"Another 5Core Brigade Commander AAR" Topic

I recently played my third game using the 5CBC rules, so I'm starting to get the hang of it. The AAR can be seen at:

link

bish

Bish,

Awesome, as usual, with a beautiful table and minis.

I loved the fight, loved the back and forth of it over the objective hill. Certainly 5Core is different, and is not going to be for everyone, but I absolutely love them. I think it all comes down to our own view of things; we all put up with abstractions, for example, the question is, where does our mind's view of combat at a certain level/scale/period in time look like, and do the rules fit that?

When I read about the scurry and firefight, I was pretty convinced they were two of the dumbest ideas I'd ever heard of ;) But, they grew on me, which is to say I came to accept the abstraction; to me, it does a great (read: simple and fast) job of modelling friction, and for the first time I have games that show real-life issues you see like dug-in units being caught off-guard and overwhelmed (scurry), or numerically superior forces on the verge of overrunning the beleaguered defenders faltering right at the moment of decision (firefight).

Regarding different quality troops, there are plenty of thing you can do (and I regularly do). A few examples:
-higher quality troops can fire AND THEN move into close combat
-during a 'normal' activation, higher quality troops suffering adverse effects (pin/hunker/men down) get a free rally roll (they can't do anything else, but it doesn't cost one of your regular activations).
-higher quality troops in Guard Fire situations can choose to move OR shoot. Hell, I think I've even let super-commandos Guard shoot and move vs very low quality troops.
-Higher quality troops in Guard Fire situations use 1K 1S vs enemy moving in the open, or 2S against enemy moving in cover.
-Higher quality troops are +1 in close combat (in addition to all other modifiers).

Mind you, I don't give a force all of those, but pretty much every game I'm mixing and matching to tailor the game to the situation. If you saw my Cuba Libre campaign, I went through pretty much every combination of differing quality troops. I had, on both sides:
-super elite (think Delta/SAS shooteers)
-elite (Special Forces)
-shock troops (Marines/Paras/Rangers)
-Regulars
-Conscripts
-Militia

So, look at the situation and pick the tools for the job. I find the 5Core system extraordinarily flexible; I've done all kinds of stuff (even aerial dogfighting) and haven't broken it yet!

I look forward to more!

V/R,
Jack

I think Jack even accidentally played a game "by the rules" once :-)

I don't think I changed very much for my very first game ;)

V/R,
Jack

On the topic of elites, I've tried all sorts of stuff. I like the idea of fixing the bonus to HOW they are elite.

Do they coordinate better? Do they actually shoot better? Are they tougher?

Usually, I just give the better guys an extra activation on standard turns and be done with it.
Over a 10 turn game, that'll give them 6-8 extra actions which can make or break a close fight.

Thanks, Jack. Some good ideas there, I'll give them a try.

I like the fact that the game architecture is open enough to allow tinkering. As you and Ivan say, this allows aspects to be easily modified to fit our own view of how things should work.

Cheers,
Bish

By the by Bishnak, what was the dimensions of your gaming setup? Length and width I mean?

It didn't look monster big, but with 3mm, it can be hard to judge sometimes.

"Usually, I just give the better guys an extra activation on standard turns and be done with it."

See, that was so obvious I didn't put it in ;)

Another obvious one (for Ivan) is: give higher quality troops an extra CO stand (or more than one, in bigger games). You'll be amazed at how much a difference it makes with one more 'free attempt at rallying each turn, or an extra +1 to close combat.

V/R,
Jack

"By the by Bishnak, what was the dimensions of your gaming setup? Length and width I mean?"

The table was a little smaller than my usual (6'x4') setup. I think it was about 5'x3'. Pretty much all the action happened down one half of the table though!

Ah okay, that was way bigger than I thought, but like I said, with 3mm figures, it can be hard to judge from pictures :)

Always good to see people spreading the 3mm love though.

bishnak:
An outstanding game board with beautiful terrain (and realistic hills – take notes here Jack!). I love the weight of armour in your games, it gives the game gravitas and umph. A very engaging Bat. rep. Thanks for sharing this, it is most inspiring. Well done, sir!
Cheers and good gaming.
Rod Robertson.

Thanks, Rod : )