tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615782020735321095.post6467961053238143360..comments2024-03-22T10:01:23.989+00:00Comments on Wargaming for Grown-ups: Army lists and stuff like thatTrebianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02221916804339000102noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615782020735321095.post-47707806057547367682016-12-28T10:20:12.081+00:002016-12-28T10:20:12.081+00:00Well, some of the rules I'm talking about pre-...Well, some of the rules I'm talking about pre-date how computing as we understand it. With some sets now there's just too many lists expected to enable the writer to back test everything.<br /><br />I actually worked on the army lists for Armati II. They were thrashed out across a very lively discussion group, but even then errors stayed in as some people had different views on the evidence. Also there was a reluctance to change lists too much as people had already bought armies and many felt it wasn't fair to force them to buy more figures. Hence we often ended up with two lists for the same army.Trebianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02221916804339000102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615782020735321095.post-87811352210063426392016-12-27T09:49:33.196+00:002016-12-27T09:49:33.196+00:00Testing list changes certainly seems an appropriat...Testing list changes certainly seems an appropriate and necessary next step. I guess not all rules' authors have software engineering backgrounds.Jonathan Freitaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07862373894196924886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615782020735321095.post-48594940887901987542016-12-24T11:05:25.791+00:002016-12-24T11:05:25.791+00:00I agree that they perform an essential part in exp...I agree that they perform an essential part in explaining how the rules author thinks that troop types are represented by the rules set. They're a good starting point, and they are a help when buying and sorting figures out.Trebianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02221916804339000102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615782020735321095.post-80542482632000503912016-12-24T07:30:34.947+00:002016-12-24T07:30:34.947+00:00I've always liked lists because they give me a...I've always liked lists because they give me a guide to troop classifications. Its when they place restrictions on basic troop types that they trip up. Hail Caesar's lists tend to give you free reign apart from the specialty or Guard types which I appreciate. David Cookehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17148983897942472092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615782020735321095.post-60722758210001069762016-12-22T16:36:46.438+00:002016-12-22T16:36:46.438+00:00There are inevitably compromises in any set of rul...There are inevitably compromises in any set of rules that cover multiple campaigns or wars. Going back to Armati it has/d specific rules for things like English longbows or Roman legionaries. It struck me that those rules were there because the writers knew most about those periods. Other armies that deserve specific rules get overlooked.<br /><br />One of the strengths of the army lists in AMW is that each army, pretty much, gets specific rules for its tactics or troop types. Okay, so some of them have clearly never been properly playtested, but it's a start.Trebianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02221916804339000102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615782020735321095.post-57404431079021244532016-12-22T16:31:55.797+00:002016-12-22T16:31:55.797+00:00Great post. The same applies to pretty much all p...Great post. The same applies to pretty much all periods, often either the troop types or the rules prevent you operating the troops as they were used historically. For example, Japanese armies in the Sengoku period (call it 15th - 17th century) often used elaborate formations to counter the enemy formation - but virtually impossible to replicate on the tabletop and in any rules I've seen either..<br />Broedershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18218127480258279732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615782020735321095.post-83406294442091116412016-12-22T16:22:08.164+00:002016-12-22T16:22:08.164+00:00No, I was not commenting on on old Trumpy. And I d...No, I was not commenting on on old Trumpy. And I did know everything on the army that was known at the time.<br /><br />I agree with you on the lists and I pretty much always play historical opponents. I just don't understand how some of them get written. I mean, surely, after you've written a list don't you go back and see if it actually works with the historical prototype to see if you've got it right?Trebianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02221916804339000102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615782020735321095.post-40412577516033227652016-12-22T16:00:19.362+00:002016-12-22T16:00:19.362+00:00"At one point I knew as much about Henry VIII..."At one point I knew as much about Henry VIII's armies as anyone. Like, seriously, I did know everything." If you were an American I would think you were poking fun at our next POTUS. Maybe you are?<br /><br />Back on topic, I view Army Lists as a guide only. Better to field historical match-ups and know your history than rely on an almost always too generic list. Jonathan Freitaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07862373894196924886noreply@blogger.com