"World War I rules" Topic

OK – So, I'm finally getting around to the point where I can start painting my WWI minis. Next problem is, which rules? I'm more interested in the early Early War and late Late War periods where there was still some mobility and the armies weren't stuck in trenches. I'm typically more interested in skirmish, as I can't get into the whole, one figure = a squad (or a platoon, or a battalion – I'd just play boardgames if I wanted to go that route). What's available? To be totally honest, this is one area I've never really looked at rules for so I have no idea. Thanks for your suggestions.

Through the Mud & the Blood, Two Fat Lardies. Best out there, IMHO. I've played many. One more thing, Trench fights are cool as hell! I had the same thoughts as you, boring, but I made my board about 5 years ago (5'x3') & the guys I game with agree, every game is very different, (and we've played over 100 games on this one board) great to look at & loads of fun!

link

link
Peter

Look at GDW's Over the Top (Command Decision). Though out of print you can still find it. Each stand is a Platoon and each player controls roughly a Battalion.

Several scenarios and not locked into the trenches

Iron Ivan's Legacy of Glory is quite good. I have used it for con and local games

I generally use higher level rules for ww1, but if you want 1:1, then Throught the Mud and Blood or Contemptible Little Armies (if you don't like card activation).

Another vote for Mud and Blood.

Krush the Kaiser, easy rules to pick up which give a good game,

Tally Ho!

I Second Krush the Kaiser, and with new early war supplement due out any moment, excellent set of rules
And of course the lancerminiatures.com figures plug plug.

Surprised no one mentioned Trench Wars. Personally, I would go with Through the Mud and the Blood, but I've had a lot of fun playing Trench Wars.

Whoa! Nice board, ceterman!

Regardless of what rules you go with, you might like to check out Skirmish Campaigns' Rommel Attacks! book. It's Early War with 3-4 squads a side and is a superb translation of Rommel's book about his experiences. Good for almost any skirmish rules and scale of figures.

I've trying several sets and many have been absolutely dire. I now use, and put up another vote for, Through the Mud and the Blood.

Historical troops using historical tactics to get plausible results – may not be as popular an approach as it should be but it floats my boat.

Re: Ceterman

Do you find that a 5' x 3' space is adequate? what size figures do you use? Size of play area would be a factor for me, I suspect for many others as well.

Thanks,
Ron

Another one for Through the Mud and the Blood.

Ron,
That was another worry I had, but I wanted a one piece board & 3x5 was all I had at the time. But yes, I (we) have found it not lacking at all. We sometimes start in NML with an attack, sometimes everyone is in their trenches, other times we start in shell holes, very close to the enemy. The buildings come off to give another layout and at times we use the hills (all be they are small ones) on the board as LOS blockers, We also will ad crashed planes, wagons and other debris in different areas of the layout, again, changing LOS. The bunkers come off too & convert into dugouts, so their are MANY ways to change a so called "static" board around. We game in 28mm.
Sundance, Thanks!
Peter

Peter, thank you for providing the photos. The terrain is very impressive.

The German attackers appear to be moving as groups of men, with each group consisting of individuals clustered closely together. Have I interpreted this correctly?

Robert

Robert,
In "Mud & Blood", you have a "Big Man" (or sometimes 2) that usually controls a group of 5-10 or so other troops. Therefore your men tend to go in as small groups on the attack. You can spread them out further, the "better" your "Big Man" the further his control area. If ya have lots of figs on the table, it helps keep Player 1's figs from Player 2's if you keep them a little closer than real life. Keep in mind they are usually in the same type "cover" so it usually doesn't make much of a diff.
Peter

Thanks for the explanation, Peter.

Robert

Your welcome, Robert. You should give Mud & Blood a go. I gotta 2nd what 22ndFoot said "Historical troops using historical tactics to get plausible results – may not be as popular an approach as it should be but it floats my boat."
Well said…
Peter

What figure scale is Mud and blood

Any scale can be used for M&B, but its easier if the figures are based singly (although you can use multi-based if you mark casualties)