BBDBA: double, triple, ???

Hi guys!

I've played a few games of DBA in the last couple of months and I love it! So, I'm expanding by buying a few new armies. I am trying to decide whether I should buy standard 12-elements, or whether I should pick one of my two planned army purchases and increase that army by buying 24- or 36-elements.

As I scour the internet looking for whether BBDBA is played much, I get a little confused. I thought maybe you all could help me answer some questions:

1. When I see reference to "BBDBA Doubles" - does this typically mean 2-player teams or 24-element armies?

2. What percentage of DBA tournaments would you say are BBDBA as opposed to "normal" DBA?

3. Are most of the BBDBA matchups 36-unit? Or are most 24-unit?

4. Do you have a recommendation of whether 12-, 24-, or 36-unit purchase is the way to go?

Thank you so much!
Jason

1. BBDBA Doubles is Big Battle DBA (36 elements) with two players on a team.

2. It depends where you are. On the East Coast there is usually one BBDBA tourney per convention at the three big conventions.

3. BBDBA is 36-unit, described in the rulebook. "Double" DBA is something different, invented by some of the DBA guys in Ohio, and played instead of Big Battle DBA at some conventions run by HMGS-GL (GLADBAG). Mike D -- perhaps could you post the link to the rules and stuff?

4. It depends where you live. If you don't live in the Great Lakes region, you'll see more Big Battle than "Double" DBA, but regular DBA games outnumber them both by a lot.

I recommend you buy single armies, and build to Big Battle armies and allies. That gives you enemies for single games, as well as allied contingents for Big Battle.

There's very little BBDBA out on this coast (NW USA & Western Canada). I haven't seen it at any of the conventions in this area, and it is only occasionally played at our bi-weekly DBA Game Nights in Seattle or monthly Game Days in Tacoma.

But, that said, last night, folks ran 2 x II/33 Polybian Roman with II/39a Ancient Spanish/Iberian allies versus 2 x II/11 Gallic with II/47a Early German Cimbri & Teutones allies. Rome won.