FGM House Rules Thread.

[Johnsy]

With arty I work this way.
If defending you can't use any preplanned arty in the first turn.
If attacking you can use preplanned arty in the first turn.
In meeting engagements you can't use preplanned arty on setup zones or routes out of setup zones but you can use preplanned arty elsewhere.
I usually stipulate that you can't buy any extra arty that what comes with the main force purchased.
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[Facman]

I usually stipulate that you can't buy any extra arty that what comes with the main force purchased.

This is one of my favorites. It actually serves a dual purpose, in that it forces one to play in the Organic OOB, and 'defusing' the chance that arty will dominate the QB environment. I don't know about you guys, but I'm not here to 'Nuke' you guys. I'd much rather you enjoyed the play enough, to want the opportunity to play with me again.

 

[eniced73]

I understand what is going on with this as I have read this whole post and numerous others that pertain to this issue. But as far as getting a 'list' together, I disagree. Just my opinion as there are numerous here. Just ask Bootie how many people here read rules!! Most people will not even acknowledge them. I say just keep it as is with the two opponents discussing what is in play and what is not. If something is missed before playing and then it is your fault suck it up and be a man and proceed. I hate all artillery. As stated above I am here to play a fun game not 'nuke' you on the first turn and then mop up for the next thirty.

I say 'one' house rule: No preplanned artillery in setup zones. Period. Simple and solves the problem that seems is the root of the issue.

 

[Earl of Grey]

Maybe we should keep it simple, yes... Johnsy's proposal is interesting, but would only work in a QB environment. And if we started having different sets of house rules for about every kind of game we played here, it will onl result in total and complete chaos.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

Just my two cents, each person could have their own rules which they paste to each first email after agreeing to play, which then could be more defined by agreement.Most will have the same rules with only minor differences and agreement should be easy on the others. Also your assured any newcomer will have read the rules.If everyone got into the habit of pasting on first email even with old friends I believe most problems could be resolved. But this is from someone who only plays family =)

 

[Johnsy]

Maybe we should keep it simple, yes... Johnsy's proposal is interesting, but would only work in a QB environment.

I wasn't trying to propose anything, they are the guidelines I play by, and if you don't want to play by them, I probably won't play you again. To me they make it realistic and make it fair for both party's. The only part of my guidelines that doesn't work in scenarios is the last part about buying extra arty, the rest you can use in any scenario out there.

 

[Facman]

I like the way Johnnsy put his parameters in his sig, Im gonna stea...copy them in my own sig.

 

[Earl of Grey]

This is so gonna dividing the CM crowd if we don't get it sorted out soon... Come on Johnsy, you can't honestly threaten someone in earnest to not play him again if he doesn't abide by all your guidelines. Especially 4 will be a problem. And if 4 is considered debatable we're right back we're we started - that we need to discuss how to handle arty each and every time we play with someone.

Heck, it has even come up in my current overlord game already if prep arty is off or on the table! And I got no idea because there are NO guidelines - yet.

 

[mTk]

Bootie should set the rules for arty in The Overlord Campaign.
Oh, and I told you so.

 

[Bootie]

As this is going round in circles should ditch the house rules and leave it up to the 2 players to arrange their own parameters pre-game.

As for the campaign the arty guidelines were mentioned elsewhere IIRC.

Namely....

Attacker can use pre planned arty.

Defender cannot use pre planned arty on first turn unless the enemy are attacking off a beach.

Parallel to a beach does not class as of the beach... basically landing battles is when arty can be used as it was sighted ont he beaches.

 

[Facman]

This is so gonna dividing the CM crowd

I would disagree with you here EoG. From my experience and from looking at the feedback on this subject, I discern no great rift. As one would expect, there are those who oppose the idea of House Rules, and those who think it's time has come. Nowhere have I seen anything approaching a flame war. Instead there has been a steady stream of opinions, all presented and responded to with respect. Which is just one of the aspects of FGM that I appreciate very much. I have no doubt that in the end, even those in the minority will be able to appreciate the consensus position, since above all else, we consider what we have here as to be very special. For those who are not of the maturity level to deal with where we end up in the discussion, then they will have to decide if the FGM suits them.

you can't honestly threaten someone in earnest to not play him again if he doesn't abide by all your guidelines

I reserve the right to refuse to play anyone, for any reason, any time I choose. I have placed folks on my 'Do not play list', and will continue to do so, at my own discretion. Now this may not sit well with some of you, I however, am very particular about who I share my time with and notice that the world still revolves in spite of my position on this subject. Quickest way to get on my list...be a 'CM SHARK'.

 

[Herr Klopek]

This is so gonna dividing the CM crowd if we don't get it sorted out soon... Come on Johnsy, you can't honestly threaten someone in earnest to not play him again if he doesn't abide by all your guidelines. Especially 4 will be a problem. And if 4 is considered debatable we're right back we're we started - that we need to discuss how to handle arty each and every time we play with someone.

Heck, it has even come up in my current overlord game already if prep arty is off or on the table! And I got no idea because there are NO guidelines - yet.

Hiya Earl.

That was me and you didn't answer back. The only reason I asked was that I needed to know before I made my set-up so that I could account for it and plan accordingly. Anyway, I'm hoping that you don't use pre-planned arty in the first turn because it could turn out to be a very short game.

 

[Earl of Grey]

Thanks for calrifying that, Bootie, it's what I thought was the case. I'm sure I had answered you though, but wouldn't have done it anyway, so - feel safe. :wink:

@Facman:I'm not meaning our house rules discussion ehre, but the entire "prep arty ons etup zoens thing" - I know it has been used extensively in CMx1 and shattered many of my meticulously planned attacks in more than one game, but I don't recall it being such a big issue then. It obviously is now and the way I see it, there will only be two big crowds...

What I mean is that this thing could devolve into something ugly - the situation in which you couldn't agree with another player on common rules becasue both have their guidelines which may differ from one another. if everything is being discussed reasonably but you coudln't agree on common rules, would you not play against that fellow either and refuse in the future to do so? And if it comes to "my opinion is worth more than yours because I believe my point of view is more sensible than yours" we DO have a problem.

 

[Herr Klopek]

As this is going round in circles should ditch the house rules and leave it up to the 2 players to arrange their own parameters pre-game.

As for the campaign the arty guidelines were mentioned elsewhere IIRC.

Namely....

Attacker can use pre planned arty.

Defender cannot use pre planned arty on first turn unless the enemy are attacking off a beach.

Parallel to a beach does not class as of the beach... basically landing battles is when arty can be used as it was sighted ont he beaches.

Hmmm.....I didn't see that thread. Perhaps it would be good to put it in the official rule book.

 

[Herr Klopek]

but I don't recall it being such a big issue then. It obviously is now and the way I see it, there will only be two big crowds...

Hiya Earl,

I think it is a big issue now for primarily two reasons:

1. The super destructive nature of HE in the CMBN engine

2. The defender can use pre-planned arty on the first turn but could not do this in the CMx1 engine. (I think)

There could be more reasons some of which are that one can purchase some really destructive arty on the cheap that will wipe out an entire 1/2 of a small map....so that's why it's good to have a discussion on this. I don't think it will divide our community if we come to the table with open minds (and as long as everyone thinks like me, Har...just joking)

 

[Herr Klopek]

Thanks for calrifying that, Bootie, it's what I thought was the case. I'm sure I had answered you though, but wouldn't have done it anyway, so - feel safe. :wink:

LOL Ya safe maybe for the first turn or so...then I'm sure you're going to go out and shoot my men! I'm Looking forward to our battle. With Booties system of OOB allocation and points system it takes away most of what we are talking about here on this thread. This is more for QB's in general or for Domination.


About the purchase of "extra" artillery. On some QB I do and on some I don't, both as defender or attacker so I would not want that restriction put on me. If I go in heavy on arty, then I'll have less inf or tanks to work with. I can see it being an issue on a small map but on a medium or large map a lot of arty can be wasted shaking leaves off trees and nothing else.

 

[eniced73]

As this is going round in circles should ditch the house rules and leave it up to the 2 players to arrange their own parameters pre-game.

Amen! Simple enough. That should be the House Rule. And tournaments should have their own rules set by the GM.

 

[Johnsy]

This is so gonna dividing the CM crowd if we don't get it sorted out soon... Come on Johnsy, you can't honestly threaten someone in earnest to not play him again if he doesn't abide by all your guidelines. Especially 4 will be a problem. And if 4 is considered debatable we're right back we're we started - that we need to discuss how to handle arty each and every time we play with someone.

I don't reckon this will divide the CM crowd, I reckon it's just bringing about a healthy debate on peoples opinions. I also reckon people should have some guidelines to the arty question because of the effectiveness of it in CMBN, but it doesn't have to be a universal, or club house rule. I reckon any fair and thinking commander who is trying to have realistic battles and not trying to be 'gamey' will find my guidelines a good fit. Most of my opponents know of my guidelines and are more than happy to follow them, and in most cases has taken them on for their own.

As to me threatening not to play someone if they don't abide by my guidelines, I can only steal from Facman(as he did with these guidelines from me), as he said it better than I could, "I reserve the right to refuse to play anyone, for any reason, any time I choose. I have placed folks on my 'Do not play list', and will continue to do so, at my own discretion. Now this may not sit well with some of you, I however, am very particular about who I share my time with and notice that the world still revolves in spite of my position on this subject. Quickest way to get on my list...be a 'CM SHARK'." With that being said these are just guidelines and are as such flexible, particularly number 4, so long as it is discussed before the battle starts. But I feel that my guidelines are realistic and fair to both commanders in any situation, and you'd have to have a pretty good argument to get me to go out side them.

 

[Johnsy]

About the purchase of "extra" artillery. On some QB I do and on some I don't, both as defender or attacker so I would not want that restriction put on me. If I go in heavy on arty, then I'll have less inf or tanks to work with. I can see it being an issue on a small map but on a medium or large map a lot of arty can be wasted shaking leaves off trees and nothing else.

As I've said my guidelines are flexible and this part of it is the most flexible. It's basically there so commanders don't spend over half their points on arty. I have a Domination battle going with Aulette on a medium map, with him defending and me attacking, and I purchased a lot of arty. If I was defending I would expect a massive arty barrage from my opponent on the opening moves and would think he has given me the advantage by not doing it. As an attacker I would be pissed off if their was a preplanned arty barrage in the opening moves on my setup areas or routes out of the setup areas. That would not be realistic. My aim is to make my battles as close to the way they would have been in 1944 as I can, and that's what my guidelines are aimed at.

 

[Herr Klopek]

@Johnsy - Understood.....and agreed about a crazy purchase of artillery and being flexible. We are all here to have fun and play with honour.

@Facman - You have the unenviable task of putting together House Rules (or House Guidelines if the word "rules" ties your panties in a knot) It pretty well is the same thing no matter what you call it and gives our community some kind of framework to work with so that if you are playing a QB against a new opponent you could simply ask if they follow the House Rules....then negotiate from there. Simple really, lets not over complicate this. Of course no one is forced to play by any rules and two players can play out a QB as they see fit and to their own liking. In a tourney like Domination anything goes and players can choose whatever like......OOC is different and the GM is the one who decides how things should be......simple.

HK