"What Rules to Use for Dark Ages game?" Topic

I'm just finishing up a Dark Ages project using 40mm figs, mostly Sash & Saber. Really nice.

I usually run games at MillenniumCon in Austin and want to run a Dark Ages game this year. Looking for ideas and rules.

I have a little over 100 figs for each Viking, Saxon and Norman.

An obvious option is a big 3-way skirmish scrum. I never really have liked the playing card combat system of Pig Wars, so have been considering Strandhogg. Also guess I could use SAGA, but I've not played them. This would be an open convention game with players tending to be generally familiar with gaming, but new to whatever rules I'd be using. Thoughts?

Another option would be to set up a set piece along the lines of Hastings. I could use each figure for a typical stand. Not sure if I like the idea of that, but either way I'm at a loss of what rules to use if running Hastings or Stamford Bridge. Thoughts?

TMP link

SAGA is fast and simple to gasp but the possibilities are endless. I would definitely recommend giving them a try!

Billy Yank

"Dux Bellorum" is another rules option.

Although a bit premature, there are the new "Longships" rules by Peter Pig due out soon. In 40mm the units would be 8 figures, with 5 units needed per army. The game uses a gridded table probably 8" grid 6 by 10 squares. Rules feature raids and battles. Games last 2 hours.

Thanks Martin

Day of Battle might be another choice. I bought the rules and supplements after reading Anatoli's review and they look like they should be a lot of fun. Haven't tried them out yet though. A number of multiplayer campaigns are available in the rules and the supplememts.

Kent

PS That's great news Martin. Big fan of your rules. Might be the impetus I need to acquire a Viking force.

War and Conquest – its awesome!!!

Raglan

Try mine? – free at: link

I'm pretty sure they've been playing a lot of Saga at Great Hall, so you might ask Rob.

Day of Battle, of course. A great and really fun game.

Battle Troll, recently republished would give you a fine skull cleaving, arm lopping off sort of game. You may have to leave the cheats (Normans) out of it though.

Strandhogg is a great game! That's my first choice any way. Battle Troll is also really good.

I had good feelings about Strandhogg just reading the rules. Just never played it. I'm basing this week, so perhaps I can clean off a table and give it a go.

I would also throw in a vote for Dux Bellorum.

Easy to learn for everyone, even a novice gamer. Great ideas, and you don't need a whole lot of minis either.

just bought Dux Britaniarum.

Also have 40mm figs you have.

While Dux B has been written for the earlier Dark Ages, it's ease into later Dark AGes Britain is obvious. It also has "shock cav" for ARthur, so there's the Normans. In scale it feels quite small – 24" missile range, Nobles, champions, clergy etc are all represented. It's probably a much more plausible setting for Normans, Saxons and Vikings all to be in the same battle, perhaps fighting for an identicle goal or terrain piece. That being said, I don't recommend a 3-player game, two always gang up on one.

Got Battle Troll, have to say that it is very flavorful – VERY flavorful. But I also find it lacks a lot of polish. I plan to steal ideas from it.

Basically, scale is your first question – do you want to refight a big battle? Or a hypothetical big battle? We did Kings of War for late dark ages at the club, and it worked perfect for a big battle game. And hey, the rules are a free download. Tightly written, easy to pick up, fun to play. The army lists provide a wide variety of troop and character types, nearly all of which can easily be explained in human terms – it's written as a fantasy game. Played it in a "strictly no fantasy" club and have been told it's welcome any time I want to put it on.

Strandhogg I don't know – but I'd like to find out more. If you can give info on the playtest, and where you got the rules, that'd be great!

I also believe Shieldwall is a free download now.

Here's the link for Shieldwall, just stumbled upon it:
link

Strandhogg is a good convention game.30 figs or so a side max. Each player can have their warband of 10-11.

Will be trying SAGA this Summer hopefully so cannot speak to that.

Enjoyed Battlelust – but that might be too fiddly for a convention game unless you simplify it.

Pig Wars looks fun, never played though.