| Grandviewroad | 10 Jul 2012 9:13 p.m. PST |
NOTE: this is in ancients and medieval b/c there's no clear distinction as to DA being in only one of these periods. Thx. I'm wondering what the best DA rule set is for small battles, where you realy are put in the role of the chieftan, warlord, raider, etc. A set of rules that OOZES history and period flavor, where each shieldwall has it's own distinct characteristics and subtle period nuances that are overlooked in larger scale rules are present. Scale might be "large skirmish game" or "very small battle game". I have GWs The Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game and that is around the size / scale / detail that I'm thinking. I could adapt it to DA warfare, but I'm wondering if there's a set of rules that does this already. Suggestions welcomed, and I can try to phrase the question better if needed. Thanks! |
| Berlichtingen | 10 Jul 2012 9:24 p.m. PST |
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Tin Soldier Man  | 10 Jul 2012 9:40 p.m. PST |
There is Saga which is great fun but a bit limited in our experience, and the two Dux rules both look interesting. Dux Bellorum from Osprey and Dux Britanniarum from the Lardies. Of the two the Lardies set seems to be getting people talking. One of our club members saw the proofs this weekend and apparently it has lots of options for raids and battles along with a complete campaign. I'd say it would be worth checking all three. |
 Ogdenlulimus | 10 Jul 2012 9:45 p.m. PST |
Pig Wars offers a level of individual soldier, customizing, that should get you close to the stated goal. |
| Grandviewroad | 10 Jul 2012 9:49 p.m. PST |
Is Pig Wars strictly skirmish, or does it have unit-based mechanics as well? |
| Space Wizard | 10 Jul 2012 10:10 p.m. PST |
Dux Britanniarum is sounding pretty tempting… if I could find some folks to suck into a campaign. |
| Grandviewroad | 10 Jul 2012 10:17 p.m. PST |
Venus – my experience is that everyone wants to do a campaign, but they usually are badly put together. the TFL rules sound like they were designed ground up to be part of a campaign. Check out the interview and see what you think. They aren't very pricey. |
| Rudi the german | 10 Jul 2012 11:55 p.m. PST |
link Best choice for the feeling of limited to no controll of your troops… Fast and Fun.. Only rules with automatic kills of figures if commander does not prevend it. Take à look at it |
| kreoseus2 | 11 Jul 2012 1:40 a.m. PST |
Comitatus, excellent, real dark age feel, and free. Phil |
| Wardlaw | 11 Jul 2012 2:13 a.m. PST |
Pig Wars is based around bands of 20 men, mixed foot and horse, with some suggested rules for larger battles with units of 20 of troops of the same type. I have successfully run games with around a hundred figures a side. The only reason for the 20-man structure is that morale is calculated by loss of fifths. |
| pigbear | 11 Jul 2012 2:53 a.m. PST |
Berlichingen, I suggest you update your TFL blog link to toofatlardies.co.uk/blog/?p=989 because yours directs people to the front page, which won't be the interview soon enough. |
| Berlichtingen | 11 Jul 2012 4:34 a.m. PST |
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| Grandviewroad | 11 Jul 2012 5:03 a.m. PST |
Phil, do you have a link to Comitatus? They do sound familiar, however… |
| Crumple | 11 Jul 2012 5:21 a.m. PST |
I don't think Comitatus is free anymore. Simon is releasing the latest edition in print shortly.
It's not surprising they sound familiar though, they were first published around 20 years ago in a cracking book called Goths, Huns and Romans |
| Twilight Samurai | 11 Jul 2012 5:29 a.m. PST |
Nice cover art.
Seems we are a bit spoiled for choice all of a sudden. |
| kodiakblair | 11 Jul 2012 6:54 a.m. PST |
What about BattleTroll.It's based on the sagas is free
and you get the chance to boast loudly. link or theres Brytenwala brytenwalda.blogspot.com and Age of Blood
PDF link all worth lookin at |
| nochules | 11 Jul 2012 7:57 a.m. PST |
SAGA really captures the differences between the different armies well, as each force has its own battle board of actions and bonuses they can choose to use during any given turn. |
| Prince Rupert of the Rhine | 11 Jul 2012 2:24 p.m. PST |
Dark Age Infantry Slog by Andy Callan link |
| smacdowall | 11 Jul 2012 3:39 p.m. PST |
Comitatus will be in hard copy in a few weeks time link
I also have a varient for north european dark ages – Shieldwall which is still available as a free download at link
They merge the Comitatus mechanisms with some of Andy Callan's excellent ideas from Dark Age Infantry Slog previously mentioned.
Simon |
| Grandviewroad | 19 Jul 2012 7:03 a.m. PST |
Battle Troll has lots of flavor and saga-based ideas. However, it is a bit cumbersome in its mechanics. Still, nice place to steal some ideas from, and it certainly makes you interested in reading the sagas! I'm trying Brytenwalda, next.
EDIT:
tough time downloading Brytenwalda – mediafire certainly has plenty of ads, fake download tabs and spyware / sneak attacks. be careful! |
| Grandviewroad | 26 Jul 2012 7:25 p.m. PST |
OK, downloaded and read Brytenwalda. Seems very conventional, uncertain if it really has the right feel. Most of the mechanics are quite old, and the combination doesn't feel like anything new will happen during play. These might be perfect for the gamer who likes "tried and true". Reading "Dark Ages Infantry Slog", possibly the worst name for rules "evah", but just reading the introductory remarks has me eager to read more – Callan really sounds like he gets what makes the DA potentially fun to play! |
