"Fast Play Charge?" Topic

A couple of times at conventions, I've seen all the dice for a Charge! melee rolled at once instead of pairing off the individual castings. I can imagine doing this at least two ways--comparing low to high or low to low--which would result in very different casualty rates. Has anyone done Charge! in this way? And how were the losses calculated?

I have played lots of Charge! but only the traditional way. It occurs to me that all die could be rolled by each side at the same time behind a screen, then lined up in order before revealing. Personally, I prefer the one-on-one rolling, which builds drama of nothing else. The 'clear pip' rule is also genius.

OK Regicide, now you have to tell me about the "clear pip" rule. I can use all the genius I can get.

I played Charge! with one of it's authors, Peter Young. He played many times against my uncle, who housed his army. As a kid I was his dice-roller, than lieutenant-general as he became older. Melees consisted of rolling a die for each figure on a one to one basis, the losing figure being 'killed' if the winner's die was higher by a 'clear pip.' So my 6 would beat your 4 but not your 5; your 4 would beat my 2 but not my 3. Melees continued for another round unless one side inflicted 50% more casuallties than it recieved. In practice, instead of a blood-bath where somebody loses half a regiment in one round, casualties were far lower – and even the player attacking from a dominant position had to think twice before tying up units in a melee that might go on for three rounds of a twelve round game.

In fact, line infantry melees were rare for this reason; but cavalry always got stuck in – and jaegars sometimes to clear a wood, storm a farmhouse etc.

I am now thinking about the screen suggestion myself, having never thought of it before your post. What do you think, my friend? It saves time but adds another random element.

I just had a lightbulb moment!

Take on of those plastic sorting boxes, put a die in each compartment in two rows, close the box and shake it. Depending on your box you can roll off multiple combats at once and you can quickly move along the line.

Bravo, Witteridderludo! I like that!

I love dice boxes, use them all the time. Keeps the dice off the table…