Converting DBA into DBM

[imported_Donegal]

Hi
I,m trying to convert some DBA scenarios into DBM and i have some questions:

-How can I convert 4x3Cv (for example)? is the same than 4Cv in DBM?
-How about the terrain scale? Is the same for both games?
-How can I simulate a "+1 for a unit against any
unit"?, maybe with a superior quality?

Thanks in advance

[Chris Brantley]

Originally posted by Donegal:
Hi
I,m trying to convert some DBA scenarios into DBM and i have some questions:

-How can I convert 4x3Cv (for example)? is the same than 4Cv in DBM?
-How about the terrain scale? Is the same for both games?
-How can I simulate a "+1 for a unit against any
unit"?, maybe with a superior quality?

Thanks in advance My first and best advise would be to use the DBM rules (which will determine scale) and the DBM army lists for army composition. Many of the changes done to army lists for DBA battle scenarios at Fanaticus are for the purposes of creating a more "historical" army for a particular battle than is possible from the DBA list. The DBM lists have more element types and more flexibility to tailor accordingly.

Also, in the DBM rules, certain elements are graded (S) for superior anyway, so you don't need to adjust with +1 or -1 modifiers unless you are trying to account for particularly unusual circumstances (e.g. Crusaders are in the desert at Hattin and have had water for three days)

The two things that should translate fairly easily are the terrain layouts (although you may need to add additional terrain or larger terrain when translating to the larger DBM gaming board) and the initial army deployments, although DBM's use of commands will require some adjustments.

[Chris Brantley]

Originally posted by Donegal:
Hi
-How can I convert 4x3Cv (for example)? is the same than 4Cv in DBM?
There isn't a "4Cv" element in DBM that I'm aware of. The basic troop types wouldn't change (3Cv in DBA is still 3Cv in DBM although in DBM they will be also classed as Irregular (Irr) or Regular (Reg) and as Ordinary (O), Superior (S) or Inferior (I). For example, Atilla's Huns are Irr Cv(S) and Patrician Roman equites are Reg Cav (O).

Again, DBM army lists will give you the allowable number of each element type permitted, which you can adjust if you feel warranted to the particular historical scenario.

Another approach would be to use DBA rules for big battles or giant battles. In Big Battle, you can just take the DBA army lists times 3 and then split them into three commands. So if the historical scenario calls for 4x 3Cv, then you would increase to 12x 3Cv and decide how you wanted to allocate those 12 elements by command.

In Giant Battle DBA, you start by looking at the historical order of battle and divide the total of each type of troop by the figure scale on page 2 (e.g. 1 element equals 1000 heavy foot). By this method, for example, in order to reprsent 20,000 Roman legionaries at Cannae, you would need 20 elements of 4Bd (20,000/1,000 = 20). If you knew there were 10 legions in the battle, then you'd know that one legion is equal to 2 elements.

Or if Alexander had four foot phalanx totalling 20,000 men at Granicus you would field four phalanxes of 5 pike elements each.

Hope that helps.

[derek]

Hullo
I have frequently used DBA scenarios as a basis for both DBM games against other players and for solo wargaming. I start by taking the terrain as is in the scenario. The attacker remains the historical attacker. The defender remains the historical defender.
I would suggest 300AP games. Larger than that and it can become very long (4 hours plus) with 2 players. Use the DBM army lists as a guide, together with the specific forces as described in the scenario. If 300AP is more figures than you have I would recommend Big Battle DBA.
See:
http://www.umiacs.umd.edu/~kuijt/BBDBA/index.html
Kind Regards
Derek

[Chris Brantley]

Originally posted by Donegal:
Hi
-How can I convert 4x3Cv (for example)? is the same than 4Cv in DBM?
There isn't a "4Cv" element in DBM that I'm aware of. The basic troop types wouldn't change (3Cv in DBA is still 3Cv in DBM although in DBM they will be also classed as Irregular (Irr) or Regular (Reg) and as Ordinary (O), Superior (S) or Inferior (I). For example, Atilla's Huns are Irr Cv(S) and Patrician Roman equites are Reg Cav (O).

Again, DBM army lists will give you the allowable number of each element type permitted, which you can adjust if you feel warranted to the particular historical scenario.

Another approach would be to use DBA rules for big battles or giant battles. In Big Battle, you can just take the DBA army lists times 3 and then split them into three commands. So if the historical scenario calls for 4x 3Cv, then you would increase to 12x 3Cv and decide how you wanted to allocate those 12 elements by command.

In Giant Battle DBA, you start by looking at the historical order of battle and divide the total of each type of troop by the figure scale on page 2 (e.g. 1 element equals 1000 heavy foot). By this method, for example, in order to reprsent 20,000 Roman legionaries at Cannae, you would need 20 elements of 4Bd (20,000/1,000 = 20). If you knew there were 10 legions in the battle, then you'd know that one legion is equal to 2 elements.

Or if Alexander had four foot phalanx totalling 20,000 men at Granicus you would field four phalanxes of 5 pike elements each.

Hope that helps.