"Basic questions for first game" Topic

I'm introducing my group to GASLIGHT Friday night. I would like to know a few things.

First, I have enough troops for ten units on each side plus six tanks, beasts and arty (well, I could add a lot more beasts). How long would this game typically last if I have 4 players plus me as umpire? Should I reduce the numbers? I fear that I might be getting carried away in my excitement.

Second, I don't understand how you generate stats for beasts. If a beast is "strong" and "large" what does this mean? Do they have an SRM? Specifically, one side has some giants with spear-armed riders and so I'm going to give it a kick, a fist smash and a spear stab attack. I think that this means it can't kill more than 3 figs in a single turn (card).

How do I handle it going up against a tank?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Let me try to help you with your questions.

1) For beginners trying their first couple games we recommend no more than 1 unit of infantry, 1 unattached Main Character, and one "soecial" (I.e. Vehicle, crew served weapon, or big beast). While I appreciate your excitement and enthusiasm trying to put that much stuff on the table with only four new players will bog the game down terribly. With the recommended troop allotment, four new players and you as GM, you should have a nice 2-3 hour game. Assuming you are new to the system too, and will need to look stuff up, I would assume the longer time estimate.

2) if a beast is "Strong" it means you roll for its attributes on the Adventuer column of the Character Atributes Chart. If it's "Large" you roll for its SRM on the Large column of the Animal SRM chart. And, yes, beasts have SRMs- see the Animal SRM chart.

Yes, the giants would roll 3 scuffle attacks as you describe them. You have a choice of giving each attack a separate SRM ( smash, kick, spear) or for ease of play you could give them all the same SRM. To attack a tank, it would move adjacent to the tank, and then roll it's Scuffle attacks. If there are any successful attacks, the tank would then need to roll it's Saves modifying the die roll by the Giant's SRM.

I hope these answers help. If you have any more before the game, please let me know. And good luck with your first game!

I'd also suggest joining the GASLIGHT Yahoo group if you haven't done so already. Lots of helpful folks and inspirational photos!

link

And here's the GASLIGHT webpage which has lots of useful stuff on it:

gaslightrules.com

Ahhhhhh…..the joys of playing Gaslight. A simply outstanding set of rules! You WILL have fun.

Thanks,

John

Thanks for the kind remarks, John!

Just noticed a typo in my first post, it should read, "special" , not "soecial"

I quite liked the ideal of Social Dinosaurs….

I appreciate your help. I will reduce the number of units to a more manageable size and will make sure I keep reading the rulebook (while I wait for new tires today) so that the game will run as smoothly as possible.

Thanks again for the links and advice. I'll try to give an update and after-action report of some kind.

Glad to be of help.

An AAR would be great!