"Thrown together scenarios more realistic?" Topic

I have run a few games where I received unsolicited advice about having "walked the battlefield", and so on.
Battlefields are measured with transits, exact
OOBs are researched, and so on.

Last night we had a TSATF NW Frontier game, bringing out my aged (but painted!) Frontier and Foundry Afghan Regulars, Frontier and Ral PArtha Wily Johnnie Pathans, Highlanders, Splendid Sikhs, Crappy Sikhs, Bengal Lancers etc.

I sat in my usual spot, and asked Jim what my forces were. Three mobs of Pathan swordsmen and one of riflemen. Heck, they could have been Bunnerwals. Or Kashmiri.
Was it a "famous" battle? No, just a meeting engagement. "Oh, there they are! Charge!"

On my right, Darrell and Roger had Egyptian rated Sikhs and Egyptian rated Afghan Regulars. Seems fair, hainna?

The British got a bloody nose, due to … bad die rolling.
(One can rationalize this by saying the wind and dust storm was blowing in their faces.)

On my flank, my plan was to oblique march "(Hah! Maneuvering with Pathans! Hah!) and follow up; with my mele clans in a clever column designed to wear down the Scotties, and finish them off with a final bloodthirsty charge.

Well. The rifle mob advanced and rolled a 5 on 3 D6 for movement, the guys supposed to "wait" rolled 18. "I could sense fervor on their part.
The riflemen on their next turn advanced 7, but got in range of the Highlanders. I was in a mob, half the riflemen could fire, while the kilties were in open order and could all fire. I got 5 hits, he got none.
This continued for two more turns, and my sword mob took maybe two casualties. I charged, failed to close, and got me leader shot.
Next turn, mirabile dictu, rallied! On a 2! Allah Akbar y'all.

Usually, a force of Highlanders should be able to see off a mob of Afghan Rifles and 3 sword clans. Well, the wind was blowing in their faces….

On the other flank, the Crappy Regulars were able to force the Sikhs back, as well as the Bengal Lancers.

All I can say for this battle is that Bobs was not in charge.

Was it unrealistic for not being based on a "real" battle? I think not. If anything, it showed what happens when your luck is not with you. Maybe Bobs would have fared the same with bad die rolls.

If the outcome is predetermined, why play the game?

I find games like the one you describe one of the reasons that I so like colonials. It is quite feasible and acceptable.

One of many reasons why TSATF will always be my favorite set of rules.

John, the bottom line is not how you designed the scenario: if all the units were correct: if you actually played the as per the rules: if the figures were painted correctly……. It's if you had good fun and laughs with your friends.

That to me is what this is all about!
Sounds to me like under my criteria, you had an exceptional evening.
Kudos to you and your friends.

More realistic? I wouldn't have thought so; but they aren't less realistic, and can often be as much, or more, fun. And as you say, there can be no quibbling with the details…

I have played many games that were not designed to replicate any action in particular, if that is what you are driving at.

Much to be said for the non-historical and even thrown-together game, as long as the forces and terrain are roughly plausible.
For one thing, you're spared having everyone know that the relief column will show up on the Khandahar Road at 1:00 PM. The historical uncertainty is sometimes more important than the historical event, and usually more fun.
For another, you're spared having had the thing gamed 15 times before the Big Game, and everyone knowing that the Mission Station is (just) within rifle range of the stone fence.

We tell ourselves we want to replicate real-life decision-making. We know that real-life decision-making was done in confusion and ignorance--and then we try to eliminate the confusion and ignorance. Common, but still something wrong here.

"The mill is too close to the hill….."

Uh… "Winston,"

I'm not sure I got your original point.

What you described was pretty much every game of TSATF I've ever played since '81, though not necessarily with the Tommies getting such a hiding.

I mean, pre-planning a game to some degree is always a proper idea, if you know how many players, and what figures and terrain/space are available, you can make sure everybody has a worthy command, etc. But when you just have the opportunity, and want to run with who and what you've got to hand, you just go for it!

And you did! So, why the angst and--dare I say it?--guilt?

"Pick up" games have been some of the best I've played in.
Spontaneity has a lot to be said for it--try it again some time soon.

And ask for it by name!

TVAG