FM 12 piggy chase

[martin goddard]

In FM the piggy chase runs from 0 to 35.

If cavalry armies can be forced to defend, they will be at a disadvantage.
It was usual for infantry forces to defend when confronted by cavalry.

To this end  there will be a +3 per extra cavalry unit over and above those the opponent has.

e.g  If both players have 2 cavalry units, then the piggy chase still starts at 0
e.g If one player has 3 cavalry units and the other only 1. The player with 3 units will start his piggy chase at 6.

This will make the piggy case more complex. I do realise there were reservations about the complexity of the piggy chase (players found it quite difficult and wanted an easier method).

Maybe try it out by just doing the piggy chase with this modification and see if it makes sense and is understandable?


martin

[Nick]

That makes sense. I agree that forces with more cavalry need to be more likely to be the attackers. Another idea to put out there, each extra cavalry unit allies you to ignore a 6 once during the chase. Don’t know whether that’s better or worse, just a thought.

Nick

[Stewart 46A]

Easy idea to add to the rules.
You will be using your cavalry force then Martin?


Stewart

[Colonel Kilgore]

Sounds like a winning idea to me, Stewart.

It should guarantee that you'll be subjected to Martin's secret tactic of a frontal, all-out and ultimately suicidal charge along the line?

Simon

[martin goddard]

Simon
You have let spill the secret to a major defeat.
Now they will all be doing it.


martin

[Colonel Kilgore]

Sorry Martin,

I keep forgetting not to spill the beans.

I'd have made a rubbish spy...

Simon

[Leslie BT]

Looks like we keep giving away Martin's tactics, the tweak's added to the rules ready for the next playtest and then we spot it before he gets to try it out on Stewart or Rachel.

[Colonel Kilgore]

I'll slip in a few foot-friendly tweaks before I send the current version onto you for further polishing, Les

Simon

[Stewart 46A]

Well had a working game with Martin this afternoon using FM12.
I used average southern rebels with 4 mounted units and surprise surprise Martin
Chose a government force of 4 average foot units.

I had extra men, bombers and horses, Martin had extra men, MMG’s and field guns.

With the new cavalry bonus in the piggy chase I won with martin getting 10 so 3rd level of deductions.
He lost 13 out of 44 bases.

I massesd behind Some low hills on Martin left flank
He put one unit on each objective with 4th unit and field guns forward in some buildings.
Just to my left front.

My plan
Send two units to engage emery to my left front and two units charge Martin left flank objective.

What plan survives contact with the enemy?
My 1st turn , rolled 2ap, rerolled result 1ap, it was similar for all my units, result all 4 were masses in the open in front and left flank of Martins units.

My 2nd turn was little better and after Martins two turns of shooting and HE I had two badly shot up units.

My turn 3 started with two units routing with Martin have only lost 1 base so far from shooting.
My 3rd unit launched a long planed assault into buildings in front of my start line, I had more men, more dice and better dressed troops, Martin won causing 4 casualties to my 3.
4th unit moved up to left flank objective

Martin 3rd turn saw his unit that  had resisted the assault give up and rout,
He pulled his unit with the MMG’s from the right had objective to move to the left,the centre unit split up  to cover centre and right objectives.

My 4th turn saw another of my units rout, now down to one brave unit that assulted the left hand objective, agin more men, more dice, better dressed and they won!
My reinforcement unit arrived behind the hill near the centre objective

Martins 4th turn saw his 2nd unit rout, his remaining two units were now widely split between two objectives and try to bring fire on my remaining unit.

My turn 5, countdown on 7,
One objective to me , two for martin
All or nothing this turn.

My new unit need 6 to assault ,
2 free gallops , 2 dismount 4 to. Assault,
I rolled a 5, wait, office present in square reroll, 6 achieved
Charged past Martins MMG’s no hits,
 opportunity fire from the objective , no hits
More men dice and luck for me non for Martin, objective two for me.
5 rolled on countdown 2 left

Martins turn 5 saw his batterd unit on the last objectve turn and run,     
Rolled two on countdown, he rerolled hoping to get 1 and so force me to have a turn and take morale
But his attempt failed .

Game over
Stewart scores
Two objectives, 3 dead units, 30 bodies  = 55points

Martin scores
No objective, 3 dead units, 30 bodies = 25 points

Good game, about 2 hours to play.


Stewart

[Colonel Kilgore]

Sounds like a great game, Stewart. I guess that tweak to the Piggy Chase for cavalry may not make it into the next version of the rules, then...?

Simon

[Leslie BT]

Look like you may be right Simon, I am sure the work team will try it differently for the next play test.

[martin goddard]

I think it would just be easier to say "Stewart is not allowed to win".
A simple rule that would help all those he keeps slaughtering.


martin

[Colonel Kilgore]

Sounds fair, Martin.

I am also intrigued by Stewart's "better dressed" claims. Can one of you please shed some light on this, and - qualitatively- what effect you felt this had on the game? Maybe this is grounds for a morale test modification?

Simon

[Stewart 46A]

Simon
my force were WW1 French dressed in Rich blue uniforms and nice brown backpacks for their food and extra socks. They also had better rifles.

Martins rag tag bunch were dressed like scare crows in a mixture of browns and greys and big sombrero that kept falling over their eyes.


Stewart

[Colonel Kilgore]

Thanks Stewart, I'm delighted that superior personal grooming and sartorial elegance carried the day.

Sounds like a very fair result to me.

Simon