Big Games vs Small Games (was [NetEpic ML] Re: Chaos issues

From: Toma Diener <peyoterattle_at_...>
Date: Wed, 06 Apr 2005 15:30:07 -0000

--- In netepic_at_yahoogroups.com, Jarreas Underwood <jarreas_at_m...> wrote:

> And yes, I've played and been thinking of games in the 3-6k range,
mostly sans titans (as neither I nor the folks I played against had
very many). We focused on combined infantry & tank battles with
occasional air power. How do the dynamics of the game change?
> -Yar

In 'Big Games' (10K-50K) the Great advantage that the first 1-2 turns
becomes what I would refer to as a Tactical Stage: these games are
best played on a Large Table (obviously): a Rule of Thumb would be:
every 5K of Army requires about 1 4x6 foot area. Thus: 10K should be
played on (minimum) 4x8, 20K should be played on 4'x12' or 6'x10', 30K
on about 6'x15' (usually played Lonq-ways)

the relative increase in the effectiveness in Artillery is compensated
for by a 'Tactical Movement' rate (which I will discuss more once I
think about what we've actually Done in the past: we've tried several
different 'fixes'...Terrain being the most obvious)

The Advantage of such a Big Game is that Maneuver becomes extremely
Important: a Battle can have several different Fronts, as you might
expect. the Fun is that such Battles are not necessarily around
Objectives (although: they ususally are, as you might expect...)

(If you have played any WarMaster at all, you will have a very good
idea as to what it feels like.)

The Disadvantage of a Big Game is that it is most assuredly _not_ Like
Modern Tank Warfare: it plays up the Science-Fantasy aspect of the
40K milieu very well, however. I personally think this is a "Good
Thing":, someone who is looking for 'Realism' in their Tank Tactics
won't like it very much at all...

the Biggest 'House Rule' (almost a necessity IMO) is to give Titans a
Double or Triple movement rate (at least the first turn) to make them
more feasible as far as maneuvering into position: In a 'Big Game',
Titans without such movement are Pointless except as Artillery Pieces,
which is not how I view Titans at all...I've watched Evangelion too
many times!!!

(an interesting Diversion: I have always viewed Titans as being
essentially a Land Based Naval Unit, moreso because I am a Navy
Veteran and so I understand Naval Combat. I had an interesting
conversation in which someone suggested they could be viewed
tactically as WWII Bomber Formations.)

Also, needless to say: Transports become very important...

I'll try and post more exhaustive analysis and experiences of the 'Big
Game' format once I have reviewed the various battles I've played in
the past and figured out which 'House Rules' worked and which
didn't..(...provided I can find my notes!!!)

I'm playing a lot more lately, so I should be able to start posting
Pictures and Battle reports in the near (very near) Future: My Goal
at this point is to play at Least one 100,000 point game by the end of
the summer.

(Likely Chaos vs. Eldar as that is what is painted at this point:
there is a chance of a 100K Imperium vs. Chaos or Eldar game to soon
follow: Have to get my Painted Guard and Squats up to those levels
first!)


T'oma

of Her Majesty's
Most August Order
of Memtic Engineers
Received on Wed Apr 06 2005 - 15:30:07 UTC