"Suggestions for WWI Skirmish Rules?" Topic

Would greatly appreciate suggestions for not too overly detailed skirmish rules to use for trench raid games in 25/28mm scale. I envision no more than 20-30 figures per side and multiple players controlling 6-10 figures each. I have a copy of Ganesha Games' Flying Lead which might work with some adaptations for the period. I've also played a lot of WWII Final Combat, which could be adapted to WWI, but they are more detailed than what I'm looking for. Are there any other rule sets more tailored for WWI trench fighting that would work? Many thanks in advance.

Through the Mud and the Blood from Too Fat Lardies sounds like it might suit.

Trench Wars
Bolt Action WWI
Price of Glory

TFL Mud and Blood as mentioned above, Bolt Action, Chain of Command.

Those are all good choices. We have also used Combat Patrol for WWI games.

5 Core Skirmish rules would do nicely, or adapting NUTS! by Two Hour Wargames.

Or, if I may be so humble, Trench Hammer that I collaborated on with Ivan at Nordic Weasel, available at Wargames Vault.

I'm a big fan of NUTS! and the other two hour wargames titles for games of this scope.

You could easily use Nuts! as at this level the major weapons (bolt action rifles, pistols) are pretty much the same. Just write your "army" lists and you're all set. It is a very flexible game system and the reaction system makes for a very dynamic game as well.

Chain of Command has a nice WWI supplement in the TFL 2014 Christmas Special.

I just kicked off a WWI skirmish level campaign for some of the guys at my local club, and did our first game on Saturday. I'm using Through the Mud and the Blood, and players controlled about two squads worth, varying anywhere between 10 and 20 figures total for each player. The game puts a lot of emphasis on "Big Men", the low level leaders, so each player has one Big Man who is their personal character and proxy. I'm tracking their actions and sufferings, with the intention of watching them improve or deteriorate over the course of many games, but that's my own addition.

At core the game is pretty simple, while still trying to maintain some realistic mechanics of command and firepower. I like them.

I'd be interested in hearing more about Trench Hammer, if I can be so bold as to slightly hijack this thing…

Is Bolt Action WWI still available somewhere? No sign of it at Warlord.

LT

For Bolt Action WW1, check out this recent thread:

TMP link

Robert

Unofficial BA WW1 Here: PDF link

You may wanna look at this too. We did this a few weeks ago, plan to play again this weekend. Rules are about 3 pages came from Wargames Illustrated #235, 2007 August I think. A nice TMP'er took photos & emailed them to me. For 3 pages, A GREAT time was had by all! Highly recommended…
TMP link

Trench Hammer is a a stand alone variant of Squad Hammer for WW1. It is fast play and not as crunchy, but let's me play Through the Mud andvthe Blood sized battles (platoon plus) in about 90 minutes.

You are maneuvering squads and weapons teams and individual leaders. It is scale agnostic, I personally use 10mm. Plus the rules are cheap!!!

You can find them at war games vault here: link

Here are a few battle reports: link

Good luck with your project!

Many thanks everyone, I'll check all these out.

Ceterman, that looks like a great game and to be honest I saw that post when it was first put up and it is the inspiration for my project.

Bezmozgu7, You really need to try those rules! If 3 pages can be called "rules"! But THAT is what is so appealing to us! And we all thought "Hey, these work & it was fun too!"
I could send you the files if ya want.

Hey Ceterman,
I'd be interested in the ‘3 Page' WW I Skirmish Rules, any chance you could email them through to me…
Captain.Darling1875ATgmail.com
(AT substituted for @)
Thanks!

Ceterman, you are a real gentleman. He sent me those rules over a week ago when I got all fired up about the same project put on by Nick Stern (who also sent me the rules, by the way!). That was one inspiring post!

Thanks to Ceterman and monk2002uk for pointing me to the Gajo rules. I downloaded the file and, when I went to save it in my Bolt Action folder, the computer asked if I wanted to replace the copy that was already there. D'oh!

LT

Brass1, HA! I've done the exact same thing before! But they were updated once before & not all that long ago! I'd save over the one you have! (not really sure what changed though!) I didn't check…

Thanks Daryl! As you are too, Sir! And yeah, That was an inspiring post!

Play Bolt Action at the club but my preference is Flying Lead as long as games don't get too big. There is a WW1 version of The Men Who Would Be King for more simple fare.

Ceterman, thanks for your generous offer of the rules! I sent you a PM with my email. Cheers

Prince Lupus, I agree that Flying Lead is a fun system for a small number of troops. It's too bad Ganesha never went forward with a Great War supplement. I really enjoy Song of Drums and Shakos for a limited Napoleonic skirmish, but look to Sharp Practice for games with more than 20 figures to a side.

Bez,
I sent them this am! ENJOY! Just be sure to change the to hit number to "YOUR MAN'S SHOOTING NUMBER 0R LOWER"! It says Lower when it is first talked about, then later in the rules, it says "your shooting number or HIGHER" Wrong!!! Needs to be "hit number or lower"… it will save a lot of head scratching…

I'm going with the mash up of Mud & Blood and Chain of Command from the TFL Christmas 2017 special.