Congo - first game

[alastair]

We played our first game of Congo last night; a multiplayer bloodbath deep in jungle complete with rampaging gorillas and exploding Witchdoctors.  Details here...

http://wargaminggallimaufry.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/congo-first-game-and-first-thoughts.html

[Ivan DBA]

Great report.  A few comments, but based only on reading the rules, I haven't been fortunate enough to play a game yet:

"I think everyone enjoyed the rules...there are some things to think about such as table size and characters vulnerability."

--The table is supposed to be 4' x 3' (not the 72" x 48" it says in the rules)..were you guys playing on a larger table?

--Were you using the Terrifying Death Roll?  That is supposed to make characters vulnerable, but (I would hope) not too vulnerable...


"Shooting also doesn't appear to cause any Stress to groups, unlike melee which seemed a little odd."

--It looks like there are at least two ways a target can pick up Stress tokens during shooting:
1. They can Go To Ground, which means they get a bonus D8 saving throw for every extra Stress token they take (but can never have more than 4 Stress Tokens), Page 32 - 33;
2. If the shooter has Muskets, the target automatically takes a Stress token, Page 34 (see the red box labeled "Muskets").

It seems odd to me that Muskets inflict a Stress token, but Rifles do not.  But presumably this represents the morale-effect of the loud, muzzle-flashing muskets.  And Rifles are already very deadly...

[alastair]

Hi Ivan

Thanks for the thoughts.

We were playing on a 6' x 4' table.  It would be interesting to see the impact the smaller table would have.  Probably ok for a 2 player game but I would think a larger table is needed if we play a multi-player game (which is likely).

I'd not only forgotten about reloading time for the muskets but also the fact that they cause a Stress token! I can understand why this might be the case...as you say the smoke and noise will be a factor...but it still seems odd that a unit can be shot to pieces without acquiring any stress while combat is much more stressful, even for the winner of a melee. 

No one in our game 'Went to ground' so there was no added stress there, and no one tried a Terror attack....they were all too busy shooting and stabbing!

We did use the Terrifying Death Roll which did dispose of one Character in a melee.  I'm still trying to work out in my head how Characters should impact on the game.