"Muskets & Tomahawks card activating modification" Topic

M&T rules fans,
Our local game group ran across this variation on Muskets & Tomahawks' card-activation mechanic, which has really enhanced the system's gameplay for us recently. Instead of drawing a single card off the deck to determine the troop class and player side that is currently activating, instead, each side selects from a hand of three cards they hold in secret, and which is then replenished after each single card is played from it. This new turn sequence goes back and forth (IGOUGO) from one side to another, and whatever the phasing side plays as a card, that's the troop class and side which activates. Note that a card played may be for the other side's troops too, as each side redraws from a common, single card pile to replenish their cards from (as standard M&T). However, this is the most interesting facet of this modification, in that player sides will often be playing "defense" through strategically playing the opposition's cards they possess, forcing the other side to activate units they might not wish to order (and therefore not always being an occurrence of random chance).

We don't know who came up with this fun sequencing modification (a friend ran across it online), but it's made M&T even more enthralling for us! The contemplation of what unit type to activate from the pool of cards held, reminds me a little of the Commands & Colors board games, where there is strategizing over what cards to play, and how to attempt maintaining attack momentum, or even just as distractions and spoiler attacks. This activation method applied to Muskets & Tomahawks supports a little more of this contemplation about what might be activated in each player phase. There's still the chance factor, and "up or down" present in M&T's stock card-pulling method (for replenishing the 3-card hand), but also now a way to exert a bit more strategy into the flow of activations, and with an easy, low overhead way to enhance battle coordination.

Thanks to whomever crafted this fun M&T modification (and sound out if you happen to be a member of the board here too)!

Ooh, nice twist on card mechanics!

In sci-fi games, I've used Command Points: each player can spend 1 point to put their just revealed card on the bottom of the deck, or 2 points to put an opponent's card on the bottom. I like this card hand method for pre-command-post tech level games.

Interesting.

I may give that one a try although we are happy with our usual games really. (Use of event cards to end the turn and reshuffle whether or not all the cards have come out)

I have to agree with bruntonboy that I'm pretty happy with M&T RAW. The bane of card driven games in general is speed of play degrades exponentially the bigger the game gets, and the more cards there are in the deck. The way around it, at least to some degree, is to have multiple units activate on a single card – which is exactly what M&T does. You just need to make sure that you don't give all of the like type units to a single player – i.e. don't give one player all of the British regulars.

Now, I'm all in favor of the premise that good games require players to think, weigh options, and make decisions; however, I really see speed of play taking a hit when there is "contemplation of what unit type to activate from the pool of cards held" and "strategizing over what cards to play" on every card.

Well, there's certainly a division in the gaming community over random activation mechanics, as opposed to contemplative activation.

The activation method mentioned here is a hybrid mod of both.

Some others may be interested in giving this a try, and might find a fresh rendering to what is already a terrific ruleset.

(and sometimes you have to try it to like it too)

How different is this from the alternate card activation presented in the M+T rulebook?

Bowman gets the prize!

This is an option in the rule book.

I must admit I didn't know its source, but in fact it's an official variant.

(makes trying and liking it even better)