"So what's new in 15mm Ancients, rules wise?" Topic

I've found a big pile of otherwise forgotten models based for DB(X), and I'm interested in alternative rules. What's new and cool in 15mm Ancients rules?

I think most rule sets today are not scale specific so you could do a general search for recommendations.

Sure, but some work better with some scales and basing than others. Saga with DBA basing might be less than ideal, for example.

SAGA with DBx basing would make it look more like an army, if that is important to you. A base equals a base.

There is lots of variety for 15mm in Ancients. L'Art de la Guerre is popular with many. To the Strongest, Triumph, and Mortem et Gloriam are also relatively new and cool.

As above, I'm not aware of anything scale-specific about rules (nor, really, 'this or that works better with … ' it's really more of a player mindset issue) …

What rules seem more popular with players who prefer 15mm figures? With Version 3, DBA seems to have had a massive resurgence (and it probably the most popular ancients set these days internationally, from what I see from my own ivory tower) …

I sawe the 'most popular' claim made recently for L'Art de la Guerre … so the view from other people's ivory towers are evidently different.

A newer thing doing well is To The Strongest, although Mortem et Gloriam is interesting too (and commands good numbers). My own impression is that the Osprey games have not really held their initial levels of interest.

Phil

Ancient Tactica has been revised and is now available as Tactica II.

To my taste To the Strongest is the best and most flexible Ancients and Medieval rules set available. It has gained a good following has a great many army lists (some available for free others for a modest price). It is easy to play in all scales from 6mm to 28mm and even larger. Basing and troop density and layout are entirely up to the players. Playing spaces also vary from as small as 2 x 3 feet to the largest tables available. Results are historical for the most part. Luck plays its part (as it should) but skill and historical tactics are important. Best of all it is a great game playable in 1-3 hours depending on size of forces.

Triumph is my preferred rule set. Army lists are available for free online at Meshwesh. Rules are available as a hard copy or in PDF format at war games vault. Uses DBX basing for the most part but there are some new troop types which are really interesting.

Mortem et Glorium is excellent and can be played from small base counts (Pacto) to large armies for those that have them (Magna).

Check out YouTube, the author has put up a heap of instructional videos to show how it works.

Another big vote for To the Strongest for the reasons previously cited.

I generally use my DB(X) armies with Lost Battles or Command and Colours Ancients, but for lockdown games the Ancients version of One Hour Wargames seems to work better remotely.

Scale is pretty much irrelevant as they are element based. My guys are all 20mm.

The battle of Hattin, designed for Triumph, gets a run through on Youtube by the scenario designer.

youtu.be/UWv_HmJnTas

Very instructional if it's of interest.

Ooh a rules thread!

Sadly (until someone makes an ancients forum with Zenforo or similar that actually behaves like a forum) all the rules action is on Facebook groups.

For 15mm:
MEG
L'art de la guerre
DBMM and DBA

…these are the ones with good conversations and active people. ADLG is my preference with v4 imminent and Madaxeman's battle reports army list podcasts.

As you will see Scott this an a review of active rules sets and is not in anyway specific to 15mm. Most ancient rules accommodate 15mm with no issues.

There are so many active ancient rules sets out there that it would be great to have a website which listed each set in some detail and layed out their pros and cons.

Having played TtS myself at Cold Wars in 2020 and then ran a game of Impetus in the evening I had one player overlap both games. He found Impetus more complicated and had more detail than TtS. Also, the grid system has benefits and limitations. It really depends on what you are looking for. Warrior/WRG 7th is more complicated than Impetus and is a more subtle game.

I don't think Triumph can be compared to ADLG. The scope of the game is very different even if they use DBx basing. Mortem et Gloriam looks interesting to me but haven't played it and probably won't because my group is committed to the big bases of Impetus.

We like Impetus because it is a dynamic system where it is impossible to scope the game. There are simply too many variables at play and every game is unique to itself even if the armies are the same. It is the variety of command choices that we find most enjoyable. Not everyone likes that level of uncertainty.

Another vote for To the Strongest

FOG V3 is still alive and kicking. We have a tournament coming up the weekend in fact.

I think we are spoiled today for ancients rules, which makes me happy!

Using the 20mmX40mm basing scheme allows figures to be used in practically every decent ancients rules at any scale from 20mm to 2mm. I like that!

I have To The Strongest. Read it but haven't tried it out. I was hoping to try it at a con last year. I'm not sure how keen I am going to a grid system.

I really like L'Art de la Guerre. Last year, I got the PDf direct from the author for only $7 USD since the rules are OOP awaiting 2nd edition. Not sure if he is still doing that. 1st Edition is fine for me.

For whatever reason, I still fall back to my favorite rules, Warmaster Ancients, but that is far from being new. It's OOP but it can be had pretty easy/cheap out in the wild. I cherish my print copies.

I've pretty much given up playing Ancients from dissatisfaction with the currently popular rules. None of the base removal sets have satisfied and a grid system would not suit my vision of a game.

Mortem et Gloriam is a ton of fun with some very interesting and challenging command and control mechanisms. Over 600 free army lists online together with an army builder. Rejuvenated my passion for ancients.

Alcibiades +1 (or should that be a hand of red cards? 😀) Mortem et Gloriam has badically kick started a moribund interest in the ancient period for me.

To the strongest is fantastic. No more measuring, just focusing on decision making.