An Aztec game

 

The first draft of my Aztec Game is now done.  Wounds and different coloured dice proved to be the way in.  

I use a single colour dice for all Spanish troops and dice of two contrasting colours for all Amerindian units.  The contrast indicating elite or ordinary warriors. 

As an example, a unit of 16 Tlaxcalans gets 8 red dice for its front rank elite warriors and 8 white dice for its archers. Yellow and blue dice for the Aztecs. Easy enough to remember.

How does it work? Wounds and kills reduce a units fighting dice allocation. Armour helps prevent loss. Killing horses or riders and taking prisoners generate extra dice.  It is a simple enough system.

What’s it like?  Well Spanish cavalry are deadly but have to take care.  You can use them in realistically small numbers too.

The units follow what we know.  A sprinkle of missile troops with the swordsmen for the Spanish.  I’ve simplified the Aztec units into two rank affairs, front elite, the back not. Each Aztec unit is also accompanied by a small number of non close fighting skirmishers.  Should you wish, more complex options would also work.

Prisoner taking is done and dusted to my satisfaction.  It has consequences for both sides. Losing your heart after a dance isn’t a metaphor in this game.

It is a card driven game, with a special card each for Aztecs, Tlaxcalans and Spanish.  There is no figure removal and D6 are used throughout.  Any basing system will work.

In short, I’m pleased.   

Let me take you through two combat match ups and you can see what you think.

Three Spanish cavalry figures attack a 16 figure Aztec unit. One Spaniard hangs back in case a rescue is needed.  As the Spanish charge in, the Aztec front rank uses it’s Atl-Atl. One of the cavalry men is wounded but both charge home. The Aztec officer is killed and, in the furious fighting, so is a Spanish horse. The third rider swoops in and rescues his dismounted comrade.

The Aztecs lose 2 dice for their killed commander but gain 1 dice for killing the horse.  They have also used one of their two Atl-Atl shots.  The rescued Spaniard is dropped off with nearest Spanish infantry unit which consequently gains an extra dice. He has now become an infantryman.

Does this sound like Bernal's account?  Pretty much.

Both units are still in the game.  The Spanish feel they have been unlucky - which they were. Two out of three times they would have killed and retired intact.  It could have been worse, had they lost both horse and rider the Aztecs would have come off best.

Here is another one match up.

A unit of Aztec Priests sets out to tackle a unit of Tlaxcalans.  Half the Tlaxcalans are archers and they shoot up the Aztecs.  The elite front rank Aztecs are protected by their armour (Saving throws can apply) but some of the second rank are wounded.  The Aztec units lose a dice and continue to advance.

At close range the Aztecs are shot up again.  This time with both arrows and Atl-Atl (More deadly) from the front rank Tlaxcalan elite warriors. The Aztecs lose another 4 dice.  Their own Atl-Atl inflict a loss of two dice.

The Tlaxcalans now fight at a disadvantage.  Only their front rank is equipped and trained for close combat.  Outnumbered, they get the worse of it and are pushed back losing a prisoner in the process.

The Tlaxcalans began with 8 elite combat dice and now have only 2.  The archers still have all their 8 dice. The unit now needs to avoid close combat.

The Aztec Priests began with 8 elite combat dice and 8 other dice. They lost 4 elite and 1 other dice to missiles and combat. Now they have 7 other dice and 6 elite combat dice having gained 2 such dice for capturing a prisoner.

Both units are still in the game.  The remaining elite warriors of both units only have one Atl-Atl shot left.

That is where I have got to and I still don't have a title.  Should you have wondered, 5 sides of A4 so far. 

Early days then, but not without promise.

As to the toys, my Minifig's Aztecs are decades old and could do with a refurbishment.  I have a newer contingent from Naismith and Gladiator.  These two happily are very compatible with each other. I'll have some pic's for our next Aztec outing.