"Snagged Battlesystem 2ed for $5" Topic

Thanks to a member of the Dragonsfoot forum. (All OSR D&D, all the time.: dragonsfoot.org )

I'll enjoy going through this. A quick skim makes me wonder if I could fudge a bit and use my 10mm WM based armies… but that's a side point.

I'm curious as to what the differences are between BS 2e and BS 1e. Anybody familiar with both and care to comment? And which do you prefer/play?

And why am I suddenly jonesing for an all kobold army?

2nd Edition has an ugly cover.

1st Edition has barbarians riding freakin' dinosaurs that are stomping and nomming on folks.

That's what difference!

Well the covers are different yes but the two editions are completely different. I love the the 1st edition rules, and most like the 2nd edition rules. 1st edition is pretty old school with lots of number crunching. 2nd edition was TSR's attempt to be like warhammer.

try TMP link

There was also a Battlesystem skirmish set

Duane

1st Ed. had a better cover but 2nd Ed. had better rules. Both the skirmish and the mass systems are worth getting.

1st Ed. rules were more complex, basically. Mind you, 2nd Ed. rules were complex, covering the whole enchilada of fighting: open fields, cities, with siege rules, flying creatures, magic, skirmishers, etc. The 2nd Ed. rules also have expansion magic rules detailed in the Tome of Magic rulebook, which was made for both the RPG, and 2nd Ed. BS rules.

There is a progression from Chainmail, to Swords & Spells, to BattleSystem, to 2nd Ed. BattleSystem, etc. They moved from complex, with rules for exhaustion, to streamlined, faster moving rules. BS Skirmish was somewhat of a predecessor to 4th Ed. RPG, as it was a mini's game, but with a veneer of RPG on top of it. Cheers!