Thoughts on Flames of Glory

I played Flames of Glory last night. It wasn't my first game - more like my 9th or 10th.

I am still not sure about them but if anything I am verging towards a thumbs down. In a way I think they are a great missed opportunity and in fact a step backwards. They still feel like WRG 7th.

The epic scale of DBM has gone and we are back to small skirmishes and minor battles. It doesn't matter that people tell me the a 'battle group' is a collection of units and not a single unit - If it feels like a unit, behaves like a unit so it is a unit. What defines this is that the battle group is the smallest 'piece' that can move and fight independently. In DBM it was the element, in FoG it is the battle group - so a FoG battle group is the equivalent of the DBM element.

At the same time the re-introduction of distance shooting for cavalry bows and javelins and slings of all sorts has had the effect of reducing the perception of the ground scale. At a stroke the battlefield is smaller.

Then look at what the battle groups can do. Light horse can turn and move off in almost any direction almost at will. The only time they need to test is to turn move 3 inches and turn back. Pike blocks can turn 90 degrees and change their axis of advance relatively easily, it just doesn't seem right.

I liked the dilema DBM gave you - your moves were limited and you had to make choices. I don't get the same satisfaction from the 'everything moves' bit of FoG.

In FoG, losing a battle group can be catastophic, it represents a bigger proportion of your force than a DBM element. OK if the DBM element was of pivotal importance, that to could also be catastrophic, however even if you were on the verge of collapse, often a tenacious defence could be mounted and some satisfaction gained. In FoG, it appears that the opportunities for recovery are limited.

The element of chance seems much higher in FoG. I am sure someone will try to tell me I am wrong but when you get yourself into an advantageous position with more dice and better odds than your opponent and you roll badly it has more impact than the dice rolls in DBM. You are left hoping the luck will turn and your opponent will roll badly and you roll well.

I left ancient gaming during the period of WRG7th Edition and only came back with the advent of DBM, FoG might just have me do the same again. I will try again and see if it gets better!