OK, I have been percolating on the ideas Bohan and Ron posted here months ago.
I played three more playtest games at the informal Friday BFW at TotalCon.
The new twist:
Option 1:
Direct Controls & Order Changes are half a command action each. Rally is still 1 CA (debatable, but that's what we went with).
Keep the current Amazon War Cry ability of 1 CA to mark the box - erase the box if you do at least one damage and you are one away from a color threshold.
Option 2:
Eliminate Amazon War Cry. Direct Controls, Order Changes and drawing a command card are all half a command action each.
The group decided we should try Option 1.
Game 1 vs Carl Herzog
High Elves
- Chariot x2
HE Archer
HE Spearmen
HE Battle Squad
HE Battle Mages
Amazons
- Unicorn Lancer x1
Lancer x3
Light Lancer x1
Maiden Bow x1
===========
1498 pts
Carl is still learning. He did not get good value from his missile troops. He did not remember that all Cavalry get an inherent defense bonus defense vs Ranged attacks, and I was on top of him pretty quick with my fast movement. Decisive win for Amazons.
Game #2 vs Marcus
Rome
- Italian Spear x4
Veteran Principes x2
Triarii x2
Veteran Equites x1
Equites x1
Amazons
- Lancer x2
Harrier x1
Maiden Spear x3
Porcupine x2
Maiden Bow x2
==========
1999 pts
This is the 2nd time I've tried to fake out Marcus by not bringing lots of cavalry. At Dexcon he was playing Persia (I think), and that didn't work so well. With Rome's lower defense values, it worked out a little better this time. The 2 Porcupines backed up by 2 bow units gives me 14 dice of missiles on my turns.
I spent lots of CAs on direct controls and order changes.
Photos in this thread:
http://ymgforum.com/index.php/topic,10352.15.html I eventually conceded, but it was not a blowout. I think I had a little advantage in army build, which helped make this game competitive.
Game 3 vs Brook
Amazons
- Lancers x4
Light Lancer x2
Horse Archers x2
Porcupine x1
Pegasus Lancer x2
============
2245 points
Hawkshold
- Scout x3
Knights x1
Spearmen x2
Swordsmen x1
Peasant Mob
Red Dragon
I eventually conceded to Brook, but...
* He failed 3 early morale checks, even with the benefit of Bravery
* He didn't get good value from the Red Dragon. Did I kill it? I don't remember now - memory too hazy.
Yeah, I think I did kill the Dragon, but I didn't have the strength to take what was left over after that.
Again, I spent lots of points on direct controls and order changes, but this did not tip the game in my favor. Without those early Hawkshold routs, this would have been decisive Hawkshold win.
I think the 2-for-1 CA thing is a big help to make this faction viable.
Eric suggests other players take it and play some games. I will get the proxy cards posted soon.
-DC