"Shock of Impact Experience?" Topic

Anyone out there have any experience with Shock of Impact?

I am trying to use some of their combat mechanics, but streamline them significantly.

However there are some mechanics that are not clear, so looking for someone who can ask a few specific questions.

Please drop me an email or post here if you think you can help.

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From what I remember (and this is going back almost 30 years) most of the mechanics were entirely based on WRG 6th, but with a number of extra complexities and additions that in combination had a similar effect to if you were trying to play WRG 6th whilst a small Norwegian man sung local folks songs at you whilst punching you repeatedly in the head with a dead elks right hoof.

If you wanted to streamline the mechanics, WRG 6th would probably work right out if the box !

A dead elks *left* hoof. It's in the addenda!

Tried the same thing Duke a decade ago and gave up. I think there is a great game in there somewhere but I couldn't get it out. Best of luck (seriously!)

Why?

OK, I'll be a little less cynical.

IMO if you want to start with a 1970/80's game you need look no further than Milgamex' Ancient Warfare.

It was simpler than 5th or 6th, and had many mechanisms you saw in Shock-of-Impact (the Impact phase for instance).

I have no idea where you could find a copy.

link

Yes, I know I may be a glutton for punishment. I'm also doing the same with Lance 3rd for my Barons' War project.

I'm going to be using a lot of To The Strongest I think for Raphia, but I also want to try something with a lot more unit differentiation etc. Again, a glutton for punishment.

I'll look at Milgamex.

My only Shock of Impact question at the moment has to do with part of the Melee numbers.

It says how to calculate the value for input into the Casualty Chart BUT

THEN it says to

For Formed Melee – "Now (after casualty calculation) add the base size modifier and the random factor (see later)."

So what do you do with the Resulting Number? Is this the number used for "Results of Melee" to determine who "won"?

For Unformed Melee – "After casualty calculations … use the 'Unformed Melee Result Modifier' … to obtain a figure which is then added to the factor of the unit with the greater number of figures fighting, (i.e. after calculating casualties but before removing any figures).

Again, so what do you do with the Resulting Number? Is this the number used for "Results of Melee" to determine who "won"?

I'm assuming the answer to each question is Yes, but it's plain as Greek to me.

I think the point was that it was plain as Greek for many people ;-).

Still, could be worse. You could have asked about Newbury Fast Play!

JohnG

I was one of the playtesters, it's been a long while since I played. Mail me pjf 101 at BT Internet. com

It was in no way based on any WRG rules.

I used these rules and my abiding memory was of a friend asking if the 'loose' medium infantry were suffering from a bowel complaint. Seriously though we struggled to wrap our heads round these as young men, counting among our number a fledging lawyer & a phd astro-physicist. They were retired fairly quickly & we went back to WRG.

I got bashed in the face with my own shield during a re-enactment of the Boudiccan Revolt for Leicestershire Museums in 1995 – does that count?

I got along fine with all the WRGs from 3-6. My experience with SoI was that it was fine until actual combat and then everything went wonky. My two best friends from that attempt say that I'm the one that was wonky and it was OK. While I didn't do pot I could have consumed a few too many Daiquiris and Cubre Libres.

Maybe 'Shock of Impact' refers to what happens to the reader when they pick up the rules.

I have a copy if anyone wants one. ;)

If they every do a War Gamers version of Big Bang Theory then this thread could be the script for episode 1!

I still have an original copy of the rules and the army list book!

I obtained these rules when they were first published, noticed that they were against WRG , which l had never played ( l was a Newbury rules player ) there was a lot about the rules that l liked , but like most people couldn't figure out the combat, once other units joined the melee, gamers st that time must of had sharper brains .
I think , like most of the older rules they tried to factor in as many variables as possible and this is where the problem and attraction is, to me the interest in Ancient warfare is the character of the warriors involved , the equipment the fighting style etc , but trying to recreate that in the old style sort of game is fraught with difficulties , back to Newbury rules , or more precisely army lists , a Cav unit with a side arm v a Cav unit with out one would have an advantage in melee ,so the whole outcome could depend on that one plus one Factor, all other things being equal, also heavily armoured Byzantine Cav with lance , side arm , lance and supporting bowmen facing Normans with a Mail shirt , Swiss Army knife and good intentions…., Become Cav , knights in DBA, sup Cav v Fast knights in DBM…that's why l gave up on the old rules ….but all respect to DBX , am more likely to play , Armati , Tactica or Impetus, but proudly own Shock of impact lists, and rules , loving the detail .