- This topic has 15 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 4 years, 4 months ago by Trebian.
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09/11/2019 at 10:43 #126227OBParticipant
This week I got a copy of To Ur is Human a new set of rules for warfare in ancient Sumeria. I’m quite taken by them not least because the contain an interesting new mechanism. Anyhow I decided to review them on my blog. If you are interested in Sumerian warfare and a new take on the same do have a read. As it happens my primary interest in the period is in Late Bronze Age warfare and I think these rules are easily and entertainingly adaptable for that. In short they look like fun.
If it’s of interest here’s the link.
https://youdonotknowthenorth.blogspot.com
OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/09/11/2019 at 10:47 #126228MikeKeymaster09/11/2019 at 11:30 #126229OBParticipantThe minimum you could play it on is 4ftx3ft and then upwards. It assumes 6” squares.
Heavies move 1 square plus another if charging
lights 1+1 if no heavies in the square adjacent to target square.
Mediums ditto heavies but cannot charge heavies
Carts 1+1 and up to +4 on top when charging depending on dice roll.
Ranged weapons:
Javelins adjacent square
Slings 2 squares
Bows 3 squares.
I’m pretty taken by it though I’ve yet to play it. The author’s blog is called Wargaming for Grown Up’s. I’m sure he would very happily answer more detailed questions.
OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/09/11/2019 at 17:39 #126237Steve JohnsonParticipantI’ll be playing with 10mm and you can easily play on smaller grids, subject to base sizes of course.
09/11/2019 at 17:59 #126238Mike HeaddenParticipantI posted my thoughts on “To Ur Is Human” on the Pendraken forum, here
http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,19147.msg288968.html
For anyone who’s interested and hasn’t seen it.
A very useful response to my posts from the author, in the same thread.
There are 100 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who can work from incomplete data
09/11/2019 at 21:18 #126242zippyfusenetParticipantThanks for the post OB, I read your blog and the rules look interesting. I intend to read through Graham Evans’ blog and order a copy.
You'll shoot your eye out, kid!
10/11/2019 at 10:29 #126257OBParticipantCheers Zippy. It’s got me painting a couple more squadrons of chariots. I might finally finish painting my Hittites.
OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/10/11/2019 at 12:21 #126263TrebianParticipantThanks to OB for starting the thread. Yes, this is the author here, more than willing to answer questions and give support where needed. What OB says above and in the review on his blog is accurate, and I can’t disagree with Mike H’s comments on the Pendraken forum (although I have explained myself in more detail, as he says, but i’m still mystified as to one of the other forum users responses). There’s more on development of the game, plus battle reports, over on the blog: https://wargaming4grownups.blogspot.com/ . The stuff is scattered over about 5 years, but it should all be labelled “Sumerian” or “To Ur is Human”.
The rules can only be bought on-line via Amazon. They’re only £5, and are available worldwide. I’m often at shows in the midlands area, probably starting with Alumwell next year, the Milton Keynes Camapign, the two Partizans, and Hereward. I’m expecting to be at Joy of Six as well. You’ll usually find me with the Northamptonshire Battlefields Society/Society of Ancients stand. It is likely I’ll have copies with me, but you’ll have to ask as they aren’t a publication from either of those groups, so they’ll be under the table, so to speak. Bring your own brown paper bag.
Trebian
19/11/2019 at 13:19 #126737OBParticipantMy initial thoughts on using To Ur for the Late Bronze Age are now on my blog. I’ve not tried any of them out on the table top yet. If you are interested in how the Sea Peoples wrought havoc or how chariot warriors were armed there might be something there for you.
https://youdonotknowthenorth.blogspot.com
OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/19/11/2019 at 16:18 #126753TrebianParticipantThe suggestions look workable to me, and fit in with how I see late bronze age chariot warfare. Will be intrigued to read how they work out in practice.
20/11/2019 at 06:47 #126789Geof DowntonParticipantThanks, OB, for bringing these rules to my attention. My copy has now arrived, and I’ve read through (but not played) them.
It seems they’ll suit my purpose, in that I wanted rules where armies run away rather than are cut to pieces.
I’m intending to use them for a bit later than you, early Iron Age Israel/Judah, before the Assyrians turned up, so thanks also for your proposed additions, which I’ll be happy to annexe!
One who puts on his armour should not boast like one who takes it off.
Ahab, King of Israel; 1 Kings 20:1120/11/2019 at 10:33 #126806TrebianParticipantEarly Iron Age now? Well, I hadn’t really thought about that, either. You might want to alter the “to hit” scores a bit, depending on what you think the troop classifications I’ve got map on to those you need. I don’t have a classification for warband/medium troops with javelins, but it should be straight forward enough to graft the LI missile rules on to them. My aim was to write very specific rules so I could keep it simple, and as I’ve said elsewhere they may work for some other periods, but come with no warranty (same for my suggestions in this post https://wargaming4grownups.blogspot.com/2019/11/to-ur-elsewhere.html ) as I simply haven’t done even a single game playtesting. I’m nervous about anyone thinking that they can use these straight for something they weren’t intended for, then start a thread that goes “These are rubbish because my Phillistine Goliath figure isn’t covered”, but at the same time excited by the possibilities other people are seeing.
20/11/2019 at 12:26 #126820Geof DowntonParticipantThanks, Trebian, for your comments. My interests lie very specifically in the Bible, particularly the period of David, and as such the intimidation of “my God is better than your lower-case god” is perhaps more important than what kind of pointy stick people are trying to kill each other with. As for Goliath, he simply confers a, let’s say, +1 advantage in the fear test, so I think you covered him well enough!
I agree with your quest for simple, specific rules, and I think yours are more suited to my needs than certain ancients rules that try to cover everything from -3000 to +1485!
One who puts on his armour should not boast like one who takes it off.
Ahab, King of Israel; 1 Kings 20:1120/11/2019 at 13:23 #126828TrebianParticipantYou might want to create a Lugal-like “Champion” who increases a units combat rolls. Fiddle with the fear test modifiers with great care. If you add factors directly to the Test itself you may create units that can never lose a Fear Test or never win one. The biggest modifier in the Fear Test is +2 for rolling most dice in combat. You want to ensure that the combat modifiers you give get that +2 to the right side. That table may not look much, but I did a lot of work on the numbers in the bands and the modifiers to ensure there are no certainties either way.
Let us know how it goes.
20/11/2019 at 14:08 #126832Geof DowntonParticipantThanks again, the “champion” idea is a good’un. I’ll fiddle, and post the outcome in a new thread, I’ve invaded this one quite enough already!
One who puts on his armour should not boast like one who takes it off.
Ahab, King of Israel; 1 Kings 20:1120/11/2019 at 17:28 #126843TrebianParticipantThat’s the Gilgamesh idea I never used. Nothing wasted here.
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