Bob the Temple Builder | 28 Oct 2019 9:49 a.m. PST |
Before I begin, several caveats. Firstly, the author of TO UR IS HUMAN – Graham Evans AKA Trebian – is an old friend of mine, a fellow blogger, and long-time member of Wargame Developments. Secondly, I have no great knowledge of Ancient wargaming in general, and warfare in Sumerian Mesopotamia in particular. Thirdly, I would not have bought this book if I hadn't known the author and followed the development of these rules over the past few years. The book is US Book-size (i.e. 21.6cm x 27.9cm), is thirty-six pages long, and contains twelve sections or chapters: * Introduction * The Basics (including Playing Area, Ground and Figure Scale, Figures and Units, Troop Types, Generals, and Units 'In Support' * Game Set Up and Unit Deployment * Turn Sequence * Movement * Charges * Ranged Combat * Hand to Hand Combat * Fear Tests * Winning & Losing and Unit Values * Appendix – Sample Deployment Cards * And Finally In summary: * The rules are very straightforward, and I found them easy to understand. * The ground and figure scales used are abstract, and except for Battle Carts, units comprise four bases. * The playing surface is gridded and D6 dice are used throughout. Simple diagrams are used to explain examples of how the mechanisms work. Looking at the rules, there is one aspect that I really, really liked, so much so that I am giving serious thought to using something very like it in my own rules … the Fear Test! Simply put, the Fear Tests take the place of morale tests, and occur when two opposing unit are either in combat or about to be in combat with one another. It reflects the level of fear a unit has of their opposing unit, and can result in somewhat unpredictable outcomes. For example, a unit may win a hand to hand combat with an enemy unit but then fail its Fear Test because it perceives that the losing enemy unit remains steadfast and shows no sign of breaking and running. TO UR IS HUMAN: TABLETOP WARGAME RULES FOR CONFLICT IN SUMERIAN MESOPOTAMIA was written by Graham Evans and published in 2019 by Wargaming for Grown Ups Publications (ISBN 978 1 699 82492 4). It is currently on sale for £5.00 GBP from Amazon. link |
Trebian | 28 Oct 2019 12:33 p.m. PST |
Thanks for the review, Bob. There's a battle report using them here: link |
Happy Wanderer | 18 Nov 2019 3:50 p.m. PST |
Great to see some Sumer content. I'm not sure if you've seen the blog Sumer2Sargon. It shares a keen interest in all things Sumerian as well. Worth a peek 😉 sumer2sargon.wordpress.com |
Elenderil | 10 Jan 2020 12:15 p.m. PST |
Another vote for To Ur. I have played these and find they give an interesting game.in that you can ‘win' a fight and still turn around and run. That's due to the fear test which measures willingness to continue fighting in a different way than who has stacked up the highest body count. Because of this reserves are vital as you can never be sure who will stand and fight. It reminds me of the little I know of intertribal warfare in New Guinea which seems right: |
barcah2001 | 30 Jan 2020 5:18 p.m. PST |
Bought a copy and like them very much. Now we need some new 6mm figures to use with them ! |
Trebian | 02 Feb 2020 10:14 a.m. PST |
@barcah2001: Ian Kay has 6mm Sumerians in his Biblical Range which will do the trick (editor Bill uses them), and so do Rapier Miniatures. Otherwise you might want to have a word with Pete Berry at Baccus, although he's a very busy man. |
barcah2001 | 02 Feb 2020 10:25 a.m. PST |
Thank you Trebian, My current collection is made of Rapier. Baccus suggested I buy Rapier! |
Trebian | 02 Feb 2020 11:50 a.m. PST |
@barcah2001: He's a nice bloke really, that Mr Berry. Enjoy the rules and post battle reports somewhere. There are now over 200 people who have bought "To Ur…" so they need to know there is a growing community actually playing them. |
barcah2001 | 02 Feb 2020 11:57 a.m. PST |
This is the first rule set that seems comfortable with this era. AND it is easily adapted to the world of Egypt, Mittani and Hittites. |
Trebian | 02 Feb 2020 3:08 p.m. PST |
@barcah2001: Good to hear you think that. You really need to go out and tell all your friends and start threads on other forums as well. Truth is as a new publisher trying to get traction with the wargaming community is tough. If you start a discussion of "best rules for Sumerians" every rulebook fan boy chips in with Hail Caesar/Impetus/DBA etc and you get lost in the noise. |
barcah2001 | 02 Feb 2020 4:31 p.m. PST |
See what I can do. Is there a site in particular you would suggest I post on? |
Trebian | 03 Feb 2020 4:01 a.m. PST |
@barcah2001: If you don't do a blog, then yo ucan post AARs here on TMP. The Wargame Website is good, and any other forum you frequent. I found postings about "To Ur" on the Pendraken forum and Lead Adventures (??). And, of course, write your Amazon review. |
barcah2001 | 21 Oct 2020 6:56 p.m. PST |
Finishing my Sumerian, Akkadian and Gutian armies with the last Rapier shipment expected next week. Anxious to get the Gutians into action. What do you think of a trained LI class but allowing a supporting unit and giving them a +1D6 for the initial charge as a savage war and? Mark |
BigRedBat | 22 Oct 2020 1:16 a.m. PST |
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barcah2001 | 22 Oct 2020 4:04 a.m. PST |
Yes it is. By the way, the rules have no army lists so, BigRedBat, I'm using your army lists! |
UshCha | 22 Oct 2020 12:29 p.m. PST |
Thanks for the review it helps sort out what is or is not what folk want. |
BigRedBat | 23 Oct 2020 2:50 a.m. PST |
Yes it is. By the way, the rules have no army lists so, BigRedBat, I'm using your army lists! LOL enjoy. |
Trebian | 30 Nov 2020 3:25 a.m. PST |
@barcah2001: I've only just noticed that this thread has been updated. The rules are yours, you paid for them, do what you want with the Gutians. My take – trained LI are just fine. I use them quite a bit to get some game balance. I would not have supports, however. In my mind that's heavy infantry, with more heavy infantry leaning on behind to keep them in place. LI can evade. HI can't. They need something else to keep them in place. The reason there are no army lists is that I didn't think there was enough evidence to be didactic on the subject. We have a few clues, but honestly, not enough. I think it is also the case that armies were adapted to circumstances. You don't take battle cars into mountainous areas, so they would never be a core element in those types of terrain, for example. The points system in the book does mean you can balance the armies and choose what you want. There's another review out here: link |
barcah2001 | 11 Dec 2020 4:21 a.m. PST |
Because this is such an unknown period for gamesome guidance on army structure and composition is really needs. On the Gutians—it depends on how you visualize them. I see them as a mass of unarmored/lightly armored infantry willing to melee the Sumerians if they are inspired, desperate or think they can work around the flanks |
bobm1959 | 12 Jan 2021 7:18 a.m. PST |
I got the rules for Xmas. The plan to buy 10mm fugures to use has gone on the back burner now. However I really like the rules (from reading not playing….but I'm generally good at understanding how rules will play from reading) and throughout the reading process kept seeing them working as a Dark Ages set with only slight tweaks….and I've got loads of Dark Ages stuff all ready to go. Very innovative set of rules that make limited troop type availability into an interesting contest rather than a slog. |
Trebian | 03 Feb 2021 6:47 a.m. PST |
@Barcah2001: I take your point. However, I stick by my view that anyone who says an army has to be in such and such proportions is pretty much making it all up, and I'd rather not do that. I'm okay with your assessment of the Gutians. @bobm1959: 10mm would look great, and you'd be able to use smaller squares and get more on the table (why not???). As for the Dark Ages – well, people have talked Bronze Age, but that's a new one to me. However, now you mention it, I can see how it might be done. Email me at the address in the rules if oyu ever set it up and run the game! |