Game strategy

I'm considering what is a good strategy here for Tricorne, in the sense of whether it is better to try and get a hit on the maximum number of units, or concentrate on killing off 1 unit.

So supposing you have 3 units to fire, and could choose full strength targets, do you fire at each hoping for a hit, or all 3 at 1 hoping for a kill?

I guess the answer is different for melee, and will also depend on the circumstances.

As you battle one unit at a time, the results of a combat may make your decision for you as the target may have retreated, thus requiring a new target.

In practice, of course.

What I am getting to is whether it is better to try and hit as many units as possible once to reduce the return firepower, the +1d for full strength, or to concentrate on one unit. Circumstances in reality dictate the possibilities, but in linear formations, it is often possible to have multiple targets.

In C&C Napoleonics it is frequently wiser to write down several units to reduce their combat power, whereas in Ancients (and BattleCry) it is better to concentrate on killing a unit, since the combat power remains constant. Tricorne has a mix.

In that case I would suggest taking a block off a full-strength unit. This is especially true for Highlanders as it is for Warriors (C&C:A) and Japanese Infantry (Memoir). The +1 for a full-strength unit is a big factor in C&C:T and you'll probably find the Retreat / Route rules will account for more units than musketry does.

My experience supports firing on different units most of the time. As stated above you want to take away the full-strength modifier. By forcing as many retreats as possible you disrupt your opponents attempts to form and maintain a cohesive line. You will also find more units will rout while attempting to rally then you will eliminate through fire or melee combat.

Found it best to remove a block from as many enemy units as you can hit. The only modifier to this is to shoot at units that are unsupported (such as those on the end of the line) and have more chance of being routed or at least sent packing for a turn or two.

ozzie wrote: Found it best to remove a block from as many enemy units as you can hit. The only modifier to this is to shoot at units that are unsupported (such as those on the end of the line) and have more chance of being routed or at least sent packing for a turn or two.

something I've always admired in the C&C game series is how flanking happens so naturally, without any need for special rules.

I would agree. Some gamers at the club absolutely hate it though and would rather argue for hours over the minutiae of moving units millimetres and microscopic wheels and who is behind whose flank etc. Such gaming eventually bored the socks off me and sapped my enthusiasm to play.

Discovering C&C was a revelation. There are generalisations which help make it work but the use of the supporting units and generals to ignore retreats is simple and elegant. Sweeping flank attacks (especially in Ancients C&C) is done with multiple units in supporting roles. If you attack with one unit you will probably lose it.

For Tricorne, the unit at the end of the line is always more vulnerable (unsurprisingly) but the positioning of generals and other support units is possible and vital and is, well, good generalship!

So play on and enjoy the game(s). We do. It has been one key to the revitalising of out Friday night gaming group and we enjoy Tricorne, Ancients, Napoleonics, Samurai and Memoir.