A Word about Casualties...

If you've followed the last couple of table-spats in the ongoing "This Ain't Siluria" campaign you will have noted the casualty round-up at the end of each battle.

Now, hopefully obviously, in a campaign project casualties are important, and this post may well seem to be very much a "Suck Eggs Seminar" to some, but I thought I'd do a quick run-through why the stats. are not a just a gleeful (or doleful) "Scores on the Doors" - and the (really, really basic) way I handle this kind of issue..

During an actual fight the figures removed will not just be representing the actually dead, but also folk removed "from play" for a range of reasons -physical or psychological damage (temporary or permanent), helping mates or important officers out of harm's way, shirkers, deserters etc. etc.  Afterwards, however, there is a need to separate out the halt and the lame and the "not coming back"....

I use a really, really simple post-battle method: each figure removed through combat figure is diced for (1xd6).  Throw 5-6: slightly wounded. 4-5 Seriously wounded. 1-2 Dead. Shimples....

Then we come to what those categories actually mean.....

The dead/those logged as fatalities: Generally speaking these are the fallen. These will not be available again.

The slow (or swift) attrition of a force on the "board" through lack of supply or through combat is largely going to determine the outcome of the campaign and certainly going to affect the ability of a force to function (Well, like "Duh"). The need to log these - since "equal sided battles" or "points" battles aren't my thing - is obvious.

However, this number will also represent those so seriously physically/psychologically affected that they are permanently out of the game (succumbing, in time, to their wounds or permanently disabled), the "Missing" and the "Sod this for a game of soldiers" guys who have decided enough is enough and won't be coming back to play.

Now, in this project these latter categories are not differentiated. In more modern games/projects these definitions may well be important "politically" (e.g. some of my 19th/early 20thC "Colonial Conflicts") or from the point of morale, and I will look at historical stats. for the period/conflict and apply methods to calculate likely percentages (though always with an element of chance), but basically my "dead" are figures no longer in play for the duration.  

WTF...??  Last Time I buy Strezvda's "IXth Legion" pack.....

Slightly/Lightly Wounded:

The walking wounded. The physically or psychologically damaged who will, with treatment, be available for work or combat in a few days. These will have made their own way off the field/been helped swiftly off by mates or medics.
 
In extremis (such as "The Last Stand at Fort Horrible" type scenarios or even during an extended battle) these guys may be returned to the fray (faster than they might like) with a reduction in effectiveness.

Seriously Wounded: 

These will potentially recover in time. For some short campaigns this category may not be important for operational purposes, but (as above) in some projects this figure will have a political or moral-related significance.

Note: these guys are deemed not to be able to make their own way off of the field and cannot be helped off out of harm's way during the fight unless either 1) there is a serious lull in proceedings of at least four moves or 2) their own army has a formal, in-combat casualty treatment/removal protocol. Unless these conditions prevail they are left on the field at the end of the battle - which means they are captured. What happens to them next will depend on the cultural and moral characteristics of their foes. Some may end up as prisoners.  Some offered for ransom or exchange. Some, um, not..........

"Bending River or Estuary Convention..? What Bending River or Estuary Convention..?"

In certain scenarios these guys will not be coming off of the field if their positions are overrun or their unit is routed/wiped out during the battle (i.e. any wounded are summarily "dealt with").


Oh, and one final thing: you know all those Shock markers still in place at the end of a fight? I count those as "Slightly/Lightly Wounded". No real reason, but when I'm "scaling-up" from the table (e.g. 1 bod represents 20 guys or whatever) it makes the casualties list look a bit less even... 


Well there we are... Quick, simple, not entirely necessary - but adds a bit of colour to proceedings....

Funnily enough, the same thing has been said about me.. ;)