"Skirmish Rules Suggestions" Topic

I'm looking for suggestions for a set of rules for (roughly speaking) 19th century. I'd like something that supports a small number of figures and has a considerable level of detail. In other words I'd like something that doesn't lump all breach-loaders (or repeaters, etc.) into a single category with identical statistics.

Any ideas?

This isn't really my area, the only rules I know that fit your criteria are The Colonial Skirmish Wargame Rules 1850-1900. They are out of print, so you'd have to track them down.
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There is a lighter version in Featherstone's Skirmish Wargaming, but I don't believe it has the weapon detail you want.
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Best I got.

Happy Little Trees,
Thanks for the suggestions.

For the sake of clarity, I'm not especially interested in the weapons per se, but I do want a great deal of detail. I expect to use it for smallish skirmishes so I don't expect that detail to bog down the game.

I think Once 'Upon a Time in the West' might have had that level of technological specificity.

I'd normally recommend "Sharp Practice" and its supplements (such as "Terrible Sharp Sword" for the ACW)for 19th century skirmish games but not sure that it has such a high level of detail for the weaponry.

What it does offer is an excellent way of replicating small unit tactics with 40-100 figures per side, with a detailed way of classifying the effectiveness of different troops through a multi-layered classification system, unit composition, Big Man status and period-specific bonus cards.

At the end of the day, it's the men and their leadership that matter more than the weapons they carry (is a Henry that different in gaming terms to a Winchester?). But SP does allow you to model the difference between Chassepot and Dreyse rifles, for example, if you're playing skirmish games in the FPW, and there's an article in one of the TFL summer specials that provides adaptations.

Was there a particular period/war of the 19th century that you were planning to game?

Colonial Skirmish Wargames Rules are a variant of their original Western Gunfight rules – both are great fun but a product of their time (mid-70's)and really not suitable for more than 10-20 figures per side, even if you can find a copy.

Hope this helps

Simon

SJWalker,

I'd like to emphasize that I'm not interested in weapons above all else. It's simply the easiest thing to quantify. Most gamers will readily recognize the diffences between a Chassepot and Dreyse rifle. The differences between tribal leadership and formal (i.e. Western) systems of command, or the differences in training between militia and long service volunteers would be just as important to me.

Having said that, from what you've said I'm going to look into TSS.

I've used SP very successfully for various 19th century conflicts, from the Indian Mutiny to the Plains Wars via assorted colonial conflicts and the Foreign Legion.

You'll either love or hate the card-driven command and control mechanisms. The subtlety of the troop classifications takes a while to 'get'. You'll have to do some preparatory work making the card decks an d tweaking the rules to make them more period-specific if you're playing a period not yet covered by one of the supplements, but it'll be time well spent.

Be aware, TSS (for ACW) needs a copy of SP in order to play it but in many ways represents an improvement/refinement on the original rules.

Worth signing up to the TFL yahoo group and forum for useful advice and some pre-prepared card decks for download.