Three weeks it took and we’re back to square one. It all started with the idea of our own set of wargames rules. If Games Workshop could do it, so could we…..oh dear!

My son gave me the idea of a fast introductory game. Age of Sigmar uses single figures but I wanted “units”. If you are going to use DBM style elements, it’s no longer a small game that you can just start in a matter of days. A re-reading of DBA awoke memories of this revolutionary system. But, the armies are too small. Big battle DBA had been tried in the past but spears and pikes just one or two ranks deep. D.B.M. Was of course massive ten or more years ago. There remains a small dedicated band of players but one reading of version 3.2 was disappointing. If anything the peculiarities of the system seem to have been exasperated. I dare anybody to read the section on skirmishers versus heavy infantry and wonder whether this remains a “game”.

So, what about increasing the size of DBM style units into “regiments” of four, six or eight? Field of Glory territory I’m afraid. Now in its third edition and a potential re-emergence on the competition circuit next year? Mortem et Gloriam is growing in popularity and gives a good, fast paced game. But, could it really be described as a “entry level” game? Double the size of DBA sized units and you have something very like L’art de la Guerre. I have loved this system for three years now and it remains my current game of choice. My limited mental capacity sometimes gets the factors for combat out of sink, two handed cutting weapon against  Armoured spear elites anyone?

So, whichever way I looked for inspiration, someone had been there before us. In conversation with Damion last night, we decided on the major determinant of whether you enjoyed the game, namely who you were playing. Having set myself the task of painting a whole LADG army in a month , it is possible to get going at a relatively modest outlay. Rules for around thirty pounds and about a hundred pounds worth of metal. I still have eight chariots to paint but I must say I have really enjoyed painting a whole army in one go. A new set of rules may be a non-starter but painting get together soon and one day beginners competitions may increase the number of newcomers.

Thanks for reading

Mike

See you at reading if my aerosols can stand another week of “painting”