Irregular Wars - colonial small actions mk. 2?
The experiences gained this year during the writing and production of Song of Shadows and Dust have left me with a hankering to create a heavily revised version or, more accurately, a successor game for Irregular Wars: Conflict at the World's End.
Other than improved writing and production quality generally (and the option of ordering a hard copy of the rules) I am currently thinking about a number of rules revisions which I suspect will streamline the game.
In the first instance, I feel like the new game would benefit from being more focused - probably on the Americas, with twenty-odd army lists for that theatre but with an appendix discussing how to apply the rules to other theatres and periods, perhaps with several examples - hoplites, Elizabethan Ireland, the 1804 Castle Hill convict rebellion, something like that. Keep in mind that all lists from the original game would be 100% compatible with the new version.
The number of phases in the turn sequence might well be reduced and the use and number of chance cards expanded and emphasised; blackpowder weapons might well become more user friendly. I'm also tempted to introduce an optional point system for more traditional players who don't like the unpredictable recruitment system
If any of the fine wargamers out there have thoughts (am I mad or do you endorse the proposal?) or would like to be involved in any potential playtesting, I'd really love it if you dropped me a line!
... And with that said, I'd like to wish you all a happy, productive and profitable new year. May all your dice rolls be sixes - unless you are giving orders in Hail Caesar - and may your wives and loved ones continue to indulge your hobbies.
I've only recently taken an interest in the game and haven't even started to play it yet so I'm not in a position to pass comment on any proposed changes to the mechanics. However, I would personally be disappointed to see the future focus narrowed to the Americas. Perhaps the Americas should receive more detail, including a Mapuche list, but I hope that the geographical breadth of the rules and lists will be maintained. Whilst my initial and current interest is in Elizabethan Ireland I've already started to think about doing the Dutch-Portuguese struggle in the East Indies.
ReplyDeleteDoc, thank you. That is precisely the sort of feedback I am after. Both Elizsbethan Ireland and the East Indies are very close to my heart as well. Leave it with me. Play a few games and then maybe consider doing some playtesting... :)
DeleteI'd be privileged to contribute. I will probably make up some counters while the collecting and painting grinds on in the background.
ReplyDeleteBTW, are your Dutch the Grumpy figures sold as Portuguese?
ReplyDeleteYes - those are the ones!
DeleteYou will use the same basing system (30x30)?
ReplyDeleteHi Mattias, yes, the basing principals will remain the same. 30x30mm squares are considered the norm. However, if both armies are based on 40x40mm bases the rules will still work fine.
DeleteI'm particularly interested in the India and Southeast Asia conflicts in XV-XVII centuries involving the Portuguese. One of my current wargame projects is to scratch build the fortress of Malacca, and naturally I'm planning to play a few games using the finished model. I was looking for a fast play set of rules covering this period, and from what I read so far it looks like Conflict at the World's End may very well be the answer.
ReplyDeleteQuestion: does it cover also fortifications and include support for assault actions on fortified places?
Thanks.
Hi Blackbeard,
DeleteYour theatre of war is certainly covered by these rules - and I'd love to follow any progress on your fortress. At present the rules only cover structures and fortifications in a limited way. There are rules for destroying small structures in villages and a generic scenario for passing through a tactical choke point (i.e. a breach or a ford or a causeway etc.). That is not to say the the finished 2nd edition wont have more on the matter, but I would need to sit down and look at how the mechanics would deal with it.
Thanks Hotspur. I'll order the current rules edition and give it a try. This is actually a new period for me, and I'm still looking for alternatives in terms of investment on minis, rules, etc. The fortress project is driving my interest on the period, so I may very well end up with two or three armies enabling me to fight "normal" battles as well.
DeleteFrom what I know of this theater, several of the more documented actions involved siege operations, or defense of fortified positions by European "armies" against overwhelming native forces. IMHO, it would only bring advantages to cover assaults on fortified places in a revised set of rules, like the one you are working now. I'm not asking for full siege rules, which would probably be a completely different set of rules, with different time scale and bases to men ratio (just to start with).
Regarding the fortress project, I'm happy to share the progress of my work and tell people about where it came from. I can do it here or somewhere else if you prefer. I'm planning to do it anyway at my club forum, and you (and everybody else) are very welcome to visit it, but it will in Portuguese...
I'd be honoured to post any progress reports and photos here if you want to email them through to me as you go = )
DeleteSo be it! Watch this space :)
ReplyDelete