TACTICA 2 Battle Reports QnA

[Chris]

Point of order, Mr. Chairman . . .

Under section 1.1 Game Scales on page 1 of the rulebook, it reads:

That said, TACTICA scales are approximately as follows: one Figure equals 40-60 soldiers depending upon troop type, density, tactical operating area, and unit size; one inch is approximately 10-15 yards; one Turn, 20 minutes.

Flipping to the army lists . . . Heavy Infantry can have a maximum of 48 figures, while cavalry and light infantry can have 24-27. Using the approximate scale provided, this gives a range of between 1,920 and 2,880 for foot and 960 to 1,620 for light infantry and cavalry.

These sums MIGHT HELP if and when figuring out orders of battle for historical refights. MIGHT.

Cheers,
Chris

[simonw]

Chris,

You are correct of course. But these figures are pretty sketchy and fluid. There isn't really a figure to man scale. For most pick-up games on a standard 8ft by 5ft table with 25/8mm figures, the usual army size is between 2,000pts and 3,000pts. At an average figure cost of between 5pts and 6pts (depends on the army), this equate to between 300+ to 600- figures in an army on the standard table. This would be for the game. It's pretty notional and up to the players really to decide what size of actual battle this would 'represent'. It could be Hastings with 10,000- men on each side or Gaugemela with 50,000 or 100,000 men on a side. So on this basis, say 500 figures could represent 10,000 men (20 men per figure) or 100,000 men (200 men per figure). That's about as far as I would 'push it' in terms of figure to man scale.

Cheers

Simon

P.S. Tactica 2 is a warGAME and not a simulation. That said, it is designed to generate the 'feel' of recreating tabletop tactics and armies which resemble some of the characteristics of their historical precursors to some extent whilst playing an enjoyable game. realistically, recreating a large, ancient battle on the tabletop is nigh if not totally impossible with wargames figures simply because of the battleline to depth consideration.

For instance, say 8 men deep occupy around 10 yards. A battleline of 30,000 men in such a formation would occupy over 3750 yards or around 2 miles (at one yard per man)! 10 yards deep to 2 miles wide isn't a practical tabletop ratio for a simulation using figures. You would have to play with 2 lines of string!

That's basically why simulation isn't really a prime requisite as far as I'm concerned. I just want to put my lovingly painted and miniature warriors on the tabletop and play an enjoyable game with them whilst also role playing the part of an ancient general by being faced by some of the kinds of tactical considerations an ancient general may have had AND to have fun doing so!

Cheers

Simon

[Chris]

Simon,

Your points are well taken and well said. Your love for Tactica 2, to the exclusion of all other rules/systems, is quite evident. The recent article about 3000 BC armies having at each other in the just arrived Slingshot is yet more evidence.

Funny you should mention Hastings and Gaugamela, as Hastings was played with GRAND TRIUMPH (it's on the video channel at YouTube for the rules - but be warned, it's in 3 parts and takes about 3 hours.) Gaugamela was the First Battle Day selection, was it not? It might prove interesting to see how various sets would handle such a large battle (ground scale, numbers and all) today.

Understand and appreciate your driving force(s) and prime concern(s) behind your gaming habits. Imagine that these are shared by legions of others. However, there will be those camps who find great appeal in simulation while using traditional figures or other representations, who adhere to the tactics used at that time, and who want to have fun and enjoy themselves as well.

As the adages or cliches state: Variety is the spice of life (and wargaming), and Horses for courses.

Cheers,
Chris

[simonw]

Chris,
You are right again! The joy of the hobby is that there's something for everybody! For those who like detailed simulation to those who just like playing games. Good luck to everyone in finding their niche.
Cheers
Simon

[Erpingham]

As the adages or cliches state: Variety is the spice of life (and wargaming), and Horses for courses.

You could add "It takes all sorts" (if they use said cliche in the US) 

[simonw]

Anthony,
Yeah! Dinosaurs like me can still find their niche; involving 25/8mm models, grouped into units and deployed in large numbers in battlelines!
Cheers
Simon

[dwkay57]

Simon, In your recent Slingshot articles featuring Romans against barbarians (of sorts), there was quite a bit of detail on the structure of the Roman legions and their grouping, but not much on the other side. So for instance I would have expected your "Ordvices" to be organised in clans or sub-tribes but there was no mention of this.