"Converting "WAB" statistics to "Hail Caesar!"?" Topic

Was just reading an article, "The Aztecs of Ancient China" in Wargames Illus. (Sept. 2002), suggesting statistics for the old (now mostly abandoned?) "Warhammer Anc. Battles" (WAB) rules to enable playing the Shang-era Chinese. Have gotten some advice on vendors selling Shang-era Chinese. BUT… I do not play "WAB."

Can anyone suggest a "system" or a "formula" for converting "WAB" statistics to "Hail Caesar!"?

BTW, am also interested in statistics and figures to use for the "semi-mythical" predecessor Xia Chinese??

Thanks in advance for any help!

Played WAB in the past and only know enough about HC that it sounds very difficult to translate a game that is based around an individual model and its stats to a game that is based a round a unit of many models and its composite stats.

Perhaps wiser minds will assist.

It should be very easy. All it takes on your part is to match Shang troop types to generic unit classes such as heavy/medium/light infantry/cavalry/chariots and use the appropriate profiles from the Hail Caesar rulebook. Tweak to taste.

You can also compare the Hail Caesar Han list with the WAB Art of War list for a sense of a later period conversion.

Individual model system has no impact on translation into HC.

that it sounds very difficult to translate a game that is based around an individual model and its stats to a game that is based a round a unit of many models and its composite stats.

Considering that in WAB most models in a single unit have identical stats and equipment (with occasional exceptions) in most cases this should not be much of an issue.

I am not familiar with details of HC, but evaluating WAB statistics in practice should be pretty straightforward. The entries that you should really look out for are:
- Weapon Skill (WS), used to resolve melee attacks
- Ballistic skill (BS), used to resolve missile attacks
- Leadership (LD), used to resolve morale

For Weapon Skill and and Ballistic skill, value 2 stands for poor, 3 for average and 4 for good performance. Some army lists feature units with WS 5, which would be truely elite.

For unit leadership, 5 or 6 would be poor, 7 average and 8 good. For character leadership, 8 would be your basic commander, 9 experienced senior commander and 10 truely exceptional individual.

As for weapons and armour, the entries hopefully are self explanatory, with armour divided into two classes (light and heavy). Additionally, there are various special rules which may require thinking about: for example Stubborn units are more difficult to break in melee.

I guess from all the foregoing, the smart way to go is to find "near matches" for the types of troops (weapons, armor, etc.), and just "borrow" their statistics! From what I know of "Hail Caesar!" (I am still learning the rules!), the biggest "headache" will be to try to decide if the Shang should be organized in what I'll call "regular units" (i.e. two-deep lines), or as "war bands" in much BIGGER "units" (four-deep lines)? I'm inclined for the Shang towards two-deep lines, and to make their "barbarian" opponents four-deep "war bands."

Thus, I think I will make the Shang "king's" own "Royal Guard:"

Heavy infantry armed with ji spears & long daggers, Clash 7, Sustain 7, Short Ranged 3, Long 0, Morale 4+, Stamina 6, counts as "Drilled," and cost 29 per unit.

Depending on how they are equipped (sculpted), the King's own clan, or a Duke's or a Clan Chef's "Clan Warriors" would be:

Medium infantry armed with ji spears and daggers, 6, 6, 3, 0, 5+, 6, "Drilled," @ 26 per unit,

OR,

Light infantry with spears and/or javelins, 5, 5, 3, 0, 6+, 6, NOT "drilled" being "lesser sorts," and @ 20 per unit.

Maybe make an option for the Mediums to ALSO not be "drilled?" Or only allow a percentage of all the infantry to be "drilled?"

Also, borrowing from the Qin list in "HC!" I might add an option (if I can discern that the Shang also had a sort of semi-organized militia system?), for a reduction for any units made up of "peasants," to make them "Light Infantry" and also "undrilled impressed troops." Then make a further reduction of the "LI," if a levee en masse, and especially at planting or harvest season, to "add" (subtract really) to the "undilled impressed" w/ the application of the special rule as "Levy."

Probably the simplest way to go I guess -- rather than trying to work out some complicated "algebra" or WORSE, "calculus!" to convert from the old WAB statistics! Still have to sort out chariots and also "barbarians," but I think this may get the job done! Thanks to everyone for their comments!