jimo
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Post by jimo on Mar 7, 2010 9:43:00 GMT 1
Hello Rich and Andrea, I heard about FL on the Meeples & Minis podcast. Thought it was a good podcast (though I know Rich wasn't very enthusiastic about it). Gives one a good idea about the game and I think you made a good job. Explained the game mechanics really well.
My questions:
Could you give me your opinion on the playability of FL for a project of mine. 'm working on q 1:72 scenario for a convention, "Entebbe Raid". FL seems to fit pretty much what I've been working on myself so far. Need rules which play fast and make a lot of fun. I'll have about 40 IDF minis on the table, 10 PLO chaps and not sure yet how many hostages (probably scale them down on a 1:5/1:3 ration. I was thinking of an activation system too, actually favouring the IDF, somethink like a pack of cards, cards drawn allowing who gets into action. 75% of the cards being IDF cards plus extra cards (in order to do special jobs or "chaos" cards (like: 2 of your hostages panic and run off etc.) Only a few vehicles plus how to handle those four big Hercules planes (the reason why I'm doing it in 1:72).
What's your opinion?
Many thanks in advance and whishing you the best of success!
PS: Any idea if Andrea and/ or the game itself will be present at Crema/Italy 2010! My wife and myself attended the convention in 2008 and liked it very much.
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Post by andrea sfiligoi on Mar 7, 2010 19:32:05 GMT 1
I've never played with so many troops. I think it could do the job but maybe you want to limit the turn overs in a way. Planes will be used as scenario rules in appropriate scenarios -- they are really too big and too fast moving for our scale, I'm afraid. I know Rich is testing his WW2 supplement and he might have suggestions for bigger games and strafing runs/air support.
Barring any real-life serious problems, I will certainly be in Crema with Sergio, and maybe Rich could come too if we convince him :-) Crema is the hub of Italian wargaming and it is the show you don't want to miss even if for me it means 6 hours in a car.
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Post by richjones on Mar 7, 2010 20:15:47 GMT 1
Ok ... tell me more about where and when Crema is then  We have worked with a platoon a side which is about 30-40 using most troops as very 'vanilla' with no abilities and even having a lot of them as 'extras' so any hit takes them out the game. It will work but there is a lot more time involved obviously and it normally involves a bigger table so the morale rules are not so effective at finishing the game off ... Other things we do: 1/Have lots of leaders with a short or medium command radius so that groups/squads can be activated by the squad leader as well as the overall leader. 2/ Let unactivated charaters/groups that are out of sight of the enemy have the ability to take one move action AFTER the side rolls two failed dice - this means they can't effect the enemy at all but at least a great lump of the force is not left doing nothing. If you want the IDF to get more turns then split them into sections like 'different' forces and use the multi player card activation system - ie split the IDF force into say 3 factions ... the PLO have one faction - then designate each faction 2 playing cards. Shuffle the cards and then draw them one by one ... this adds a great deal of 'fog of war' and makes people use a lot of overwatch Will have to research what the planes did in the raid before answering that one One thing we sometimes do is have scenario event cards that are triggered by certain rolls during the game ... that's always fun esp when they involve hostages deciding to make a run or fight for it ... although ours often involve animals for some reason ... either a grizzly appears or even a herd of cows etc which can cause absolute chaos when the decide to stampede after a bit of firing etc ! Hope that helps! PS EDIT - just looked up airfares to Crema (well Milan so I hope that is right) in October and lets say it is very 'do able' by the looks! |
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Post by andrea sfiligoi on Mar 7, 2010 22:40:33 GMT 1
Yes Crema is one hour from Milan, I could ask if someone from the area can pick you up though as I'll be coming from the opposite part of the country... I don't know if it is reachable by train or other public transportation from Milan.
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Post by richjones on Mar 7, 2010 22:50:17 GMT 1
When is it exactly?
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jimo
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Post by jimo on Mar 8, 2010 14:38:10 GMT 1
... Barring any real-life serious problems, I will certainly be in Crema with Sergio, and maybe Rich could come too if we convince him :-) Crema is the hub of Italian wargaming and it is the show you don't want to miss even if for me it means 6 hours in a car. That's good. My wife and I actually flew in from Germany, Nuremberg to Bergamo airport when we were at Crema a few years ago. Cheap flight (Air Berlin) and then took a train to Crema. We stayed for 5 days at Crema. Loved the place and people! Kind of gave us few extra days of holiday. We were so lucky with the weather though it was late November. So ... maybe our paths will cross. Next time we might drop in by car 'cause it isn't really that far away from our place. |
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jimo
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Post by jimo on Mar 8, 2010 14:49:01 GMT 1
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jimo
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Post by jimo on Mar 8, 2010 15:17:35 GMT 1
... We have worked with a platoon a side which is about 30-40 ... Which would be OK. That's what I had in mind anyway. Leader/hero"( figs getting extras etc.) Some good and smart ideas there! The planes aren't a problem really. I'll use simple movement rules and give each plane a certain point value (which determines the effect of hits) when they should be hit. The four Hercules (as in the real thing) will "simply" land on the runways and taxi around, then opening their hatces and let the IDF run loose, and later gather them in again before leaving. Only thing that could happen is that PLO or Ugandans fire at and hit the C-130's with small arms, maybe an RPG, or an MG from a late arriving Ugandan APC. All other action four IDF units actually - race to their respective objects a) take out the PLO, some Ugandans "standing in the way", and free the hostages (bring them then to a waiting C-130) b) destroy the Ugandan Airforce (on-ground Mig-17 & 21) c) destroy the comms in the new and old towers Exactly! A must in such games. I'm alleady gathering ideas. Just reading the actual reports create so many ideas and possible "what-if" opportunities. Mabe even preparing a card that even Idi(ot) Amin could show up on the scence. Would need a real fat figure mind you ... Sure does. Thank you. I know that Air Berlin and Ryan Air fly to Milan (actually Bergamo, from London and other UK airports). Return flight will be probably be something like 100 GBP. know that one can take a train from Milan or Bergamo to Crema. Bergamo being north of Crema, Milan west. Pretty much the same distance. |
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jimo
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Post by jimo on Mar 8, 2010 15:26:10 GMT 1
... I don't know if it is reachable by train or other public transportation from Milan. Most probably the actual airport would be Milan-Bergamo (if flying in with the likes of Ryan Air). One can then take a bus (cheap) from the airport to the train station (15 mins). Then take the train to Crema. No problem. Something like 45 mins I think. AFAIR the train fare was quite cheap too. What is a shame is the fact that Bergamo itself is worth a visit. Especially the old town on the hill, butd uring late November it's pretty much "dead". Different story in Milan. Though I guess the place will simply be cramped full in the summer. Was OK when we were there in late November. |
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