A Sharp Practice Game and a quieter night at the BAD Gamers this Tuesday with just six of us out to game.
Alan took Mark, Darren, and Pete through the new edition of FFG’s Sid Meier’s Civilisation, which played well but was a little long, was the conclusion.
Meanwhile, on the other table, Sean and Frank played Napoleonic Sharp Practice, with Sean’s French patrol running into Frank’s British patrol in a learning game of the GREAT black powder skirmish game, now in its second edition
As the Toofatlardies website says, Sharp Practice covers large skirmishes in the black powder era, from 40 to 60 men a side, but with room to push that up to 100 plus. The games focus on the heroic acts of the force leaders who inspire their men to victory.
The second edition rules are a much-streamlined evolution of the first edition (which got a good few plays at the BAD Gamers), using a fast play system that sees action joined almost from the outset and a command and control system that keeps players focused on making the decisions on what their best options are, while the simple to learn, but clever rules, keep the game flowing at a pace.
The Sharp Practice game had some glorious moments with the French rapidly advancing to box in the British force. Sadly, they failed to press home their advance and ultimately fell to the ravaging disciplined fire of the British thin red line. The coup de grace on the French being given by Lieutenant Blackadder’s troops who delivered a crashing volley into the depleted French line troops, which sent the formation falling back and the overall morale of the French force through the floor.
A simple game, but one that delivered a great narrative, with “if only” moments for both sides.
Eager to play again.
