"Best rules for 11th century tabletop battles? " Topic

I'm thinking of reviving plans for a '1066' inspired wargames campaign, but which rules would you recommend that best capture the character of the period (larger battles such as Fulford, Stamford Bridge and Hastings rather than Saga-style skirmishes) and why?

Thanks in anticipation for your suggestions!

The closest I can think of to suit battles like those is Poleaxed 2. Although they are designed for 15th-century games, the command and control system feels right for all medieval battles from the eleventh century onwards, because it forces you to keep your battle line whole rather than splitting off lots of itty bitty units as seems to happen in many units. The rules also allow you to field lesser warriors in units with the better warriors to stiffen the former's resolve. While the rules themselves could be better written, they play well enough and are easy to work through with a little practice. The only thing you would have to do for yourself is come up with the army lists.

I found WH ancient battles was quite a good game for dark age/ early medieval. The mix of units and characters had a good feel. It depends on what sort of game you are after I suppose.

I suggest DBMM. I like this ruleset because simulates large battles quite well, giving many options to the commanders and still putting emphasis on keeping coherent lines. All this in a format that let finish a game in three hours.
The army list provides historical options and characterization.

tagmata.it

Ancient and Medieval Wargaming by Neil Thomas seems to be quite popular in certain circles.

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Agreed.

I like WarHammer Battles myself – was put off by DBMM but that was many years ago and I was young and foolish then and I understand that it has evolved considerably – I must confess to no personal experience and Lorenzo's comments suggest it would be good as well – plus, unlike WH Ancients, they still print the rules!

Hail Caesar certainly works for Dark Ages – there is even a battle report / scenario in the rule book.

We have played multi-player Saga, with 3 players a side. Each with their own battle board. This actually works rather well as a battle rather than the normal Saga skirmish.

We use WRG 6th. Although I own other rules, I'll probably never use anything else.

Try and find an old copy of WAB (1.0 or 1.5) plus the WAB Shieldwall supplement.

Well produced supplement containg Fantastic army lists with lots of unique character to each faction. Gives a great game with real period feel that straddles the gap between heroic (saga) combat and large scale battles.

I always thought I would use Dark Age Infantry Slog when I finished painting my vikings but alas they remain on a shelf only partially completed. It's basically a way to push two shieldwalls against each other. The focus is on leadership, motivation, and cohesion in the absence of much in the way of maneuvering. Sadly I haven't tried it yet so I can't really say how well it works.

DBMM, Might of Arms, or modify Dux Bellorum.
Dux Bellorum is a descendant of Dark Age Infantry Slog.

Well, there are the rather new rules "Seasons of War: Days of the Conqueror" that are specifically designed for that time period (6mm to 15mm), and there was "The Art of War During the Norman Conquests". The core rules "The Art of War" can still be ordered online link (only for the kindle??), but the Norman Conquest supplement isn't mentioned anymore. On the other hand, there is a lot of information to be found there, so I'd check anyway. How good thoses rules are, however, I don't know from first hand experience.

Clash of Empire is worth a crack with the Age of Ravens supplement:-)

Crusader has a Hastings scenario in the main rule book I believe.

Do consider "Longships" by Peter Pig. The rules include battles and raids. Not skirmish.

martin

Hail Caesar. It encourages battle line tactics.

Or you could use the super unit nonsense that is WAB.

Medieval Warfare. There is a 1066 scenario/campaign supplement.

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War&Conquest is pretty good for this period. A WAB descendant that went in a slightly different direction to Hail Caesar.

Also Hack in the Dark.

If you can find a copy the late Terry Gore published a nice booklet on wargaming 1066.

Or you could use the super unit nonsense that is WAB.

Surely, heroes and elite units catch the flavour of the period the OP is looking at? I think that, as long as you keep lances out of it, the Shieldwall supplement gives as reasonable a simulation as any.

Maybe it's better to focus on rules you like then make disparaging comments about those you don't like.

DBA, esp. the long awaited V3 does a good job, and the small armies look good.

Phil
Ancients on the Move

Probably Shattered Lances can be used. You could go old school with something like Lance 3rd.

Day of Battle which has a supplement just on the Normans in England and Italy.

Humbly submitted by the author

Chris P

Medieval Warfare & Hail Caesar.

Medieval Warfare even has s campaign book for the whole 1066 campaign. Its available at OMM books.

The Perfect Captain website has a wonderful set of rules for the era. "Ironbow"are the Captain's rules for the Crusades, with "Strongbow" being the western European supplement.

The rules and game aids are beautifully presented, and they are free. Ironbow and Strongbow can be found here:

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Isn't Dux Bellorum descended from Glutter of Ravens rather than Dark Age Infantry slog?
Any how I'm looking at this for the Wars of the Roses so eminently tweekable and of course actually could be used straight for 1066 et al.

Medieval Warfare of terry gore

War master ancients?

Glutter of Ravens is descended from DAIS so I suppose they're all in the same family.

we have used impetus with success, lots of see-sawing and the bretons feigned flight works well too!