Revisiting Basic Impetus?

Perhaps at the time when (or even before) Impetus 2 arrives it would be good idea to revisit Basic Impetus and simplify few concepts of the main rulebook?

First coming to mind is CL evasion, and perhaps dispersion of S?

Not that those could not be addressed without official Basic Impetus 2. However, BI is excellent gateway to Impetus, and being free ruleset to test the game out it is greatly appreciated.

The following links are for a Basic Impetus version based on Full Impetus “V1.5, 2014” and its reference sheet. Differences from the original Basic rules are highlighted in red.
New rules are evasion and a basic 2nd move. Other rules like interpenetration follow the standard rules as do all modifiers (no longer the need to remember two sets of factors).

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/44026621/BI_V1.5.docx

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/44026621/BI_QRS_V1.5.docx


Comments are welcomed

Well, that was fast. By quick glance this seems to address pretty much all the concerns I have heard around BI.

Thanks!

First impressions are that this is a most commendable updating of Basic Impetus.  Impressive!

Personally I wouldn't have more that one movement phase but apart from that my only comment would be on the Evasion rules.  It should be possible for a unit which declares a charge and has the enemy unit(s) in front of it choose to evade, if a further enemy unit is now revealed beyond its normal movement, to either halt after its normal movement or to dice for additional movement in an attempt to make contact with that revealed enemy unit.  As it stands the rules seem to say it has to halt after its normal movement(?)

The only other comment I have so far is that (IMHO) units of Sk or CL with no impetus value should always evade.

I look forward to trying out these rules in our Ancient Campaign - even if my horse archers seem to have it tougher.

Very impressive - and much needed! Remember to put the links on TMP.

Thank you.
It was annoying to have different values for the same modifier or to have a slightly different rule for the same action depending on wether it was the basic or the full system.

It was also difficult to explain to potentially new players.

And to put it on version V1.6/2015, it needs only the addition of supported flanks and the removal of the warband depth bonus vs foot.

Though Basic Impetus is for free this doesn't mean that is not a copyrighted work and that everybody can publish its own version. Above all if adding rules from full system.

I'm aware that this was made with the best intentions, but it would be fair to ask the author first.

You're right, of course.
Eagerness made me overlook those matters. My full apologies to you.
I will also remove the files from the shared area.

Lorenzo, please give him permission to post the revised rules for Basic Impetus where everyone can get hold of them. After all, he is merely upgrading them to be more compatible with the full set. It would be a crying shame if this improved version were to be "lost".

In fact can I suggest that this revised version be added to the version available on the Impetus Website so that newcomers to BI and Impetus in general can avail themselves of both versions?

I am inclined to think that perhaps if the changes are submitted to Lorenzo for review, he could then publish new official version of Basic Impetus with the changes that he sees fit and with all the respect to copyright.

I do think that BI - and Impetus - would benefit little update of BI.

Lorenzo, are you going to respond to this query at some point? It would be a pity if new (and other) players were denied an updated BI even if you intend doing this yourself sometime in the future.

My hope would be that you would allow Jorneto to make his work available to us all.

sorry, missed this post.

I am in contact with Jorneto to make an official 1.5 version.

Personally, while adding some sort of EVADE rule to Basic Impetus is definitely needed, I would be wary of adding a "second move" or other full "Impetus" rules.

Let "Basic" remain as a potential "gateway" into the full game by leaving a lot of things remaining there . . . so that we can say that while Basic Impetus is great, there is so much more in Impetus proper.


-- Jeff

I agree. Adding evasion, tidying up the 15mm/28mm base width anomaly, and altering the plusses and minusses to conform to the main set of rules would do the trick.

Maybe adding a simple countercharge rule as in Basic Baroque - this would certainly silence the critics of BI here who ridicule the fact that the impetus bonuses only go to the phasing player.

New Army lists if possible conforming to the unit types/strengths in the Extra Impetus booklets set out in such a way that armies of 35 or 50 or more VB can be fielded derived directly from EI booklets. Or even just a formula for doing so.

We have toyed with charging an extra point for units with VB of 6 or more so that such a unit costs 6+1=7 VB points, a unit of VB=7 costs 8 etc. These guys are just soooo powerful. Just a thought.

Basic Impetus 1.5 will include evasion and some other rules, not necessary taken from Impetus.
Countercharge is too complex and I want to avoid any reaction/opportunity action apart from evasion.

The lists will be revised and I'm working to a specifi point system.
I plan to add a cover, an improved layout and include at least 100 lists in the pdf, with more to come maybe with a Campaign system booklet.

I am also considering to put a small cost (2.99 US) for the support of the project. In this way BI will have the dignity of a more official set by Dadi&Piombo.