Hi Everyone,

John Nebauer and I finished our game of Twilight's Last Gleaming from S&T
this week. We played the Bladensburg scenario and completed 10 Turns (out
of 14) and played with the optional activation rules. After 10 Turns the
Americans held an area beyond the river to the East and had inflicted
around 30 Step losses on the British while only losing about 14 Step losses
themselves. There were also 3 Demoralized American units in the rear of the
force, but still over the river, trying to be rallied. We found a couple of
more rules issues and a bit more errata.

For rules we believe (and played it as) that buildings block LOS (as Pat
Collins suggested), and Terrain only benefits the defender if all attacking
units are affected by it (this is mainly in regards to slopes that all
units had to be firing 'up slope' or meleeing across a slope hexside). We
also played it that Independent units still need to be in Command but may
trace to any leader (though only the normal distance).

We also used these rules that were listed before (by Pat Collins I think)

We also found that the Barne (American leader) should have a green strip on
him. The counter mix left a lot to be desired, and putting the TEC on the
New Orleans Map was not perhaps the best idea.

Aside from this the game played quite well "mechanically" but we found that
intially the British was forgoing Small Arms Fire attacks and taking Melee
Combat and this gave the Americans a big edge as it meant the American
player could still defensive fire against adjacent British units marked
with melee and as the defender fires with a x 2 multiplier (for infantry)
the likelihood of a result was generally 66%. In melee even with American
Militia units halved in melee the British could usually only get 2:1 or 3:1
both these have a 66% chance that both sides will take 1 step loss, at
these odds there is no chance that only the American will take a step loss.
Though the chances of the American retreating are 66% and 83% and they have
to check morale, which often lead them (the Americans) to demoralise. But
the Americans could then move these units to the rear and try to rally them
(you would be surprised how many "1"'s were rolled) The American was able
to activate most of the force West of the river on Turn 5, and there
arrival meant the British were now outnumbered. The British changed tactics
declining melee and firing instead. This was better as they were inflicting
losses (though still taking losses form the defensive fire) and often the
American would fail the morale test for a step loss and  have to retreat.
However by turn 9 they had a number of large units (started at 6-8) down to
half strength and the American had a still large units left, though a
number of high morale small units were in the dead pile. The American was
staking a small high morale unit with a large militia unit and taking the
step losses from the smaller unit. This way the chances of passing the
morale check was a lot better and even if they failed and retreated they
left behind a large unit in the hex. This did lead to the situation where a
morale 5 unit would take a step loss and be eliminated yet the militia unit
with a morale of 1 would remain in the hex. I would not change the rules
but it is a 'funny' result.

The rockets had some effect but not that devastating, whereas we played the
rules as written, after the game I felt a rule change to consider would be
that a Rocket unit that is firing over other units should only hit on a 6
(this is similar then tot he rule that says other artillery units that fire
over units have a multiplier of only 1)

With the optional activation rule (and depending when the Americans
activate), I think this scenario is pretty tough for the British. Without
the activation rule it can still be hard for the British.

Overall I enjoyed the game, enough even to consider doing an 'upgrade' kit
for it, which would be a re write of the rule book, providing a TEC on a
separate sheet along with a Turn Record track, some extra information
markers and perhaps a roster sheet to get away with the fact the back of
some units have the wrong info and also to get away from using Strength
Point markers. The original  map is very good and the counter artwork (on
the front) is fine. The fact that there are three games in one makes it
worth keeping a persevering with.

regards

Chris