Ottar25 | 03 Mar 2016 4:38 p.m. PST |
Hi everyone, I am totally new to Wargaming, so I am wondering if anyone can help me out with a couple of questions. I want to create my own armies from small unit packs i have found here and there across internet minature stores. I wish to use these armies in matches against other wargamers, if I ever get round to finding them. I was wondering whether anyone knows of any ruleset thats inclusive of custom built armies, all the rulebooks iv found so far are stuff like 'black powder' and 'fire and shotte', which I know have their own rulebooks and can only really be played using warlord games own models. I am looking for a custom army-friendly rulebook set around the 17th-18th centuries. Thanks, Phil |
mad monkey 1 | 03 Mar 2016 5:00 p.m. PST |
Hmmm, you don't have to use only Warlord figures. You can use whatever figures you want. Blackpowder and it's supplement Pike and Shotte are figure friendly. |
Rich Bliss | 03 Mar 2016 5:46 p.m. PST |
One of the benefits of historical gaming is that you can use any figures with any rules. |
John Armatys | 03 Mar 2016 6:31 p.m. PST |
"I wish to use these armies in matches against other wargamers…" As others have said there are a lot of figure manufacturers, but it is awkward if your potential opponents are using a figure scale which is different from the one you are using. It makes sense to find the other wargamers before deciding exactly what you are going to do – perhaps visit your local wargames club(s) and see if what they are doing fits in with what you want. If a quick search of the Internet doesn't find a convenient club you are try posting a message on TMP saying that you are looking for C17-C18 players close to wherever in the UK you are. |
Stryderg | 03 Mar 2016 7:49 p.m. PST |
You could also get armies / troops for both sides. That way when you show up at a game store, club or friend's house you can teach them to play whatever rules you like. |
Ottoathome | 03 Mar 2016 8:40 p.m. PST |
Huh!!! Only played with Warlord's own models? This is miniature war games. You can play with any models you choose! The makers can go scratch if they don't like it. If you want, you can make up whole Imaginary Nations and play with whatever you wish. |
thorr666 | 03 Mar 2016 9:37 p.m. PST |
That's warhammer mentality, most other people are flexible |
MajorB | 04 Mar 2016 7:15 a.m. PST |
"One Hour Wargames" is a good starting point for someone totally new to the hobby: link |
Martin Rapier | 04 Mar 2016 9:25 a.m. PST |
As noted above, you can use any figures with any rules, however it is a good idea to find out what scales your local opponents are using and what bases sizes so your stuff fits in. Alternatively provide both sides (which I always do anyway). |
Shedman | 04 Mar 2016 11:08 a.m. PST |
I see you are based in the UK. There is a good chance that there is a club near you. I suggest you take a wander down on club night and see what they are playing However I can't guarantee that they will be playing your chosen period |
Jcfrog | 04 Mar 2016 11:19 a.m. PST |
A custom force can be borderline. |
GarrisonMiniatures | 05 Mar 2016 4:45 a.m. PST |
The only time you have to play with the 'official' miniatures is if you are playing in a competition or tournament that says you have to. Likewise, custom armies are fine if they are reasonable. A Swiss pike phalanx with machine gun support, for example, is the sort of custom army that would only be considered reasonable in a fantasy or scifi game where you can, perhaps, 'justify' it – for example, a world where time travellers with machine guns 'interact' with the locals in a war. |
Cerdic | 05 Mar 2016 10:33 a.m. PST |
It may be a good idea to go to a wargames show. There are usually various games going on and traders selling figures and rules and so on. Wherever you are in Britain there should be a show that you can get to. There is a good list here… newarkirregulars.org.uk Shows vary in size. The biggest of the lot is Salute in London in April. It would be well worth the trip for you to see the vast array of choices open to you! |
arsbelli | 06 Mar 2016 6:38 a.m. PST |
I was wondering whether anyone knows of any ruleset thats inclusive of custom built armies, all the rulebooks iv found so far are stuff like 'black powder' and 'fire and shotte', which I know have their own rulebooks and can only really be played using warlord games own models. I am happy to report that is simply not the case. A brief search on the web – or here on TMP – will reveal battle reports using Black Powder, and Pike & Shotte, with miniatures from a wide variety of manufacturers in all sorts of different scales. In fact, my own armies built for Warlord Game's Hail Caesar rules are comprised of 18mm figures from Blue Moon and Xyston. So please feel free to play them with any 'custom force' you wish. |
arsbelli | 08 Mar 2016 8:08 a.m. PST |
P.S. Just to clarify, nowhere in Black Powder, Pike & Shotte, or Hail Caesar is it stated that Warlord Games figures must be be used for play. That sort of authoritarian attitude may be part of the culture at GW, but I have not seen any sign of it from WG – quite the opposite, in fact. |
Ottar25 | 13 Mar 2016 6:10 p.m. PST |
Hey guys, apologies for the late reply to this thread, Iv been moving house so have been rather busy. Thanks for the rapid and impressive response, it seems like this community is very active. Thats good news, my wariness in terms of rulebooks is simply that within the pike and shotte rulebook I have there are unit lists in which each unit is designated a certain number of points (attack points, hit points etc), so I wasnt sure how you would designate said points to a custom army. Glad to hear you can though, it certainly sounds like the best thing for me to do is pop down to any local wargaming meeting, Il certainly try and do that in the near future. |
arsbelli | 14 Mar 2016 11:25 a.m. PST |
Just to further clarify, I am not aware of any 'rule' or statement in Black Powder, Pike & Shotte, or Hail Cassar requiring the use of figures made or sold by Warlord Games. That sort of authoritarian attitude may be prevalent at GW, but I have seen no sign of it from the folks at WG. Quite the opposite, in fact. |