While we were going through the DBA Ancients campaign we also discussed the rule set for the ACW campaign.
Discussion got quite heated (which is always fun) and came down to the following principles.
a) Balance between fast play and realism
Jon doesn't want a corps level game where large blocks of troops slide up and down the field (e.g. Grand Armee). He wants a rule set that allows individual actions to be identified and fought. Which is fine - but also needs to allow for fast action and results (if we're playing Thursday nights).
I think the idea is that we get lots of action but - for Jon - it 'feels' like an ACW battle.
Ian's view is command and control is important as well and if the rules keep both of them happy, then that's the big result.
b) Giving other rules a go
Jon has already sprung for Rank and File but the consensus is that we give a number of rule sets a try before deciding on our chosen rule set. There are free rules on the internet and 'commercial' rules out there as well. It may be that we all bring one set of rules to the table - try one set a week and plump for the one which we all approve of (or disapprove least of),
c) Don't buy the figures yet
A good idea by Ian. Before spending huge wodges of cash on basing figures we're simply going to cut card bases to size for each rule set and play with them. Once the rule set is decided, THEN we'll look at the figures and base sizes required.
d) Which manufacturer?
It's going to be 6mm - which limits us to a couple of choices. Myself, Russ and Jon are more on the Baccus front - Ian and Mark on the Heroics and Ros. My main issue is painting the teeny H&R figures is a strain on the eyes where hundreds of figures are concerned - and the scenery has to be scaled down to match. Baccus is more 8mm, H&R practically 5mm. Having got a bargain bucket of H&R from eBay, Mark has set his stall out but there's going to be a lot more toing and froing on this one yet.
e) Gettysburg
Its the big climax battle. As such we need a lot of time to develop scenery and prepare the troops. I don't think any of us want to get too hung up on this yet - there's plenty of other stuff we have to look at first (Spearhead, Grand Armee, Impetus, DBR ECW, Victory at Sea) - but it is a goal to aim for next year.
Discussion got quite heated (which is always fun) and came down to the following principles.
a) Balance between fast play and realism
Jon doesn't want a corps level game where large blocks of troops slide up and down the field (e.g. Grand Armee). He wants a rule set that allows individual actions to be identified and fought. Which is fine - but also needs to allow for fast action and results (if we're playing Thursday nights).
I think the idea is that we get lots of action but - for Jon - it 'feels' like an ACW battle.
Ian's view is command and control is important as well and if the rules keep both of them happy, then that's the big result.
b) Giving other rules a go
Jon has already sprung for Rank and File but the consensus is that we give a number of rule sets a try before deciding on our chosen rule set. There are free rules on the internet and 'commercial' rules out there as well. It may be that we all bring one set of rules to the table - try one set a week and plump for the one which we all approve of (or disapprove least of),
c) Don't buy the figures yet
A good idea by Ian. Before spending huge wodges of cash on basing figures we're simply going to cut card bases to size for each rule set and play with them. Once the rule set is decided, THEN we'll look at the figures and base sizes required.
d) Which manufacturer?
It's going to be 6mm - which limits us to a couple of choices. Myself, Russ and Jon are more on the Baccus front - Ian and Mark on the Heroics and Ros. My main issue is painting the teeny H&R figures is a strain on the eyes where hundreds of figures are concerned - and the scenery has to be scaled down to match. Baccus is more 8mm, H&R practically 5mm. Having got a bargain bucket of H&R from eBay, Mark has set his stall out but there's going to be a lot more toing and froing on this one yet.
e) Gettysburg
Its the big climax battle. As such we need a lot of time to develop scenery and prepare the troops. I don't think any of us want to get too hung up on this yet - there's plenty of other stuff we have to look at first (Spearhead, Grand Armee, Impetus, DBR ECW, Victory at Sea) - but it is a goal to aim for next year.