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Miniatures Adventure => Medieval Adventures => Topic started by: TWD on 18 September 2013, 10:34:41 PM

Title: A Dux Britanniarum game
Post by: TWD on 18 September 2013, 10:34:41 PM
I've been playing a Dux Brit campaign.
Here's a teaser picture:

(http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r195/webdeak/Dux%20Brit/DuxBrit012_zpsefc47dfb.jpg)
Several more pictures and ropy narrative on the blog
http://tomstoysoldiers.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/dux-britanniarum.html

Title: Re: A Dux Britanniarum game
Post by: LeadAsbestos on 19 September 2013, 12:26:29 AM
Details! What didn't you like? I have yet to play the rules, but everything else is ready!
Title: Re: A Dux Britanniarum game
Post by: janner on 19 September 2013, 06:46:33 AM
We faced similar frustrations, Tom. There are just too many holes in the rules, which is frustrating.
Title: Re: A Dux Britanniarum game
Post by: Mitch K on 19 September 2013, 07:44:34 AM
I'm still looking forward to my first game. I can see there's plenty of room for "interpretation" in the rules - fine if you like that sort of thing, but not everyone does. By comparison, Dan Mersey's Dux Bell rules are pretty water-tight as far as I can establish.
Title: Re: A Dux Britanniarum game
Post by: guitarheroandy on 19 September 2013, 01:41:34 PM
The best way to play any Lardies rule set is to take the wording literally! In every rules query we have, the author's response always indicates that the literal response is correct.

I make no secret of the fact that I love these rules but like everything else, they won't be for everyone.
Truth to tell though, the raid scenarios are where it excels due to the well-planned victory conditions. The battles can be, IMHO, slightly less satisfactory, although the pre-battle events are fun.

My campaign continues to be graet fun anyway.

Title: Re: A Dux Britanniarum game
Post by: Mitch K on 19 September 2013, 01:53:07 PM
The commonest replies to qeries seem to be:
"If it doesn't make sense, you're over-thinking it" and
"Do what seems right"

Seems like a good way to approach it, and that's what I'm gonna do! lol

Now as soon as my leg is well enough for me to drive and get a 6x4 table set up, we'll have a go ;D
Title: Re: A Dux Britanniarum game
Post by: janner on 19 September 2013, 05:30:28 PM
Good luck - I hope they work for you  :)
Title: Re: A Dux Britanniarum game
Post by: TWD on 19 September 2013, 06:09:25 PM
Phew, I'm glad I'm no the only one  who hasn't got on with these rules - was beginning to feel maybe I'd gone mad and there was something obvious I was missing.
:)

I don't really want to go into details - I think some of it is personal taste and I wish the Lardies and their fans no ill will (and I don't want to start any sort of flame war!)
I did originally write a lengthy criticism of the rules but then wisely parked it and decided not to post it - I'm trying to follow the rule of  "if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything".
:)

I don't regret buying it or trying it -I just think you have to know when something isn't right for you and step away.

The positives
I think the campaign system is excellent - simple and yet effective
I liked the card activation
The scenarios are good (though I think there's to much random in the set-ups) and I enjoyed the overall narrative of the campaign we played.

I think if you can get beyond the "holes" as others have described it then you'll probably really enjoy the games.
Title: Re: A Dux Britanniarum game
Post by: emosbur on 19 September 2013, 08:12:03 PM
I played only once, and I liked it. It is fast and bloody. I would like to know which are those holes in the game. May be the problem is trying to find a rule for every situation, something you will not find in a TFL game. Play the period, not the rules.

Emilio.
Title: Re: A Dux Britanniarum game
Post by: janner on 19 September 2013, 08:34:26 PM
Play the period, not the rules.

I know that it is one of TFL's favourite lines, but I find that an unnecessarily provocative comment.

Holding an opinion one way or another on these rules doesn't have anything to do with one's knowledge of medieval military history or a desire to enjoy a fun, flavour filled game.

I'm glad that you enjoyed your first game, Emilio, and hope that you continue to find the rules to your liking.
Title: Re: A Dux Britanniarum game
Post by: TWD on 19 September 2013, 09:20:20 PM
May be the problem is trying to find a rule for every situation, something you will not find in a TFL game. Play the period, not the rules.

I'm pretty sure I'm not the kind of gamer who prioritises rules over period Emilio. Others may disagree but generally I struggle to remember enough rules in a game to be able to exploit them in any way!
:)
Title: Re: A Dux Britanniarum game
Post by: emosbur on 19 September 2013, 09:54:00 PM
I know that it is one of TFL's favourite lines, but I find that an unnecessarily provocative comment.



Sorry, I don´t understand why you say that. It was not my intention to be "provocative".
I hope you´ll find rules that suit better your tastes.

Best wishes.

Emilio.
Title: Re: A Dux Britanniarum game
Post by: emosbur on 19 September 2013, 10:03:15 PM
I'm pretty sure I'm not the kind of gamer who prioritises rules over period Emilio. Others may disagree but generally I struggle to remember enough rules in a game to be able to exploit them in any way!
:)


As english is not my mother language, and is a bit difficult for me to write in english what I think, may by that you and your friend missunderstand me. If it sounds like I was criticizing your views about the rules, it was not my intention. As we say in Spain, "sobre gustos no hay nada escrito", roughly, "nothing is written about tastes". I only asked about the reasons why you don´t like the game, and about the holes, to try to understand your views. That is friendly discussions, as I see it. I am new on DB, and I ask opinions and views. Nothing more. I apologise if I sound ofensive.
Bytheway, nobody answered my question.
Best wishes.

Emilio.

P.S. Nice blog, now following.
Title: Re: A Dux Britanniarum game
Post by: TWD on 19 September 2013, 10:15:05 PM
No offence taken Emilio. Your English is undoubtedly far better than my Spanish and kudos for you for joining in the conversation.
I haven't answered your question as I think I agree with your Spanish phrase (though of course I may not understand it exactly) - my dislikes are as much a question of taste as anything else - and I really don't want to get drawn into an attack on the rules or a defence of my position.
I tried the games five (or possibly six) times and they didn't agree with me. There was much to like (campaign and narrative elements) but I didn't get on with the core mechanics.


Title: Re: A Dux Britanniarum game
Post by: emosbur on 19 September 2013, 10:23:23 PM
Well, I don´t see an attack-defence issue here. I only wanted to talk about game mechanics. But I understand that you don´t feel it. I felt the same about other rulesets, some of them with a lot of success.

Emilio.
Title: Re: A Dux Britanniarum game
Post by: WillieB on 20 September 2013, 12:13:18 AM
Emilio,

I guess you could call me a TFL and certainly a DuxB fan since we've been playing this game for well over 40 weeks now.
It's true there are some 'holes' in the rules. Better said, some things are simply not fully explained or elaborated on, but if for example you would download the very handy Players notes from the Yahoo group most of those things become a lot clearer.
Agreed that every now and then a situation will crop up for which there is no explicit rule. Mostly this occurs when one of the players has done something rather unconventional and ends up in an improbable situation.

Frankly, I find these rules (and the campaign system) to be some of the best I've ever played but as noted above I'm a fanboy :D


Title: Re: A Dux Britanniarum game
Post by: emosbur on 20 September 2013, 07:52:32 AM
Willy, I am a member of the TFL Yahoo group since years ago, and I downloaded all stuff available on DB.
 :D

Emilio.
Title: Re: A Dux Britanniarum game
Post by: Mitch K on 20 September 2013, 08:42:02 AM
I agree with the sentiment that getting everything off the TFL Yahoo group helps - there's a tremendous volume of stuff there that makes it a lot clearer in many (most?) cases. All the sorts of things that make their way into "second editions". Bottom line, there will always be things that happen that the rules don't cover. I can put my hand on my heart and say that this has been the case with every set of wargame and rpg rules I have ever played - and that even includes Rolemaster (or RULEmaster as it was known lol).

Some people like a crystal-clear, unequivocal, regulated process, some like a set of free-form guidelines, and other people are at all points along the continuum. There's a mountain of rules out there and they pretty much all suit someone.

At the end of the day, whichever rules you play, it's all good.