"What is “Brutal”?" Topic

These rules were mentioned in the News about the new gorgeous Eureka Romeo and Juliet range.
Are they sword fighting rules that actually WORK?
I hope it's not a matrix.

Oh. Here.
TMP link

"A terrible title for a set of rules."

That's my answer, as I dare say most wargamers really don't want to imagine the brutality of anything, even if what they are imagining was or is, in reality, horrifically brutal. Accurate title? Yes. Appealing? No.

In any case, there have to be a thousand titles for a game about dueling which would be far superior for marketing and sales. This one is enough to make me actually uninterested in looking at the game. But then, perhaps it is a game with a lot of descriptive brutality, and therefore is intended for people who like that sort of thing, of which I am not one.

Isn't that Popeye's arch nemisis? Or was that Bluto, or Brutus? Can't remember.

I thought it was an RPG game for millenials trying to get out of bed.
P.S. Get those kids off my lawn. H

So they're selling me a book which won't work at all unless I buy another book? Again? Been a while since I fell for that one. In fact, I never have.

And of course the rules work from the Dawn of Time to the End of Time, because why would you want different rules when the best weapon is a flint handaxe than when the best weapon is a .45 automatic? Reviews would have to be REALLY good to sell me this one.

Mind you, if someone offered me a quick set of sword fighting rules, I'd be interested. But if that's that this is, they should sack their marketing department.

They probably should have mentioned these rules as well
link A VERY light narrative skirmish game for the musketeer era but would work very well for swords in an earlier generation. And they are FREE.

Those free rules don't look bad at all but then you would miss out on the joy of having to spend money for rule books.

Isn't the game more about Gangs of New York (or Rome) than prissy dueling?

And all their rule books have single word titles, following the pattern of the main set. That is to say, "it fits".

The facts:
Tribal is the core rules – basic rules for pre-gunpowder, tribal-based skirmish conflict. It's not just about winning, the loss and gaining of Honour is critical.

Then there are 2 supplements (if you never buy supplements, good for you, but it isn't an uncommon business practice). They also use the single word title concept, like the original.

Primal is a prehistoric setting, with specialist rules and scenarios.

Brutal (my hands are shaking as I type the word)is a bit more of a toolbox, covering different types of gang warfare, from Republican Rome to 19th century New York. Again, special rules and scenarios for the various settings.

More supplements are in the works.

It is a very clever and unusual rule set, well worth a look if any of the periods interest you.