"What happened to Arty Conliffe?" Topic

I really like Armati but that was out many years ago now. Does Arty still write rules systems and if so what ones?

If he doesn't does anyone know what happened to him?

Love to try some of his other rule systems!!

I know he wrote Shako 1 and II and Spearhead…

My understanding is that he tinkers with the rulesets he's published, and communicates with his fans through a handful of intermediaries on some forum or mailing list, sometimes releasing playtest rules.

He doesn't want to deal with the general gaming public.

Don't forget his first published rules: Tactica. He used to run very large games of Tactica at HMGS cons. It was the first ancients rules my gaming group played.

Arty's first rule set was the ancient rules set Tactica published in 1989, followed by a supplement with additional armies.

Tactica Medieval (1992) was a standalone rule set using the same basic mechanics as Tactica.

Armati was released in 1994, covering the ancient through medieval periods with a set of rules that are more "tournament-friendly" than Tactica.

The Napoleonic divisional rules, Shako, were published in 1995. It's my understanding that Shako II was mostly an update headed by Chris Leach and Dave Waxtel.

Spearhead – Arty's division-level WWII game – was also published in 1995. The Spearhead "family" now includes Great War and Modern versions and a number of scenario books (some written by other authors).

Crossfire (1996) – company-level WWII combat – was Arty's last "new" set of rules (versus an extension of an existing family). These rules are innovative as you don't need a ruler to measure movement; you move from terrain piece to terrain piece.

Sometime after that Arty "retired" from playing wargames and we rarely saw him at NYWA (New York Wargaming Association). Since we gave up (lost) our space in Manhattan, he occasionally shows up at some of our game days at Maplewood Hobby, and he plays occasionally with a few NY friends.

For about 15 years now, Arty has been working – on and off – on Tactica II, which, according to my sources, will be published very shortly.

I am biased (I've known Arty since 1980 when I arrived in the US; and I play tested most of the rules set) but I like and play all of the above rule sets, with only Armati (I'm Arty) being one I never warmed to.

John H.

This is all grate information thanks guys. I didn't know he did so many other rules.i will seek them out.

Neice to hear he is still active even if he is not publishing new rules.

Thanks again.

I just played a game at Historicon using Tactica rules and run by Dave Waxtel. It was the battle of Arsuf and it was a BLAST. THe game moved quickly, was simple to grasp, and it got more and more exciting as it went on. The culmination was a close fought Muslim victory (I was commanding a wing of Richard's force), but it was the most fun that I have had ever in playing con games. I highly recommend checking Tactica out if you have never played it!

I agree with Lord H.
Arty has been working on Tactica II.
Over the last 2 years or so Chris Leach has been working in an Armati Renaissance supplement. However Arty decided not to go ahead with this. We play tested many games of this with Chris.
It was working quite well actually.
So yes a Arty is alive and well, still looking at game systems.

I just played a game at Historicon using Tactica rules and run by Dave Waxtel. It was the battle of Arsuf and it was a BLAST.

Me too. I played in the Saturday 3PM game. Extremely close game in which the crusaders squeaked out a victory literally by one die roll. Exciting.

Reminded me just how much fun Tactica is. I may have to dust off my old copies of Tactica and Tactica Medieval.

Crossfire was the first miniature game I played. I still love it today.

I liked Tactica a lot. The armies were finely balanced in most cases and you always had a definite winner at the end due to the victory conditions, and it was intense but fun. It always came down to "if you win this melee you win the game".

Crossfire is my 2nd favorite set of rules. First for WW2. But I still have to put TSATF in front just because I've been playing them so long and still do! Crossfire too.

I just wanted to say thanks to you all. I have a copy of crossfire on its way now and am going to look for tactica as well. I hope I get much fun as ai do with Armati.

Tactica Medieval is still one of my favorite sets!

I helped play test Tactica II several years back and used to demo it at conventions in the KC area. I mainly concentrated on the Successors, I mean who doesn't love lots of cavalry, elephants and pikes. But he also had set up the Roman armies so that they would play different depending on the time period, Republic vs Marian vs Late.

I really loved the first Tactica and the Medieval rule sets and the games always did come down to the wire. Tactica II improved on the first version and made it a better game. The armies were no longer set in stone either. You decide on a point value for each army and then each type of troop could have a percentage of that total. Also two experienced players would have no trouble finishing a game in less then two hours.

Maybe I should bring those armies out of retirement and start taking them to conventions again.