Thanks to all for this entertaining Thread. My pinch about V3 :
Best evolution suggested for the game would be all things that contribute in
• having a game in a shorter time,
• a bit more lively with players thinking they can make decisions that might change the outcome.
• With more varied armies on the tables.
V2 FOG Is a fine enjoyable game with a flavour of history. It’s in no way near a simulation tool. As i play « social », ie : the games my friends around play, May i propose my pinch to thisend with minimal changes to the current concept?
• Commander’ loss is 1 point towards army morale breakpoint.
• C-C loss is an aditionnal 1 point.
• Player may have as many commanders as they want. As cost of a commander is about same as a BG, this will make lower army breakpoint easier to reach for same amount of points …
One more step might be to place more (highly unrealistic) abilities to take more risky ( maybe wrong ?) decisions in the player’s hands !
• Any time hits occur in the unit where a commander lounges around, have that commander’s loss test … as many tests as there were hits. (alternative is one test only with total hits taken as a bonus towards commander’s elimination).
• Any time player wants some unusual action, put a commander in, take a CMT, if it works you get the action, if not you get a commander’s loss test. Exemples : breaking off with infantry , staying in mele with mounted …. You name it, nothing unrealistic , just things risky.
• No need to make a slow test adding and substracting bonuses and maluses ; faster is to make several simple one’s : double six and the commander is down, anything else passes.
Those proposals do not alter game mechanics as they are in V2. They are likely to reduce number of BGs on the table and increase opportunities for a fast loss of morale points so to lead to faster conclusion of the game. Reluctant players may elect to go on with smaller number of commanders and keep those out of harm’s reach . Those tidbits also happen to give more flexibility to undrilled troops rich armies through the conveniance of more commanders in the lead. Maybe more Gauls and Britons might appear on tables.
Additional commanders’ ability , number of commanders, and subsequent potential loss of morale do not make for a more realistic simulation but they do make for a faster more enjoyable game in placing more opportunities for unwise decisions in the player’s hands.
With more commanders ‘ and less BGs, you see a lower army morale, a higher casualties rate, a game faster to conclusion.
No need to wait for version 3, you may just have a go at it in your next games. Please have a go and let us know.