"Skirmish or Big Battle?" Topic

The latest Waegames Illustrated is dedicated to Skirmish gaming. Skirmish here is defined as 1:1, and lists Saga, IHMN, Bolt Action, Dead Man's Hand, Sharpe Practice as examples of skirmish based rules.

If you could only do one, do you prefer skirmish gaming – pushing individuals around or far larger formations? -what is called here Big Battle.

Big Battle

My favourite games are grand tactical

Big Battle.

To avoid stagnating repetition a good balance of both skirmish and big battles in multiple periods/genres is the best recipe.

Depends on the period.
Naps, ECW, and ACW I like Big Battles.
20th Century I like skirmish.

Tom

I am fond of both, but find myself more drawn to skirmish.

If I had to choose it would be big battle.

My preference is actually somewhere in the middle. About the scope of the Perfect Captain's Actions series. Up to the battles of the AWI.

BIG battle.

Big battle, all periods.

Big Battle, Grand Tactical.

I like skirmish battles the best.

Big battles

skirmish and tactical

Big Battle.

Skirmish.

Skirmish. I like my wargaming more personal.

Big battles.

Big battles.

Big Battle

I am a general, not a sergeant (;-)). Therefore I love BIG battles…

Big battles and Strategic

Though can enjoy a small encounter at times

Big battles.

Tend towards the big tabletop actions. Skirmish gaming fun if the rules limit the players from doing crazy movements. Seen games were the player performs the "miracle" move=fire=assault=stab=recover=reload=move again=duck into ground and stand pound before the unit receiving his heroic award chest pinning step. Then the next player recovers his wits as to what happened to his dead platoon.

"Seen games were the player performs the "miracle" move=fire=assault=stab=recover=reload=move again=duck into ground and stand pound before the unit receiving his heroic award chest pinning step."

Well, those sorts of things did and do happen in real life. I am sure it was equally unpleasant for the people on the wrong end. Tactical combat is chaotic, which is why it is actually one of the hardest things to model in wargames. Big battles with big units are far more predictable and lend themselves to a more statistical treatment.

Big battles.

Big battle

Definitely big battle, as it allows the much more realistic inclusion of supporting arms in Second World War games.

Big Battle.

Skirmish all the way, unless it's starships.

Another false premise: I play both and have no wish to drop either.

It isn't a false premise, there isn't a premise. It is only asking if you could.

If I could only do one it would be big battles.

Big Battles – but really I prefer reconstructing actual events and historically there's generally a lot more material to help with bigger often more decisive battles (and a lot more interest in them) …

Phil

Big battle.

Big battle, without a doubt.

Damon.

The different scales offer different table top experiences.

I like skirmish games for the detail you can have in the terrain and still be practical. The 'you are there' sense of one figure/one soldier aspect is also engaging.

Obviously with big games, the terrain has to be far more abstract and simple. The units become more representative of organizations than individuals. The draw is the sweep of battle, the engagements portrayed, players having a hand in the entire battle and the military/historical impact that a skirmish engagement can never have.

Why settle for one or the other? I like both for different reasons.

Skirmish

Using the miniatures I have collected from the 1970s? Big Battle. Caveat, some of them are definitely more skirmish oriented like my Soldados de Cuera versus Indios forces.

Start a new era/genre from scratch? Unlikely to ever happen but if so definitely skirmish. I am trying to get rid of most of my miniatures, not add to them!

Skirmish.

Skirmish…with occasional big battles!

Big Battle!

I guess " big skirmish " if I have to choose. Small units maneuver about but the leaders/heroes/characters still do things influence events and fight the odd duel

Fussing over what each man does is headache inducing and silly. Really big battles also bring on the headaches.

Big battles with battalions and/or regiments.

Skirmish

Big Battles

The premise of the hypothetical is you have to pick one, so …

skirmish

Big battles.

Big battles have a look about them that skirmish games lack.

Skirmish gaming is like bubble gum, a quick burst of flavor that then fades fast and you are chewing on a bit of 'rubber.'

Big battles are like fine gourmet meals that excite the palate and the flavors linger in the best of ways – and the memory of it lingers on.

(and spare me for now and always the five hour skirmish game that represents 'thirty seconds' of 'real' time – eeeyuck!)

Pick one? Skirmish then.