BBB First Thoughts and Queries

[Nosher]

Sorry for posting here but I just simply do not get on with yahoo groups, they seem to mess with my computer something rotten. I am still receiving emails from other yahoo accounts I had years ago that I deleted my account on

I picked up my copy of BBB today and on a brief read through I very much like what I see.

My current forces for FPW are based for Principles of War - 3x 30mmx15mm bases making a unit using 6mm figures. I can see the rules are based on 1" squares - so my bases are slightly wider but much narrower. I first considered double basing which would mean my bases were 30x30 - slightly bigger than the recommended size.

I then realised that if I do that I would then have to buy two new armies of roughly the same amount of figures I have now to play most of the scenarios

I really don't want to buy more figures (as I am playing solo) and I am certainly not going to rebase, so are there any issues with simply using one 30mmx15mm base per element of the unit? I'm already thinking that March columns would be much shorter but does depth matter that much in the rules?

At a push I might consider sabots but then I would be increasing the width even further.....

[Steve J]

Dave Fielder bases his units on 30mm x 30mm and it hasn't adversely affected our games. Hope this helps?

[Nosher]

Dave Fielder bases his units on 30mm x 30mm and it hasn't adversely affected our games. Hope this helps?

Cheers Steve. I just don't want to buy more figures and to go 30x30 would mean lots more figures

[Leman]

I don't see a problem. I base 30 square simply because the Irregular 6mm bases fit. In 2mm I use the recommended 25 square - either way even a 3 base unit pokes out of a village footprint. The shallower base may even look more realistic. I play the ACW scenarios with my 15mm figures based 30x20. The important thing is that both sides are on the same base sizes.




A recent BBB game of Bull Run.

[mollinary]

Given the enormously flexible ground scales for BBB I doubt it would make that much difference. Bear in mind Chris Pringle's statement in the rules regarding what a base actually represents - the centre of gravity of a unit - rather than its footprint.  I would recommend you go with what you have, and see how you find it. You can always change later. For what it is worth, my figures are based 25mm x 20mm, and I found no need to change.

Mollinary

[Shedman]

I use 30x15mm for the Russo-Japanese War and 40x30mm for the 1859 Italian War - both work

[Chris Pringle]

Hi Nosher,

Welcome to the BBB fold! The replies you've had already should be enough reassurance, but if you need any more, here's mine: your 30x15 bases should work just fine. Don't bother rebasing, just get stuck in and have fun!

Chris
Bloody Big BATTLES!
https://uk.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/BBB_wargames/info
http://bloodybigbattles.blogspot.fr/

[Nosher]

Nice one. Cheers chaps. Looking forward to getting a game in.

One more question (two actually....) Which scenario would you choose for a first game? Anyone playing solo and if so does that speed the game up or slow it down?

Naturally hoping to get a game in against an opponent but my regular gaming partner and I can't get together till June!!

[Fenton]

Just to hijack this for a second. Has anyone tried BBB for AWI at all?

Cheers

[Chris Pringle]

The best starter scenarios are Montebello (1859) or Langensalza (1866).
If you want FPW ones, then Spicheren, or (smaller and easier to set up) Coulmiers or Beaune-la-Rolande.

These are all in the BBB Yahoo group files.
https://uk.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/BBB_wargames/info

If you don't want to join the group, you can also find most of them on Flickr:

Montebello:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127771552@N03/albums/72157648083020223
Langensalza:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127771552@N03/albums/72157649862262451
Spicheren:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127771552@N03/albums/72157648191219054
Beaune-la-Rolande:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127771552@N03/albums/72157661947377836

Chris

[Chris Pringle]

Just to hijack this for a second. Has anyone tried BBB for AWI at all?

Not that I know of. But just last week on the group we've been talking about 18th century BBB and I posted a few simple but significant rule mods that I think would make it work well for C18. I was thinking more of Marlburian or Seven Years' War but the same principles should apply to AWI.

Chris

[Fenton]

Cheers Chris

Having a bit of trouble getting Yahoo groups to work but hopefully it will work soon

[Chris Pringle]

Hi Fenton,

Well since you're having trouble getting to the group, I'll just re-post here and hope that Nosher will excuse the hijack!

===

here's what I thought about using BBB for 18th century battles.

To represent pre-Napoleonic linear warfare you'd need to make some simple but significant changes.

Key differences I reckon are:
- Formation changes took much longer
- Artillery much less mobile (and less destructive)
- Much greater concern for flanks (because formation changes took longer) hence need to deploy in continuous lines.

So I'd suggest:
- All formation changes, including limbering/unlimbering, take a FULL move, not half.
- No more free wheeling. Any change of facing costs a full move. Movement out of arc is still possible but costs half a move, and allows no change of facing.
- All artillery units are 'Reduced' (fire at half effect).
- Artillery movement allowance reduced to 6".

You might add a new +1 or +2 modifier to the Movement rolls for "Conforming": i.e., if the unit next to you just moved, and if you are moving to maintain your position relative to it, you get +2 for conforming and maintaining the line. Not possible if in or trying to move through difficult terrain.

Difficult terrain is more of a problem.
? Any except designated Light troops that spend any part of their move in Difficult Terrain end their movement Disrupted?

Not a different rule per se but more of a feature would be much greater use of the "Devastating Volleys" rating - probably standard for most decently trained regular infantry for most C18 battles.

I think those tweaks would capture some important features of C18 warfare without having to rewrite the rules radically.

[Fenton]

Thanks Chris

Sorry Nosher. Back to the original thread

[Leman]

I haven't tried today yet, but yesterday I was able to get back into the BBB Yahoo group.