to them, I planned to use 2/3rd distances but changed my mind on turn 2).
Up to this point. I had been dicing to see who would go first each turn with each side declaring charges before either moved. But here we see a typical dilemma. The Gun is about 14" from the closest skirmishers of MacDuff's light company. These are close enough to be able to move 8 infantry to within close range of the gun and declare that they are firing, thus silencing the gun, or they could charge the gun. Behind the skirmishers is a squadron of Hussars which is close enough to charge through the light infantry into the gun. Neither enemy is close enough to pin the gun so it could choose to withdraw but a bold player might leave it in place and move up supports. To complicate things, if the Hussars charge but the gun retreats they will be at risk of being shot up either by infantry in front of them or from the light infantry that ambushed them from the wood last turn.
I was originally planning to dice for initiative and make alternate moves but it just lacked something. When I play Charge! against Lentulus. he seems much better at predicting what I will do than vice versa and with fairly open terrain and a force 1/2 the size of the attacker, this scenario seems slanted against the defence, so, I decided to make the attacker declare his intentions first, then I will decide on the best and 2nd best option for the defender, weight them and roll to choose. In this case the Hussars moved to the other flank, the light infantry came forward to silences the gun but it manhandled back 6" with an even chance to fire while the defending infantry moved forward and fired.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. The next post will cover the set up, forces and opening moves.
Great post, Ross - looking forward to the next one ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks, its coming.
DeleteI find the mechanism of dealing a playing card to each unit and then activating each unit in the order indicated by the cards works very well for solo play.
ReplyDeleteMike, a very valid mechanism, just not the same feel as simultaneous written moves.
DeleteYou could try the 'Command Decision' system of 'order chits' with shooting held to be automatic if there is a valid target. The order chits would have to be limited in variety, but a few could be added. So: Full Advance, Cautious advance (less distance, but shooting allowed), Route march; change formation/limber/unlimber/mount/dismount; charge; rally... That sort of thing. If the chits look untidy, then perhaps they could be substituted by an appropriate figure or model. Or perhaps this can be where general and command figures can come in useful their placing within the unit or formation determining its stance.
ReplyDeleteThis might be one for the oddfellowslounge... :-)
Yes, but it has the same issue as writing the orders for both sides, no surprise. Deciding for one side and just assuming the other side was smarter actually worked better than I expected. Luckily these are the only simultaneous rules I play and not often at that.
Delete