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| Zorndorf no more |
Having cleared the table and carefully put away the troops, my first thoughts were focused on grid-based gaming. With an empty table, now would be the perfect opportunity to create a gridded mat. Who knows when the gaming table will be barren again?
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| Italian Wars troops deployed for battle on the grid |
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| ECW troops deployed for battle on the grid |
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| ECW BMU spacing looks good. |
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| Italian Wars battle line from behind |
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| Angle view of two pike blocks and supports |
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| Scottish foot arrayed for battle |
Seeing the Italian Wars troops out on the table reminds me that I have a small stack of flags to distribute to the lads. Another task to address.
Interesting, my friend has just got 'To the Strongest' put away for Christmas, so I imagine I will be getting some exposure to this early next year. We both have Hexon and he plans to initially use 6mm armies, so we are hoping the Hexon will work.
ReplyDeleteI think the 200mm is a good shout for your basing, a size that is pretty much set by the 180mm pike anyway, though I think once you are up and running, it will not be long before the Assyrians with their marvellous chariotry might get the table space :-)
Hi Norm. I look forward to your impressions on TtS! From my very limited experience of two playings, the game is dynamic, unpredictable, and enjoyable. We will see how tactics and impressions develop with more trials.
DeleteOnce up and running on the grid, it seems only natural that the Assyrians get trotted out too.
TtS! Is a fine set of rules. You'll have a lot of fun with them, I would imagine :)
ReplyDeleteI hope so!
DeleteIt was a great game, deserved a rest!
ReplyDeleteYou are right. Zorndorf deserves a rest.
DeleteI will be interested to hear your thoughts on TtS.
ReplyDeleteChristopher
I won't be shy!
DeleteI started working my way through TtS but have got pulled into DBMM V2.1 by the group I game with. I am still hopeful we'll get to the former once we have a few games of the DBMM under our belts, but in the meantime I'll have to live vicariously through your comments.
ReplyDeleteWith luck, you will be able to return to TtS! after your DBMM games conclude. TtS! looks to have much to offer including very fast resolution.
DeleteOf course, expect commentary as I travel this journey.
Just thinking about the Zorndorf game which I found thoroughly engaging, and those lucky enough like yourself who can leave a table in situ for a while, I wonder whether it would be possible to play a full game by blog with reader participation.
ReplyDeleteIt's given me an idea, if I can ever wrest back the downstairs home cinema room from our nineteen year-old (who, to be fair, is actually using it as a home cinema room).
Glad you enjoyed the Zorndorf replays, Peter! Five months on the gaming table is a long time to have a battle in situ but it was fun for me too.
DeleteI did something similar to what you propose when I moderated a two-player Battle of Raab. See "Battle of Raab" in the blog header.
The two commanders issued orders to their troops which I would carry out on the gaming table. Updates would be fed to the commanders and they would write new orders in response. It worked well and was good fun for me. I think the players enjoyed it too. Take a look if you are interested and see if this is similar to what you have in mind.
Can't blame your 19 year old for using a room for its intended purpose!
They all look fab.
ReplyDeleteGood!
DeleteDon't know about the rules, but these units are superb!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Phil!
DeleteI love your ECW regiments- they look perfect.
ReplyDeleteI liked TtS!, the couple of games I played. I am thinking of ordering the ECW version in the new year. It would give me an excuse to make a new game mat.
Thank you for the ECW troop compliment!
DeleteI have the pdf version of the ECW rules and they look good. Who needs an excuse for a new game mat?
I have an associate who has had good things to say about TtS: looking forward to seeing more. Farewell to Zorndorf. I always fancied I'd do Russians if I ever got into SYW, so it was pleasing to see them arrayed and battle-reported (as opposed to the usual Austrians v Prussians).
ReplyDeleteEd, glad you enjoyed seeing the Russians out for battle. The Russians are Jake's from https://dartfrog06mm.blogspot.com/. THey have been on line for a long time!
DeleteTtS! will likely see some action on the gaming table so stay tuned.
Be strong!
ReplyDeleteIndeed!
Delete5 months is a long time. But I have learnt a lot and it might have encouraged my SYW project 😀 I have a copy of TTS but it just doesn’t do it for me the grid thing kills the aesthetics. I know the rules were developed very much to allow play for very large games for demonstrations , good to see how you get on. Everyone for there own thing 😀
ReplyDeleteGlad to have a positive , if indirect, influence on a new project, Matt!
DeleteI am still in a quandary of the grid with respect to overlaying hills and woods onto the grid. I understand the aesthetics argument but will see how it works out. On open battlefields, I think it a fine mechanism.
My only regret is not being able to arrange a return myself. I was present for one resounding defeat of my stalwart Russians and was then left to witness their trials and tribulations from afar. As for being on campaign, I am not concerned. As you have the only available opposition available to them, they are in more danger of disuse and neglect in my den. Perhaps we should plan to visit Kunersdorf or Gross Jaegersburg in the Spring?
ReplyDeleteI purchased the TtS! rules last year when I started the Kushite Egyptian project, and have been eager to give it a go.
Yeah, I have the same sense of regret that we could not coordinate our schedules to get you more than one shot at Zorndorf. Kunersdorf or Gross Jaegersburg in the Spring sounds like a good plan.
DeleteSince you have TtS! in hand, let's give the rules a try.
For the record I have them in hand, not necessarily in mind. They appear rather easy to use though.
DeleteYes, the rules seem straightforward. We can see what differences the chariots add into the gaming model. Play is fast too with activation by card and movement by grid. Rarely have I seen a large game play so quickly.
DeleteRIP Zorndorf! Exciting to see both your Italian wars and your ECW troops on the table and yes flags really help! TTS was great fun when I played it and Im hoping to have a go at the ECW version which I have in the shed,are you going full grid or just the corners? I found marking the corners worked fine for defining the grid but you almost didn't notice them otherwise.
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Yes, it was fun to pull a few stands of both ECW and Italian Wars troops out of the boxes for a quick set up.
DeleteFor the grid, I only made a dot at the corners. In the photos, the dots are difficult to identify but can be seen from directly behind. We will see how this goes. Placing terrain is a concern but something that can be overcome.
The units look nicely spaced out with the grid you are using with sufficient space for the odd piece of terrain.
ReplyDeleteGlad you think the stand dispositions look good!
DeleteAll good things come to an end unfortunately but they lead us on to pastures new. Looking forward to your next project Jonathan!
ReplyDeletePutting Zorndorf away gives opportunities for some more variety on the table. Well, unless, I use the entire table for the next game and leave it set up for several months!
DeleteA timely post Jonathan as I too am pondering on how to attack tables and terrain. This will be my main focus for next year.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to seeing what you will be up to in the New Year. Whatever direction you pursue, I am sure it will be spectacular.
DeleteLooks great!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteI really liked the way you examined Zorndorf from different approaches, but yes variety (and this Renaissance period) will be great too! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mark. Glad you found the different looks at Zorndorf interesting.
DeleteOn to the next project and game.
ReplyDeleteI’ve read TtS but haven’t tried a game myself yet. It’s one of the things I’m been meaning to try for my dark ages mass battles. Have fun giving it a go yourself. 😀
Yep. I have a feeling I will return to SYW and Honours of War sooner rather than later. We have a couple of battles featuring the Russians again under consideration.
DeleteIf you give TtS! a try, report back, please.
I opted for a 150 mm grid for my 25/28 mm troops, but almost when bigger. My enthusiasm for TtS! is already well known.
ReplyDeleteWhen placing terrain, it is often best if it not conform too rigidly to the grid; a little larger or smaller will work fine in most circumstances.
Looks like our Biblicals with take to the field on Sunday. We may go with minimal or no terrain in our first game to see how it goes as we work out the kinks. It will be fun to get a new project and a new ruleset out onto the gaming table. It was your enthusiasm that gave me the motivation to pull these rules off the shelf and finally give them a try. While I do have two games of TtS! under my belt, this will be the first time with 25s and my very limited experience. I am sure mistakes will be made but it ought to be fun.
DeleteIncredible armies!! Above all, the Italian crossbowmen look splendid, too bad they're not 1/72... but I could paint some as Warhammer mercenaries :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Phil!
DeleteOne day, I will get these Italian Wars armies into a game. Until then, we must be satisfied with static displays for now.
16th century troops are always looking so flamboyant. Great paint job.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Delete