Ebonsword
Arcane
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2008
- Messages
- 2,326
There's a long out-of-print miniatures game I like called Nin-Gonost.
I haven't played in a while, and, while refreshing myself as to the rules, I was struck by how complex and cool the rules were for movement. It also surprised me that I couldn't really think of a computer game that did something similar, which was a bit odd, considering part of the great appeal of computer wargaming is that you get to let the computer keep track of lots of data instead of doing it all by hand.
What's so unusual about the movement in Nin-Gonost? Well, the main thing is that the units actually have momentum. So, you just can't be running at top speed and then make a 90-degree turn down a corridor. You have to slow down first, or you're likely to slam headfirst into the wall instead of making the turn. Here's the relevant section from the rules:
Are there any squad-level games that get into this kind of detail with their movement? I find that it adds some tactical complexity to Nin-Gonost in a nice, simulationist way.
I haven't played in a while, and, while refreshing myself as to the rules, I was struck by how complex and cool the rules were for movement. It also surprised me that I couldn't really think of a computer game that did something similar, which was a bit odd, considering part of the great appeal of computer wargaming is that you get to let the computer keep track of lots of data instead of doing it all by hand.
What's so unusual about the movement in Nin-Gonost? Well, the main thing is that the units actually have momentum. So, you just can't be running at top speed and then make a 90-degree turn down a corridor. You have to slow down first, or you're likely to slam headfirst into the wall instead of making the turn. Here's the relevant section from the rules:
Characters are in one of three speeds: Stop, Walk or Run. A character cannot change from Stop to Run without
first moving at Walk speed. Maximum Walk speed is shown as the first movement number. Maximum Run
speed is the second movement number. You do not have to move the full speed shown. If your last action had
no movement, your speed is considered to be Stopped. If you moved any number up to your walk speed, your
speed is Walk. If your last action moved you a number of spaces over your Walk and up to your Run speed, you
are running. Each space moved counts as 1 towards your movement total. A speed of 4 allows you to move 4
spaces.
It costs one Action Point to Run or Walk. You may freely change speeds within those ranges, or from Run to
Walk, Walk to Run or Walk to Stop without penalty. Changing from Run to Stop (to perhaps avoid hitting a
wall) is a Perilous Movement (see Perilous Movement).
A character who ran as his last action last turn MUST move with his first AP this turn.
first moving at Walk speed. Maximum Walk speed is shown as the first movement number. Maximum Run
speed is the second movement number. You do not have to move the full speed shown. If your last action had
no movement, your speed is considered to be Stopped. If you moved any number up to your walk speed, your
speed is Walk. If your last action moved you a number of spaces over your Walk and up to your Run speed, you
are running. Each space moved counts as 1 towards your movement total. A speed of 4 allows you to move 4
spaces.
It costs one Action Point to Run or Walk. You may freely change speeds within those ranges, or from Run to
Walk, Walk to Run or Walk to Stop without penalty. Changing from Run to Stop (to perhaps avoid hitting a
wall) is a Perilous Movement (see Perilous Movement).
A character who ran as his last action last turn MUST move with his first AP this turn.
Are there any squad-level games that get into this kind of detail with their movement? I find that it adds some tactical complexity to Nin-Gonost in a nice, simulationist way.