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Author Topic: My first impressions of The Silver Bayonet  (Read 14749 times)

Offline Darkson71

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Re: My first impressions of The Silver Bayonet
« Reply #60 on: January 05, 2022, 03:20:16 PM »
[Disclaimer] Not had a chance to play the game yet, not even solo.


As a concept, the game is interesting to me, though it feels a little "underfleshed" compared to Joe's other games (which are hardly bursting with fixed details [a good thing!]. I think it calls to me because I used to read a lot of "what if" type novels (Harry Turtledove for example), and as we know there are a lot more species of life out there that science doesn't know about, I like to think there are a few "exotic" kinds we've missed. ;)
That said, being underfleshed does make it easy to reskin to other periods, historical or not.

Without actually using them, I like the variation on the dice type. While the swingy nature of the D20 never bothered me, having a game where you have a bit better chance of predicting your success is reassuring (even if I know I'll still fail! lol). That most models will need more than one hit to be removed is a plus for me.

Weapon ranges: I'm not an historian, nor a historical gamer, the Napoleonic period was not something I was taught at school (even in passing), nor is it a period that has ever really interested me, so I have zero idea on the real ranges, reloading speeds or damage of the weapons, and I'm perfectly fine with that. It's a game, and I'd rather play a game that works because it plays a bit "fast and loose" with the facts than one that sticks laviously to the "real world" and isn't fun. I mean, I came to wargaming via RT 40K, where weapons had fluff ranges of miles (or 100s of miles in some cases) and yet had a gaming range of a few inches.
And also, the minimal weapons list helps with reskinning the game if that's your wont.


TL/DR it's a game, it looks fun, it doesn't claim to be "real life accurate" and I hope to play it sooner rather than later.
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Offline tikitang

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Re: My first impressions of The Silver Bayonet
« Reply #61 on: January 05, 2022, 04:32:36 PM »
I completely agree with the above. In particular:

...being underfleshed does make it easy to reskin to other periods, historical or not.
 
That's something I really appreciate about it.
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Offline Bloggard

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Re: My first impressions of The Silver Bayonet
« Reply #62 on: January 06, 2022, 12:15:18 PM »
yep, that's how I'm feeling about it too Darkson and Tikitang.

I do have a copy of the rules, although yet to read them properly.

the 'underfleshed' nature will be important to me - as I intend to houserule away from the nationalistic 'teams', and have more of a dirty dozen against the unknown kind of thing going on.

will also prob. be tending more towards a baron Munchhausen type vibe (at least visually) too, as I've picked up some Foundry 7yw figs (copplestone - excellent, 'big' 28s) to give me more choice in the good guys dept.

accuracy (excuse pun) of historical minutiae is of little interest to me.
« Last Edit: January 06, 2022, 02:46:40 PM by Bloggard »

Offline NickNascati

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Re: My first impressions of The Silver Bayonet
« Reply #63 on: January 07, 2022, 02:59:28 AM »
The thing I don’t get about most of the Osprey rules, is that the “units” don’t make sense.  Instead of having a core of regular troops, it’s one of these and one of those.  Just looks wrong to me.

Offline BZ

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Re: My first impressions of The Silver Bayonet
« Reply #64 on: January 07, 2022, 09:16:01 AM »
In Silver Bayonet its a special unit made of mixed soldiers. Why should a small occultist, monster hunting unit be made of just light cavalry?

Offline tikitang

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Re: My first impressions of The Silver Bayonet
« Reply #65 on: January 07, 2022, 09:39:13 AM »
Yeah, it's meant to be an elite team of individual specialists from all different types of military branches.

Though the rules are such that your team COULD be entirely light cavalry, if you so desired.

Offline Grumpy Gnome

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Re: My first impressions of The Silver Bayonet
« Reply #66 on: January 07, 2022, 09:45:11 AM »
Well, there is a certain “Hollywood Heroes” aspect to it… which is part of the charm. In the same way that Sharp Practice seems inspired by the Sharpe TV shows, just with an even more eclectic group.
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Offline Darkson71

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Re: My first impressions of The Silver Bayonet
« Reply #67 on: January 07, 2022, 05:19:21 PM »
Think of The A Team rather than SAS Zero Brave One....

Offline Cat

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Re: My first impressions of The Silver Bayonet
« Reply #68 on: January 07, 2022, 05:31:58 PM »
Though the rules are such that your team COULD be entirely light cavalry, if you so desired.

I am pondering a Cossack squad after I catch up more on painting the variety of units already on hand.  The Officer and Veteran Hunter could take horsies too.  Old Glory has a lot of very tempting packs of dis/mounted figures.
 
*edit*
Or possibly French Dragoons...
« Last Edit: January 07, 2022, 07:50:50 PM by Cat »

Offline NotifyGrout

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Re: My first impressions of The Silver Bayonet
« Reply #69 on: January 07, 2022, 07:06:31 PM »
I still find Osprey's apparent embarrassment regarding showing miniatures etc to advantage really odd and self-defeating - I mean, who else but miniature gamers (or gamers interested in using miniatures) do they think are going to be interested in these products?

...

they should really take a look at the original Mordheim rulebook (or maybe it was the 'annual' - can't remember now). Where the rules were set within very atmospheric line-art illos, but there was a superb colour 'miniatures' section as well.

I'm kind of the opposite. I grew up on Games Workshop's decidedly over-the-top diorama work and lush (sometimes overblown) illustrations, and instead of being inspiring, it felt overbearing and a standard that someone like me (limited hobby time, budget, and especially focus) could never achieve. I was always so frustrated that those super rad John Blanche illustrations rarely showed up in miniatures form ;D

I like the more grounded approach of Osprey and others like them. Sometimes I just want the rules, diagrams, play examples, and just enough art and painted mini photos that the book feels professional. My personal experience has kind of turned me off to the lavish GW presentation style. I have also discovered a lot of great rulesets that don't have that level of production quality but a) have given me a lot more fun and b) cost less, sometimes a lot less, than GW's offerings.

Again, nothing wrong with having a preference. GW books are usually just plain fun to look through. As a manual for playing a game, I tend to prefer to get to the point these days- my fellow players and I will write the stories on the table.

Back closer to the original topic, I am considering picking this up. A friend of mine is really interested in the setting, and we both like Frostgrave, so it's likely just a matter of time.
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Current projects: collecting way too many vintage Warzone models.

Offline Kikuchiyo

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Re: My first impressions of The Silver Bayonet
« Reply #70 on: January 12, 2022, 07:21:38 PM »
I've given it alot of thought and while I really like the idea there's just too few solo missions for me to want to commit. If there's an expansion at some point I might take the plundge but it would have to be more like ROSD for me.

Might still build a warband or two though

Offline Bloggard

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Re: My first impressions of The Silver Bayonet
« Reply #71 on: January 12, 2022, 07:36:14 PM »
I'm kind of the opposite. I grew up on Games Workshop's decidedly over-the-top diorama work and lush (sometimes overblown) illustrations, and instead of being inspiring, it felt overbearing and a standard that someone like me (limited hobby time, budget, and especially focus) could never achieve. I was always so frustrated that those super rad John Blanche illustrations rarely showed up in miniatures form ;D

I like the more grounded approach of Osprey and others like them. Sometimes I just want the rules, diagrams, play examples, and just enough art and painted mini photos that the book feels professional. My personal experience has kind of turned me off to the lavish GW presentation style. I have also discovered a lot of great rulesets that don't have that level of production quality but a) have given me a lot more fun and b) cost less, sometimes a lot less, than GW's offerings.

Again, nothing wrong with having a preference. GW books are usually just plain fun to look through. As a manual for playing a game, I tend to prefer to get to the point these days- my fellow players and I will write the stories on the table.

Back closer to the original topic, I am considering picking this up. A friend of mine is really interested in the setting, and we both like Frostgrave, so it's likely just a matter of time.

fair enough  :)

Offline Kikuchiyo

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Re: My first impressions of The Silver Bayonet
« Reply #72 on: January 18, 2022, 11:01:59 PM »
anyone know what minis fit with the northstar range?

I'm thinking front rank chunky rather than perry or foundry?

Offline Bloggard

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Re: My first impressions of The Silver Bayonet
« Reply #73 on: January 20, 2022, 06:40:23 PM »
prob. not period enough for you - but the Foundry Copplestone 7yw are 'big' 28s and fit very well with the official figures.

he did the russians and possibly others.

Offline Cat

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Re: My first impressions of The Silver Bayonet
« Reply #74 on: January 20, 2022, 06:47:11 PM »
Foundry's Napoleonics aren't cartoony chunky, but I think they would mix well enough with anything. 

Their packaging is perfect for TSB — one pack of infantry in mixed skirmishing poses and optionally a command pack if there's a matching one give a great assortment for building a full hunting unit.

 

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