Bloody Big Battles Resource Page

On this page of my blog I share both standard and variant resources for Chris Pringle's Bloody Big Battles rules.   

I  began this project to provide materials in support of a variant for playing BBB at half scale using kriegspiel blocks on maps (a pdf guide for how I manage this is included on this page).  However, given that our group also plays BBB at regular scale, I also created resources for playing a "straight" version of BBB as well (those resources would probably be of more general interest). I think the differences will be clear, but I thought that I should add a disclaimer to bring attention to this.  I should add that the half scale references and resources might also be of interest to BBB players in general (but that's up to the reader), in particular those interested in gaming in limited spaces.  On this content page, there are images of the resources for previewing with links to pdf downloads under the titles.   You may click on the pictures to enlarge for better previewing. 

On this page, you'll find:

        STANDARD SCALE RESOURCES

    1. BBB PLAYER REFERENCE                                              

    2. BBB EXPANDED TURN SEQUENCE             

    3. BBB EXPANDED TURN SEQUENCE (REACTION FIRE VARIANT)

    3A. ALTERNATIVE ASSAULT PROCESS

            HALF SCALE VERSION

            FULL SCALE VERSION

    4. BBB TURN RECORD WITH NIGHT INTERVAL SUMMARY

    5. BBB TERRAIN EFFECTS FULL SCALE

       HALF SCALE RESOURCES:       

    6. HALF SCALE PLAYER REFERENCE

    7. HALF SCALE TERRAIN EFFECTS, FORMATIONS, AND MOVE ILLUSTRATION

    8. GUIDE FOR HALF SCALE BBB USING KS BLOCKS    

       SCENARIOS

    9. KONIGGRATZ HALF SCALE ON KRIEGSPIEL MAP

    10. AUSTRIANS V RUSSIANS CIRCA 1879 HALF SCALE ON KONIGGRATZ MAP

1. BBB PLAYER REFERENCE 

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Front

Back 

The above player reference sheet has been proofed in our group and works for us. Page references (in parenthesis) are included for each of the sections. One other thing of note is that I color coded the range bands on the reference...

...which correspond to the colors I use on my range sticks.  This shouldn't impact anyone's use, but thought I'd add the explanation. 

2. BBB EXPANDED TURN SEQUENCE

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This expanded turn sequence pulls together all of the rules and puts them in game-turn sequence.  We go through this, checklist like, for each turn, and it really smooths out play for us. At the bottom of the page are some quick references as well (things that frequently come up).  The rule numbers and page numbers are included on each line if we need to do a deeper dive to the rulebook.  Having said that, we find that our trips to the rule book are much reduced when using this expanded turn sequence in combination with the player reference. 

3. BBB EXPANDED TURN SEQUENCE (REACTION FIRE VARIANT)
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In our group, we found that it was much more natural for us to execute defensive fire in two steps as opposed to one.  Thus, we retain the discrete "Defensive Fire" phase, in which we target units that have completed their moves, but we execute what we term "Reaction Fire" during the active player's movement--that is, the defender choosing to fire against opposing units at some point along their movement path. This is basically what is known as "opportunity fire" or "pass through" fire in other rules sets.  This expanded turn sequence adds this "Reaction Fire" to the movement phase.  The defending player may stop the active player and declare reaction fire (as eligible) against a moving unit, which is resolved immediately at that point.  A unit that does reaction fire may not also fire in the subsequent defensive fire phase.  During the "Defensive Fire" phase units are targeted (and resolved) in their final locations, as opposed to BBB defensive fire which can be applied at any point along the unit's previous movement path. Basically, as the defending player, you are deciding whether to let the unit complete its move and then fire in the "Defensive Fire" phase or to do "Reaction Fire" at some point before it completes its move (in a nutshell). 

3A. ALTERNATIVE ASSAULT PROCESS (V9)

HALF SCALE 

DOWNLOAD HALF SCALE VERSION PDF

FULL SCALE ASSAULT PROCESS  

DOWNLOAD FULL SCALE VERSION PDF

The above alternative assault process does not alter BBB outcomes: NOTE: the Top one is for HALF SCALE AND THE BOTTOM ONE IS THE FULL SCALE VERSION. This process simply uses a different process to arrive at the same BBB results. It translates the BBB assault resolution into a more familiar--parallel--process. Each player rolls the dice (as per BBB) and then applies modifiers independently.  Then the attacker and defender compare final modified results to determine the final difference, spelled out as "advantage" and "margin" in the above table. The steps are outlined in the reference and should be self explanatory.  The reference also includes some helpful notes on post-assault actions.PS this reference was updated to V5 based on the helpful suggestions of Richard Speedman on the Bloody Big Battles Forum (thanks, Richard!) 

4. BBB TURN RECORD WITH NIGHT INTERVAL 

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Not much to explain. Came up with this for a mini campaign game. Night interval aside, the font has a nice period look to it. 

5. FULL SCALE BBB TERRAIN EFFECTS V8

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6. HALF SCALE BBB PLAYER REFERENCE

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Front

Back

In the half scale player reference, I rounded out some of the distances to 2" as opposed to splitting them to 1.5" (mainly for movement)--it is always fiddly to track half inch moves (more so than it is worth, I think, and the difference in practice is transparent). Given that I produced range sticks for fire, I maintained the half inch increments when reducing the ranges (since you don't have to find a point along a scale). To summarize,  a 3" BBB fire range is accurately reduced to 1.5" at my half scale, for instance, whereas a 3" move penalty is generally rounded to a 2" move penalty. These mods have worked for us so far with no issues. 

&. HALF SCALE BBB TERRAIN EFFECTS, FORMATIONS, AND MOVE ILLUSTRATION

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Front

Back

Of course, this is a half scale TEC, so move distances are going to be off if you're playing straight BBB (use the regular BBB terrain effects chart).  Having said that, most of the terrain effects in this TEC  are consistent with BBB, but some of the rounding that I speak of earlier is present here (using 2" as opposed to 1.5" increments for half moves for instance).  There is also a simplified version the line of sight/line of fire rule for shooting higher to lower and  over friendly units. Additionally, on the back page there is a movement diagram that would be of use for any BBB game (worth a look, I think), as well as some specific notes on formations  using the half scale kriegspiel blocks (there are now two kinds of columns). I would recommend looking over my Guide for Half Scale BBB with Kriegspiel Blocks for more (the next download). 

*. GUIDE FOR BBB HALF SCALE WITH KS BLOCKS

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The pdf at the above link provides a guide on how I configure maps, mark my Kriespiel Block armies, and created apparatus to support playing BBB at half scale using Kriegspiel Blocks. 

This guide might be of interest to those seeking small space gaming solutions. The above picture shows the footprint of my BBB collection: the small cabinet contains five complete KS block armies, and all supporting apparatus needed to play. The map is the equivalent of a 4'x6' playing area. Here is a game report for a game played on this map (with scenario). 

As always, feel free to get in touch.  These materials have worked for me and our gaming group; I'm always interested to hear how others have found them--in particular, it would be of interest to know if the the player reference and expanded turn sequence are finding use with others.  

SCENARIOS

9. Koniggratz at Half Scale on Koniggratz Kriegspiel Map 

                                                       For more, See the Game Report 

Images provided for preview (click for larger versions). Click the link above images for pdfs.  

DOWNLOAD DEPLOY/PLANNING MAPS 

Prussian (left) and (right) Austrian Deployment/Planning Maps

DOWNLOAD OOB ROSTERS WITH DEPLOYMENT/ARRIVAL GUIDE

Austrian Roster/OOB (left) and deployment (on reverse: right)

Prussian Roster/OOB (left) and deployment/arrival (on reverse: right) 

DOWNLOAD UNIT LABELS

Prussian Unit Labels (left); Austrian Unit Labels (right) 

10. Russians v Austrians, Circa 1879 on Koniggratz Map at Half Scale 

                                                    For More, See the Battle Report 

A speculative clash between Austria and Russia in the wake of the Russo Turkish War. Uses the Koniggratz Kriegspiel Map but not as a specific site of conflict, but as a generic piece of terrain to fight over. Two evenly matched forces, composed of two corps each, of two divisions each stumble into each other and develop the situation from there. This was intended as a mini-campaign that could be played over two days (with a night interval between).  Day 01 begins at 0800 and runs to 1900; Day 01 begins at 0600 and concludes at 1900.  See Scenario download for details.

DOWNLOAD SCENARIO

Excelsior!