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Rules => Battles in The Age of War => Topic started by: Dave8365 on June 07, 2021, 02:20:24 AM

Title: BAW using a grid...
Post by: Dave8365 on June 07, 2021, 02:20:24 AM
Is there a conversion for playing BAW on a grid?  Based on the deployment system it seems pretty easy to adapt these rules to a grid format.  But I'd be curious if there was an "official" version.

Cheers,
Dave
Title: Re: BAW using a grid...
Post by: Sean Clark on June 07, 2021, 08:07:43 AM
Not that I am aware of... But sinilar to Bloody Barons, this might be possible.
Title: Re: BAW using a grid...
Post by: martin goddard on June 07, 2021, 10:29:00 AM
When "gridding" a game there are about 5 important things to consider and the it gets quite easy.

1. Stacking limit per square. Usually 3. Too many units and it creates a  "sledge hammer". Too few and combined arms goes out of the window.
2. Diagonals allowed or not? These days I say no but give a special rule for all proximity squares being short range.
3. Influence of other squares in terms of fighting and morale support. This is very important.
4.How to spread hits in a square. Should the winning criteria be hits (Longships and bigger foot formations) or kills (PBI)
5. Deploying armies close enough to discourage mass migrations upon seeing situations change.


martin
Title: Re: BAW using a grid...
Post by: Dave8365 on June 08, 2021, 03:11:55 AM
Thank you for the reply Martin (and Sean).

Taking your comments and having a look at Regiment of Foote, I wonder whether those rules might be utilized for BAW.  The one thing that is very different, of course, is the size of the units, and the square occupancy rules.  The number of stands per unit in BAW is substantially larger than RoF, which makes me wonder whether it is appropriate to impose a limit of one unit per box.  That addresses items 1 and 4 on your list.  Now, since my game mat is a 12x8 grid, that will give a bit more room.  But since each unit needs its own box, that should compensate appropriately.

As for 5, proximity, I think just outside long range (which i will assume is 2 boxes for now) is appropriate.  And I would use the same left/center/right zone deployment rules in BAW, so that should place the armies in critical distance of each other.

I'll dig deeper into RoF to consider items 2 and 3.  Though, as the author, I would appreciate your thoughts.

Cheers!
Dave
Title: Re: BAW using a grid...
Post by: Sean Clark on June 08, 2021, 09:26:56 AM
Dave,

The original Regiment of Foote (on which BAW was based...) had similar unit sizes to BAW. Thet were cut down to 3 bases for the gridded version and work well, dieing by the half base.

For a gridded BAW you could do the same, perhaps using units of 4 bases like Bloody Barons, with 1 command stand and then a mix of fighting and shooting bases, perhaps signifying Armoured Ashigaru and Levy dependant on what mix you went for. Samurai units are easily distinguishable and from memory have no shooting bases anyway.

A unit 4 bases wide, or in a 2x2 formation would fit very nicely along with 2 others in a square.
Title: Re: BAW using a grid...
Post by: Dave8365 on June 08, 2021, 05:47:13 PM
Interesting.  I wonder if, instead of trying to adapt BAW using RoF movement mechanisms, RoF should be adapted to the combat system/troop types for BAW troops.

Maybe BAW 2.0 is in order....?
Title: Re: BAW using a grid...
Post by: martin goddard on June 08, 2021, 05:54:27 PM
Grids do tend to send players into two camps.
Grids will become the default in ten years time (I reckon?).

I predict that Games workshop will make a battle game with a squared grid.
Then all the non grid players/moaners will say "I always liked grids anyway".


martin :)
Title: Re: BAW using a grid...
Post by: Smoking gun on June 08, 2021, 08:41:38 PM
Quote from: martin goddard on June 08, 2021, 05:54:27 PM
I predict that Games workshop will make a battle game with a squared grid.
Then all the non grid players/moaners will say "I always liked grids anyway".

martin :)
Martin, they already have Space Hulk and Dark Future. ;)

Grids are great. 8)

Best wishes,
Martin Buck
Title: Re: BAW using a grid...
Post by: martin goddard on June 08, 2021, 09:49:03 PM
You are right.
I am thinking of battle games.


martin :)
Title: Re: BAW using a grid...
Post by: Dave8365 on June 09, 2021, 12:58:44 AM
Quote from: martin goddard on June 08, 2021, 05:54:27 PM
Grids do tend to send players into two camps.
Grids will become the default in ten years time (I reckon?).

I predict that Games workshop will make a battle game with a squared grid.
Then all the non grid players/moaners will say "I always liked grids anyway".


martin :)

So I suppose asking you to lift the rowing oar and produce a BAW 2.0 in exchange for people giving you money to buy them is off the table?   ;-)
Title: Re: BAW using a grid...
Post by: martin goddard on June 09, 2021, 08:13:12 AM
Hello Dave
Obviously I can never say never. :)
With the time available I am not sure I will ever get there.
My job list (Obviously self imposed) is truly massive.
I am so far behind on promised projects (Vietnam, HI, BB, WW2, WW1, ECW, FM etc)  that it would be admired by government bureaucrats.


martin :)
Title: Re: BAW using a grid...
Post by: Sean Clark on June 09, 2021, 08:18:55 AM
However, there is nothing wrong with you developing a 'fan edit', not for commercial gain obviously  ;D In a similar vein we have Walter Schnapps, a Square Bashing variant for Franco Prussian War.

Maybe an interesting article for the Mill!
Title: Re: BAW using a grid...
Post by: martin goddard on June 09, 2021, 09:43:37 AM
I agree with Sean. Good idea for a  MILL article Dave.


martin :)