"Not TSATF" Topic

The first & only Colonial rule set I use is TSATF.

Not that I have anything against them apart from the fact we tend to like big games & these are a bit clunky for that.

We used TSATF for this game:
link

However, I'd like to explore alternatives. The rules would need to be able to accommodate lots of figures & be cool with individual based figures: other than that, I'm open minded.

Submissions, please.

You might want to take a look at All the King's Men rules. PDF link Intended for 54mm but I don't see why smaller scales would not work.

800 Fighting Englishmen is the official TSATF variant for big battles.

Weve used a modified version of BAR with games of over 2,000 figures.

oldregimerules.com

As Winston stated, 800 Fighting Englishmen was Mr. Brom's answer for accommodating lots of individually based figures.

Soldiers Companion is another option.

Since you already know TSATF, I'd go with 800 Fighting Englishmen

I use TSATF for skirmishes and Battles for Empire 2 Colonial rules for larger scale battles. The basic unit for BfE2 is four bases for both infantry and cavalry. It don't matter how and figure you put on each base, but three or four figures per infantry base is common. From the photos of your game, it looks like you use multi figure bases already. Here's a link, originally on TMP, to a free scenario book: PDF link
I have personally tried all the Zulu War scenarios and they work very well.

Here's Nick's very useful LINK:

PDF link

For something rather different, you can use Two Hour Wargames' "Colonial Adventures". The battles tend to be the same size as TSATF, and mounting is the same.

Like most THW rules, CA uses a reaction system, which means games are more like poker than they are like chess in that luck plays a role, but can be mitigated by good strategy.

Thanks, Mad Guru! Not sure why my posting (and writing) skills fell apart on that last post. By the way, my buddy Bob ran the Boxer Rebellion gunboat scenario at our local Labor Day con and it's a cracker! I want to try it out set in the Sudan next time.

I have nothing to contribute to the discussion, I just wanted to say I love the pictures from the game that started the OP. I keep re-opening that link to gaze at them. You guys did such a nice job, I would have played that game despite it being a two-day TSATF marathon. :-)

- Ix

I don't know if Principles of War are still in print, but I used these for big games in the past.

Is 800 Fighting Englishmen one figure per base?

Rallynow,

No, officially they use 4 infantry figures, 3 cavalry figures, and 1 gun w/4 crew per stand. The rules suggest using magnets or clay to temporarily mount single-based figures into movement stands, but that can be a tricky proposition. I just use my single-based TSATF Troops for 800FE as well. I don't get the time-savings specific to moving fewer pieces one-by-one, but the game still goes faster due to the streamlined & simplified rules.

Thanks for the support Nick. I find it interesting that rules like BFE 2 and other larger scale rule sets are kind of 'unknown' in colonial gaming. Clearly guys like me need to put out the word better that there is more than skirmish gaming for colonials.

As Nick noted, there is the free scenario book available through the Hotz site that can really be used with any rule set.

Cheers,
Chris

Take a look at the various threads about Osprey's 'Men Who Would Be Kings' colonial rules. Although officially pitched at the same level as TSATF, they are readily tweaked for much larger games (we've replayed Isandlwana with 900 Zulus and 250 Imperials using them). They use single figures and are much more streamlined, less clunky than TSATF but with a lot of period feel to them.

Have you tried Blackpowder? We use it for larger colonial battles, units can be a company or a battalion, just use special rules to get the correct period flavour.