"What do you look for in fantasy skirmish combats?" Topic

So in small scale fantasy skirmish games – I'm thinking of approx 5-15 figures a side – what do you look for in terms of the actual combat?

Speed of resolution?
Interesting combat outcomes?
Hit locations?
Individual weapon stats?
Lots of tactical modifiers?

Something else?

Cheers

All of it, including speed.

I like a Song of Swords and Heroes which manage these games well but the most important ingredients are a good scenario and enthusiastic players, mix them up and the result should be loads if fun.

Speed of play is always a good one, pushing just 8 guys a side around a table should let you have a handful of games in a night. Another one is teachability, being able to get RPGers into "baby's first wargame", or just being able to try out a new system without the hassle of getting everyone to read the one copy of the rulebook before game night. Third, I like something of a toolbox approach, so it's easy to set up new and different scenarios.

I too, quite like Song of Blades and Heroes for fantasy warband-skirmish.

SoBH does it well. Needs to be fast and furious, with an optional campaign/experience system.

Oops, yes it is Blades not Swords!

Speed of resolution and visceral combat results. Plus possibility for heroic outcomes where models get successive actions for great success. Connected to that- must include possibilities for great success, which is what we added to SoBH.

I like the phrase "Visceral combat results" – very apt ! I agree, its good to see stuff physically happening on the table (and not just in the imagination)

if it's only 5-15 per side then I'm looking for a good character advancement campaign system