The scenario was simple. The players were all on the same side - Romans. They were to attack a series of Celtic battle lines. I ran the Celts, who had two ambushes and one main battle line set up. The Celts outnumbered the Romans but if the Romans worked together they would prevail.
THE PLAYERS
I got two boys in group that day, a nine and eleven year old. Both hate their Dads. Both are a little hyper and at risk for being removed from their families due to bad behavior. Both kids are smart and have played before. Playing is fun for them so they engage in the game fully.
Each player controlled two stands of Romans.
SPECIAL RULES
PBOM is a battle Matrix Game so players get to argue for one unexpected event a turn. The boys really like doing this. They’re creative juices are flowing and they have been trying out lots of things that large rule books could do (but which hyperactive boys could not manage!) They have been using the unexpected events to hone their judgement about what would help. They’re doing pretty good with this.
Normally in PBOM players roll to hit when they attack. A six on a six-sided die means a hit. Then the other guy argues why he’s not dead. The boys have a harder time with this. I altered the hit rules for this game to require the players to work together to win. The rules were as follows.
One Roman stand, fighting alone would hit on a six. BUT a Celt attacking a lone Roman would hit on a two to six.
If two Roman stands were touching one another, they would hit on a five or six. The Celt would hit on a four to six.
If three or more Roman stands were touching one another, they would hit on a two to six. The Celt would hit on a six.
Any stands attacking a flank or rear would hit on at least four to six.
Since the players roll to move separately and did not have enough men to be at full strength unless they stuck together, the players had to cooperate.
HOW THE GAME WENT
I was pleased when the players decided to move at the slowest rate and stick together right from the first turn. They saw how my little ambush would get them and they formed up into a square as soon as they got near my guys. They would have had a fight at the first ambush had not one player make the unexpected argument “Their archers switch sides!”
Betrayal! A very good move on that kids part. Makes you wonder how many times he has been betrayed in his family?
The Celts turned on the traitor and dispatched him which spoiled the attack. The players then argued for cavalry reinforcements to show up on the Celt’s flanks. Some German cavalry came in and attacked the flank of the main battle line which allowed the Roman infantry to push aside the first second ambush. Then Main battle line launched its attack piecemeal and thus lost. All the while the players working to keep their men close together and to coordinate their actions. Amazing!
They won of course. But the whole goal of a therapy game is for them to win. The goal is to keep the interaction going rather than for me to prove my manhood!
THE LESSON: COOPERATION
As they game ended I asked the players why they won? They immediately said “We worked together as a team!”
Which leads me to my lesson. “Gee, I wonder if your families would win if you worked together with your Dad.”
They didn’t like that! I may have to try and get the dads involved in future games.
Back to Table of Contents -- Matrix Gamer #28a
To Matrix Gamer List of Issues
To MagWeb Master Magazine List
© Copyright 2002 by Chris Engle.
This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web.
Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com