NATIVE DEPLOYMENT
Wilhelmshaven from west to east; left to right.
Schutztruppe were ordered into the Observation Tower to give the alarm.
Kurt Strassen: "The foe will be out there....in those seven rocky areas."
When a black card was drawn, we drew one card from the second card deck above.
If the ACE was drawn, a native unit chosen by John or Chuck would be placed in area #1. If a six, then a unit would be placed in area #6. Afterwards such cards are removed from play. Thus, spreading out occurs without harmful scenario imbalances in any one or more areas.
When this second deck was used up, we put the eleven cards back together again and reshuffled. Two turns were needed to deploy all natives units. This system was our adaptation for the scenario.
"Hey Bill! You could use a ten sided die instead."
"True. That kind of randomness at first can be appealing. But, what if a result of 2 shows up three times? And it will. Ditto for other numbers too!"
"Then there will be too many units in one or more places - not spread out enough. I've seen this happen. It harms the scenario. Moreover what if Philip is opposite an area where no natives deploy? Another example. What if Tim has to wait hours before his units arrive because Charlie's units are ahead of him on a road marching onto the table? Historically okay but Tim has to sit with nothing to do for a long time. Not good for playability or companionability."
"People come to games to move units, throw dice and not sit idle."
East (right) of the Observation Tower
Werner Steinke: "Kapitän! The enemy is in sight in the rocky hills.
Kapitän Ostricker: "Tell the helmsman to move away from the dock."
Moments later the bow gun fired.
Upon a body of natives approaching Wilhelmshaven.
Whilst a company of the Britannian 66th Foot waited for the order to fire.
Observation Tower Area
Strassen and his comrades saw the shell explode. Below them other....
Schutztruppe awaited events coming on fast. To their left front....
Settlers and more lancers hurried to cross the bridge to dubious safety.
Elsewhere the indomitable foe surged forward.
Hoping to overcome the garrison and recover their homeland.
CLOSING REMARKS
1. TSATF uses twenty-sided dice to fire. Instead of throwing D20s, collecting, reading them and putting them back in a pile....
2. The battle is only just underway. We plan to resume the game soon. Want to join us?
3. Buildings are Miniature Building Authority. The gunboat is a Richard Houston one of a kind. Its target (Pygmies) are from the collection of Todd B. Schutztruppe are on loan from Der Alte Fritz. Pathans are from my collection. They usually are the dreadful foes of General Pettygree whom you know on this blog. The 66th and Lancers are part of the General's Field Force. Remember, in Mafrica every kind of unit is welcome.
4. Until next time, move units, throw dice and get players active every turn. This way it's more companionable and fun.
Remarks Wlcome at Comments Below.
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14 comments:
I cant take credit for the dice shaker. The guys for Battlefield Hobbies were using them in a game of Battleground WWII one year at Little Wars. They work out well for The Sword and the flame too.
Great looking game. I love Colonials...and I gots lots of Schutztruppen. Hard to get the guys to play.again great looking game.
Great looking game Bill love Colonials!
TSATF was one the first set of rules I played back in the early 80's. Had 100's of fun battles fighting Zulu's, Boars, Pathans, Dervish and even Egyptian regulars. Brings back my young and all the fun we had playing. Going to see if my rules are buried in a box. Where's my stabbing spear, oops, I mean paint brush. Outstanding
Fun stuff. I have many fond memories of playing TSATF many years ago.
Brilliant use of a custom card deck for initial Native deployment! I will definitely be "borrowing" it for future games! Thanks very much for posting the details of the process!
Do the playing cards have 18th century monarchs for the face cards? The joker looks like my pack which does. I got them in austria as a youth.
Great looking game. I just rebought TSATF recently and have yet to try it out. Great dice box idea btw.
Alan
TSATF delivers the goods every timme! excellent set of rules, Tony
Lovely stuff. The card deck is interesting, though I'm sure I'd miss having the dice in my hands.
Though I have just realised what this scale of game should be called - Cecil B De Bill.
The game looks great. I have become a big fan of using cards for limited or controlled randomness in games. This was a good variation on that idea and I shall tuck it away.
As a member of the group that helped Larry develop the original "The Sword and the Flame" I'm glad to see that you're finally coming into the light of the flame. :^)
Looks like you had a fun first part of the game. Using Mafrica as your locale allows everybody's "toys" into the action. We did something similar many years ago with our Green Nile campaign.
Good gaming!!
Jim
Grateful I am for all your kind sentiments, remarks, compliments and interest. You chaps are terrific! Thank you very much.
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Alan. Surely the cards are the same as the ones you mention. I bought mine in 1985 at the Museé de l'Armeé in Paris. Many years later a friend gave me another set he bought in Vienna. The company that makes them has several versions.
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Respectfully,
Bill
Bill, this has been loads of fun to follow, many thanks!
Battle is joined once more. Great AAR, and I like the idea of containing the dice.
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