Liliburlero  | 30 Jul 2014 12:06 p.m. PST |
Before I post this on our website, where I thought it already was, I'm posting this to alleviate my having to fumble and remember these changes to TSATF/20 vs. TSATF/Yaquinto. The past few weeks we've been inundated with orders and questions asking if "TSATF/20 is REALLY any different than the original one", "Is TSATF/20 just a marketing ploy to get me to buy a NEW edition", "I like my old copy and don't want to change". Well here are the Changes/Clarifications/Additions from the pen of the designer himself:
43 Reasons to Purchase TSATF/20
1) British Allies-pg. 5
2) New Figure Ratios, MG's-pgs. 9-10
3) Native Horse & Artillery (added to Tables)
4) New Unit Factors-pg.11
5) Basing Figures-pg.15
6) Updates for Uniforms-pgs. 15-17
7) Sudanese Flash Colors-pg. 17
8) Eliminate Flags, Colors-pg.18
9) Dice Side Bar-pg. 18
10) Prone Figures, "The Unit"-pg.19
11) Distance between Figures-pg. 20
12) Square Formation-pg. 20
13) Scouts-pg.20
14) Attacked Units Pinned-pg.21
15) Card Deck and Shuffling-pg. 21
16) Stragglers and Charging-pg. 21
17) Move Through Rough Terrain-pg. 22
18) Doors (3.b) Breaking down-pg. 23
19) Crossing Obstacles-pg.23
20) Phased Cavalry-pg. 24
21) Individual D20 Firing Chart-pgs. 25-26
22) Wounded Figures-pg. 26
23) New Target Desgination (2.b)-pg. 26
24) Two Ranks Fire-pg. 26
25) Overhead Fire-pg. 26
26) Target Designation-pg. 26
27) Spears-pg. 26
28) Pass-Through Fire-pg. 26
29) Gun Crews Firing-pg. 27
30) D20 Pistol Fire-pg. 27
31) Optional Hitting Horses-pg. 27
32) Combat Modifiers-pg. 28
33) Rear Attacks-pg. 29
34) New Morale Tables-pgs. 28, 29, 30
35) Limited Ammunition-pg. 31
36) Confidential Torture Results-pg. 32
37) Special Troop Types (NNC, Ghurka, Sudanese)-pg. 32
38) Transferring Ammunition and Pack Animals-pg. 32
39) Volley and Independent Fire-pg. 32
40) Roster Sheets and Record Cards-pg. 33
41) The Sword in Africa-pgs. 40-49
42) Morale State Summary-pg. 51
43) Quick Reference Sheet for Rules-pg. 52 |
 Bobgnar | 30 Jul 2014 12:13 p.m. PST |
Is there a new, recent version, or is this the previous 1999 edition compared to the original? |
| Liliburlero | 30 Jul 2014 12:25 p.m. PST |
Bobgnar, No newer version, hence the 20 in TSATF/20, or 1979 vs. 1999. |
| Rrobbyrobot | 30 Jul 2014 1:01 p.m. PST |
Plus The Sword In Africa. Worth the price all by itself. Says me… |
| raylev3 | 30 Jul 2014 2:21 p.m. PST |
I bought the original and loved it. I later bought TSATF 20, and loved it even more. TSATF is still my all time favorite set of rules and it has stood the test of time in hobby that sees rules sets come and go. |
| Nick Pasha | 30 Jul 2014 2:50 p.m. PST |
The Sword and the Flame is the only rules set I have used for colonial gaming since I was introduced to the rules by Larry Brom himself in the 1980's. I have had several conversations with Larry about the Rules before he took ill and he has clarified many things for me. His daughter, Lori, has taken over during Larry's illness, and she has done her best to answer questions. There are many variants that can be used with other time periods. I am about to play test the ACW variant. The great thing about the rules is that no matter how many times you play them, something new always happens. Its great. And the rules give you the flavor of the period without spending money on huge armies. My friends and I have many units combined, and use them to run larger games. If six gamers have 3 – 5 units a piece you can run a 30 unit game without a large expense. The 20th is the last version, and as Larry is ill, I don't see another one coming. |
| Winston Smith | 30 Jul 2014 3:51 p.m. PST |
TSATF belongs on the Mount Rushmore of wargaming. I just finished an oasis or two for Saturday's game. |
| Old Contemptibles | 30 Jul 2014 3:59 p.m. PST |
It is very much worth having the 20th Anniversary Edition. There are some very nice new features. But holy cow that came out many years ago. Can you even find a copy still? Maybe on EBay or Monday Knights? |
| rmaker | 30 Jul 2014 4:26 p.m. PST |
Rallynow – still available from Seargeants 3 (Larry's company)
sergeants3.com |
| Caesar | 30 Jul 2014 6:16 p.m. PST |
Maybe a 15th anniversary edition of the 20th anniversary edition is in order?
;-) |
| Ceterman | 30 Jul 2014 7:53 p.m. PST |
You're killin me Caesar! Coffee almost came thru my nose! I bought TSATF in 1979, I think I have at least 1 copy of every update, since then. The ONLY set of rules I ever bought for Colonials & we still love 'em.
Thanks Mr. Brom & glad to hear you are getting better!
Peter |
| Nick Pasha | 31 Jul 2014 5:48 a.m. PST |
A 44th reason is it works with any time period. My friends and I play the following periods with TSATF – F&I War, ACW, British colonial 1879 to 1900. Spanish-American War, Boxer Rebellion, French Colonial, Italian Colonial, AWI. It works in all of these conflicts. I am preparing a game based on Lawrence of Arabia – the first will be the attack on the retreating Turkish brigade before Damascus, the second will be Aqaba. Then destroying the trains. No matter what troops you use, the game is fun. |
| Gone Fishing | 31 Jul 2014 8:15 a.m. PST |
TSATF is closest I've ever come to finding the "perfect" set of rules. |
 The Virtual Armchair General  | 31 Jul 2014 10:33 a.m. PST |
Arguably the best single game system ever invented--and TSATF20 is the only way to go. So much better in so many ways than the original Yaquinto editions. Not getting it is rather like a fan of the classic film, "Alien," refusing to see "Aliens." TVAG |
| Winston Smith | 03 Aug 2014 5:04 a.m. PST |
Jim ran a classic "capture the oasis" game last night with 1884 Egyptians with Bashi Bazouks (me ) vs hidden movement Dervishes. I love having your quality highly problematic. For me the high point came when one of my Egyptian platoons that I took over from a guy who had to leave early wiped out a Dervish cav unit that charged me. I wish I had been there to see it but I had to take the dogs out and found out about it when I got back.  |
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