Skirmish: Mortal Wounds and Small Boards

[Mr. White]

We play Skirmish on 2x3 ft boards as they fit on our coffee table. I'm aware this is less than the minimum 3x3 ft GW suggests in the AoS rules, so maybe it's the culprit in our dealings with Mortal Wounds.

When we build starting warbands (~25 renown) we tend to have 2-4 models with most being the cheap, 1 wound unit type.

Scenarios such as 'Clash at Dawn' end when a warband has lost half their models.

We're finding Mortal Wounds one these 1 wound units from range attacks (like arcane bolt) are ending matches before they even start.

My first assumption was that playing on smaller boards is fine with no range adjustments for attacks. My logic being the smaller boards got us into the action faster with less useless turns moving into combat. However, I'm thinking that either Mortal Wounds need to be handled a little differently in the low model count games of Skirmish or that I need to go through and adjust all the ranges (and maybe even movement) to account for the smaller boards.

Does anyone else play Skirmish (or AoS, I suppose) on smaller than suggested tables? Any tips or suggestions that have been helpful in playing games in the smaller space?

[Azlak the Damned]

With Skirmish, especially at the start, it is best to cram the battlefield with scenery that can block line of sight. Makes for a more tactical and challenging battle, and hopefully those spells and ranged attacks won't work as often as they seem to be for you.

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[Tzaangor Management]

I've found the same thing with Clash at Dawn at low renown, but I have not felt the need to adjust anything, I like the idea that it's a quick bloodying of both warbands and then a swift retreat. Like how I imagine a first engagement might be. 

I'm not sure what your warbands feature though, so it might have something to do with their make-up?

Scenery might help as above, or perhaps you could keep the initial 'fog of war' setting from the first turn for the entirety of the scenario?

Realistically killing two models for whoever your leader is is probably not going to be hard or take too long in any event.

[Mr. White]

7 hours ago, Tzaangor Management said:

I've found the same thing with Clash at Dawn at low renown, but I have not felt the need to adjust anything, I like the idea that it's a quick bloodying of both warbands and then a swift retreat. Like how I imagine a first engagement might be. 

I'm not sure what your warbands feature though, so it might have something to do with their make-up?

Scenery might help as above, or perhaps you could keep the initial 'fog of war' setting from the first turn for the entirety of the scenario?

Realistically killing two models for whoever your leader is is probably not going to be hard or take too long in any event.

Good suggestion on keeping the fog of war throught the scenario. In fact, implementing 'fog' in all the games on the smaller boards may be a viable, and thematic, answer.

Our recent foray into Clash at Dawn was a Relictor and two Liberators vs Slaughterpriests and some Blood Reavers.

[Groomy]

I've made me a 2x2 board and has been enjoying playing on it. Fielding two armies 500 pts each and above is busy but for a cramped space that I have. Even my square takes me away to a special place. 

[Mr. White]

7 minutes ago, Groomy said:

I've made me a 2x2 board and has been enjoying playing on it. Fielding two armies 500 pts each and above is busy but for a cramped space that I have. Even my square takes me away to a special place. 

Have you made any changes to range attacks or movement?

[Groomy]

Nah, it was a test game the first time I made the board and the ones after were smaller. That's a good idea to shorten the range tbh. 

[Mr. White]

or keep limited visibility ('fog') as suggested above. i might try a steady 12" visibility limit.