"easy rules" Topic

Just starting the Marlborough period and looking round for a set of uncomplicated, easy to understand rules. It was suggested to try Beneath the Lily Banners but I know nothing of them. Are they easy enough to use for a game lasting around two hours?
Any other suggestions appreciated. At the moment I have been pointed to an adaption of Neil Thomas rules in Introduction to Wargaming.

Try MAURICE. They're not a standard set of wargame rules but give a good game and have very simple mechanics and give a decision in a couple of hours. Even better you can download the basic rules to try them out for free from the link below – I did and soon invested in the full set – well worth it – great fun!

link

Jim Purkey (Der Alte Fritz) has a one page set of home brewed rules for AWI/7YW, etc which are quick, easy, and fun, which would probably work. they're downloadable free from his Fife and Drum Website.

Second Tom's recommendation!

Yes, third Tom's suggestion.

Yup,fourth recommendation for Tom's suggestion.
There's an excellent tutorial on Der alte fritz's webpage,easy peasy to learn.

Ta.

Chipco's "Le Petit Empereur" with the #1 expansion pack for early 18th century is about as simple as it gets.

Twilight of the Sun King. BtLB is not simple at all. The other rules mentioned are not Marlburian period.

Another vote for Twilight of the SunKing. No firing or melee rules to worry about. Units respond through simple morale tests ( 2 average dice plus/ minus situational factors – score 8 or more to pass ).
Introduced it to a group last week, 4 players, picked it up after a couple of moves. Available from Pike and Shot Society in UK. Rules are scale and basing neutral- my figures are 10mm on 6cm x 3cm bases, but I have played with 2mm figures on 3cm x 2cm bases and 28mm figures on 4cm x 4cm bases; you simply define " base width" and all distances derive from that.
Be wary of using rules for later in 18th century, warfare in Nine Years War/WSS was more ponderous. (no cadence marching, formation chsnges and deployment took longer, artillery generally fairly immobile, some units still using pike)

Thanks again

Wow, four recommendations is enough to make me stop and read a set of rules even thought I haven't been thinking about this period. Only problem is none of the recommenders provided a link. Well, that's normal these days since Google can lead us to anything, instantly. Except, no, Googling "Fife and Drum Website" leads to musical websites. Throw in "Jim Purkey" or "miniatures" and Google leads me on a merry chase of blogs referring to wonderful miniatures and rules and events, and just one QRS for Mr. Madison's War, which is a bit late for this discussion.

Fifteen minutes later I found this… link

These do appear to be very nice, easy-but-flavorful rules, but they are not complete, you can't start playing just from these. You need either a fuller explanation or prior experience.

We use "Sons of Liberty" which are very easy. That was one of my criteria in selecting them. We have had a lot of fun with these rules. Best of all they are free.

link

Thanks again.

Any thoughts on Ospreys Honours of War rules? Never used them but the Osprey series seem to try to keep things simple. Do they succeed?

Would they suit Marlborough (1700)?

Honours of War are very good, nice and straight forward – there are Marlborough adaptations on the web site that are free to download:

honoursofwar.com/page/downloads

I just got Gloire from Rattrap Productions. The rules are based on their .45 Adventures game. A free demo is available on their website.

Note: The game is meant for skirmishes between small bands of characters rather than large-scale battles.

Koenig Krieg rules run from 1700 to 1786, does that cover the period you need? They are decent rules I've used them for SYW and they are simple and straightforward not a lot of extraneous detail but they still provide nice national characteristics and can be seasoned to you specific tastes. Some minor alterations may be desired and are easily inserted as you wish. Plus, they also have some nice campaign rules included at no extra charge!

I agree for the Neil Thomas rules – one hour wargaming has a nice generic set and 30 scenarios. Yes, like most British rule sets there are some gaps to fill in with mechanics, but that has been done by others already. The rules are simple so that the scenarios and victory conditions dominate, not the rules.

Also, Simplicity in Practice is even cheaper and is generic, but doesn't have the book or scenarios. It is a download magazine article from Wargame vaulte.

You can always ask at the AMW yahoo group, nice people.

We played the free rules from fife and drum. They are for a much later period and are woefully incomplete. They are free and you will have to write the rest of your rules yourself!

BtLB does not appear to be simple or fast, but more medium complication and time, say 2-3 hours, like the Blackpowder rules.

Great gaming to you!