aapch45 | 26 Jun 2014 7:41 p.m. PST |
Hey everyone! Medieval really isn't my time period
I'm a classical civilization major for gods sake! But
.. I'm having a hard time getting converts for my WAB club. The ancient world really isn't doing it for people. How do you think people would react to a Hastings scenario? It has "knights" and its a name that everybody knows. Most people couldn't seperate a Thracian from a Gaul, but everyone knows what a knight is. Right? what do you guys think? Any other medieval scenarios that you would suggest? Let me know Thank you for looking at this and helping me! Austin |
JasonAfrika | 26 Jun 2014 8:34 p.m. PST |
Well, Norman knights are obviously not the knights most people are familiar with. When you put down guys in conical helms and chainmail, most people will be like HUH? Cause they are going to expect full plate armour and caparisoned horses
that's about 400 years later. The Great Italian Wars 1494-1559 might be the period for you. Full plate armour, armoured horses, early handguns, artillery, crossbows, pikes, mercenaries- the works. A very unique period technologically and tactically. Alot of very interesting battles to wargame-Agnadello, Biccoca, Cerignola, Fornovo, Garigliano, Pavia. Check it out. |
aapch45 | 26 Jun 2014 8:42 p.m. PST |
Of course norman knights aren't the guys at the renaissance festival. I just figured the familiar name would attract attention
However: before now i have never heard of the great italian wars. I found the lists, any recommended models? Any scale will work. Thanks Austin |
Great War Ace | 26 Jun 2014 9:13 p.m. PST |
You could always refight Hastings with miniatures that look later, classical plate armored knights, peasants, mean looking infantry, crossbows. If the visuals must grab interest, then Jason is probably correct on that head. Hastings is a very interesting battle because the story leading up to it is interesting. Anyone learning about it in detail for the first time probably won't care a pin for the differences in mail and plate
. |
saltflats1929 | 26 Jun 2014 9:41 p.m. PST |
Well what ARE they interested in? If you are going to use false advertising to draw interest you might as well call it a zombie game. |
Northernlion | 26 Jun 2014 9:57 p.m. PST |
Hastings is mainly for history buffs imo. Nothing gets history buffs more excited than the last few years of the "Vikings Age"! For new players, maybe something from the Hundred Years War like Crecy or something from the 3rd Crusade. Or some generic war in the late medieval/early renaissance area that takes place in Italy/Germany. They seem to have lots of those! |
Sobieski | 26 Jun 2014 11:22 p.m. PST |
I was about to say the 3rd crusade might do it for people. The knights can wear closed helmets, there are big names everyone knows, the armies are exciting and colourful, and you can still shock people by listing how little "Kingdom of Heaven" resembled history. |
legatushedlius | 27 Jun 2014 12:05 a.m. PST |
Wars of the Roses. Lots of Perry Plastics, characters like Richard III and its the inspiration for Game of Thrones |
passiveaggressive | 27 Jun 2014 3:26 a.m. PST |
Perhaps its the fact you're using the god awful WAB rules
. |
Lewisgunner | 27 Jun 2014 4:46 a.m. PST |
Do Hastings! Your Normans can then be used to fight Arabs in Sicily, Byzantines in the Balkans and Turks in Turkey, Syria and Palestine on the first crusade. Very versatile, Normans. You can also fight Welsh and Vikings and Scots. |
coopman | 27 Jun 2014 5:03 a.m. PST |
Would they perhaps like a medieval skirmish game such as "SAGA"? Not many figures are needed, and the games only last an hour or so. If you lose a battle, set up again and have another go at it. |
Griefbringer | 27 Jun 2014 7:43 a.m. PST |
Regarding the original topic, Hastings as a historical scenario has the shortcoming that one side (Saxons) mainly maintained a static line of infantry, while the other side (Normans and co.) did the manoeuvring. If you want to attract people, then I would suggest (regardless of game rules and exact time period) to pick a game where both sides have an opportunity to do a fair bit of manoeuvring. |
Great War Ace | 27 Jun 2014 9:24 a.m. PST |
I've found Hastings to be very doable as a one-sided game, with the English on "autopilot", if you want to refight it strictly as a historical battle. But if you divide the players onto both sides, then the English can pursue a variety of options, including counterattacks and a different array from the purely historical single phalanx/shieldwall. One refight of Hastings I recall better than the rest was where the "English" separated out the Huskarls into three "battles" as a reserve with the king and his two brothers, while the fyrd deployed further down on the slopes of the hill also in three "battles", with the most lightly-armed out in front in a loose formation ready to throw everything they had. The upshot was that this defense in-depth stripped the Norman bow/crossbow away, leaving the Norman heavy infantry to deal with the better fyrd of the back ranks, who were uphill and got the drop on the advancing Norman players. It was very much a players' game, that one. The entire Norman army was in rout very quickly (admittedly from poor morale check dice rolls, but, oh, well, them's the breaks in war gaming!), and the Huskarls never even got into the fight!
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Cerdic | 27 Jun 2014 12:05 p.m. PST |
I think if you are trying to get people interested, then going later medieval might be a better bet. Either 3rd crusade period, with knights in helms, mail, big shields with heraldry. Or 15th Century with full plate and loads of banners. That said, I love the Norman period. And the story of 1066 reads like a blockbuster plot! The actual battle is maybe not the best for wargaming though. As for "how popular is Hastings." The answer is very. I like to go down when I can. There is a nice beach, nice promenade to walk down, amusement arcades and fairground rides for the kids, good pubs and excellent fish and chips! |
Griefbringer | 29 Jun 2014 2:28 a.m. PST |
I would also like to suggest talking a bit with the actual people in the locality – it is difficult for us outsiders to guess what a certain specific group of people somewhere will really be interested. |
Henry Martini | 29 Jun 2014 6:25 p.m. PST |
Maybe you could start with one or more of the popular games that doesn't require many figures and uses individual basing(SAGA, Dux Britanniarum, or the forthcoming Lion Rampant from Osprey), then ease your flock almost imperceptibly into larger WAB games once you've hooked them. |