"A Day with DBA 3.0" Topic

Here is a short write up on my Wall of Shields blog of a battle I had this past weekend. I should have more reports coming soon as well. This was my first go with the NEW rules.

First Blood!

Good battle report and photos. Second game turned out better for the Romans.

Our 3.0 game is tomorrow night.
Cheers,

Thanks. Good luck on your game as well.

I really think the new 3.0 version is so much better than previous. It's pretty much got me excited about ancients again. :)

What do you feel are the big improvements in the rules?

Nice report ! … yes, 3.0 is a great game and a good book. It has stimulated a little revival locally …

Phil

What a beautiful battlefield!!

I'd also love to hear what makes these better than the previous versions. Nice report!

Thanks everyone. I'll try and post more as I find time. School has a tight grip on me at the moment! Anyway…

I can't speak for everyone who plays, or has played in the past, but from my standpoint the 3.0 rules have a few simple changes that make this version ideal ("better"), for me anyway.

1. HARD COVER! (a plus for me anyway)
2. I absolutely love the illustrated examples of the various rules. As they are written, they are a hard read – to be expected considering the author's writing style through the years. Rules I have been getting wrong in the past totally enlightened me when I had a good look at the examples. Imagine that, simple illustrated examples.
3. The confusion of some of the "alignment" rules always turned me off to DBx. This was mainly due to the fact I couldn't make sense or fully get a grip on them. This time around they seem much more clear and "tight" to me.
4. The lists! Some have changed quite a bit. And I like the changes.

Idk… but just from this first few games I seemed to have had a better understanding and had a much funner experience when compared to my past experiences with previous editions. As I said, I never played 2.2 (although I had the rules), but I did play quite a bit of the 2.0 version. So I am going mainly by that when comparing here.

My two cents. Perhaps someone with more experience can chime in and give better details regarding what makes this version "better".

My opinion on why 3.0 is better:
Faster movement means there is not as much chance of redeploying before the enemy is on top of you. I don't recall that being a standard feature of real battles.
More infantry now must pursue, making the battles more chaotic. Spears get flank support rather than rear support, meaning they are strong when in formation and less so when the formation starts to break up.
Light horse is stronger than in earlier versions, a great boost to folks like me who have Hun and Mongol armies. Previous versions had you wondering how they conquered anyone, ever.
If you don't like the BUA rules you may select the BUA as a hamlet which is a minor terrain feature that doesn't have all the dramatic effects of other BUA types, no puppet regimes, etc.

Your mileage may vary.

Very interesting--I might have to pick up a copy. Thank you for the input.

Nice battle report, thanks. Anyone coming to Cold Wars can get a Taste of DBA 3. See copies of rules and Sue's book.
Friday 10am – noon: Introduction to DBA 3
Lampeter Room
Get an overview of the new rules, play a sample game, ask questions, come and laugh at me for playing DBA 3 ☺

I will also be putting on some games to give a sample of the various flavors of DBA 3.
Aztec vs Spanish 6 Hordes vs 6 Bows and other interesting stuff
Hindus with Rajputs vs Tamil with Sinhalese , two armies each with allies and total of 5 elephants
Germans vs Marian Romans, from Sue's Book. War band vs Blade
Brunanburh, shield wall vs blade