[Highlander]

We have found that it is important to determine — and announce — and reach agreement upon — which army lists you will be using. The MRB or an army book. Before a game begins.

It is disconcerting to discover, mid-game, you are using the MRB and learn that your opponent is operating, in effect, with a different definition of what a unit and its capabilities might be. It is reasonable to understand that a player might not have all of the army books … and, by default, is using the MRB. Courtesy would indicate that the MRB provides the default list.

We have had to deal with a player who routinely found various advantages in the army books which he sprang upon unknowing opponents who were using the MRB. Which led to heated arguments and long term anger and eventually, to the departure of said player.

But it is fun to apply an army book to a scenario. It livens up planning for the game an introduces new wrinkles in the actual play.

[Highlander]

What he said. Firing and assaulting use different rules.

[Highlander]

Anything is possible.

I actually got to read the first 2-3 chapters of the rule book last night … and I skimmed through the next 1-2. Things are becoming clearer.

I now understand the concept that it is the unit, as an abstract entity, that matters …. not the number or type of models in the unit. That realization has clarified much of what puzzled me when I was playing the demo game. Thus, with points, a 8×1 unit, with 8 models, has the same number of points, in game terms, as a 8×3 unit, with 24 models. Makes things much simpler and much more playable.

Thanks for all the help, guys. Good gaming to you all!

[Highlander]

The earlier the Romans the better. And Carthaginians and Britons appeal.

[Highlander]

Thanks for all the responses. Yesterday, another player also informed me that there is points information in the campaign books.

The group that I play with has time limitations and keeping points toward the “three-hour, playable” end rather than the “I’m gonna put every individual figure I own and that I can borrow on the table” serves our needs better.

I’ll keep that 300-600 points rule of thumb in mind.

[Highlander]

In subsequent web searches, I’ve discovered that Army Builder assigns points to HC armies. And I’ve seen points attributed to the various books other than the basic rules (but I don’t have any of them yet).

Understand the gentlemen thing, at least abstractly, but points are a method to rein in those other than gentlemen … those that make every game a life or death competition. And, in general, a way to balance the two sides so that the results are not foreordained and so that each player’s decisions have import.

But, agreed that points balance does not necessarily lead to armies of equal strength. Terrain, for example, can give one balanced army an advantage over the other balanced army.

Still need an index. At least, I do.

[Highlander]

Thank goodness for this topic.

Other than the two examples cited above, are there any overall rules for points for field fortifications? I ask because I have experienced a BA scenario designer who seems to be making up his own rules for fortifications and, as far as I can tell, is adding them for free … they cost no points.

Which means that attacking his fortified lines is more like going over the top in WWI than a WWII battle. It is discouraging.

[Highlander]

We just finished a dust up in our gaming group over this very thing … using an army from a campaign book in a game where the opponent was using the standard army list from the rule book. It wasn’t the first time.

The result is now that Campaign armies can only be used when pre-announced and agreed upon. We also now have a house rule where each army must be accompanied by an EasyArmy printout.

BTW, the player who caused the issue found a rule in a Campaign book that cross referenced units from another Campaign book that resulted in double, better artillery. The argument was, “Well, its in the book.” So we clarified.

• This reply was modified 5 years, 1 month ago by Highlander.

[Highlander]

Go to Easyarmy.com and many of your questions will be answered.

[Highlander]

Looks like this is in house rule territory. Wouldn’t work in tournament situations.

[Highlander]

Yup. The campaign and army books give a whole new flavor to BA. And make it much more interesting, IMO>

[Highlander]

What Nat said.

You’ve stated a preference for US vs German. I’d go with the Bolt Action 2 Starter Set – “Band of Brothers”. Among other things, and very importantly, it will let you decide how much you like painting minis.

But, before that, what Nat said.

[Highlander]

Did not see this answered, so:

The Chaplain’s special ability:
Inspiring presence: Upon receiving his order dice (except for Down), a chaplain may select one friendly unit within 6″ and roll a D6, applying the following modifiers: Inexperienced -1, Veteran +1. On a 4+, the chaplain may remove 1 pin from the selected unit.

Does the inexperienced/veteran for the modifiers refer to the Chaplain or the selected unit?

BA is consistent. The chaplain is, in essence, rolling to hit. Thus, it is “quality” of the chaplain that counts. An inexperienced chaplain, who costs less, has a lesser chance of “hitting”. A veteran chaplain, who costs more, has a greater chance.

[Highlander]

Nice work.

[Highlander]

BA, IMHO, is interesting because it constantly requires trade offs based upon imperfect information.

In the case of unit formations, one must often trade off formation versus firing power. That is, I can create an infantry unit formation that reduces my exposure to being sighted by one enemy unit, but which also reduces my firing power against another enemy unit. And without pre-measuring.

It is not usual that two ranks of models in a firing infantry unit will require a -1 modifier for the second rank … because it is not usual that the firing unit will straddle the half distance line. It is more common that, when a firing infantry unit is in, effectively, five or six ranks, that the penalty will be paid.

This stretching of units occurs when, if playing by the rules, each model in a unit is limited to the movement rule. That is, one cannot move the leading model and then just reform all of the unit’s models on the leading model. Each of the individual models is limited to the maximum move distance.

Trade offs.

[Author]

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