"Which set of rules should I get?" Topic

I'll be returning to the world of 28mm Ancients wargaming and would like to know what set of rules would best suit me with the following criteria.
Armies: EIR, Celt/British, Hoplite, Punic Roman
Scale: 28mm
Basing: 25mm round but use GW WotR movement trays for battles. The hold 2x4 men with about a 5" frontage.
Rules: I want something with a bit of command and control system where I'm not guaranteed of everything activating as I wish.
Would like casualty removal by base or not at all rather than as individual models.
Am looking for rules that can cope with 6-12 units per player and work with multiple players a side.
Something that would work well with maniples V phalanx.

Is there a set of rules or me?

Thanks for any input, hope to pick something up at Salute.

Hail Caesar meets many of those requirements.

Standard units ca be formed from two or more bases (you can decide what looks good/matches your table size and wallet).
No casualty removal until teh wholeunit flees, though you mark casualties.
Command and control is by 'Command'. Each command is given an order then rolls to see how thouroughly it carries it out (may not move at all, may move 1-3 increments; may blunder).
Haven't used it myself for the Classical Period though: no reason why it shouldn't work though.

Pulse of Battle might do you. Its flexible on basing and meets all your criteria.

Lancashire Games stock it I think they will be attending Salute.

Armati 2 would meet you requirements as well. Single size armies are easily put together. Have a look at the army list in the back.

I second Hail Caesar for command insecurities. For all other reasons I would suggest War and Conquest

DBA3.0. Just use the larger bases as elements.

All causlties are by element (base).

Great command control system.

Easy to learn.

TomT

Since your armies use single figure basing, I'd go with any game that uses that scheme. War and Conquest, WAB, or Clash of Empires are the ones that are similar, with WAB being out of print. You could also check out freewargamesrules.co.uk for other games that are free.

Hail Caesar sounds closest in my opinion. DBA would also fit the bill, except that the base widths scale up to a very large playing surface (approx 6' square assuming you have elements with ~12cm frontage). Armati and Impetus both meet part of the criteria but lack the C&C uncertainty that you mention.

My Sword & Spear rules fit all of your requirements. They are still under development, with the full version due to be released this summer. However, the rules are currently available in playtest form.

You can find out more about the rules (including how to get hold of them) on my website here:
link

I've written a few AARs on here recently, and you can also find them on my forum:
link
These give you a good impression of the look and feel of the game.

Thanks for the info guy's, hope to have a closer look at the suggestions at Salute and have ordered the S&S rules yto look at, looks like an interesting command system.

WRG 6th Edition. It's exactly what you are looking for. Not.

Scutarii from Hoplite Research would also work
TMP link

direct link to store page
link

LOL 6th Edition, how rules have changed, I can't believe I used to spend hours on a game just looking at charts and tables :)

I am a big fan of both Lost Battles and Command and Colours Ancients, the first as a simulation, the second as a game.

Both use grids/hexes to regulate movement so basing and figure scale is irrlevant, you can use as few or as many figures per element as you like.

Some somewhat blurry pictures of a recent 28mm CnC Ancients game here:

link

WRG 6th Edition. It's exactly what you are looking for. Not.</a>

Well of course. 6 is crap. It's WRG 7th that is the cat's meow!