"Best Ruleset for Introducing Someone to the Hobby?" Topic

Imagine that you're young, you're single, and the person you've been dating shows an interest in learning more about your hobby. Which miniature wargaming ruleset works best for an introductory game?

Forget the rules. Hook them with the terrain and figs. Then pick a suitable simple set of rules. I usually take GW's Lord of the Rings, simplify it, and adapt to my genre.

I don't think there's an abstract answer, but
It needs to be something you have on hand. Given that:
Attractive figures and terrain--large scale if possible.
A period she knows something about--especially in pre-modern, so the tactics are comprehensible.
Rules simple enough that she can read them and play.

In horse and musket, you'd be hard-pressed to improve on Blasthof Bridge straight out of the box, but it won't work if she can't understand why everyone isn't hiding behind rocks..

The Rules According to Ral.

The Sword and the Flame.
Nothing is outrageously complicated, but gives a nice game that is difficult to predict.

Both of the above are excellent choices. We use Rules by Ral for our 25mm medieval battles and, having helped Larry developed TSATF, use them for almost anything from FIW to futuristic sci-fi ("Frogs in Space").

Jim

Either a simple fantasy set like Rules according to Ral, HoTT, or Dragon Rampant, or, if they are interested in History, Volley and Bayonet or One of the Command and Colors games.

I agree on the nice terrain and painted figs but it really depends on her preferences. She a history buff? A Lord of the Rings/Tolkien gal? Into The Walking Dead? Or keen on cyberpunk or Star Wars?

I'd look for a suitable board game with miniatures first. Ease her in with something familiar.

A cooperative board game with miniatures and a cool board, with a female character. Space Cadets, Away Missions springs to mind.

One Hour Wargames

Junior general Web site

Well, young woman or no, she may or may not be a gamer of a different sort, or have an interest in history or not, so there will always be a lot of variables. My current favorite would be Lion Rampant (but without the rules for activating normal moves or charges) – quick, intuitive, and each unit performs its actions in complete before others activate. Depending on the period, though: Ancient & Medieval Wargaming, The Sword and the Flame, maybe Volley & Bayonet for horse and musket?

To be honest, with a complete neophyte, I may well just use "Let's roll some d6's and see what happens" house rules! ;)

DBA, HOTTS & TSATF would be my suggestions. I introduced a friend to DBA & he picked it up very quickly.

Buy figures to paint.

Empire IV

"Introduction to Wargaming" by Neil Thomas

QILS, of course, but it's really about the scenarios you choose, not the rules.

Lots of collaborative play scenarios where the two of you play against the game rather than "me vs. you".

Or player/team vs. the "referee" (so distinct from playing against "you" and "your forces" they are playing against a broad array of different possibly unrelated "challenges"), so more of an RPG flow of play. Naturally, start that out heavily favoring the "hero(es)" to win.

Super spy games are probably the genre I would go for with either of those types of scenario.

Imagine that you're young, you're single, …

I tried to imagine…nope, not happening.

A ruleset that YOU know very very well.

To the Strongest! would actually work quite well.

There is no best, what works great for one person will send another one away shaking their head.

I would go with "Memoir '44" myself.

I started both my boys with TSATF when they were 4-5 years old. Over 30 years later, they're both still active wargamers.

My eldest son still remembers the details of his first game, since he had a critical shot wth a Gatling gun that passed its die roll not to jam, eliminated a native unit, and saved a British unit from annihilation.

Rick

Absurd.
Wait till you put the ring on her finger and then see if she's still interested.

Something like X-Wing or Wings of Glory, probably played co-operatively against a solo system?
That is if you want to still be talking afterwards!
These games have the advantage of her being at least a little familiar with the 'history' behind them.

Battlecry

I will bite:

The Battle of Little Big Horn by Waddington's. Here is link to this 54mm (approximate height) old board and miniature game. The firm produced other board and miniature games. For this game…. before I found a booklet on actual miniature gaming, was my youth introduction to "using miniatures" in a game.

link

Note that the blogger is a lady discussing this game.

I just ran a game of Battle Cry with some friend's three boys (aged 7-11) – they absolutely loved it. I was going to put in on ebay but decided to give it to them instead.

Their mum has told me they've been playing it non-stop including with elaborate sound effects!

I think I've made some new converts :)

Can I be old and single? I would do HG Wells little wars with shooting cannon.

If I were young, then we would play that each hit on a figure requires the other to remove an article of clothing. "Strip Wargames"

I have used Junior General, mostly because I am trying to introduce youth 11-17 yrs old.

Another set that I start my boys with was "The Wargame" by Grant. Classic old school.

I remember using the older Full Thrust with Star Trek micro machines at a convention once. It was easy to teach and the players seemed to grasp it quick.

Assuming you mean the historical miniature gaming hobby.

TSATF

Ok, wait there is something fundamentally wrong here. Why in the world would you want to game with your wife/girlfriend!?

WHAT!

That's my alone time. Leave me alone!

I got my brother hooked on Command & Colors Napoleonics, but I can't get him to try any tabletop war games. I guess he is not interested in minis, as he plays C&C like it's a game of chess. He's gotten pretty good; I think we've played over 200 games.