"Quick question about rules and such." Topic

So, I'm in dire need of rules for a 30 min-2 hr wargame that only consists of 2-4 players and is turn based. What is this game type called? Also what are other types of smaller game modes? I've been searching but have found very little.

I know, stupid question, but I'm literally JUST starting to wargame, just bought my first set of miniatures this month.

There is no specific term to describe that sort of game.

A a 30 min-2 hr wargame would best be described as "short". Typically games take longer than that.

You are most likely to get a game that plays in 2 hours or less if it is a "skirmish" game, that is, where 1 figure represents 1 man.

I give you
Two Hour Wargames: twohourwargames.com

Mostly skirmish games – i.e not that many figures per side. Individually based.

Get a copy of
"Introduction to Wargaming" by Neil Thomas.
Rules for many periods, and includes simple skirmish level

Peter Pig rules will often produce a game in that timeframe, as will DBA.

If you like Napoleonics Lasalle can squeeze a game in just under two hours.

Some of it depends on how fast the players make their moves. Starting he armies closer to contact can also speed the game, although at the cost of the maneuvering that some enjoy.

Force on Force will do Moderns in that timeframe.

Skirmish, small unit, and fast play are here keywords that may help find other rules.

as will DBA.

Or, for something in the same family that is much more generic and can be adapted (with varying degrees of success)to cover nearly any period – HOTT.

Doug

Daniel, do you know what period you are interested in? By period, I mean WWII, US Civil war, ancients, napoleonics, medieval, and many others.

What are the figures you bought?

BTW, terms like "skirmish" and some of the other terms here mean completely different things to different people.
--
Tim

You can troll freewargamesrules.co.uk for something that interests you. Just about every period is represented and the rules are free. Many are fairly simple and many are fairly simplistic – what we call "beer and pretzel" rules. As long as you use smaller forces, they shouldn't take you too long to complete a game.

In addition to all the above, especially Sundance's suggestion (one of my favorite sites),let me add

ganeshagames.net

Song of Blades and Heroes is quite popular and gives a simple, short, skirmish style game that needs no more than a handful of figures to a side.

Yea… An era would help us out to help you…

Fubar.

link

I haven't played them in years but the Chipco line of games always seemed to be good for a short laid back type of game:

sabersedge.com/chipco

The Song of Blades series of games is a good place to start. Very simple and quick. Most games are over in an hour. somewhat longer with 4 players.

Introduction to Wargaming is a good book to have just to get started. I think it can still be had on Amazon for a fair price.

PDF link Yet another approach, also free….

Do you already have the miniatures ? What would you like to do with them…?

Wow, you guys work fast, glad I came here first and sorry its taken so long to type back. So to answer as many questions at once, I recently bought a 25 mm set of modern soldiers made by revell (http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=571). I really wanna do a modern US soldiers vs. Iraqi soldiers game, in a town with lots of building. I know, these pieces are German but I can modify (got them for 3 USD on ebay).

Thanks everyone for the links and tips btw. So much info!!! I can definitely modify any type of rules to my time era and setting, I was mostly just looking for a basis. Loving freewargamesrules, still looking at the rest in between typed sentences.

Another quick question, who makes a decent, but cheap set of 25mm realistic fig's? Or which companies have decent sales on different sets? Plastic or metal is fine by me. Just not wanting to spend over 10 bucks on a box of fig's, and cheaper is better.

For a ruleset for a modern skirmish game you might want to take a look at Force on Force published by Osprey.

Two Hour Wargames could be what you want.

Can I dink on the bars of this post. I'm only weeks into this passion & for various reasons its a solo affair!…

I'm trying to impose randomness into my games as much as possible & have many scenarios & in-game events that can & do occur in battle – my question is this – What mechanism/s can I use as a solo player to introduce these events?

Im finding randomness very hard to introduce. Is it basic mechanics? If so, would anyone mind sharing their knowledge on the subject?

@mcmanus try buying some event cards and or make your own event cards. to make your own just write 20 events on a paper or so, then take 20 DIFFERENT playing cards out of a deck. shuffle, and which ever one you draw is the one you do. i also play alone mostly and this works. also to choose when you draw a card, pick a specific number for the dice (total of 5 or some specific number, or rolling doubles) this number represents drawing an event card.

You can use 2 six-sided dice, it gives you 36 possibilities. You can write the events you want in a 6x6 empty chart, such a chart is easy to draw, or use the chart on page 5 of this PDF document:
PDF link

sweet idea

Thanks guys – prep'd & ready for game.