Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Pikes, Muskets and Flouncy Shirts => Topic started by: Silent Invader on November 30, 2010, 04:55:37 PM
-
Well, seeing the fun that Furt has been having over in SYW India, I have taken the plunge and bought the pdf of Sharp Practice to try out in SYW north America (aka the F&IW).
I watched the first two explanatory videos on YouTube though the third kept stalling, which was a shame. (And was that LAF's own Sidney Roundwood providing the opposition?)
At a cursory first glance I like the BIG MEN concept as, alongside the more usual formation control, I think this can be employed for a bit of one-on-one swash-and-buckle. I'm not keen on the aesthetics of laying out dice on the table to indicate Shock but I think I can make some small boulder markers that'll do the job.
Once thing that isn't clear to me is modifications for Solo Play, though I'm waiting to be accepted into the Yahoo Group which'll hopefully provide an answer.
Does anyone have experience of using Sharp Practice for the F&IW?
Cheers. :)
EDIT: title change
-
Coincidentally I have just been re reading the rules to use for my Tex/Mex stuff also inspired by Furt :)
I also watched the podcasts. The third one shows what happens when you put three ten figure units together supported by three big men and move them into close range concentrated fire against a smaller 20 figure group with two big men.
Its short and bloody, the shock is the thing that makes a big difference.
From my limited reading of the rules they look perfect for F&I and there are opportunities for 1 on 1 swashbuckling with the big men.
I am very much looking forward to having a few games. Perhaps we should chat off board in the coming weeks to discuss rules queries that will no doubt creep in.
Or even better meet up for a game :)
-
Looking forward to seeing how this goes SI ;)
www.gallopingmajorwargames.com
-
I like the Napoleonic version so much I have tinkered with the idea of writing a dedicated F&I version to submit to the Lardies. Unfortunately I haven't had the time to pursue it. To be honest though after you play a few games you can easily adapt what is there to suit your needs. I did buy the AWI supplements and they contain some good ideas to flesh out the rules for Indians and various militia types.
-
I have been painting SYW stuff in 6mm for years, but the Lardies finally got me interested in skirmish games. So I took the plunge and ordered Sharp Practice and loved it. I live in Vermont, 1.5 miles from the Canadian border, which is prime F&IW territory and thought it would be great to start gaming it. I finally found the figures that made me want 28mm at the same time (thank you gallopingmajor) so, I'm in lock, stock, and barrel for Sharp Practice F&IW as well.
Keep us posted on any rules mods you may like. Indians are unnecessarily fragile in the SP rules though, that will need to be addressed. You would think they slunk off the first time a shot was fired by the way they were written.
-
I'm so happy some esteemed LAF'ers are preparing to give Sharp Practice a go. I guarantee you won't be sorry. :D
We play our Indostan games with little to no rule changes and I feel F&IW and Mexico will be similar beasts.
A nice set of custom cards to suite your particular theater are a must I think, like the ones I made for our game below.
http://adventuresinlead.blogspot.com/2010/08/custom-sharp-practice-deck.html
From what I can see "Indians" are represented well in SP and can be a very strong enemy. I believe fergal is referring to the "Bad Medicine" card in regard to Indians being fragile. There is only 1 card in a substantial deck that causes the most wounded Group to flee, while there are 5 cards to assist them.
There are a few concepts in Sharp Practice that are a little harder to grasp, but these will become clearer in time.
Please don't hesitate to ask me any questions and have fun with it.
Also I envy you two buggers so much when you can simply organize a game with fellow LAF'ers so easily! :'( :'(
-
Does the game appeal to smaller skirmishes at all?
Also, when do you get to use those cards?
-
I downloaded someone's FIW adaptation for Sharp Practice a while back - only trouble - I can't remember from where.
www.gallopinmajorwargames.com
-
The cover page of the rules state "Wargames Rules for large skirmishes in the Black Powder era".
Groups in Sharp Practice are comprised of between 8-12 figures and an average game would have about 6 Groups per side. Also you would probably need between 4-5 Big Men (characters).
Smaller amounts of figures and a smaller number of groups may work, but I think it would lead to a less satisfying game.
Christian, the cards basically drive the game. They determine who's go it is (Big Men), when hidden movement occurs (Blinds), random events (Bonus) and when the turn ends (Tiffin), for example.
Galloping Major, I would say it was from the Too Fat Lardies Yahoo Group.
-
SI, I think your about half-way there mate. ;)
Groups of 6 figures would tend to "loose their bottle" (rout) a bit too easily. If a Group acquires more "shock points" then men, they begin to back away, double and they are fleeing. I have played with Groups consisting of 8 figures, to represent poorer quality troops, and even they tend not to stick around too long.
I have had solo-play queries posted on my blog and I too mentioned the trouble with the Blinds. They represent Groups who have not been located by the enemy, creating a kind of "fog of war". Groups on Blinds achieve a better movement rate and may not be fired on. Some Blinds are dummies, representing scouting forces, lost locals etc. IMOP, this element would be hard to achieve in solo play.
-
Galloping Major, I would say it was from the Too Fat Lardies Yahoo Group.
Come to think of it, it probably was. :D
www.gallopingmajorwargames.com
-
We played a few games without blinds and the game still works. You just lose some of the suspense they help create. If all of your groups are six figures the reduced firepower may lessen the shock generated, but you can always apply one shock for every two scored in a phase if you think your units are breaking too easily.
-
I have yet to play a game, but I would think that if all the groups were small it would equal out.
-
I think Sharpe Practice, They Couldn't Hit an Elephant, Charlie Don't Surf, Bag The Hun, Troops Weapons and Tactics, I Ain't Been Shot, Mum! and Kiss Me Hardy are all excellent games.
I guess this means that I've played most of their games actually... lol
I'm currently working on an adoption of IABSM for VSF, but haven't come that far so far.
There is a lot of difference between their oldest publications and the newest. A game like IABSM can feel like a "suggestion for a rule book" rather than an actual finished book. But once you get into them I think they offer some really good games.
But what they all share is a simplicity that makes them ideal for "conversions" into other periods.
I do recommend playing with fewer figures than the lardies themselves though, as I find they play very large and long games.
-
Really nice SI - they look great and should not deter from your layout at all.
I suspect my priorities are somewhat confused......
Not really - look at me, I'm working on lost hat markers!
So we stand at 8 men now - I can see you reporting back in the New Year "... plus 12 men for the smallest Group". ;)
-
Groups of 6 figures would tend to "loose their bottle" (rout) a bit too easily. If a Group acquires more "shock points" then men, they begin to back away, double and they are fleeing. I have played with Groups consisting of 8 figures, to represent poorer quality troops, and even they tend not to stick around too long.
I ran a game last year at various conventions with groups ranging 6-8 figures. I was afraid beforehand that the smaller groups would accumulate shock and kills much quicker and lose their bottle. Just the opposite happened. With smaller groups came fewer hits, so the game played pretty much as normal.
If you find the opposite, play that a Big Man can reduce Shock on *any* group within his command range rather than just the group he's with.
-
Shock Markers are a grea idea. :)
I was considering the same thing, originally inspired by the good Captain Blood's Shitting Bricks markers from his F&I game at last years BLAM. :)
-
My gaming group played a few games of FIW using Sharp Practice and have to say we would thoroughly recommend these rules for FIW.
We stopped playing FIW a few years ago because there were no decent rule sets available but thankfully now that Sharp Practice has arrived we have re-discovered FIW again.
Groups of about 12 men work fine and formations of 3 x 12 figures with 2 or 3 big men also work well, just be careful as the formation rules can be tricky, but when they get to fire it's awesome!!!
Simon
:) :) :)
-
I think the only problem you will experience with smaller groups will be if the 'Tiffin' card or whatever card you use comes up twice in quick succession. The resulting firing without the big man removing shock coulld be quite devastating to smaller groups. Apart from that I think the idea of using smaller groups is worth a try. Probably make for a shorter and faster paced game.
By the way I do like the look of those shock markers.
-
Looks brilliant :-*
I look forward to the report. I bought Sharp Practice a while ago but I am yet to use them.
-
Have only just started with these rules and find them great fun. We use small numbers of groups perhaps 3 to 5 each side which works well. Usually groups are between 6 (mounted) and 12 figs per group. We play AWI so small mounted groups works well but they do have bottle and shock issues that larger groups dont. Keeping the number of groups and big men to a minimum means we can focus more on tasks or objectives. They are great fun and the youtube videos on how they play were a great help more publishers should do this.
FD
-
Recently posted on TFL Yahoo site.
http://saltflats1929.blogspot.com/
On site once you're in there is a file "Sharpe practice 18th century" that includes FIW and AWI info and a few scenarios.
-
Ooooooh, this is going to be eye candy of the highest calibre. A perfect start to the new year. ;D
-
That tease photo looks CHOCK full of great looking terrain.
Can't wait to see the report - good luck SI.
-
Nice tweaks SI 8)
www.gallopingmajorwargames.com
-
The, ah, lady? upstairs, what make is that one? ??? :P
-
Thanks, nicely done. Always handy to have a good strumpet available! ;)
-
A marvelously engaging report and some nice shots.
The game sounded like a lot of fun. How did you find the rules?
I like the trapper and goatherd getting into it - awesome.
I told you the Indians would hold their own SI. ;)
-
Must... resist... urge to... collect FIW... arrrrgghhhh!!!!!
Great report! I thought Sharp Practice games were always bigger!
Looks like they are pretty good for small engagements then?
Hmmm... Furt, when's your next game already? :p
-
Absolutely brilliant. The scenario and photos have a real cinematic feel to them. I am really enjoying your project from the conception of the boards, to the buildings, conversions, sculpts etc and then finally to see it played out. Wonderful. ;D
-
What a fantastic report....awesome terrain, great figures and top quality action. I loved the stones as 'shock' markers - they blended in perfectly. :D
I also liked the subtle tweaks you added to the rules, Steve. Some of them are very interesting, like the changes to the Grasp the Nettle card and having the Big Men cards being non-named and available to any Big Man of the right level on the same side. Small changes like that can change the game quite a lot. Part of the fun of playing a ruleset is that sort of tinkering to find the blend you like - so, more power to you!
As to the size of game, I've played bigger games of Sharp Practice, but many of the very best ones have been with forces of just about the size you're using.
I'm definately looking froward to your next visit to Butler's Landing. :)
-
Excellent report - it's alway nice to see a project carried through from initial inception to a full game!
-
Perhaps you and Sir Sidney should talk to the Chief Lardster about publishing your "tweaked" abridged version for publication in a Lard special (perhaps a Spring or Summer edition)? As my TFL rules are pdf versions, I haven't spent the time cutting and pasting into an abridged semi QRS but if the owrk has already been done................... ???
-
Absolutely fantastic report, thank you so much for posting it. I have just started down the FIW journey and this is amazing inspiration. Please keep us updated.
I started work this week on my own casualty markers based on yours, a lick of static grass tonight and they will be finished.
I really like those Brit Regulars, can you tell me what make they are?
Please don't apologize for large amounts of pictures, I wouldn't spend the time on a text write up, but if there are pictures, I'm all eyes.
-
Great report SI. In "standard" SP a unit can never be activated more than once, but your variant creates for a faster and more "heroic" game I think.
-
Truly excellent stuff. 8)
Quite gripping narrative, really enjoyed it.
www.gallopingmajorwargames.com
-
Truly excellent stuff. 8)
Quite gripping narrative, really enjoyed it.
www.gallopingmajorwargames.com
Yep, I felt quite sorry for the goat herder :'(
-
One thing I did, which I think is how the rules are meant to be played but in any event it actually worked, was to allow Groups to be deployed more than once in a turn. For example, a Level 1 corporal might activate to move and fire his Group and then, in the same Turn, a Level 3 officer might activate to come along and do something else with them, all depending on card draws and the timing of the Turn end. All-in-all, the effect was of a constantly evolving game.
I think a question of "chain of command" comes into play here also in the standard SP rules. You can not usually command a Group that is under the command of a superior officer or is not from your parent regiment.
The Trapper was a Big Man in his own right and as a character had quite an effect on the game.
The trapper sounds like he could have utilized the "Chosen Man" rules and acted like as a sniper.
I did make one significant change, namely to remove the 1xD6 requirement to load a musket.
I don't get this SI, 1xD6 to load?
I have very much enjoyed my foray into Sharp Practice to the extent that I think it (with my tweaks) will become my ‘standard’ rule set.
I'm so pleased the rules have worked for you and you are having fun tweaking it to suite your needs. Again brilliant write-up and can't wait to see more.
-
One of my tweaks is to the chain of command as I allow what I call officers, that is level 3 and 4, to direct units from other regiments. Thus a level 1 corporal can command only a group of his regiment, while a level 2 sergeant can command a formation of 2 groups from his own regiment, while a level 3 Captain can lead a formation of say 2 groups from different regiments. In my Game the senior British Big Man was a level 3 officer from the Rangers, who directed redcoats as well. This change was intended to reflect the sometimes fractured nature of F&IW fighting.
Sounds like a great rule for the F&IW that makes sense. :)
Regarding the 1xD6 for musket loading, I'm refering to the Action Dice table (rule 2.4.1) which says that "reload musket" costs 1 Dice. I've made this (and tap-loading a Rifle) 0xD6, with loading a rifle reduced from 2xD6 to 1xD6. I might have got this wrong but my reading of the rules is that a standard activation comprises 2 Action Dice, of which say 1 could be allocated to moving and the other to loading. My tweaks means that one is being allocated to moving and then the second to firing (loading being presumed). The effect of the change is therefore more firing, sooner.
Sorry - the use of the term 1xD6 confused me a little. Basically you have ruled that the Fire action includes an automatic Reload action. I get it now - certainly more deadly and allows each group to possibly fire twice in their activation. Combined with the ability to activate a group more than once a turn, this could result in a LOT of lead being fired by any given group. Some of our tenser moments in our games have come from making the decision to either reload after firing or to move/retreat. You should experiment with this I think, you may find the same dilemma.
Are you using the Sharp Practice card, if so who gets it? It will provide even more fire power? ;D
-
Great report the photos! Really enjoyed it :D
Thanks for sharing your tweeks as well.
-
Is these buy the same persons who produce Mud and the Blood?
-
Great report! :) Ver nice miniatures and the terrain!
Yesterday I had my first game with the Sharp Practice rules. It was very interest game, OK we checked very often in the rules and sometimes forgot some abiliites, but still it was very good game. We also had discussion if one unit can be activated more than once. OK, the ruleset than says no, but we tried both options to see how it reflects in the game. You had right, it is much bloody. :)
I am thinking that we will do more test games in the future, the ruleset is very promising.
-
I can't state how inspired I have become due to this thread. It has fueled my reading and imagination for a few weeks now. I have been trying to digest the silent invaders blog as much as I can.
If I can't figure out how to reproduce one of those canoes SI, I just might go crazy trying. Freakin' beautiful work. I live in Vermont and my main source of heat is a wood burning stove. I have been saving as much of the birch bark as I can before I burn it. Previously I had wanted to make a long house out of it (in 28mm of course :) ), but now I'm wondering if a canoe might be possible? Highly unlikely I'm realizing as I typed that last sentence.
Anyway, I have accomplished my clone of your shock markers.
(http://syw6mm.com/minirev/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/markers-013.jpg)
More bits and bobs can be found on my blog
http://syw6mm.com/2011/01/keeping-busy/ (http://syw6mm.com/2011/01/keeping-busy/)
-
If, like me, you are less talented than SI you can buy excellent canoes from Conquest. He's got them with a variety of crews (Indians, rangers, French "marines", and trappers IIRC).
-
Recently posted on TFL Yahoo site.
http://saltflats1929.blogspot.com/
On site once you're in there is a file "Sharpe practice 18th century" that includes FIW and AWI info and a few scenarios.
My blog beat me to this forum. There's a new update from a game this past weekend for those interested.
SI- You're stuff looks great. Very impressive terrain.
-
Great report and an excellent collection. I enjoyed reading it.
-
A truly inspirational report, SI. So much so that I have knuckled under and bought the PDF from Too Fat Lardies. It seemed timely, given my impending order from Conquest Miniatures...
I'm looking forward to further information on using Sharp Practice for the F&IW, as I can't really see myself using it for Napoleonics.
Pardon my glove, but did you omit using blinds completely in your initial test? Were they not really pertinent in a solo game? I thought that blinds seemed like one of the more interesting tactical innovations of the rules set (plus I kept envisioning unit-size blind markers featuring innocent-looking empty fields with a few suspicious trees and bushes, or a flock of suddenly deadly ducklings...). ;)
-
I'm sure Si will answer in time, but the use of Blinds would be pretty much wasted in a solo game, knowing of course what lied beneath them. They would still allow a Group under Blinds to move a little quicker and prevent them from being fired on.
You can see how we used the blinds here http://adventuresinlead.blogspot.com/2010/11/chases-rescue-part-ii.html I highly recommend their use in a standard game.
-
Thanks for the clarification. It seems like blinds would be worthwhile even in solo play however, as Big Men would be forced to burn command points in spotting, no?
-
Thanks for the clarification. It seems like blinds would be worthwhile even in solo play however, as Big Men would be forced to burn command points in spotting, no?
Spot on!
I regard Furt as 'the man' when it comes to the SP rules, he seems to know them inside out! :D
Too kind SI, I'm sure you are becoming quite the expert yourself!
-
In addition to the work being done on this forum by these two gents, the toofatlardies yahoo group contains some great resources and modifications. There are three STUNNING scenarios posted by a talented fan. Check those out as well.