"Step-By-Step Guide to THW Systems" Topic

Hi All,

I'm hoping one of you can direct me to a step-by-step guide on how the Two Hour Wargames reaction system works--even including die rolls, if possible. Given the choice, I would love an example that has both firing figures and those that would like to close to hth combat.

If it helps, the game I'm considering is a Pulp-ish game based loosely on the film Gunga Din. The players will be raiding a temple of a dastardly cult, and will have about a dozen or so figures with 2-3 character types. The cultists will have about double that number (most of poor quality), some armed with muskets and others with swords. So you see, I'd like to understand how the firing and close-to-melee system plays out in practice.

Where I bog down is this sort of situation: figure A fires at figure B and figure B charges; figure A then takes a Being Charged test and fires again…and so it goes; but what about all the other chaps right next to him? I know I'm misunderstanding how it works, but it seems one can get into these little "reaction circles" while the rest of the figures sit around and watch the show. This might work for small skirmishes of 2-3 figures each side, but for a game the size I am considering it would be killing. As stated above, I know I'm misunderstanding something and it bothers me. I'm hoping a good, detailed example (written by some charitable soul) would help clear my confusion.

The base rules I thought I'd use are Larger Than Life (that could handle the Pulp-Colonial feel I'm after), with some excursions into Colonial Adventures for the bigger battles. Since I think all the games share a basic reaction system, I hope you will forgive me for posting this everywhere from Pulp to WWII to Sci-Fi, as it's the core system I'm wanting to wrap my head around. Would owning Nuts! or 5150 help with this situation?

I don't expect any detailed walk throughs here, but was only hoping someone could point me in the right direction to an available guide already out there. I know about the Yahoo group and how helpful they are, I just thought I'd try here first.

Thank you for any help!

PS If anyone lives in Southern California I'd love to watch a game. Just throwing it out there! Thanks again.

Daryl, here you go -

link

Ed posted this on TMP recently, but I couldn't find it. It is exactly what you are looking for.

Hi Daryl,
Like Nick said,there's a How to Play link.
There are also 3 videos with 3 more coming soon.

YouTube link

YouTube link

YouTube link

From what you're saying you may have an old version of THW or doing a hypothetical situation because you didn't mention the In Sight test as figures will start out of sight of each other 98% of the time.

Would owning Nuts! or 5150 help with this situation?

not necessary. What rules do you already own?

I don't expect any detailed walk throughs here, but was only hoping someone could point me in the right direction to an available guide already out there. I know about the Yahoo group and how helpful they are, I just thought I'd try here first.

There's also the forum as well where there is much more activity.

link

Do you have the latest Chain Reaction rules?

link

Let me know and we can go from there.

In posting this it occurred to me there might be a number of "hand to forehead" moments, and I've already had several. First and most important, I was forgetting about figures activating in groups--that significantly lessens the dice rolling and speeds things up no end.

Nick, I've ordered the guide and look forward to going through it.

Ed, the rules I own currently are LtL, Colonial Adventures and somewhere, in a box, I think I have the dinosaur/caveman game (Lost Lands?). I was remembering the In Sight test--I just didn't want to bog the post down with too many terms. I'll read over those rules again, however, as they might help clear up some of my confusion.

The videos were very helpful! You might already be on this, but a video that literally plays through a short encounter between two groups, activation by activation, would be very helpful to slow fellows like myself. The gentleman speaking in them does a great job, but you might suggest he slow down a little: he covers things with admirable speed, but it can be a little difficult to digest things before he's off on the next subject (at least for me!). Just two thoughts.

Thank you both for responding and your patience. Ed, I'll take a look at Chain Reaction and the forum. I appreciate the help!

Will do Daryl. Which LTL version do you have – Here's the current one.

link

Yes, that's the one I have. Thank you again for the leads. Now I'm tempted to set up a table and give the game a spin or two!

Ed,

Mini rant on.

Slightly off topic…… That package arrived in Australia on the 29th of January (in Perth!!!!). However, I'm still waiting for it to be delivered to me (in Sydney!!!!)……. The tracking indicates it's still in the system, just Australia Post at their epic WORST for customer service.

Is it any wonder I cram in so much shopping when I'm O/S?

My apologies for the distraction folks.

Mini rant off.

Duck

Duck,
That's so messed up. Especially after we spoke on the phone about how to get it to you the quickest.
Keep me posted,
Ed

Are you going to use any British Army soldiers as well as the three sergeants for the Gunga Din scenario.