"Simplest free ECW rules?" Topic

I'm looking for a simple ruleset which can work with kids. Ideally with a bit of background info but I can sort that out seperately if needed. I have seen this question asked before but they were mostly non-free.

I'm new to ECW so I'd like to avoid writing my own.

You can try these that were developed by our group and with which we have played many a game using 15mm figures:
link

Some game reports:
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We've also been modifying it to use a hex gridded table. An early report is here:
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Jim

Peruse here. link

Lots of free stuff and include several sets of ECW rules.

Victory without quarter looks pretty fun and seems straight forward enough. link

I would suggest you look at the rules by John Armatys which may be downloaded from the Wargame Developments website. They are, IMHO, shorter and a bit simpler than the rules linked to above.

You could also try Matt Fritz's Junior General website, which is dedicated to rules for school history classes.

Marston Less on the freewargamesrules website might work for you.

If you are not averse to Yahoo groups, you could join the AMW group and experiment with the derivations of Neil Thomas's rules to be found there. I have some problems with his approach to Pike & Shot, but his Napoleonic rules worked fine for the 10/11 year olds in the school wargame club I ran a few years ago.

When you say 'work with kids' do you mean for use with your own children, or are you a teacher looking for rules to use with a school wargame club or history class? If the latter, you might be interested in some rules I wrote for my Year ^ classes years ago, in which each child commanded a Regiment of Foot or Horse, by choosing an order card or cards for that turn from a menu of rughly contemporary orders. I would be happy to send you a copy if you email me, using my TMP ID AT yahoo DOT co DOT uk

I'm also working on an ECW version of Ross Macfarlane's Square Brigadier rules and Bob Cordery's Portable Wargame rules, which will be simple and use a square grid.

I like Warmaster: ECW. Very simple to learn. Of course I am a touch biased.

pictorsstudio.com/WMECW.htm

I also would recommend "Victory Without Quarter."

Mark

The "Victory Without Quarter" rules are short, easy and fun (yes I have played and enjoyed them):

link

That being said, you should also check out the "Junior General" website for a fairly wide selection of "printable figures":

juniorgeneral.org

Just type "English Civil War" in the search box and pick what you want.

-- Jeff

Junior General has a very simple set designed for students and two scenarios:

Marston Moor
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Naseby

link

plus lots of paper figures
link

I have used Victory with Quarter extensively. Easy as you want it to be. Simple movement system, and simple combat. The only thing a little unusual is the cavalry combat, but once you get down, the game is easy and a lot of fun. Was hoping the gentlemen who wrote would revise and bring out again.

Thanks for the suggestions, some great rulesets here to work with. Victory Without Quarter might just be the one for me.

There is a set at runtus.org that may be useful

ToborgQueen,

Have you tried "Victory Without Quarter" yet? And if so how do you like them?

-- Jeff

VWQ is our club standard ECW rule set. They paly very well and are good fun, with an events section to upset the best of plans. Some people don't like card based movement but it works well with these rules.

We have added a few houserules to cope with some missing bits. Drawback we have found is the difficulty with fielding different sized units. Standard size for a unit is two shot bases and 1 pike base

Great set of rules if demonstrating wargaming to kids

Victory Without Quarter.

PDF link