jeeves | 02 Aug 2014 6:39 p.m. PST |
Should I do what it says in the title, or just stick to the simple Battle Masters rules? |
Lucius | 02 Aug 2014 7:02 p.m. PST |
Stick to the simple rules. For what it is, Battlemasters can't be improved. |
napthyme | 02 Aug 2014 7:19 p.m. PST |
I would not say it can't be improved. Expanding upon what is already there, adding more races to the fight would definitely be an improvement. |
jeeves | 02 Aug 2014 8:09 p.m. PST |
Sounds interesting. Any suggestions on how to do this napthyme? |
napthyme | 02 Aug 2014 8:22 p.m. PST |
I am sure if I played WHF it would help to answer that question. Trying to reverse engineer the game mechanics would be a first step, then trying to figure out how the cards for activation are given out would be a second. No idea if there was a points calculator for the game units or not originally by the designers. |
ordinarybass | 02 Aug 2014 8:47 p.m. PST |
I like Battlemasters rules, but it's a fairly limited game. Rather than expanding BM or making the jump to Warhammer I think that a much better solution would be to try and use the Kings of War rules which have a simplicity that BM fans will appreciate. Also, it's the difference between one $30 USD KoW rulebook or an $80 USD Warhammer rulebook, followed by 1-3 $50 USD army books. Kings of War is element based (no casualty removal) anyway, so you can use the BM figures-on-bases as-is. Also, every BM unit except the beastmen (run them as abyssal dwarves or somesuch) has an equivalent statline included in the KOW rulebook. Despite the fewer number of minis on each base, considering the size of the BM bases, they're roughly equivalent to 20 infantry, 10 cav, 6 large infantry or one war engine, so you can stat them up accordingly. Best of luck with the project. BM has a special place in my heart. Not only is it one of my favorite childhood games, but I've also built my bad-guy KoW army using mostly Battlemasters miniatures. If you do decide to try and expand the BM rules, drop me a line if you're looking to pick up any extra bases, playmats, or good-guy figures. |
Privateer4hire | 03 Aug 2014 12:08 a.m. PST |
You can play KoW completely free by downloading the rules and any army lists Mantic has available. Agree with ordinarybass that KoW is a very solid set of fantasy rules. They're all I use for fantasy nowadays. The only difference btw the hardback rulebook and the downloadable rules are fluff, siege rules and a small list of magic items. The hard cover book is convenient but not necessary to play pretty much the full game. link PDF link |
tmason | 03 Aug 2014 3:01 a.m. PST |
If you like the card driven system of BM try battlelore from fantasy flight games. There is a new edition out that I haven't played, but the old one was card drive (things like, activate 2 units of on the right flank) and based on a hex board. The board game comes with lots of 15 or 20mm plastic figures, but you could easily use any fantasy/ meieval figures you have in any scale as long as you have the hex board like the BM mat. |
Privateer4hire | 03 Aug 2014 9:38 a.m. PST |
tmason, the new Battlelore from FFG is really cool. It now includes an army building feature using points. So instead of just set piece for scenarios, opponents can build a force up to the points allowed. I know pts aren't perfect but it gives more variability in games. |
ordinarybass | 03 Aug 2014 11:37 a.m. PST |
Oh yes, I had forgotten to mention that the rules and army lists are free as are the army lists that have been released in the two small supplements that have been released since the core rules. I'm really glad to have the hardcover. It's a very nice book, but it's not really necessary to play. |
Andy Skinner | 03 Aug 2014 2:09 p.m. PST |
we did battlemasters with warmaster figures. That went well. andy |