Armchair Dragoons Forums
Wargaming => The Modern World => Topic started by: judgedredd on October 22, 2019, 03:39:58 AM
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So I decided as I'd been through the rules, this was the game I was going to play.
I had a squad, an NPS and 2 soldiers. The first soldier I choose had a location card to allow me to move out - but it required 1 XP and as we didn't have any, I had to use an action discard and draw. Having pulled no location cards, I had to perform this again, using the soldiers second action. Then I had to use both actions of my other soldier and in the last draw, I picked another location requiring an XP.
Damn! That's because there's a stack of about 100 action cards and probably half a dozen location cards!
Anyway - I gave up and started again - I didn't know how I was to proceed.
How do I proceed?
- Can I use actions from the squad or NPS to discard and redraw for one or both of my soldiers? I don't recall anywhere in the rules suggesting actions can be moved between soldiers
- Do I move onto the Hostile section which can't actually be completed and then advance the turn marker?
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You move on in the turn sequence. It’s a FUBAR in your orders and your team is lost until they find a location they can enter, using up valuable time.
No NPC actions cannot be used to exchange cards.
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I have the WWII version. It can be a frustrating game at times but it is fun. I like that you are tracking individual soldiers. In fact, I just bought a cheap bucket load of plastic army men so I could paint a few to use with this game. :D
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Thanks for that.
I didn't think about the fubar - I have a perfect squad. Oh well...it does make sense.
It doesn't mention in the rules about doing that. There is a mention in the sample play through about a soldier discarding and pulling cards and choosing a location card - but it didn't suggest that he discarded to GET a location card.
Thank you :bigthumb:
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One thing I didn't think of - but seen in a post elsewhere - was that people play with one playable soldier and the rest as squad or NPS...saying that it'#s easier.
Certainly one of the things I find difficult (and a bit of a chore) is trying to keep within my resource points when choosing my squads, weapons, equipment and choosing soldiers and skill cards. I spend an absolute age adding/removing/modifying loadouts
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Certainly one of the things I find difficult (and a bit of a chore) is trying to keep within my resource points when choosing my squads, weapons, equipment and choosing soldiers and skill cards. I spend an absolute age adding/removing/modifying loadouts
That's one thing that kept me from getting it to the table too often, but that analysis paralysis will go away the more you play it. You'll get more of a feel for what works, what doesn't (for you), and how much you want to try 'next time.'
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I have the WWII version. It can be a frustrating game at times but it is fun. I like that you are tracking individual soldiers. In fact, I just bought a cheap bucket load of plastic army men so I could paint a few to use with this game. :D
Thanks - just bought these
https://www.emodels.co.uk/masterbox-1-35-no-soldier-left-behind-mwd-down-35181.html
and these
https://www.emodels.co.uk/trumpeter-1-35-u-s-army-in-iraq-2005-4-figs-vinyl-vests-418-plastic-model-figures.html
:-\
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Those look waaaay nicer than cheap plastic toy soldiers! :bigthumb:
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One thing I didn't think of - but seen in a post elsewhere - was that people play with one playable soldier and the rest as squad or NPS...saying that it'#s easier.
Certainly one of the things I find difficult (and a bit of a chore) is trying to keep within my resource points when choosing my squads, weapons, equipment and choosing soldiers and skill cards. I spend an absolute age adding/removing/modifying loadouts
I can't see having only one playable soldier as easier. It means you have only 1 hand of cards. More hands of cards makes everything easier. More chance for locations, more cards to use for moving, move bonus cards etc.
You can have many more soldiers in your squad if you only have one player soldier but what goo is that if the can't move anywhere or shoot stuff.
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I have the WWII version. It can be a frustrating game at times but it is fun. I like that you are tracking individual soldiers. In fact, I just bought a cheap bucket load of plastic army men so I could paint a few to use with this game. :D
Thanks - just bought these
https://www.emodels.co.uk/masterbox-1-35-no-soldier-left-behind-mwd-down-35181.html
and these
https://www.emodels.co.uk/trumpeter-1-35-u-s-army-in-iraq-2005-4-figs-vinyl-vests-418-plastic-model-figures.html
:-\
Those look great. I'm just too lazy to paint them. :P
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One thing I didn't think of - but seen in a post elsewhere - was that people play with one playable soldier and the rest as squad or NPS...saying that it'#s easier.
Certainly one of the things I find difficult (and a bit of a chore) is trying to keep within my resource points when choosing my squads, weapons, equipment and choosing soldiers and skill cards. I spend an absolute age adding/removing/modifying loadouts
I can't see having only one playable soldier as easier. It means you have only 1 hand of cards. More hands of cards makes everything easier. More chance for locations, more cards to use for moving, move bonus cards etc.
You can have many more soldiers in your squad if you only have one player soldier but what goo is that if the can't move anywhere or shoot stuff.
True - more cards. But even the sample mission in the rulebook has one soldier and one NPS (or squad - can't remember).
I think perhaps they meant it was easier in that you didn't have to work out the plethora of player/equipment/weapons/skills options available.
But yeah - in terms of cards and locations, I'd have spent 5 turns last night just trying to get a location! I just can't help but think there are too few location cards for the number of action cards. I'll count them tonight. The action deck is HUGE!
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Just wait until you acquire and add all the stuff in the expansion packs... :o
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Yeah the action deck gets huge with so many add-ons. Someone on BGG did some number crunching and worked out what the original action card to location card ratio in the base game. He then suggested to keep the balance of the original game you just randomly discard some action cards to make the correct ratio.
I like having all the chaos caused by the huge deck.
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I have to say, playing this last night I had a fantastic time. I couldn't stop thinking about it today....
This is a dangerous time - this is when I "rediscover" my love for a game and then go mad on the expansions only for the love to falter...must resist.
By the way - who has the WWII version and is it better than the Modern version?
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I don't have the WWII version but I am currently waiting for the Wave 3 stuff, PMC etc., and the Battle Pack expansion. :D
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I have WWII and the Pacific expansion. Not sure why as the system doesn't really click with me. I figure if you like the series, you'll like WWII. Lots of different nationalities and theatres to play around with.
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There's a couple of things I'm unsure of...some clarification would be sweet.
Action Cards
Some cards cost XPs, some cost and action and others cost action card discards. I presume even if a soldier is out of actions, I can play an action card if there's no cost to it at all?
If you can, can you play it for another soldier (when it says in brackets [Any Soldier] and you pay the appropriate XP)?
Hand Size
I saw a location card with text saying something like "For this location treat soldier Hand Size as +1"...does that mean for each soldier in that location and each turn, they draw an additional card?
Also - I saw an objective card that said +0 size....what does that even mean? If it means you don't increase the Hand Size, then I wouldn't have anyway (unless I performed a discard and draw). Does it mean if I have excess cards, I have to discard to my health value?
XP Usage
If I read the rules right, XP expenditure can come from any soldier? And I presume the XP cost can be split?
The rules seem to be lax when it comes to explaining some of the text. There's a key word section at the back of the book, but it's lacking in (detailed) information I think.
Thanks
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Actions cards - Yes and Yes.
Hand size - You don't draw +1 each turn but if you do an Exchange action then you get to draw an extra. No idea what the +0 means.... ??? Which Objective is that?
XP Usage - Yes anyone can pay with XPs. All XPs in your team are a general pool expect when a soldier dies and takes his XPs to the grave.
Check out the new Keyword file in the BGG files sections.
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Thanks Barth. I will get over there now 'cos I do need some help with keywords. Because there's not alot of info, they're wide open to speculation.
The Objective is Jungle - Convoy. It says +0 size.
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Thanks for the heads up for the keywords...I think it'll definitely help.
However........
I did notice a word on that one which wasn't in the manual - NATURE - which is on Location cards. I forgot about asking about this one and the new keyword PDF doesn't really help with that either.
Here's what the keyword PDF says
Nature - Reference. Remains in effect even if every remaining Reticle is Suppressed.
I still don't know what that means. What is the significance of the word NATURE?
Edit
I did just see this at the top of the keywords PDF
Reference words: Some Keywords have the “Reference”
notation in their description. These Keywords do not have a
game rule, but are referred to by other cards.
Example: The Keyword “Ranged” on Weapon cards does not
have an associated rule. It is referenced by other cards, such as
the Action card “Steady Aim”
So some cards reference NATURE...because I haven't come across any, that's why I don't get the significance of the word...I'll look through the cards tonight to see what references nature - see if I can piece it together from what I find
Sorry - one last thing...
When I move on from a location, it is cleared, right? I don't continue to pull reinforcements for it once my soldiers have moved on. I only ask because I saw a card that says I can eliminate all hostiles behind me.
Currently in my game, I have soldiers on location 2 and 4. I have been pulling reinforcements for both 2 and 4 because I have soldiers in them. Now I haven't for 3 because the reinforcement value is NONE - however, would I pull for 3 normally because it's between soldiers?
I guess basically I'm asking do I pull for all empty locations, only empty locations between my soldiers, or do I not pull reinforcements at all for empty locations? Currently I am pulling reinforcements for locations where my soldiers are
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...No idea what the +0 means.... ??? Which Objective is that?
I found this in the keyword PDF
+/- Size - Add or subtract the Size value from your Attack
rolls when Attacking the Hostile or Objective. Remains in
effect even if every remaining Reticle is Suppressed.
So I guess that means you don't any additional value on your attack rolls. Seems an odd thing to have - why not just not list it?
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Thanks Barth. I will get over there now 'cos I do need some help with keywords. Because there's not alot of info, they're wide open to speculation.
The Objective is Jungle - Convoy. It says +0 size.
Oh that +0. It’s nothing to do with hand size it’s the size of the target. Bigger targets are easier to hit. A 0 size target gets no modifiers when you are shooting at it.
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Thanks for the heads up for the keywords...I think it'll definitely help.
However........
I did notice a word on that one which wasn't in the manual - NATURE - which is on Location cards. I forgot about asking about this one and the new keyword PDF doesn't really help with that either.
Here's what the keyword PDF says
Nature - Reference. Remains in effect even if every remaining Reticle is Suppressed.
I still don't know what that means. What is the significance of the word NATURE?
Edit
I did just see this at the top of the keywords PDF
Reference words: Some Keywords have the “Reference”
notation in their description. These Keywords do not have a
game rule, but are referred to by other cards.
Example: The Keyword “Ranged” on Weapon cards does not
have an associated rule. It is referenced by other cards, such as
the Action card “Steady Aim”
So some cards reference NATURE...because I haven't come across any, that's why I don't get the significance of the word...I'll look through the cards tonight to see what references nature - see if I can piece it together from what I find
Sorry - one last thing...
When I move on from a location, it is cleared, right? I don't continue to pull reinforcements for it once my soldiers have moved on. I only ask because I saw a card that says I can eliminate all hostiles behind me.
Currently in my game, I have soldiers on location 2 and 4. I have been pulling reinforcements for both 2 and 4 because I have soldiers in them. Now I haven't for 3 because the reinforcement value is NONE - however, would I pull for 3 normally because it's between soldiers?
I guess basically I'm asking do I pull for all empty locations, only empty locations between my soldiers, or do I not pull reinforcements at all for empty locations? Currently I am pulling reinforcements for locations where my soldiers are
Well, the PDF does contain words that might not be in your waves. There’s some new stuff coming in wave 3 and the PDF is supposed to cover everything up to there.
For location reinforcements I can’t remember off the top of my head. It’s definitely in the rules somewhere.
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...No idea what the +0 means.... ??? Which Objective is that?
I found this in the keyword PDF
+/- Size - Add or subtract the Size value from your Attack
rolls when Attacking the Hostile or Objective. Remains in
effect even if every remaining Reticle is Suppressed.
So I guess that means you don't any additional value on your attack rolls. Seems an odd thing to have - why not just not list it?
See above.
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Yeah - looking through the PDF it became clear it was all encompassing. But it's going to help for sure
I was looking at the expansions and they're very costly for new cards. £19 each over here. And there are (form what I can see in one store) 8 - that's £152.
I know you don't need them all and if you get the hours out of a system...everything is relative.
I'll be passing just now anyway to make sure I'm keeping up with this version. I've really enjoyed what can only be my 3rd or 4th play through. I plan to keep it on the table for a while (at least until I get WaW Storming the Gap)
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I thought XPs only come from Player Soldiers...am I not remembering that right?
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It says in the manual any soldier on page 5 when talking about upgunning. Whilst it doesn't say "player soldier", it also doesn't say "squad soldeir" or "NPS".
I'd say it was any soldier. Unless somewhere else in the manual it's more specific. The manual is a bit "messy" for want of a better phrase.
Anyway, wouldn't XPs for NPS and squads be useless as they don't have cards to play and it's cards that require XPs.
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For location reinforcements I can’t remember off the top of my head. It’s definitely in the rules somewhere.
The example play on the Hostile phase of Turn #6, it mentions drawing reinforcement cards, no reinforcements arrive for the Trail but a Thug does arrive at the objective card.
It doesn't mention any reinforcements being pulled for the Wetlands which is the second location in but has no soldiers in it. The Objective card which is ahead of the two soldiers, it does pull a reinforcement card. So I would say given the example that (at least) reinforcements do not show up behind your furthest away soldier...so they can show up in locations forward of your last soldier.
Actually Hostile Turn -> Reinforcement Draw says
Draw one hostile card for each location card with a soldier
So there it is.
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I thought XPs only come from Player Soldiers...am I not remembering that right?
Since player soldiers are the only ones that can earn XPs then is stands to reason that they are the only ones the XPs can come from.
However, any player soldier can cough up the XPs to pay for any card, at any time, even during squad assembly.
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For location reinforcements I can’t remember off the top of my head. It’s definitely in the rules somewhere.
The example play on the Hostile phase of Turn #6, it mentions drawing reinforcement cards, no reinforcements arrive for the Trail but a Thug does arrive at the objective card.
It doesn't mention any reinforcements being pulled for the Wetlands which is the second location in but has no soldiers in it. The Objective card which is ahead of the two soldiers, it does pull a reinforcement card. So I would say given the example that (at least) reinforcements do not show up behind your furthest away soldier...so they can show up in locations forward of your last soldier.
Actually Hostile Turn -> Reinforcement Draw says
Draw one hostile card for each location card with a soldier
So there it is.
Yep. As for the objective, as soon as you activate it is gets hostiles and every turn after it gets reinforcements. DON'T ACTIVATE THE OBJECTIVE UNTIL YOU ARE READY!!! Important safety tip.
There are hostile cards that tell you to place them in other locations than where they were drawn for... nasty buggers...
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I thought XPs only come from Player Soldiers...am I not remembering that right?
Since player soldiers are the only ones that can earn XPs then is stands to reason that they are the only ones the XPs can come from.
However, any player soldier can cough up the XPs to pay for any card, at any time, even during squad assembly.
oops
Actually from the manual
Non-player soldiers gain and spend Experience Points in the same way as Player Soldiers
And the same text is in the Squad Soldier Cards section