tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039878527317652203.post4105416846770066747..comments2024-03-21T10:21:03.387+00:00Comments on Bloody Big BATTLES Blog: In praise of loooong gamesChrisBBBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13522334377353504659noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039878527317652203.post-25289012511335634952022-01-23T08:15:40.525+00:002022-01-23T08:15:40.525+00:00Cheers, Scott! Huge thanks (again) for making it h...Cheers, Scott! Huge thanks (again) for making it happen!ChrisBBBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13522334377353504659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039878527317652203.post-64535280079541090642022-01-23T08:15:13.192+00:002022-01-23T08:15:13.192+00:00No, I do take your point, James. Actually you make...No, I do take your point, James. Actually you make a good additional point about how, when a game is split over two or more sessions, you can have the pleasure of anticipation, reviewing the progress of your plan in the first session and contemplating options and hope and fears for the next.<br />I hope you do try BBB and like it. As this post showed, it is possible to take your time over a BBB game as well!ChrisBBBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13522334377353504659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039878527317652203.post-62267049151958983132022-01-22T13:58:41.271+00:002022-01-22T13:58:41.271+00:00Thanks Chris - your after Action is epic! I look ...Thanks Chris - your after Action is epic! I look forward to our next “long” game!! Cheers, ScottSkirmishcampaignshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09465860934072693747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039878527317652203.post-42813632262204936172022-01-22T13:26:14.498+00:002022-01-22T13:26:14.498+00:00I think that you missed my point, Chris.
It is tha...I think that you missed my point, Chris.<br />It is that, related to your post, my preference (and I don't expect it to be yours or anyone else's) is to stage a game over several sessions, to take my time and 'enjoy the journey' as you mentioned above. It's the way that I came into wargaming, with a period in the middle of games constrained by a club evening (which I never really enjoying the same at all). Give me a weekend game or similar over several sessions anytime.<br />I do agree with you that quick or slow alone is not the determinant of quality. One needs good scenario design and rules that 'work', at whatever level one is seeking to achieve that.<br />I'm certainly keen to try your Bloody Big Battles, having recently expanded my interest in 'things Ottoman' to include the Russo-Turkish War of 1877. It will take me some time to get there though—painting is something else that I do slowly :)<br />Kind regards, James<br />James Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17897755636246185173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039878527317652203.post-41737925112261369982022-01-22T09:08:01.057+00:002022-01-22T09:08:01.057+00:00Long and slow isn't always good, though. I hav...Long and slow isn't always good, though. I have played 9-hour games inching incrementally forward that left me thinking they would have been much better distilled down into a 3-hour BBB game. That would have provided just as many interesting decisions, but in a more exciting way, and still had time for another two such interesting and exciting games in the other 6 hours. The opportunity cost of the wasted time can be frustrating.ChrisBBBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13522334377353504659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039878527317652203.post-27126787452089480682022-01-22T01:20:01.984+00:002022-01-22T01:20:01.984+00:00I much, much prefer long, slow wargaming. For the ...I much, much prefer long, slow wargaming. For the reasons that you mentioned: more considered play, discussion of the game and related topics (some tangential ones too!) and just taking time to 'smell the roses'. My preference is to play a game over several sessions (having the luxury to leave it set up). I enjoy look at it, thinking through the 'what ifs' of future turns only to find it transpires nothing like that imagined!<br />Regards, JamesJames Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17897755636246185173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039878527317652203.post-45745482983761792892022-01-21T07:25:49.139+00:002022-01-21T07:25:49.139+00:00I'm torn. As the blog shows, I can enjoy a ric...I'm torn. As the blog shows, I can enjoy a rich and absorbing long game. On the other hand, I've played enough games that were too long and dragged - dull scenarios, clunky rules, multi-player games with single activation where it seemed like you never got a go and when you did there wasn't anything interesting to do ... I guess short or long, a game needs to be designed well. Like your Kingmaker marathon, by the sound of it!ChrisBBBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13522334377353504659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039878527317652203.post-56042084083044336952022-01-20T21:59:29.838+00:002022-01-20T21:59:29.838+00:00Agree, if done well, I love long games. We used to...Agree, if done well, I love long games. We used to put on 3 or 4 session long games with some large miniatures armies because we could keep the table set up in the basement.<br />Or once a year we can get up to 13 players (yep 13) for an all day Kingmaker marathon session plus we always finish it!<br /><br />Joseph.Cadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14852800690417139299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039878527317652203.post-80339731537913819812022-01-19T11:58:11.730+00:002022-01-19T11:58:11.730+00:00Indeed, there is a pleasure all of its own in meti...Indeed, there is a pleasure all of its own in meticulously setting up a table in my war room at home so that it faithfully represents a historical battlefield and looks good too. And I appreciate it when players take the trouble to read a scenario beforehand and turn up with a plan. (I've been guilty myself of turning up without one and paid the price - see my Gitschin AAR!)ChrisBBBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13522334377353504659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039878527317652203.post-15363504253148855842022-01-19T08:25:29.573+00:002022-01-19T08:25:29.573+00:00Your stamina to do a series of such long remote ga...Your stamina to do a series of such long remote games is very impressive. Being stuck to a screen all day during lockdown is what wrecked my neck and shoulder.<br /><br /><br />The ability to consider and plan is a very good experience though. For our (much shorter) remote games we usually try and send the briefings out several days beforehand, so the player teams can do some pre planning, ask questions etc. They all said it enhances the experience, even if the actual remote f2f sessions are quite short. Being able to set everything up beforehand rather than lug it all to the club is also rather luxurious. Martin Rapierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16788664847205341619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039878527317652203.post-37494722897980342212022-01-19T08:14:23.932+00:002022-01-19T08:14:23.932+00:00Yeah, I was surprised at my own stamina - at the e...Yeah, I was surprised at my own stamina - at the end of the third game I had to drop out because it was midnight and I had to work next day, but otherwise I felt fit to fight and would have liked to carry on. I think it was because the pace was so relaxed compared with the usual more frenetic Monday night excitement.ChrisBBBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13522334377353504659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039878527317652203.post-26579536760336440462022-01-19T07:27:23.120+00:002022-01-19T07:27:23.120+00:00I'm not sure I could cope with 3 back-to-back ...I'm not sure I could cope with 3 back-to-back long games Chris, especially via Zoom which would certainly do my head in! When circumstances permit, a long days gaming with friends at a gentle pace with a convivial atmosphere is something to be savoured. Sadly real life means that this happens but a few times a year, but absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that.<br /><br />A good mix of games on show and as you say, the journey is often as important, if not more so, than the destination.Steve J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12143308117853983963noreply@blogger.com