"The Dark Ages...BRILLIANT! or *loody boring!" Topic

Dark Ages for me were a bit of an aquire taste. They were one of the last historical periods I came around to.

But after doing some research I fell in love with Dark Age Britain, particularly Vikings, Scots, Welsh and Irish armies.

For you, does this period (let's say for this poll Europe, Russia, Middle East and N. Africa) inspire or bore you to tears with all the look-alike armies?

Rate it 1-10.
"10 would" = I'M CRAZY FOR IT!
1 would be, "I wouldn't even play it with my Mates minis and terrain!"

A solid 7 for me! Love the Byzantine/Sassanid/Arab armies.

I would say a solid 8. One of my favorite periods, though I generally stretch it to cover the Migration Era/Fall of Rome also.

9

7. My Welsh have pointy sticks and bows.

9. Not dark, brilliant.

War College, Greek Fire, Flame Projectors, Defence in Depth, Recapturing North Africa – nah, this is glorious time for the Eastern Roman Empire …

10 if we're fighting off the barbarians from the east.
9 If it involves the Romanoi
8 If it's just mutual axe bashing between versions of Vikings and Saxons

One of my favourite periods.

9, after one of my sons got me into Saga and the local group got into Pig Wars.

Rick

I'm legally obliged to say 10 out of 10 for Vikings.

This may sound strange, but the period is interesting, the rate at which most people play, bores me to death in most cases. Not sure how to rate it with respect to the question.

10. What would anyone expect from me with my handle.

10. Spent most of my life in Mercia or the Danelaw so it's in my blood. Some great research in recent years.

These days its officially 'Early Medieval' not 'Dark Ages' – too many 'Dark Ages' littering the historical landscape, from Egypt thru Greece, Rome (3rd-5th C). We actually have more evidence for Early Medieval Europe than the later Roman Empire where we are missing lots of Emperors and Wars.

Of course we needed someone to jump in with that.

As far as swords and boards go I like the Dark Ages 7. I'd have to rank the modern gunpowder era higher and some sword and sorcery higher as well.

10 I like doing Vikings, Normans, and Anglo-Danes.

9 -- always intrigued by the idea of the Romano-Brits trying to hold back the barbarian hordes and keep some aspects of Roman civilization alive.

10. Particularly the 9th and 10th centuries-Alfred, Aethelflaeda, Athelstan, what's not to like? The epic battle of Brunanburgh when Mercia and Wessex fought off invaders from the north, east and west is a particular favourite.

As an aside, Dan Mersey's new 'Battle Ravens' boardgame (or gridded wargame depending on your point of view) is a refreshingly new take on the period (although it may owe something to Andy Callan's Dark Age Infantry Slog rules).

10.