"Guns of Liberty Rules" Topic

They seem popular. What makes them enjoyable?

It has been a while since I played them, but our group really enjoyed them. The mechanics are straight forward. The action felt like the American revolution. That's all I remember at this point.

Clear, consistent mechanics, very morale driven so it seems very appropriate for a war with highly variable morale. Our group's rule of choice for the period.

At the risk of sounding repetitive: the rules are straightforward, easy to understand, morale-oriented, and very specific to the period, so everyone I've played with feels like they do a great job at AWI combat.

GoL is easy to teach because the mechanics are basically cherry-picked from bog-standard traditions that work well together. Everybody catches on quickly, and there are no hangups or surprises, everything just works pretty well.

- Ix

The only thing that surprises me is that the author did not take them further with a more professional and mass printing.

That said, they're cheap and if you join the Yahoo group, he'll sell them to you.

All the above reiterated….simple, yet realistic….very fun wargame with realistic results. Well thought out morale factors….easy mechanics with firing, melee, and morale being similar. Would like to see 3rd Edition in quality book like the Fire and Fury rule books and scenario books and supplemental charts for armies expanding into the 7 years war era.

Seems like the 3rd edition has been idling for a long time.

Can one use the figures one already has based? My units are more of a 24 figure organization.

Link to the Yahoo group? It didn't come up when I searched groups.

TIA,
Dave

This is it:

link

Can one use the figures one already has based? My units are more of a 24 figure organization.

The rules recommend 2-figure bases, but allow you to count figures or count stands, as you prefer. Mine are mounted on F&F bases with 2 or 3 figures per stand, so I count stands instead of figures. It's best to be able to have variable-sized units and different formations (skirmish, line, and column).

3rd edition has been "on the way" since at least 2012, when I discovered GoL. I've played it a couple times at the SYW Con in South Bend, because Mike Wedding has a playtest copy, but I've never actually looked at the rules.

- Ix

Hi everybody,

I really appreciate all the positive feedback on Guns of Liberty, and it is my fault that I haven't finished version 3 of the rules.

A couple things need to happen so I can return focus on GoL v3.

1. I have to finish my Vauban's Wars Siege rules.
2. I have to get the current rules tightened up and off to my playtest team.
3. The muse has to strike for me to write rules.
4. I would like to update the rules to a 21st century publication. I just need to figure out how best to do that. (format, publisher, etc)

Writing rules is work. I at least want to be a good frame of mind when I sit down to finish off GoL v3.

Please join the Yahoo Group if you want to have questions answered or participate in discussions around GoL. Link listed above.

Thanks again!
Eric

@DinOfBattle2

It seems you have quite an enthusiastic following. I have yet to thoroughly read the rules but wanted to see what the "magic" was that made them popular. I am eager to try them out though.

Is your GoL 3rd Edition going to be a sort of tightening up with a lot of extras or is there going to be a thorough revamping of the rules mechanics?

I wonder if a place like Northstar or Helion wouldnt love to get their paws on a popular set like this? They could make it a sexy book with photos of figures etc.

@MiniPigs

Third edition will be tightening up some loopholes, tweaking skirmishing, and making it a 21st Century publication for an 18th century conflict. :-)

Eric

Sounds good. I started reading the rules and already managed to find a personal snarl.

It would seem that if you play with larger scale figures and already have double ranked bases, you can still use the rules. However, closed formation is two stands deep? Which means an average sized unit will look like a block?

Do I have this correct?

I've been looking forward to. 3rd edition for some time. Any publication date planned?

@MiniPigs

If you have pre-based figures two ranks deep, you can do the follow. Assuming you have four figures per base, two ranks deep.

Close Order is just your troops in line with bases touching.

XXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXX

Open Order would be the same, but with a small gap between the stands. About a half inch works fine.

XX XX XX XX
XX XX XX XX

We used that with my friend's existing collection of 28mm figures and it worked just fine.

@corona66 – There is currently no date set.

Mine are based four per stand in two ranks as that is how I got them, based some, and can play other rule sets also (liKe Dean West's FAK-Final Argument of Kings which is more specific for the SYW). Din of Battle2 stated it correctly as you just keep space between stands to have them Open Order. This game has played out really well in my last 4-5 SYW Convention AWI games at South Bend IN every April. Next year I'm doing both battles of Saratoga

If you use 28mm and up scale figures, the Guns of Liberty rules suggest doubling ranges and movements; by necessity does that include a doubling of command radii?

My $.02 USD,

Really good set of rules. Easy to play. In this day and age, were quite inexpensive to purchase (when still in print).

Downside, did have some 'gamie' rule problems (i.e. formed units could traverse through heavy woods much faster by changing formation, then by marching/moving through them).
Either a reasonable game group needed to play a game or a game master, with the ability to handle such 'stuff'.

Big down-side: These rules really need a good rewrite/reorganization. However, I believe that 'hell will freeze over' before that happens! The 2nd edition went out of print about twenty years ago and the owner/designer should have had reprint on the market at least ten years ago. As Mr. Burgess has stated above---"A Muse has to strike him". I believe I wil be dead and in buried in the cold ground, before that ever happens!
If this rewrite and publishing ever get done (doubt it), they will most likely be one of the A.W.I./F.& I. War rule sets on the market.

In closing, before moving, the group in which I used these rules in at least ten games. Hence, I am at somewhat experienced with them.

Sincerely,
Tom Semian
Warren County, PA. 16329