"Getting started" Topic

Hello,

I would like to get into some ancient miniature wargame but I am not sure which one and the scale. I have done some research but it is not that easy + lot of information is behind the paywall of rulesets that in order to check if the ruleset suits me I need to buy it first. Also there are many obsolete posts about plastics figures manufacturers as ther were a lot of merges as I have discovered.

I prefer ancient times, mostly greeks and plastics over metal. I found good range of 28 mm plastics at Victrix and Warlord, some 1/72 Zvezda models but not much in plastics. Victrix seems to add new stuff but Warlord combines lot of metal for my taste. But I have rather small table so large battles in 28mm are problem. I was looking at Hail Caesar that could be scaled down to minimal unit sizes or CoE for skirmish. Also I will probably play with my GF and I think that excessive dice rolling would not appeal her.
I have no real miniature collection apart from FFG Star Wars (X-Wing/Armada/Imperial Assault).

So I would like to know your opinion abou ruleset for small table and scale with good supply of plastic figures (greek preferably).

Thank you.

If you'd like to dip a toe in the water before committing to one rule set, I'd recommend you take a look at freewargamesrules.com

That should provide plenty of inspiration and after a few trial games you'll get an idea of what you like and dislike in a ruleset.

One Hour Wargames is a good intro to the hobby. The rules are designed for a 3' square table

link

Ahoj Pavle!

Where are you in Czech? In Prague there is a gaming club called Prague Wargames Club and they do ancients in 28mm using Hail Caesar.

As for myself, I did Rome-Carthage in 1/72, and I think you could find plenty of figures for Greeks as well. But if I did it today I would be very tempted to go with Victrix 28mm.

It might be worthwhile to build two 1/72 armies as an experiment. They're cheap and fairly sturdy, and don't take up as much table space as 28mm. Play around with them until you have rules and basing you like, and then decide whether to buy more or sell them in order to buy 28mm.

Hmm. You might also want to begin with bases all the same width, which makes the DB series of rules an option. Just be sure you know what you want to do before you make too big an investment.

Another option might be to try the new Triumph! rules, they work with any scale, allow you to start with small armies, and work great as a two player game.

For figures in 1/72nd, have you checked out PSR?
link

For rules, have a look at the Two TMP rules directories
Many ancients rules sets share common basing (elements of 40mm or 60mm frontage depending on figure scale)

For a rules set that focuses on Hoplite warfare specificaly
have a look at the Perfect Captain's Hoplomachia
link

Cheers
David

Unless you do solo gaming I'd check what ancient battles rulesets are played in your area and pick one of them.
1/72 plastics is a good starting point as Robert suggested.
Good luck.

For 20mm it is also worth looking at the metal ranges by Newline Designs – you can find out their contact details from TMP's manufacturers page.

Are you planning on gaming Greeks versus other Greeks, or would you like to have the Greeks facing some external threat on the tabletop?

Thanks for tips.
*I had fresh account and was unable to add coments for several days (but strangely I was able to make new posts)

20mm is an odd scale. If space really is your primary challenge then I'd go 15mm. Otherwise, the 28mm stuff coming out right now is amazing.

You might consider Basic Impetus as a set. I'd certainly go with established rules. We see Dervel on here a lot promoting Triumph but they are new addition to the ancient rules community and as such, are relatively untested. They have also not published a final edition.

How big exactly is your "small table"? That will help clarify what works or not.