"How to start saga ?" Topic

Hi, I'm thinking of maybe trying saga. I have 44 painted vikings, based for kings of war. They are 1,2 or 4 to a base then mounted on a movement tray.
Obviously I need the rule book, but if I buy that will it include the special dice, battle board any anything else I need ?
I thought I'd start with Viking vs Viking to save painting anything new. Would 20 footmen a side be enough for a game ?
Do they have to be individually based or would 2/4 on a base be ok ?
As Vikings saxons etc all look a bit similar, and my vikings are ecletic, how do you tell which side is which, do you have to paint them differently ?

If necessary we can play with Viking playmobil, which might be a laugh, but what's the minimum I need to buy to play a game ? Or can I even try it for free like mantic stuff ?

Sorry if that's a lot of questions.

A basic 4 point warband would consist of 1 Warlord, 4 Hirdmen (Hearthguard), 4 Berserkers (Hearthguard), 8 Bondi (Warriors), 8 Bondi (Warriors). ((25 figs))

The main rules come with battle boards for AngloDanes, Normans, Viking & Welsh. Other armies would require separate expansions.

The rules are designed for individually based figures, but I think you could be fine with multiple figures on a base. You would just have to mark loses.

You don't need the dice. You could just use regular d6's and make the simple conversion. There may even be a chart in the rules.

Sorry, no free demo.

Ok thanks. What's the difference between a hearthguard and a warrior ? Do you need different models for the 2 classes ? I just have vikings in chain mail. Or is it a matter of the rules explain it all from here ?

Oh, 1 other thing, does base size matter ? Mine are on 20mm squares, but I could do pennies ?

A Hearth Guard is a professional soldier, most often well armored and armed. Warriors are more often farmers and merchants with some experience in combat called out to help protect the kingdom. So not as much armor.

20mm bases are close enough, just leave a bit of a gap between them or, go corner to corner for correct spacing. Saga players generally aren't real picky and tend to be a lot easier to game with when it comes to such things.

<q.Ok thanks. What's the difference between a hearthguard and a warrior ? Do you need different models for the 2 classes ? I just have vikings in chain mail. Or is it a matter of the rules explain it all from here ?
Generally, the minis that Gripping Beast sell as hearthguard wear armour as well as having helmets and shields. Warriors usually only come with helmets and shields for protection. However, as long as you and your opponent know which is which then it should be no problem.

… does base size matter ? Mine are on 20mm squares, but I could do pennies ?

Although there are guidelines in the rule book, base size really doesn't matter; opposing forces don't even need to be based the same: 20mm squares, 25mm rounds, 30mm hexes, whatever you have will be fine.

It sounds like the figures you have would be best used to represent hearthguard. You can have a warband just consisting of hearthguard – you would only need 17 figures for a 4 point warband. What you might then do is buy a box of Gripping Beast plastic Dark Age warriors. Make some up as spearman ( warriors) and some as slingers (levy) to give you two six point warbands to face each other, with some options.
I made my own Saga dice by buying blank dice and printing the symbols onto small round stickers.

20mm squares are fine. The rules say foot must be on at least 20mm wide bases (and mounted at least 40x20).
Base size makes very little difference to the game.
The symbols for the sage dice can be downloaded from the Studio Tomahawk website, and you can buy blank dice and just stick them on.
Or you can buy the very nice but expensive dice Gripping Beast sell.

Hearthguard should be armoured, Warriors maybe just shield and helmet. Levies will be bow armed for Vikings.
You can also have one unit of 4 Berserkers.

As others have said…. Dice. I bought blank dice and hand drew the symbols on but it would be just as easy to use D6 and alter the battle boards.

Figures can carry any weapon really, although slingers and bowmen should have those. Anyone else it hardly matters. Possibly if you have the Dane axe then axe armed figures will be better but it's not vital.

Great thanks for the help, I'll get the book and give it a go.

I just remebered; if you ahv e time check out Saga Thorsday on Youtube:

YouTube link

Try a set of suitable wargame rules instead?

Such as? I'm looking for a set of rules that are skirmish level and are suited for more than 2 players.

Jim

If you find one let us know!

Saga is a good game, but don't get too hung up on the figures in this period. At 28mm scale the costuming differences between Norwegians, Danes, Anglo-Saxons, Anglo-Danes, Strathclyders and Welsh are virtually insignificant. In game terms the Vikings get berserkers, the Strathclyde and Welsh get cavalry and the A-Ds get big axes

For Hearthguard/Hird mail and helmet is good. For Warriors I go with a helmet and no mail.

Not all that happy that the Levy don't get proper weapons – someone needs to read the battle of Maldon – but no helmet or armour is about right.

TBH Warriors and Levy are interchangeable across the whole period, just add in the appropriate Elites and a Warlord to change from Generic to Specific.