| Deserter | 23 Dec 2016 9:38 a.m. PST |
I usually play Song of Blades and Heroes and other simple skirmish rules that are good for about 5-10 figures each side. What other Fantasy skirmish rules do you advice for larger skirmish (20-30 figures each side)? - simple and fast (ideally one game should have a duration of 1 hour more or less)
- no multiple bases (like HOTT etc) thank you! |
 Extra Crispy  | 23 Dec 2016 9:57 a.m. PST |
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| Ivan DBA | 23 Dec 2016 9:58 a.m. PST |
I think Dragon Rampant fits this; although the rules may suggest multiple basing, it should work with individually based figures too. |
| RetroBoom | 23 Dec 2016 9:59 a.m. PST |
Haven't played it but Dragon Rampant seems like what you're looking for. |
| Buff Orpington | 23 Dec 2016 10:14 a.m. PST |
DR is designed for individually based figures. The multiple bases bit is just a work round for people who have armies based up already. Highly recommended. |
| Gone Fishing | 23 Dec 2016 10:46 a.m. PST |
The Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game would be perfect for this. Though OOP, it is easily found on e-bay, etc. A great set of rules in every way! |
| razuse | 23 Dec 2016 11:29 a.m. PST |
I agree, Dragon Rampant..lots of fun and it does not matter if individual or multiple figures per base. |
robert piepenbrink  | 23 Dec 2016 12:16 p.m. PST |
I also recommend Dragon Rampant--or even Lion Rampant if you don't have spellcasters or monsters. Nice clean fast-moving system--and a wonderful excuse to buy even more dice! |
 20thmaine | 23 Dec 2016 1:43 p.m. PST |
Lord of the rings strategy game – excellent for up to ~50 on each side. |
| YogiBearMinis | 23 Dec 2016 2:58 p.m. PST |
The hardcover Hobbit volume from GW is the latest version of the LOTR strategy battle game rules. It has some nice tweaks, though it may not be worth the cost to you. Supposedly, with GW reinvesting in the LOTR range (see the new Laketown and Iron Hills Dwarfs range), there is a new rules/army compendium due out by next summer. Buy the older softcover LOTR SBG rules off eBay and try them--they are cheap. |
| ordinarybass | 23 Dec 2016 6:29 p.m. PST |
I'd recommend giving LoTR a try if you want rules that wil have you activate each miniature separately but still maintian a fast game. As YBM suggests, if you don't want to buy the expensive GW current "Hobbit" rulebook, you can find the blue 3rd edition "Return of the King" rulebook for ridiculously cheap prices. It's extremely similar to the Hobbit rules (slightly more streamlined) and has a TON of unit profiles. If you love it, you'll love the Hobbit, if you hate it, then steer clear. I'd also look at Dragon Rampant if you're willing to play without movement trays but with group activations. I've played it a few times and really enjoyed it. Unit bases are completely optional (I think the default is no unit bases). It's my go-to ruleset when I want a game that is bigger than Song of Blades but smaller than Kings of War. Lastly, consider playing with Song of Blades and having each player control 2 warbands. That, combined with lots of group activations could get you comfotably to around 25 figs per person.
Here's how we did 1000 point SBH: link |
| Extra Crispy | 23 Dec 2016 7:26 p.m. PST |
LoTR will not play in an hour in my experience even with just a dozen figures a side….allow at least two |
| Xintao | 23 Dec 2016 7:27 p.m. PST |
As above, DR or SBG. Both good choices. And SBG is not OOP. Games Workshop is making a major investment in the game system with updated rules, new figures and terrain, and bringing back older out of production models. Xin/Jeff |
| Weasel | 23 Dec 2016 8:28 p.m. PST |
An hour might be tight for a big LOTR game but I really enjoy the rules. No idea about DR but it gets good press. I always wanted to try and write something ultra simple for this sort of thing, but never knew if there was a market. |
| Tiberius | 23 Dec 2016 11:35 p.m. PST |
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| PrivateSnafu | 24 Dec 2016 9:05 a.m. PST |
Saga has been adapted. A Fantastic Saga a-fantastic-saga.com I've been reading Dragon Rampant and I like it. I do think it may be on the low end of the scale for complexity. Probably a good reason for its popularity and quick play. Saga may offer more depth of strategy via battle boards. Just a theory. |
| Leadjunky | 24 Dec 2016 1:15 p.m. PST |
Have today's gamers really so little time that games must be completed in an hour? |
| Leadjunky | 25 Dec 2016 6:52 a.m. PST |
We use Battlesystem skirmish which is simple and moves fairly fast. You might also look at mordhiem which was a free download. |
| IronMike | 25 Dec 2016 2:51 p.m. PST |
I'll be adding my vote for LOTR. Easily scalable, and adaptable for non Tolkien game worlds… |
| Andy Skinner | 29 Dec 2016 1:01 p.m. PST |
I thought DR was going to do it for me, but, though I haven't played it yet, it feels like it isn't going to be quite as flexible to me. By "flexible", I mean in things like figure positioning. There are rules for units to be separated by a certain distance, and the figures have to be within a radius of a center figure, so you can't stretch out. I definitely want to try it, because it is flexible in every other way. I like the LotR system, but would love an army build system. I am not a fan of special rules for figures or units, and it seems to be going more that way. I use the Mines of Moria rules. I love SoBH, and think a few tweaks would make it work a bit larger. I've seen rules for sergeants, which are leaders but a bit more limited. Maybe they only can give orders to one specific group, or have shorter command range. Haven't tried it, though. andy |
| Chgowiz | 03 Jan 2017 8:35 a.m. PST |
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| Recovered 1AO | 03 Jan 2017 6:54 p.m. PST |
I always consider first the TSR Chainmail skirmish rules for this but I am very old school. |
completes his dungeon, state one.