DBMM Eastern Frankish vs Ghaznavid

400pt Dbmm game on Fri 27th July 2007

I used Eastern Franks to try out revised list with KnO post 1085ad Stephen used Ghaznavids with brilliant Gen. Fairly non-descript terrain (One large DH towards centre) KnO lasted a bit longer than their KnF cousins but still beaten eventually by CvS. Elephants were on flank march but never featured.
Franks narrowly beaten (and sooner than they should have been due to my mistake with MEs).
Big discussion ref single element moves which we now think should be in one single direction and straight only.

No pics as I forgot camera...............

DBMM Defeat from the very Jaws of victory...............

Gallic vs Marian Roman

400pt game today with Stephen I used Gauls vs his Romans.

I invaded and terrain saw a huge (2FE) difficult hill plonked in Stephens middle zone, a couple of small woods and two small rough hills with a Paved Road completed battlefield.

Stephen deployed first with a line of Legionaries (a mix of BdS & BdO) supported by fortified Bolt-Shooters with flank resting on the DH and other flank supported by Cavalry and Light Horse with a few more Legionaries. The DH was occuppied by Psiloi and Auxillaries. I deployed 2 Allied generals with a large central Cmd (40 Wb with Ps and Lch support) and to rear a Cmd of Cavalry and Chariots to sweep around my left flank (on table). My warriors were all WbO.

Opening moves saw repective mounted Cmds move to flank and Legions and Warband approach each other. Thankfully both my Allied Cmds were reliable.

Roman Art caused a few losses. Hostilities began in earnest when BdS moved in against my central Wb Cmd (as they were a somwhat disrupted group due to sponno moves). Wb took a couple of losses but in their turn detroyed several Elite Legionaries. My mounted Cmd had poor Pips allowing oppossing Roman cmds to deploy unmolested against one Gaul Allied Cmd.

The key matchup in the centre saw the Legions in bit of distress nearing Disheartened status, with Gauls suffering losses but due to only counting 1/2ME per loss nothing too dangerous. Indeed things looked very good for the Gauls.....................until.......................with Romans tetttering on the brink the Gauls had 5 key combats in their OWN turn with each being 3 to 2 in favour of Warriors and quick kills looking almost assured ....................BUT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......... with uncanny dice rolling managed to lose 4 out of the 5 combats and indeed lost 4 elements !! (my rolling 1 to Stephens 5 or 6 each time) the Romans then followed up and in their turn quick-killed several more Wb for no loss causing the central (CiCs) Gallic Cmd to break !!!!!!!

In the meantime the Allies had assaulted the DH with a to and fro battle uphill against Aux and Ps. On other flank my Cavalry and Allied Wb were dealing well with Roman horse but rather rashly I put an Allied Gen in his Chariot into melee and of course he ended up overlapped on both flanks and died, this broke his Cmd and tipped balance with Gallic army being routed.

Game hinged on that key turn when Gauls failed to win in their own bound as if they had of either killed some Romans or managed not to die against the battle was theirs...................but alas not to be.

This is closest I have come to actually winning a game but yet again my dice rolls let me down at crucial juncture.....................the Dice Gods hate my guts !

Still another superbly fun game with lots of exciting die rolling contests. Dbmm has not thus far failed to be anything but fun for us. Of course neither of us have used Spear armies yet !!

Dbmm 400pt Sassanid vs Sui Chinese

Sassanid Persian (moi) vs Sui Chinese (Stephen) Dbmm 400 pt game today

Interesting terrain set-up (Sui invaded) saw a large marsh area in centre of Chinese deployment zone. I deployed first in basic linear fashion. Chinese then deployed with all of their troops on one side of marsh. This left bulk of my Clibinarii and Elephants (4 elements) facing thin air and a single Cmd to face the Chinese onslaught. Irr CvS showed their manovering Ineptness (not helped by poor Pips) taking ages to drift to flank.

Thankfully my LhF Vassals managed to kill some opossing LhF and then hold for a few turns. Chinese Cataphracts however overran my CvO/S and broke my left flank. My Centre and Elephant Cmd were (slowly) redeploying but the Elephants suffered 2 losses to Artillery (oouch) before one behemoth managed to kill some BwX. Persian losses were mounting and things looked bleak. However my Arab Nomad ally had moved forward and engaged the enemy Baggage in their TF. Several turns of recoils then 2 Spent LH were followed by the Nomad General breaking into the baggage camp with another element breaking the enemy Army Baggage and putting pressure on all his Cmds. But.........isnt there always....................by this time the Chinese had managed to flank my other Cmds and the Cataphracts killed a couple of Cvs and another Elephant succumbed to enemy Psiloi. Then to seal the deal one of my Sub Generals was flanked and quick-killed by a cataphract so breaking another Cmd and ending the game (17-9)

Another enjoyable game with a lot less problems encountered in rules (other than couple of mistakes we made ref Pips) as always were totally forgot about Pressing Forward rules !!

DBMM Early Byzantine vs Gok Turgesh

DBMM solo game today using Gok Turks vs Early Byzantine.

Byzantines invaded and so not much in way of terrain. Simple advance to contact game with Sogdian allies of Goks hitting Byz CvS and losing (the + & - 1 when losing in Byz turn done for the KnF) with only 2 Cv dieing.

Skutatoi with Ps support pretty solid vs Cv especially as only 1 rank of Bd die (the -1 for I cost them a couple of times) and they killed the Gok CiC !!

Hun allies of Byz dealt with Gok CvO in short order.

On Gok right an indecisive Lh battle occured.

Loss of Cic big block on Pip for Gok and lead to their being whittled to broken status which along with broken Sogdians brought defeat to their door................

Byz had one Cmd disheartened

DBMM 400pts Gok Turgesh vs Early Byzantine

Played a DBMM game today 400pts with my Central Asian Turks (Gok) vs Stephens Early Byzantines

As ever my off-table troops (Delayed Cmd) failed to arrive in this game and my Sogdian Allies were shattered in mean-time. Gothic Knights QKd several Gok Nobles causing a large Cmd to break and therefore the army.

Pretty good game overall with much less discussion of rules interpretations (with exception of Repulses).

Now if I could only manage a win.......................................

Field Of Glory Beta Test

Tried out FOG today solo using Maurikian Byzantine vs Sassanid

(Cannot comment much here as gagging-order in force)

Feels very like a playable 7th Edition major downside pour moi is lack of epic battle 'feel' that DBMM generates.

Certainly much better written and thereby easier to understand......................

DBMM Polybian Roman vs Selecuid

Another DBMM game today with Stephen :

I used 400pt Polybian Romans (post 210BC) with 2 Cmds ofLegions/Velites/Tirarii with a few Cretan bowmen. A 3rd Roman Cmd comprised the Cav (4 elements plus a Sub Gen and 1 LH) and 4th Cmd was Iberian Ally with (iAXs and iPsS). I took no baggage

They faced a Selecuid host of 3 Cmds and an Aitolian Ally. Antichous was present as a Bril Gen (never used his er Brilliance at all!) with several KnF wedges. 1 main Cmd was massed Pikes (A mix of PkS and PkO) backed up by AxS and 2 ElS. The other was KnX with CvO in support and couple of LhF.

The Aitolians were Ps and Lh.

Rome invaded and terrain comprised a small E on my right a RF on my left and on Selc side a large (2FE) GH and a (1FE) SH.

placed my Cav Cmd off-table as delayed Cmd, the Ibrians on my right and the 2 main Cmds in Centre/Left. Selcs had Pike to centre with line of KnX/CvO. Cic with KnF was to rear of Pike and the Aitolians were placed as Concealed Cmd behind the large GH (but they moved on their first turn so no real surprise).

Pikes rumbled forward and killed my 4 PsS Caetratii in one fell swoop :-(

The KnX engaged my Velites causing some losses.

The KnF moved towards the open flank of my Iberians but luckily my Delayed Cmd appeared and I moved them to counter the Agema threat...

My turn saw my Velites gloriously kill both Elephants and Iberians AxS QKd a couple of Pike.

But.......as always...........the Pike then preceedeed to roll over my Iberians causing them to break.

The KnX got in amongst my Legions and QKd several.

On my turn I could not inflict further significant losses on Pike and Legions could only recoil a couple of KnX.

So.........on next Selc turn the KnX trounced several Legionaries and Triari breaking my largest CiCs Cmd and the Army.

Lessons : Polybian Roman has a hard time vs Selecuid as the KnF, KnX, and ElQK just about everything in Roman OOB.

Also whilst Bd can QK Pk itis damn hard to achieve due to high Pike factors.

Delayed Cmd was nice option as it arrives on 5 or 6 and was able tobeing thrown in vs threat also Stephen my opponnent believed this Cmd was on a flank march so was leaving units and using Pips to counter this.

Main lesson.....I need to roll higher dice :-)

TripleA......Another day, another game, another defeat............

Dbmm 400pt game with Stephen today

My Avars vs Carolingians (a good historical match-up).

I used 4 Cmds with a CIC in cmd of 8 rCvS and 2 rLhS a SG with 5 rCvS and 2 rLhS the 3rd Avar SG had 2 rCvS and 6 rLhS (he was set to outflank) the 4th Cmd was a Bulgar Ally with 2 iCvS 4 iLhS 4 iAxO 7 2 iPsO. 6 ARmy baggage completed ensemble.

The Franks fielded 4 (on table Cmds) with 3 Reg General and a Breton Ally. Bulk of troops were KnF supported by a few CvO some SpI and BwI with couple of PsO.

Franks were invaders meaning very little in way of terrain to chose from, 2 large GHs were plonked on Franks table edge with large boggy area in centre. My side of table had a couple of smallish boggy areas. Weather turned out to be mud in spring.

Franks deployed first moved first and with 5 and 6 on Pips they were able to march right into 'face' of my Cic cmd on my left (SG was outflanking on this side). On my turn the Bulgars went unreliable (nice of them) and little I could do march wise as Frank right up upon my deployed troops. I charged into the Knights with CvS and my CIC. I managed to win 7 combats killing 4 knights (yee hah) but on Frank turn I lost 3 elements to QKs. This meant oppossing Cmds were tettering and indeed both broke in following turn. No sign of outflankers though..........I did manage to kill a few more Kn in other Cmds getting close to breaking another Cmd. This was high point of my enterprise as loss of my CIC and biggest cmd combined with non-appearence of flankers and non-participation of Bulgars left me with 1 Cmd to do battle with. They lasted another couple of turns but could not inflict enough losses on Franks to turn things around and of course (predictably) on the turn the flanking Cmd arrived they broke endeing the game (16-9 loss)

A fun and exciting game fighting KnF which are vulnerable to Cvs if charged but are nasty on their turn with QK vs Cav. The Bulgars being unreliable (I had no opportunity to expend 3 pips to force their hand) combined with belated appearence of flankers was ultimately my downfall. Hindsight suggests the flanking group would have been better deployed on table (at least in part). But its a risk you take.....................

Knights right in my face on turn 1 !!

Another day another DBMM game

Another DBMM game vs George using Polybian Roman vs his Commagene

I used list post 202BC with the Reg SGs and an Iberian Ally (AxS)

I had one large Cmd with CiC and 12 Legion/6 Velites/3 Triarii with support from couple of Cretans and 2 Spainsh AxS, one SH had 8 Legion/4 Velites/2 Triarii backed by more Cretans. The other SG commanded 4 Cavalry and one Tarentine Lh. The Cic took centre stage baxcked on his left by other foot Cmd and on his right by Iberians. The Cav Cmd was placed behind Cics right (ie hiding from KnX !)

George had 3 Cmds with Central massive Cmd of Pikes with massed Bow I on flank of Phalanx lined with PsI and supported by couple of Aux and LhO. Both SG Cmds (on flanks) had 4 Cataphracts plus 6 LhF Skythians.

Not must terrain placed other than I (as Invader) placed a large DH on my left with Orchard to anchor flank. Another DH placed by George was on my rear right with a GH. A RF ended up on Georges base edge.

Weather was in my favour with a strong wind reducing Bow range by 80p (this never changed)

Not much subtlety in moves to come to contact as both centre plodded forward engaging in indecisive Psiloi skimishing (my Velites failing to gain upper hand vs I opponents) On wings the Skythians engaged my Ps and Iberians. Both sides took losses in Light Troops.

I moved some Blade on my left against Bow to find myself losing an element and others being recoiled. On same flank the Skythians managed to kill some Velites (2nd rank factor helped). This Cmd was soon disheartened. On my right things were fairly even with my Cav Cmd moving in support of Iberians to drive off the Skythians. In Centre some Velites managed to kill a Pike (due to not counting rear ranks vs Ps) and when blade got into contact they killed 2 more Pike, however they also lost a blade to shooting.

By this time my left flank Cmd was broken and then shattered (ie flank collapsed) and I could gain no advantage elsewhere (George Bows consistantly threw 6s for both shooting and melee !!

Time ran out on us and we called an end with me losing 25-2 as I had not managed to dishearten any Cmds

DBMM Solo

DBMM solo 400pt (test an army) game using Maurikian Byzantine vs Central Asian Turkish

Used same Turk army as that defeated by Feudal French, with Ummayyad Arab Ally and outflanking Horse Archer Cmd the Byzantines had 4 Cmds with Reg Bagg(Pip dump Cmd) with a Nomad (Lh) Ally Cmd.

Byzantines used a BUA to protect baggage, but their compulsory road failed to appear. Only terrain of not was a 1FE wood which split the Turk deployment area in two. This caused the isolation of one Turk cmd (CICs).

Both allies were reliable. The Ummayyad spears used the wood to anchor their flank and the Lt Cav cmd outflanked on Turk left. The Byz Skutatoi deployed opposite the Ummyyads with Cics Cav heavy force on Right the other Cmd and Nomads were on left (effectively 2 cmds vs the Turk CIC). Initial marches brought repective LH into charge ranges and kudos were intially even. Poor Pips by Turk CIC saw his CvS/O hit by Byz CvS/LhS/KnF and suffering losses. The Nomads moved onto flanks of Turk LhS and the CIC was soon disheartened. The Cavlary battle on right was fairly even with the Byz becoming aware of impending arrival of outflanking Cmd. The Skuatoi charged into the Arab spears and lost 2 stands. Following turn the Turk CIC broke and the Turk Cav cmd also became disheartened. The arrival of the outflanking Lh helped very little as Byz Sg had managed to move himself and other Cv toward the threat (good Pips and niffty column moves helped) Arab Asiwira aided the wavering Turks and the Byzs saw one of their Cmds become disheartened. Things were in balance until a couple of key melees saw the Turks lose another Cmd and end the game. Worked out at a 21-4 win for Byzantines.

Dbmm 9th May 2007

Game tonight vs George

My Central Asian Turks vs Feudal French

I used Turk with Ummayyad Arab allies (circa 737AD) vs Feudal French (post 1150AD).

I had 4 Cmds . French had 3 large Cmds.

Terrain was open in middle with couple of low hills a river on my left (placed by George) and 2 large woods. I was invader on clear bright morning. I deployed my Arabs front and centre with two Turks Cmds on flanks of Arab Spears, a 4th small Lh Cmd outflanked on right. A mass of spear and bow was in French centre with on my left a Cmd of BdF/Bw/Sp and on my right a large mass of Knight (of Superior type).

After initial French advance my Arabs of course promptly went unreliable and just as promptly my outflank declared their arrival (not much suspense there !). GeoI advanced on either side of the reluctant Arabs. Awful Pips and mistakenly counting the CVs as Impt saw my Turks disjointedly engage the French Knights and some Psiloi. Then the Knights piled in and my losses started (Bows also caused some Lh kills) Good Pips by George saw him able to respond to my flankers in good order. I did manage to hit A general in the rear but no KO ! (bugger) and impetuous charge on other flank by another French Gen saw him die ! (huzza) however the Knights began to mince my Nobles and dishearten then break my Cic cmd. Losses to the French Spear/Bow saw them dishearten also. But dispite the intervention of the roused Arabs (Impt enemy awakened their martial ardour) my losses mounted faster than French. We had to call time and it turned out a 14 to 11 win for French. Despite a few mistakes with rules (counting my CvS as Impt main gaffe) it was a fun and intense game

Dbmm 8th May 2007

Another game with Stephen using my Sassanids vs Late Imperial Romans

Only managed about 3 turns, after long waffling session :-) so not much to report

Dbmm Game 3rd May 2007

Another Dbmm outing with my Galatians vs Stephens Alexandrian Imperial

I used Galatians with 3 Commands (forgot to use 4th Dummy dice)the CiC in a Lt Chariot commanded 2 Chariots and 46 bases of WbS2 SGs had identical Cmds of Sg in Lt Chariot with 2 Lt Chariots 4Cavalry and 3 PsI. 6 Baggage was placed as Army baggage.

The Galatians Invaded and terrain consisted of a Wood near my baselinetwo Open Fields 2 small Craggy Hills (placed by me but stuck on enemybase edge by dicing) an Orchard and 2 Gentle Hills.

The Warband cmd formed in centre with Sg Cmds on either flank.Using Ambush Strategm 3 PsI occuppied the wood edge (were neverrevealed or moved)Alexandrians had (dont know exact composistion) a massed Phalanx incentre flanked with Peltasts and Light Horse.

Two nasty Elephants also abbuted the pikes. Companions formed a Cmd (we counted these as Wedgesbut on 30mm bases as Stephen not rebasing as yet).

More Lt Horse andseveral Psiloi formed the Macedons left. 1 Bolt Shooter completed theensemble. The Macedons used a Reg Baggage Camp (probably not going tobe allowed in offical list but what the hey) as Pip dump.

As hostilities opened the Phalanx and Warbands approached each other.Poor Pips by Celt SGs slowed there supporting moves.

The Companions moved by column (the column forming in Dbmm is pretty slick) to theirleft to harry Celt Cavalry.As the two main bodies approached each other a possible stand-offlooked on the offing but a 1 roll for the Celts saw their first 2ranks advance into charge range of pikemen who duly obliged in theirturn. The Mbyb stuff came into effect in next couple of turns with Warband suffering losses as Pikes counted 4 ranks vs 1 and ElephantsQK their opponnents.

BUT as warband only lost 1 rank they in theirturn fed in supporting warband and now counting as aggressors severalPikes were destroyed (killing 2 ranks with Wb is BIG benefit as is theS Wb gaining +1 if scoring equal allowing a QK).As this was happening the Companions engaged a line of Celt cavalryand in 2 turns defeated them disheartening this cmd.

On other flank neither side had suffcient Pips to engage.The decisive battle in the centre saw losses mounting to and fro onboth sides with a one point a despondant Macedonian declaring 'GameOver Man Game over !!" as he thought losses had broken his large cmd however a quick recheck found 'only' disheartened as several lostelements were from adjoining Cmd.............The Peltasts had suffered early losses but managed to flank the edgeof warband block and killed several (including two attacks on rearedges (this is nice change from DBM wherein the defender does notautomatically turn to face).

Eventually the main Galatiam cmd accumulated 19 Wb destroyed enough tobreak the cmd (55ME) and end the game.

Toting up it worked out as a 16 to 9 win for Alexanders lot.

Key points/issues from game were :Xyston 15mm figs are GIANTS !!! the Companions looked like they wereon steroids :-) they are 20mm figs ImhoPikes 4-deep can just about stand up to Warband in Dbmm theirmain 'weakness' being the loss of 2 stands in a QK (which leaves alonely 2 stds for next combat)

Elephants are VERY good with so many QKs in their own and enemy bounds.

The Companion wedges are rather niffty with never counting overlapped.

Dbmm deployment,terrain placement are an improvement over Dbm.

The Mbyb stuff and gradings give many subtle nuances to combat (butboy are they hard to keep track of !!)

Another (short) Dbmm game

Played another Dbmm game with Stephen on Monday (cut short again due to family commitments)

I used Polybian Romans vs Carthaginians so nicely historical. I had 2 largish Roman Cmds with 3rd smaller AG and a Spainish Celt-Iberian Ally (BfF). I placed the Iberians in front (I was defender) and they were faced by other Celts and 4 El(I). Stephen had lots of Cavalry (Gallic and Punic). My Iberians advanced in line and engaged oppssing Iberians and the elephants. In 2 turns they were wiped out (I did not realise El QK blades in any bound !). Sadly we had to stop early again (getting to be a habit).

The situation as Iberians approach Punic force

Two turns later no Celt-Iberians in sight !!

Dbmm

Had a Dbmm playtest with Stephen Brittain (cut short unfortunately due circumstances)
Stephen used Arab Conquest vs my Maurikian Byzantines (a nice historical confrontation)
Terrain set-up and deployment was handled smoothly (including my Scouts dieing on a 1 !) both of us commented on how compact the armies and battlefield seemed compared to Dbm. The new Pip costs/system took some reading in particular moving opossing groups into contact. The 'formation dancing' aspect of Dbm seems reduced (much to my liking). Cavlary (S) seem to troop of choice (back to early Dbm days) and Stephen is convinced that Spear are a useless type (I agree somewhat but neither of us used any spear today) Blade appear to be the best foot (a big improvement for Roman armies).
Not enough time playing to gerner much more than cursory inspection but it seems we like a lot of Dbmm stuff but remain bit unconvinced by others. They will take some getting used to.

Field Of Battle - solo Malburian

General overview of game from behind Austrian centre with Cav in dustance engaging Irish.

Piquet Field Of Battle game

Played a Piquet Field Of Battle game with my 13yr old son. A smallish encounter between Austrians (moi) and French (offspring). Austrians had 3 Inf Brigades and a 1 Cav brig vs 4 French Inf Brigs (I of elite Irish and 1 of Militia) with 1 Cav brig. PK FOB is very fast playing and streamlined by very fun to play with plausible outcomes. Steven was rather aggressive with his greater numbers but made a mistake charging with his Pistol Cav (as they need a melee card to conduct melee) and found them shot to pieces by my Inf. His additional Brig had poor move rolls and never got into the action. My own Cav had a similar rush of blood to the head charging the Irish (albeit when they were in column) but got off lightly (despite Irish managing to deploy) and managed to rout one Irish Regt. French losses overall drained their APs (23 French vs a mere 15 Aust) and they failed theit first Army Morale test big style giving Austrians the field.

DBM3.1 Turgesh vs T'ang Chinese

Another DBM3.1 vs SB using my Turgesh (Central Asian Turk circa 737AD) with Ummayadd Arab Allies vs Stephens T'ang Chinese with Turkish Allies. I had 4 Cmds one of Arab allies which consisted of Sp(I) with Ps(O) backed by Cv(O) and Cv(S). The Turks comprised of Lh(S) and a mix of Cv(O) and Cv(S) with several Ps(O) and some Hd(O) Levy. The T'ang turned out to be mainly Cv(S) Lh(F) and lots of Ps(O) and a large collection of Bw(O) and Bw(X). I invaded but SBs terrain selection was very favourable to him with a BUA on one flank a steep rocky hill on the other and a very significant patch of rough ground right slap bang in middle all on his setup areas............this narrowed very much the useable area of the board and with my having no suitable troops to attack any of these features it was going to be tough nut to crack.

As it turned out both flank Cmds cancelled out their oppossition to no real effect throughout the game as neither side had any real advantage (both mixes of Lh & Cv). However in centre I advanced the Arab foot supported by Turk nobles and their own Cav. Once in bow range (even with rain starting) the Arabs lost all of front rank in 2 turns and when I threw in the Cv(S) they too took losses. I managed to get a match-up with overlaps on the end of the large Bw(X) group but poor combat roll saw my Cv recoil. Next turn the Arabs were broken (all thru bowfire) and Cics Cmd was close. Inevitably the bow after several failures shot down my Cv and with Arab losses the army broke..................................roll on DBMM I say :-)

Another 3.1Dbm

Another Dbm 3.1 game today my Mauikian Byzantines vs Stephens Carolingian Franks @400pts.

I put a bit of thought into this game as regards terrain setup and as defender I plumbed for a Bua to secure my left flank. I had 2 Reg Cmds and a Sassanid Ally Cmd. Stephen advanced his Kn(F) against my Cavalry and Lt Horse and I had initial success with Lh killing a couple of Kn. I then managed to use the Lh to pull the ends of his line of Kn out of formation but sadly really poor Pip dice on following turn saw the Lh replused/killed for no real gain. Then I threw my Cav in a large mass (ie 6 Dbe units) into his Kn. What followed was pitiful as my Cav were annihilated in 2 turns (the number of 1 and 2s was awful even by my standards!!) breaking my largest Cmd. This coupled with loss of Lh and a coule of Sassanid Cav (shot down by bows again due to awful Pip dice) saw my Army demoralized and beaten. The Cav in a DBE is just too costly when ko'd as 2 EE lost and in Reg army these are losses ill afforded (mind you with such poor die rolls no army would have fared too well). Back to the drawing board for the 'Rolls Royce' Of Byzantine armies.......................................

Piquet Field Of Battle playtest

Piquet Field Of Battle arrived in my hot little paws and I set up a quick 10mm Malburian bash (16 Austrian units vs 21 French) to try them out after an initial read through.

Rather impressed with fastplay nature of rules and the new Initiative & Sequence Decks are good. Plays faster than PK Cartouche but does lack some of its tactical nuances, although in the end the result is very similar and arrived at much quicker. Movement is fluid with all units able to interpenetrate one another even in contact(this took a bit of getting used too). Combat is standard PK die-type scale but results are much quicker as morale built into combat outcomes. Nice system of winning Even throws having beneficial outcomes very slick. Overall I realy liked these rules (despite being tad pricey) only downside is rather 'cheap & tacky' nature of the Card decks and the QRS. Cant wait to try these out with SYW stuff at some point.