Charge The Guns

Great battle report, JW. I really enjoyed that. Very exciting finish with the King dying at the head of his Gendarmes! I think this period fits in well for P&S, although not tried in Hail Caesar.

How did you find the game being run via video call? Any tips?

Hi G. Great ideas. I especially like the arrow storm idea. I think this is an important way to try and use all rulesets; use them as a starting point. The BP, HC and P&S system seems to be easy to modify like this.

Hi Wayne – Don’t worry, this is something that confuses many people initially, so you are not alone! The only important thing is that the frontages of a regular sized unit in each army is roughly equal. Many people use 20mm or 15mm frontage per figure, and have battalions of around 24 figures, arranged so that in line that are 12 figures wide a…[Read more]

My pleasure, 👍

Hi Mark, I think I would interpret this one as that you have to get two orders to achieve the charge. One to get through the friendly troops and see your target, and then the second order for the unit to charge. This is on the basis of what the rules say about having to see the target, but that you may have a final move to contact being the…[Read more]

Hi Marecki, I interlopers the rules a bit differently to Nat. If you order the brigade to charge then they will all have to attempt to charge. However, as only one unit can contact, the remaining units will move so as to attempt to support the unit in contact. This is described on p61 of BP2.

This makes sense to me in broad terms. If, as the…[Read more]

Hi Mark – I think the MacColla option here simply provides an additional unit for the 90 points cost as well as the commander himself. So, if you take MacColla as a commander you also get a ‘free’ small unit of bodyguard. MacColla still follow the same rules for Generals and Commanders on pages 84 and 85, including joining units, and vul…[Read more]

Tomato Paste often comes in these metal tubes in the UK. Not sure about the US.

Fab to have it from the great man himself 👍.

I think that the number of forum posts is not, on its own, a reliable view of rule popularity. The Bolt Action forum is very busy, and I think this is due to Bolt Action being seen as more of a ‘whole game system’ by many. You buy the rules, you buy the figures, you buy the paint, etc. (This is great for historical gaming as I think BA is the…[Read more]

Hi Steve, while I had the book out I thought I would have a look at this one as well. There isn’t much explanation, as you say. Almost more of a restriction than any benefit. I like your suggestion of the sub-unit following the main unit without having to be given a separate order.

It will be interesting to see what they say.

I am still not sure about an innate disadvantage of heavy troops, man for man in bad terrain. If there were 8 germans in a wood, and I sent 8 legionary to deal with them, then I would expect the legionary to win, or at least chase off the germans. If the germans had missile weapons then there is a…[Read more]

Hi Steve, there is a slight difference to ‘excess hits’ i.e. those beyond stamina in HC. See bottom of p70. Worth noting that units suffering twice their stamina, and losing a combat, are ‘shattered’ and in effect auto break. Also worth noting that excess hits go on to the supporting units. We have found it can be very dangerous to try and sav…[Read more]

Ah yes. I had forgotten about that bit in the rules. I think my group has chosen not to adopt that option, hence the confusion. (i.e. We don’t allow normal formed troops to do this.) I suppose if you do follow this option then normal formed troops have to spend a turn to go in to open order, and the same when the come out of the wood, which w…[Read more]

Hi Steve, there don’t seem to be any HC ‘experts’ around so I will have a go 😀

The rules provide some suggested rules for a few terrain types and encourage players to adapt these as they see fit. (see page 38)

For Woods (including forests I assume), normal troops are unable to enter this terrain at all. So the advantage that open order troop…[Read more]

I guess it will be remembered as a daring move that came off 😀

Hi RR, I don’t think they’re is a charge target priority rule. In the situation you describe the unit is taking quite a risk as it will need 3 moves to complete a successful charge to the rear (one to turn around and two to travel 16”). There is a good chance it will only get one move and end up turning around right in front of the closer enemy…[Read more]

Hi Tim – I think you are right. Using the example in the P&S rule book, ‘vanilla’ horse would be 41 points, including H-t-H of 8 and pistols. The poor old Northern Horse should therefore be 38 points, as you say, for losing one H-t-H factor (2pts) and their pistols (1pt).

You may already have seen it, but there was a very interesting book on…[Read more]

Hi Tim, a good spot! I don’t believe there is an errata for TKAK.

In this case I think the error is the standard stat. line should have H-t-H value of 7. This is representing the Northern Horse being a bit sub par at the start of the war, but that some units improved later in the war, so you can upgrade them to the normal 8. (This is similar t…[Read more]