D3 or not D3?

That is the question.

Peter, at Grid Based Wargaming asked if I was interested in participating in a remote game using his 40mm paper models and his D3 rules in a game.  Without hesitation, I jumped at the chance to see Peter's figures and rules in action.

While I have followed along in Peter's steady stream of battle reports from a variety of periods, I never really read the rules closely.  That is until he offered up a game.  Peter's D3 rules strike out from a starting point of Neil Thomas' One Hour Wargames rules and expand from there.  Hits to eliminate a unit are reduced from fifteen to nine and rather than a D6 for hits, a D3 is utilized.  Each rolled pip is a hit on the opponent.  As Peter explained, one hit represents light casualties, two hits moderate casualties, and three hits heavy casualties.  

Who uses a D3?  Not me!  In fact, I had to use ersatz D6s for our game last week.  Some other modifications include attacker repulsed if a defender is not destroyed in a charge, an activation roll, and officer rally.  All cleverly incorporated into a base game.

How did my first game pan out?  Well, I took command of the attacking Jacobites while Peter commanded the Government forces.  I provided a battle order for the Jacobite Army to be used to set out the forces when the game began.  Did I mention this was Peter's first hosting of a remote game?  Should be fun.

A brief recap of the action follows.

Government in the foreground.
Jacobites in the background.

The rebels march forward as the gun opens fire.

Rebel cavalry swings around the left flank as musketry
 attempts to soften up the Government defenders.

Government forces await the assault.

After an exchange of fire all along the line,
 the Rebel cavalry charges in after seeing
Government infantry waver.

One Government infantry regiment is destroyed in the melee.
The Rebel cavalry pursues into the Government gun.
The gun is overrun!

Rebel horse is repulsed while Irish infantry
 move up from the second line onto the left flank.

Highlanders charge into the center of the Government line

but are both repulsed after causing
heavy casualties to the defenders.

Having been repulsed, Highlanders regroup
and charge back in.
This time the defenders melt away.

The Rebel left takes fire from enemy skirmishers
 but keep up with the advance.

On the Rebel right, the enemy counterattacks in an attempt
to destroy the Highlanders before they can charge in again. 

With the Highlanders battered but not broken,
 the enemy is forced to retire.

Clearing the enemy left, Highlanders move to turn a flank.
  To cover this maneuver, Highlanders charge back into the fray.

Hit from fore and flank,
another Government unit is destroyed.

Pursuit carries the victorious Highlanders into a wavering unit. 
The enemy buckles and flees.  The battle is over.

With the Government army down to only two units remaining, it is forced to concede the field.  Victory for the Rebels!

That was good fun and moved along at a rapid pace.

The amendments Peter has introduced provide a more satisfying game than the Original OHW and offers many more interesting decision points.  I can see tactics beginning to develop.  Peter's D3 rules simply work to produce an easy to learn and fast game.

Flush with success, I quickly took up Peter's offer for a second game next week.  D3 rules will still be in play but the wargaming period may change.  I placed an order for a handful of D3 dice for use in the next game.  Dice have arrived and I am ready for a rematch.  More on the rules after I get another game or two notched into my belt.

The answer to my original question?

D3!