tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5763828223576460584.post7661635256228017431..comments2024-03-28T13:09:38.121-07:00Comments on Warfare in the Age of Cynics and Amateurs: The FFT3 Studies & Observation Group #1 - Chinese FarmDuc de Gobinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10668407600014604176noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5763828223576460584.post-64605735924807147432021-09-20T07:08:11.002-07:002021-09-20T07:08:11.002-07:00The quality rules in FFT are very hard on lower qu...The quality rules in FFT are very hard on lower quality forces. The "commercial" rules (as opposed to the quick-play free rules) have more troop grades to use but the D6 quality checks are very hard on poorer quality armies. It's a very well designed and slick game, but it gobbles up units very quickly.Disgruntled Fusilierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10995610821904415726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5763828223576460584.post-17215496914897783862021-09-17T14:48:12.211-07:002021-09-17T14:48:12.211-07:00Thanks for your thoughts.Thanks for your thoughts.Pan Marekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15911571952378565893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5763828223576460584.post-46273466587970896872021-09-14T14:00:39.167-07:002021-09-14T14:00:39.167-07:00I can only add that the Egyptian player in this in...I can only add that the Egyptian player in this instance, was more than keen to echo your sentiments :)<br /><br />Yes, this was an experiment, and yes, there was some distinct variation in quality as we tested the system, so future kinks in the scenario can easily be worked out. Both sides did take losses, and the Quality Check is as much a (limited) morale check in addition to being a ready reckoner with regard to platoon/company effectiveness - hence a failed QC does not necessarily mean a loss, rather a disruption of effectiveness, which does echo much of the actual events.<br /><br />That said, Israeli quality could probably be shifted up a notch too, based on actual events vs what we found on table, but again, it's just a test of the rules, so no matter.Duc de Gobinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10668407600014604176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5763828223576460584.post-51568123851296710952021-09-14T12:23:33.225-07:002021-09-14T12:23:33.225-07:00I'm not really familiar with FFT, but it would...I'm not really familiar with FFT, but it would appear you made the Egyptian armor far too weak. My reading on Chinese Farm is that it was a very hard fought battle for both infantry and armor. The Egyptians did not just cut and run. Indeed, much (most?) of the armor fighting was at night, and there are post battle photos that show knocked out Egyptian and Israeli tanks side by side. If memory serves, I think the Egyptian armor were better equipped for night fighting.Pan Marekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15911571952378565893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5763828223576460584.post-22872296783328832142021-09-14T11:22:00.743-07:002021-09-14T11:22:00.743-07:00I think they're definitely optimised to cut ou...I think they're definitely optimised to cut out a lot of needless drudgery, in pursuit of a quicker game - which is a plus.<br />At the end of the day, poorer quality units are more likely to (1)abandon vehicles and/or (2) just stay out of the fight - both options are modeled rather well.<br />I think it would be a radically different game with Soviet Guards vs US in the Fulda gap for instance, but different in a good way.<br /><br />c&c is simply bu virtue of unit cohesion (which actually makes a big difference, as it allows flanking maneuvers), though I'd argue that the higher/lower QC values also lends themselves to C&C in general.<br />These would make for a great group game for our 4 or 5 players.Duc de Gobinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10668407600014604176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5763828223576460584.post-16145405519666609762021-09-13T06:01:19.757-07:002021-09-13T06:01:19.757-07:00Interesting, must try to read these. Guess they su...Interesting, must try to read these. Guess they suit the ‘bang your dead’ modern period armour encounters. Is there any command and control type stuff or is it more a free for all type system ? Sgt Steinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17805201299484374889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5763828223576460584.post-31141080579374971402021-09-11T08:35:40.108-07:002021-09-11T08:35:40.108-07:00Cheers. Oh yeah - I think if your troops are a tad...Cheers. Oh yeah - I think if your troops are a tad more delicate in terms of staying power, you definitely play to your strengths; though if you are outnumbered, but have quality on your side, you can take more chances. It's a nice way for things to work, and a nice contrast between opposing forces. Duc de Gobinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10668407600014604176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5763828223576460584.post-75885387722829537392021-09-11T08:28:59.054-07:002021-09-11T08:28:59.054-07:00I always say why play with one tank when you can u...I always say why play with one tank when you can use a bucket full!. Looks great and with so much hard hitting stuff facing off it makes sense stuff gets removed at a quick pace. Do the rules do this to encourage a more cautious play style?.Sprinkshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00917246639433391220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5763828223576460584.post-19256735627984304882021-09-11T08:19:07.588-07:002021-09-11T08:19:07.588-07:00Thanks Norm.
Yes - things happen very quickly. I t...Thanks Norm.<br />Yes - things happen very quickly. I think the natural lulls in combat are in there too, to be honest, ...whereby the quality checks allow for units being put out of action or crews thinking twice about going on - it all seems to work fluidly and be a part of modern combat. It's quite a powerful mechanism.Duc de Gobinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10668407600014604176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5763828223576460584.post-22399409987054690852021-09-11T05:40:19.642-07:002021-09-11T05:40:19.642-07:00Good to get a ‘full battle’ done in a single sessi...Good to get a ‘full battle’ done in a single session, I’m not a big fan of games that leave you running out of playing time and you end up ‘discussing’ the likely ending.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5763828223576460584.post-3740081136330838932021-09-11T01:07:14.577-07:002021-09-11T01:07:14.577-07:00Thanks Steve.
It's so fast - I was really surp...Thanks Steve.<br />It's so fast - I was really surprised at how much can get done.<br />Love that turn sequence, and the little nuances where it can be 'massaged'.<br />We have multiple ww2 in mind, Lebannon 82, ww3, and everything in between.<br />Between us, we have buckets of 1/300 stuff (some of which dates from the 80s, and which we had forgotten about - I also bought a boatload of moderns from Jack a few years back).<br /><br />I do like what I've seen of Spearhead in the past, though it makes much of the 'axis map', which looks great, feels like a good ideas, but sometimes hampers play I feel. I agree - I can see massive games with FFT3.<br /><br />Yes - FFT3SOG is also known as 'TaskForce PotatoChip' depending on the game snacks ;)Duc de Gobinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10668407600014604176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5763828223576460584.post-30007195255486876752021-09-10T14:55:36.332-07:002021-09-10T14:55:36.332-07:00Great to see FFT on the table in glorious 6mm, Dar...Great to see FFT on the table in glorious 6mm, Darren! I think to support your points, FFT actually plays FASTER than modern spearhead due to the combat and quality check mechanisms, and you'll actually want to play bigger battles with it because your units get gobbled up so quickly. <br /><br />This was a great looking game. More please!<br /><br />Also, I love the FFT "studies and observations group" task force you've created :)Disgruntled Fusilierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10995610821904415726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5763828223576460584.post-57254934938514861642021-09-10T10:40:37.103-07:002021-09-10T10:40:37.103-07:00Thanks Jon. I think once you get your head around ...Thanks Jon. I think once you get your head around the QC being more than just a 'kill' - i.e. it's a ineffective unit or crew abandon etc. etc. - (1) it does clear the table of units which are threats - enabling concentration on what can still make a difference and (2) it makes you very wary with regard to fragile units. It's probably a different way of thinking about modern rules, but certainly makes for fast play.Duc de Gobinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10668407600014604176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5763828223576460584.post-47799867089587213352021-09-10T07:42:32.962-07:002021-09-10T07:42:32.962-07:00Looks interesting, Darren. Always good to see an ...Looks interesting, Darren. Always good to see an overview of the mechanisms for rules I have not played. I have played modern spearhead and casualties were brutal. Sounds like having one QC fail and you are gone is even more bloody. Fast though...Jonathan Freitaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07862373894196924886noreply@blogger.com