{"id":3749,"date":"2015-03-14T11:13:12","date_gmt":"2015-03-14T11:13:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bucksurdu.com\/blog\/?p=3749"},"modified":"2015-03-14T11:13:12","modified_gmt":"2015-03-14T11:13:12","slug":"war-of-1812-g-a-m-e-r","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bucksurdu.com\/blog\/?p=3749","title":{"rendered":"War of 1812 G.A.M.E.R."},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"Duncan's<\/a>
Duncan's War of 1812 G.A.M.E.R. game<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Last night at HAWKs night Duncan ran a very interesting game, based on a concept we had discussed a couple of times. \u00a0The idea is that one formed unit is advancing toward the other. \u00a0Both units have deployed skirmishers. \u00a0The game represents the skirmish fight between the units as the gap between them closes. \u00a0In the picture above, the long blocks of wood along the left represent the front to the advancing American unit. \u00a0The right edge of the table represents the front of the stationary British unit.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The American skirmish line<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Duncan chose to use G.A.M.E.R. for this game, with just slight modifications. \u00a0He used the carbine stats from WWII, created his own hand-to-hand modifiers, and made some rules for firing at formed units. \u00a0The point of the game was to get skirmishers within 24 inches of the formed enemy units and then shoot at them to inflict \u00a0casualties that would hopefully influence the result of overall battle (e.g., stop the Americans from closing or force the British to withdraw rather than stand and fight). \u00a0At the end of each turn, the advancing American unit moved six inches. \u00a0When the two formed units came within 24 inches of each other, the game ended. \u00a0Casualties on the formed units were counted up and morale checks made at the end of the game based on those casualties.<\/p>\n

\"Part<\/a>
Part of the British skirmish line<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So how did the game play out? \u00a0Chris and I were the American skirmishers. \u00a0Greg and Don were the British skirmishers. \u00a0Each of us had a platoon of skirmishers, composed of three squads. \u00a0Two squads were deployed. \u00a0One was formed as a reserve.<\/p>\n

Early in the game, one of Chris’ deployed skirmish squads routed off the table, so he had to deploy his reserve. \u00a0He and Greg beat on each other, but by the end of the game, Chris was unable to get any shots on the formed British unit. \u00a0I advanced steadily, but luck was not with my units. \u00a0Even though I deployed my reserves early, I only got three shots on the formed unit. \u00a0Don’s skirmishers really crushed mine, inflicting many casualties on the advancing American line.<\/p>\n

At the end of the game, based on casualties inflicted on the two formed units, the British line had to make one morale check, and the American line had to make four. \u00a0In the case of the advancing American line, the result was a charge toward the enemy, followed by a pin<\/em> result. \u00a0The British morale check also resulted in a charge toward the enemy. \u00a0So, while the result of the skirmish fight was a convincing British victory, Duncan declared the result of the battle a draw. \u00a0If the objective of the American line was to close with the enemy, since the American line did so, I would call that an American victory.<\/p>\n

Though G.A.M.E.R. is still under development, it is interesting to see how other HAWKs are already using it outside its intended purpose. \u00a0When I began this development journey, I thought that I would use GAMER for WWII and science fiction skirmishes. \u00a0It works surprisingly well for black-powder era games.<\/p>\n