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Post by davel on Sept 11, 2016 16:48:56 GMT
Hi Anthony,
I'm really pleased you're going to give the rules a go and glad I could help with a suggestion. Please let me know how you go on and if you enjoyed the rules.
I love them and even I can remember most of the rules from memory, which if you knew how hopeless I usually am with reading rules you'd know is a miracle. The quick reference sheets that come with the rules are also very useful and easy to follow.
If you go down the giving coins route, Simon also does a good selection of those. I haven't used them as such yet (apart from in the demo games Simon puts on) but I do use them for disorder markers and they don't detract from the visual aspect of the game.
As I said, the only problem from a 54mm point of view is the size if the grids. What Simon does for his games (and he's using 28mm) is to have small sticky back circles to mark the grids out, so l think this is a useful tool for 54mm and again, if you're subtle with the size and colour, you hardly notice.
Have fun and enjoy.
Best Wishes daveL
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Post by spiritofethandune on Sept 16, 2016 16:01:26 GMT
Hi Davel,
Mike and I got together yesterday to play our first game of To the Strongest. Sadly as neither of us have 54mm ancients we had to use my 28mm Dark Age collection (Late Romans vs Early Saxons). The chits I ordered from Simon came in time but I mistakenly only ordered enough for one player so Mike had to use two packs of the Roman playing cards I bought off Simon when I bought the rules months ago. We both agreed that the chits look far, far better than playing cards.
We played 123pts a side and apart from the fact that I forgot about the rallying rule we managed to play the game correctly albeit with some reference to the rule book. We used the open battle scenario and the terrain placement system and I ended up with both flanks of my Saxons resting on woods which was convenient given the Late Romans' cavalry superiority. After an early breakthrough by Mike's Cataphracts when it looked like he might roll up my line things turned in my favour and eventually the Saxons broke the Late Romans while only losing one unit themselves.
I must say that I enjoyed the game a lot particularly the way it deals with diagonal movement, although Mike has some reservations (he feels for example that a D10 would be simpler than cards/chits). However he has said he is willing to play another game which is a good sign! I now need to get myself a 54mm ancient army....
Cheers Anthony
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Post by davel on Sept 16, 2016 22:25:28 GMT
Hi Anthony,
Many thanks for the reply. I'm really pleased you played the rules and enjoyed them. I've found them great fun and really easy to pick up.
I understand Mike's reservations. After all, no set is perfect and have those little niggles that we sometimes find difficult to come to terms with. However, overall, I feel Simon has got over a lot of problems and has produced a really good, playable set.
I've heard the comments regarding D10s before and can understand. So, why not have a house rule and use D10s instead of chits? You can still use the rules set and it will give you the same results. The beauty of chits/cards is that it is faster, and I think this was the thinking behind Simon's rules. As he says in the intro, when you're used to the rules, you can do a melee in 30seconds!! Not bad.
What figures will you use for the 54mm Ancients? I can't praise the Expeditionary Force figures enough if you're into Greek/ Macedonian/ Persians. They also do Thracians and believe they have plans for Romans in the future. The sculpts are brilliant and the later products use hard plastic weapons, so you don't have Mr. Bendy spears, etc. And you can buy a box of hard plastic Greek weapons (can be used with various nations) and use them to replace the older soft ones.
I'm trying to learn how to post pictures on the forum (it's an age thing so I'm not sure how to do it yet). If I manage to do it, I'll post some photos of my Ex-Force figures so you can see them. But being a techno imbecile I can't promise when that'll be.
Best Wishes daveL
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Post by davel on Sept 17, 2016 8:29:06 GMT
Hi Anthony,
Just a quick thought re chits v D10s. The great thing about chits is that they don't detract from the visual, but more importantly, if you come back to reactivate a unit later,you know what your "score" was last time.
If you use a D10, and you have,say, 6 units to activate, how will you remember all the numbers from the previous activations? You might then have to go down the road of keeping paperwork, which goes against the quick flow idea of the rules.
Also, if you use a D10, the percentage chances of rolling each number always stays the same. If you use chits or cards, every time you draw a number (remembering that there are only 4 of that number in each stack), the percentage chance of drawing it again are reduced, thus giving rise to a clever "Fog of War" situation.
Just some thoughts for you and Mike to think about. But as I said last post, no rules suit everyone every time. Best wishes for your future games and hope you'll enjoy.
daveL
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Post by spiritofethandune on Sept 17, 2016 11:44:01 GMT
Hi Davel,
Greetings from another techno imbecile! I have tried unsuccessfully over the last week to post some pictures of my 54mm British Cold War army...
I mentioned the point you raise about the chances of rolling a number remaining the same with a D10 with Mike during the game, although I hadn't thought of your point that paperwork would be necessary for remembering the activation score rolled on the D10. I think we need to play another game now we're familiar with the rules.
I'm very pleased to hear that Expeditionary Force are moving over to hard plastic weapons for their ancients. Bendy weapon syndrome has ruined many an otherwise well sculpted plastic figure. It's a pity plastics from later periods can't have hard plastic muskets/rifles etc. I'm a bit of a Romanist myself so I would like to collect an Imperial Roman army and a barbarian opponent. Irregular Miniatures do a fine range for the early empire but only one mailed legionary and one heavy cavalryman for the late empire. I don't know anyone who does plastic Late Romans.
Another period that interests me is the Barons Wars of the 13th century (I recently joined the Simon De Montfort Society). Again Irregular Miniatures cover this in 54mm metal but the only decent plastics I know of cover the Hundred Years War-a century too late. What ever I do I will probably organise my ancients armies in units of four foot and three mounted so that I can use them with Command and Colours Ancients as well as with To The Strongest (Mike has the same idea). I shall let you know how I get on!
Best wishes Anthony
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Post by Mike Lewis on Sept 17, 2016 12:08:49 GMT
Hi To post pictures you can either post a link to the picture which is stored elsewhere on the web, or you can add attachments to the post to upload your pictures. You can have 3 attachments per post. Details here: www.proboards.com/user-guide/posting/inserting-imagesMike
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Post by davel on Sept 17, 2016 17:35:33 GMT
Hi Anthony,
I think this flow of ideas/observations is really good and a good sign that the forum is working and a great way to share experiences. It's also a great way of helping new comers into the 54mm scene - and I include myself in that category.
Re the Mediaeval range of figures, Ex- force also do knights/foot which you may find useful, although not being an expert, I'm not sure if the armour is correct. But I think it would be a good idea for you to take a look.
Also thanks to Mike for the info regarding posting photos. I'll have a go-between make no promises about my success!!!!!!
Keep in touch regarding your games with TtS.
Best wishes daveL
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Post by briancarrick on Sept 18, 2016 19:55:32 GMT
Another period that interests me is the Barons Wars of the 13th century (I recently joined the Simon De Montfort Society). Again Irregular Miniatures cover this in 54mm metal but the only decent plastics I know of cover the Hundred Years War-a century too late. Replicants make a range of plastic figures for the Barons War including a character figure of Simon de Montfort.
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Post by spiritofethandune on Sept 18, 2016 20:18:35 GMT
Hi Brian,
Thanks for that! I shall hunt them down. I don't know if you are aware but the next Command and Colours game to be released is C&C: Medieval. When it's released we will have to get together for a 54mm version on my 6 inch hex mat (I seem to remember you already have an impressive collection 54mm knights..).
Best wishes Anthony
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Post by davel on Sept 21, 2016 6:33:35 GMT
Hi. Have any of you seen the 54mm figures produced by Alan Goodwin? He does many kinds and a nice range of metal Indian Army and some 19th century British, as well as Zulu wars figures.
I see him and buy from him at the Toy Collectors Fairs. He also does the Toy Soldiers Fairs. He will sell the figures painted or as castings. I buy the latter and paint them myself. They're usually in sets of 5 marching figures plus officer.
His ranges go under the name of "Good Soldiers" and "Cheshire Volunteers". He is based in Hertfordshire, England. He also does some spares for old Britain's figures. He doesn't have a Web site, but his phone number is 01438 354362 if you want to phone for a catalogue.
Dave
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Post by spiritofethandune on Sept 28, 2016 19:13:18 GMT
Hi Dave,
Mike and I had our second game of To the Strongest last Monday. Same armies but this time we got the terrain set up right so no more woods protecting my Saxons' flanks! To cut a long story short we had a much better game this time round particularly as we used the special legionary rule for the Late Romans (I completely missed that the first time) so Mike was able to take advantage of diagonal attacks using easy activations. His cavalry turned my right flank and might have taken my army apart from the rear (they certainly took my camp!), if it hadn't been for some failed activations on his part that allowed my veteran warriors to break some units in the Roman centre leading to Mike eventually conceding. The best part though was when Mike said the rules were growing on him! He is going to paint up some old 28mm ancient armies he has for future games. Personally I'm wondering about using 54mm figures for CC:Ancients and 40/42mm figures on unit-sized bases for TtS.
Best wishes Anthony
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Post by davel on Sept 28, 2016 20:31:13 GMT
Hi Anthony, I'm really pleased you enjoyed the game and that the rules are growing on your especially Mike. I think they're really good and easy to remember, and with the chits instead of cards, I think the whole thing looks right.
I think 40/42mm sounds good for TtS. I think I'm going to use About Caesar for my 54mm, but let me know how they work for C&C. I only have the Napoleonic C&C, but I've heard the Ancients set is very good. I've never played or seen C&C played with figures, but know that many people play them this way.
I think the 54mm for TtS might be difficult depending on what Base sizes you use. I'm using Expeditionary Force figures, and as they're nearly 60mm in scale, I'd need huge grids for them. Simon has some mats with 200mm grids, but my pike phalanx alone would need a grid 220mm large, which reduces the number of grids you can have on the table and therefore the number of units you can deploy. Even if I used 200mm grids, I'd only be able to put one unit per grid, instead of the 1 heavy and 1 light allowed, so that's another restriction. Shame really as I love TtS.
Thanks for keeping in touch. I find it very interesting to hear your "progress" with TtS.
Best Wishes Dave
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Post by davel on Oct 8, 2016 21:55:36 GMT
Hi All,
I've been in touch with Scott Lamb from Expeditionary Force. I was actually sending him a photo of their Persian scythed chariot I've just finished (hopefully it will appear on the forum soon!!!). He's great at replying quicly to questions I sometimes pose.
Anyway, the reason for doing this post is to tell you the news about the plans Ex-Force have for their future productions. Wow! Is it exciting.
They're in the process of producing their Greek artillery as I type this, and crew figures are planned to follow. Scott has sent me a photo of the proposed oxybelas (large crossbow) and it looks fantastic. Having just finished the chariot, I know how fantastic the wood texture/grain is on their products.
They're also planning new Persians which they've started to model. These are Immortals in robes, Sparabara and Royal Guard Apple Bearers. That also plan head options, etc., to increase the range.
I happened to say that I hoped they would one day do an elephant, given that the HaT one seems to have disappeared. Scott said that they are doing one when they start the Carthaginians!!!! Wow!!!!
And it gets even better. I mentioned the problems people, especially on the forum were having getting the Seven Years War figures from HaT and suggested this period for a future development. Apparently it's already in their thoughts, with the 18th Century range covering the 7YW, Jacobite rebellion and French/Indian wars. Proposed releases late 2017.
The next major period will be Romans!!!!!
Hope this is good news for us all and I thought I should pass the good news on.. I Know that I'm excited.
Obviously, as Scott says, the production line is busy and there may be delays in the proposed release dates, but as a collector of Ex-Force figures, I know how brilliant they are, and I'm certainly prepared to wait as the end results will be worth it
Best Wishes Dave
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Post by spiritofethandune on Oct 9, 2016 7:26:45 GMT
Hi Dave,
Thank you very much for passing on this news-it all sounds fantastic!
Cheers Anthony
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Post by greencommander on Feb 11, 2017 0:39:55 GMT
Hi All! Here are a few suggestions for the list: BlogsI really like - Dougie's Wargaming Blog - he's a 28mm guy, but his modern paint schemes are worth a look. Stunning work. Skirmish Sangin - a modern warfare [Afghanistan] blog for the Skirmish Sangin game, again 28 mm, but they often release scenarios that can be adopted for larger scales or other game systems. and if you'd like to add my blog, you can find it here: Army Men WargamingI try to update every few days or so, but I am notoriously bad about it, so no hard feelings if I don't make the list... Rules, for 54mmBudget Battle - free rules for those "Army Men vs. [fill in the blank]" sets, really simple Burning Plastic - more free armymen rules. Good detail on this one, especially like the rules for vehicles Honor Among Greens - more free rules, this one is more detailed One Brain Cell Toy Soldier Rules - another free set, this one is great for kids Combat Storm. This one is my fave. Highly detailed, highly flexible. Also costs about $25 U.S. There is a lot of print-and-play cardstock urban terrain available for free download on the site. Flying Lead. This is Ganesha Games' offering for modern combat, easily adaptable to 54mm. The Green and the Tan. Another great (but not free) offering.
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