tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266118070169306461.post8171914441922422915..comments2023-07-05T13:47:37.438-04:00Comments on Junkyard Planet: The Siege of ZerfbergNorman Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07618060402986281074noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266118070169306461.post-64059655058663065862012-11-14T18:29:22.218-05:002012-11-14T18:29:22.218-05:00We debated the question of the possible usefulness...We debated the question of the possible usefulness of defender reserves after the game. I don't think we reached a consensus, but perhaps the defenders will give it a try next time around. As for the time scale, Duffy gives it as one day per turn for the siege game. Basic Charge turns are approximately a half hour. The third day sortie only lasted for a few tactical turns (about three, as I recall), so was resolved fairly quickly in terms of referee/gamer hours.<br />Rob Deanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01705547374834785174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266118070169306461.post-50843468838341330432012-11-12T23:37:45.101-05:002012-11-12T23:37:45.101-05:00Excellent stuff! I have always thought that the a...Excellent stuff! I have always thought that the aphorism - sieges don't work as war games - was dodgy. And so here it proves. Probably your time scale would be a bit different from a field action: digging saps and parallels takes time after all. But in a campaign context, I believe that that can be worked around.<br /><br />The game itself seemed to go as one would expect a siege of a smallish fortified place: a risk taken to speed up proceedings (building the second parallel beyond supports), a successful sortie delaying progress, and at last the besiegers' ordnanace beating down the defenders'.<br /><br />At that, the defenders might have reserved a few pieces to defend the breach, given a commander sufficiently determined.<br /><br />Wonderful - and the pictures do justice to the narrative and the high quality of the armies and their works and fortifications.<br />Cheers,<br />IonArchduke Piccolohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15533325665451889661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266118070169306461.post-45542542228948322352012-11-12T15:46:50.941-05:002012-11-12T15:46:50.941-05:00Thanks Norman. I'll keep an eye on Rob's ...Thanks Norman. I'll keep an eye on Rob's blog too, and let you both know if I start playing with dual-trenching games. Could be...the local hobby shop has a bunch of HaT 1/72 WWII troops in stock...Will Scarviehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12927162285224441677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266118070169306461.post-7208940782711244762012-11-12T14:54:43.814-05:002012-11-12T14:54:43.814-05:00The rules are drawn from Appendix 3 of "Fire ...The rules are drawn from Appendix 3 of "Fire & Stone: The Science of Fortress Warfare 1660-1860" by Christopher Duffy. <br /><br />I think my father was planning to put a copy of the quick reference sheet up on his blog (http://sharpbrush.blogspot.com/) which may have more details, but the gist is that there are two types of trench: parallels (which are fighting positions) and saps (which are not). Depending on how far you are from the fortress, you can dig a certain length of trench each turn; you have to commit one figure per inch to the digging, and they have to be supervised by an engineer. If the defenders can kill half the diggers or the engineer, the trench is not constructed. There aren't really any rules as to how the trenches must be placed--though the mechanics do end up encouraging the use of historical techniques.<br /><br /> A WWI adaptation would be interesting, though in that case both sides would be digging, which would change the dynamics a bit I think.Norman Deanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07618060402986281074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266118070169306461.post-58037250292684259052012-11-12T14:16:44.000-05:002012-11-12T14:16:44.000-05:00This is fascinating stuff. Where might I learn mo...This is fascinating stuff. Where might I learn more about the rules you use to govern the construction of the trenches and emplacements? It occurs to me that this could be the basis for an interesting WWI trench-building/raiding game...Will Scarviehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12927162285224441677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266118070169306461.post-45042532602006492032012-11-12T07:40:37.428-05:002012-11-12T07:40:37.428-05:00Nice to see the fort in play again. Pity I wasn...Nice to see the fort in play again. Pity I wasn't able to join in. <br /><br />Pushing the saps too fast! Ahha an old mistake (as in been there done that!). <br /><br />Great stuffRoss Mac rmacfa@gmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04053555991679802013noreply@blogger.com