Getting Ready for Sharp Practice

[AWu]

In older TFL ruleset - opening moves of the battle (and FOG) were worked by using blinds. - An area markers that you moved on the table (some of the real units some empty blinds) outside of eye view of the enemy forces. Enemy must been seen to be deployed on table.

Deployment markers have same function in newer TFL rules (Chain of Command and after).
They are abstract points around where your army is deploying - but the army stays off table, and you have to enter each unit and leader during the game.

In WWIi they are mostly visualized as an assembly point from which commander sends units into fields - so people  use some for of forward ammo dump and such.

Its al little harder to imagine those abstract points in Napoleonic terms.
I am using wooden discs with nationality etched on them and they work perfectly well for me in WWII.  But little dioramas can eliminate markers and improve game visuals.

If I would be proposing  commander writing orders at the table (Perry makes Napoleonic models for such) or field hospital - would be best options.
Or simple bals of marching dust.

If I understand correctly SP2 will be using less of deployment points than Chaoin of Command - normalny one or two vs 3 or even 4 of CoC.

[sjwalker51]

Or maybe just use a marker featuring appropriate typical battlefield clutter with a red or blue edge to the base so it's clear that scarecrow/dead cow/pile of rocks has a practical use rather than just being decorative.

[Lardy Rich]

The main deployment point represents both where troops arrive in the table and also their line of communication, so it becomes something they must protect.  Any secondary deployment points represent things like flank marches or sneakier troops making their way forward unseen.  They can be as decorative as you like.  Personally, I think a little vignette looks attractive.  For my Government Army for the '45 my main Deployment Point planned is a gallows to signifiy the arrival of "the Butcher" Cumberland.  For the Seven Years War I have gone more scenic with wells and young ladies consorting with soldiers.  In an entirely tasteful way, of course! 

Unlike Jump-Off Points in Chain of Command, Deployment Points are more likely to be on or near the table edge, but it is the distance from them you can deploy which allow troops more flexibility and more dashing opportunities.

Rich   

[Lardy Rich]

Oh, I nearly forgot.  Part 4 in the Sharp Practice epic is now on YouTube.  This one is quite important as it covers command and is really at the heart of the game.

Please excuse my bunged up voice.  Not quite got over a filthy cold yet.



Rich

[shandy]

I've made some scenic deployment points for my ACW project - those are the Union versions, Confederates will follow…

The primary deployment points represent a somewhat puzzled commander pouring over a map:





The secondary represents an officer and his sergeant questioning an escaped slave (my games revolve around the 1st and 2nd South Carolina Volunteers, one of the first African-American regiments, and their operations in South Carolina and Florida):





The figures are mainly Peter Pig, in the second scene the officer and the slave are from QRF/Freikorps15.

[robh]

Got my pdf of the rules (from the pre-order deals) this morning. 
Not played v1 so have no input on the changes but v2 is a very well presented and well structured book. I was surprised to see the Indian Mutiny force lists and units stats in there, that is a real bonus.

Having seen the YouTube videos it all falls into place nicely, I like the risk/reward command card mechanism which will really force some thought on what to play and when.

I picked this up with a view to filling the game size gap between Triumph and Tragedy and Victorian Steel for my 1st Afghan/Baluchi Wars but could well get drawn into  other eras it supports too.

[Kommando_J]

Never played Sharp Practice but seeing this has started to sway me towards buying a set of the rules.

I'm especially interested by the big men and objective markers aspect, I love painting up and customizing leaders and other specialists/vignettes but many rule sets don't have much scope for them, this set encourages me...now to choose a period...

[Lardy Rich]

Kommando

I know what you mean.  I've just completed a couple of Deployment Point markers for my Imagi-Nations Seven Years War Freikorp force.  They were fun to do.





Actually, I've just shoved some photos of my completed force on Lard Island News, here:  http://toofatlardies.co.uk/blog/?p=5745

Some other thoughts here:  http://toofatlardies.co.uk/blog/?p=5731



I absolutely hate painting, but these Foundry figures have been a joy to paint.

Rich

[flags_of_war]

Played my first game yesterday with Brian Phillips and Pat Connor giving us a walk through of the game. Was great fun and now it's to the drawing board, for what forces i want

[Sir_Theo]

Fantastic to see some imaginative DPs. That's something I'm very keen to make a start on.

[Elk101]

Having had a good read through of the rules I think I can say that they're typical TFL, well thought out, characterful, full of nice tactical choices and they look like fun.

They're definitely going to get me to crack on with some Napoleonics and ACW stuff. I may even dabble with some Russia 1812 lists.

[sespe]

Characterful, yes.

After a couple read-throughs I set up a simple scenario.  I was going to skip the leader characteristics but went ahead and tried it anyway.  Suddenly, instead of a generic "level 1 leader", I have Sergeant Slaughter, from an impoverished military family, who is a thorough rotter and leads the skirmishers only so he can get first pick of the looting.  And opposing him you have the militia Captain who can't stop telling everyone how great he was in the last war.  His men hate him, but when you own half the town you get to be Captain...

Definitely worth the few extra minutes to turn your figures into people.

[Elk101]

I think that sums it up perfectly Sespe! It may actually make me get back into painting. I don't think I've touched a brush for about three months.

[Elk101]

I see a few draft lists appearing on the TFL forum now and a Garibaldi list has been released by Rich. I may well have missed this,  but how are people calculating the points costs?

[tomek917]

This was just posted on the blog, the sharpulator 

http://toofatlardies.co.uk/blog/?p=5789