PBEM framework for an Oathmark campaign

 I'm thinking of running a PBEM for two friends, specifically with Oathmark, but I feel that this process could work for a lot of miniatures games. One of the things that triggered this was watching Ash and Stone's video about playing Oathmark solo, a technique that could work well for me as GM fighting battles on behalf of two players. Watch the video here and check the info on it for a download of his solo rules:

That pretty much covers the tabletop side of things. For the campaign, the kingdoms that each player has would be publicly available, so players will know what types of troops they might face, and the available figures for each terrain type are listed on the Oathmark page on this blog. That gives the players some degree of foreknowledge, but they will not know what the enemy army will actually look like until they face it in the field.

 The key question for me is how to streamline the campaign, so that it involves the fewest possible exchanges of emails. If I strictly follow the sequence of play in the Oathmark rule book, I get something like the following:

1. Players muster their armies and send the lists to the GM
2. The GM checks the lists and tells the players what the scenario and battlefield layout are
3. Players send the GM a deployment map each.
4. The GM tells the players how the enemy is deployed.
5. Players then send the GM a battle plan each.
6. The GM fights the battle, reports the results and adjudicates how this affects the campaign.
7. If the campaign will continue, start at point 1 again.

This framework involves three emails from the players to the GM and three from the GM to the players. I wonder if it would make a huge difference to the progress of the individual battles if the sequence started with the GM sending the players the battlefield map and the scenario, and they then reply with their army for that battle and their list, deployment and proposed tactics. That would result in the following sequence:

1. The GM informs the players about the scenario and the battlefield layout.
2. Players muster their armies and send the GM army lists and a deployment map each.
3. The GM tells the players how the enemy is deployed.
4. Players then send the GM a battle plan each.
5. The GM fights the battle, reports the results and adjudicates how this affects the campaign.
6. If the campaign will continue, start at point 1 again.

That is still three emails from the GM but reduces the input required from the players. It would be possible to reduce it still further by combining points 2 and 4, resulting in this sequence:

1. The GM informs the players about the scenario and the battlefield layout.
2. Players muster their armies and send the GM their army lists, a deployment map each and their battle plan.
3. The GM fights the battle, reports the results and adjudicates how this affects the campaign.
4. If the campaign will continue, start at point 1 again.

This reduces the campaign turn to two emails from the GM and one from the players, but also reduces the level of control the players have, because they must plan their tactics in more general terms without knowing how the enemy army is deployed. Some players would react against this, while others would be happy sending more general orders to try to cover various eventualities. I guess it would come down to the players' preferences and desire to be actively involved, plus their willingness and ability to respond quickly to game emails. With a planned turnaround of one month per battle, it should not be impossible to follow the first framework, but I shall have to ask my players what they think.

Basic Training 101 with Tiger Troop (Forgotten Ruin)

 I picked up Forgotten Ruin back end of last year. The premise of modern soldiers being dumped into a fantasy environment appeals, and takes me back to my school days, when we tried out the scenario from Dragon magazine where a WW2 German platoon winds up facing off against a Dungeons and Dragons wizard and his henchfolks. It has taken me a while to get around to playing though, because I have been in a bit of a solo-gaming slump for a while. Anyway, I finally got set up and played the first, very simple, training scenario. I'll try to keep the momentum going and head into a campaign, but we'll just have to see how it goes. Still, even getting one game in so 'soon' after buying the rules is winning. I have plenty of rules that I have had for years and have never yet used.

Tiger Troop

Tiger Troop (Felid Company, Predator Battalion, 53rd Bwendi Rangers) were sceptical. They had been training with the rest of the battalion for a secret mission, but the training made no sense. It was all about being rushed by soldiers with hand weapons and primitive bows but no guns. The only part of it that they truly understood was the survival training. They were the poor sods who got sent into every inhospitable, if not downright deadly, environment and had to get by with whatever they could take with them and find along the way. They were used to that. Even their troop leader, Panorama MacCaffery, was a veteran of that type of operation, so they had confidence in her, despite the fact she had only recently got her stripes.

• Sergeant Panorama MacCaffery (troop leader, personality) is Aggressive but Helpful. A veteran of many covert ops, she accepts only the best from her troop. Anyone not pulling their weight will soon regret it.
• Corporal Justice Adeyemi (A Team leader, personality) is Friendly and Supportive. He frequently soothes ruffled feathers when Panorama has been less than tactful, as happens often.
• Private Mary Smith (A Team, personality) is Accepting but also Determined (knack). Panorama's outbursts are water off her back. Even when she has received a tongue-lashing, Mary just gets on with the job and finds a way to make things work.
• Private Tarquin Bjornson (A Team, grunt)
• Private Wigbert Osmaer (A Team, grunt)
• Lance-Corporal Chidubem Bonolo (B Team leader, grunt)
• Private Vesela Sofi (B Team, grunt)
• Private Leaf Moondream (B Team, grunt)
• Private Selcuk Immaculada (B Team, grunt)

Basic Training 1

" B Team, Tiger Troop, you will face a wave of hostiles. Your mission in this exercise is to put the hostiles down. Simples!"

Panorama did not get what this training would achieve, or why they were doing it, but she would be damned if she would let her troop show her up in front of the brass.

The B Team (left to right): L-Cpl. Bonolo, Pvt. Sofi, Pvt. Moondream and Pvt. Immaculada (GZG New Israeli infantry figures)

"Lance-Corporal Bonolo, your team better damned well be ready. You've been briefed. Get out there and destroy that opfor."

Lance-Corporal Chidubem Bonolo was just as much in the dark as his troop leader. he led the others out onto the training ground. The briefing had been minimal. Deploying his troops in a skirmish line he advanced the team into the exercise area. As he did so, two hordes of opfor soldiers out of the dead ground behind some rocky formations. One of them charged at full speed across the open. They were wearing ridiculous masks or rubber suits and appeared to be armed with antiquated swords and clubs!

The training ground. B Team is at the bottom. Two hordes of enemies are at the top.

"Wot da funk?" muttered Bonolo. Despite the incongruity, he did not hesitate. "B Team, move to cover on our right, pick your targets! Aim! Fire!"

A crashing burst of fire rang out from his soldiers, who reacted slowly, shocked by the nature of the opfor. This was not normal!

Two of the orc horde fell in that first volley as the team moved towards the cover of the nearest rocky formation, although Pvt. Sofi clearly forgot to switch the Squad Assault Weapon to full auto, and Pvt. Moondream dropped her first grenade over the top of the orcs.

Yes, I forgot about the SAW in the first round and should have rolled a lot more dice! Lesson learned.

Undeterred the orcs and lizardmen continued to charge. Bonolo opened fire at point blank range at the two orcs charging him and missed by a good country mile. The others opened up on the lizardmen, dropping two and causing one to run away.

As the opfor charge continued, Bonolo emptied a magazine into one of the orcs, but was soon faced with the remaining large orc with a two-handed sword intent on cleaving him in two. By sheer grit and determination, he managed to fend it off and push it back, although his environment suit took a nasty gash from the enemy's sword.

The remaining lizardman put on a spurt and closed rapidly with Immaculada, who dropped it with a single shot. B Team had achieved their objective.

As they returned to barracks, B Team voiced their confusion, but were merely told that all would become clear soon enough. For now, they had earned their pay for the day and could chow down with a good conscience.

That went smoothly enough, apart from forgetting the SAW. There are a couple of wrinkles that are new to Forgotten Ruin, but I have two more training scenarios before getting into any kind of campaign.

Gaming Zen

 Well, who would have thought it? I became a counter clipper. There was a time when I would have sworn that I would never bother clipping counters, but it is really quite calming for when I just cannot be bothered painting figures. In addition, the clipped counters are rather aesthetically pleasing, and it keeps my focus on games I own instead of on the new shiny. This last is a Good Thing.

Of course, RSI is a potential problem from too much counter clipping, but it's meant to be relaxing, so just clip a few counters, drink tea, watch TV, and take it easy. Those counters will be clipped before you realise it. Now if only I could manage to read the rules for these games with the clipped counters...

Apologies to those that thought this post might be about a Zen-based game. Sorry about that.