"WAB vs. Foundry Medieval Warfare" Topic

I'm sorely tempted to purchase the latter, but I already own WAB and the Armies of Chivalry Supplement. Given the apparent turmoil at Forgeworld, I can't place any faith in WAB2 arriving before I'm cremated. So… which rules are better? BTW, I'm looking at doing Swiss and Burgundian armies toward the Fall or Winter of this year, maybe sooner if I'm inspired.

Thanks for the input,
Tom

There is no such thing as owning too many sets of rules.

Tom, I've played a litle WAB and I own but have not yet played MW. I have to say I really like MW over WAB for a few reasons – less miniatures technically required to play for one. I've also always felt that the way that WaB is organized sometimes forces you to play in that paradigm, and not a more historical situation, but only a little.

2 different games can't be compared. Mechanics are not similar and MW should be compared to FoG or DBx or Impetus, not to WAB. Like chess should be compared to checkers, not to Monopoly.

BTW, latest rumors that WAB2 is at printers.

2 different games can't be compared. Mechanics are not similar and MW should be compared to FoG or DBx or Impetus, not to WAB. Like chess should be compared to checkers, not to Monopoly.

I must respectfully disagree. If someone is trying to choose between two different sets of miniatures rules that purport to cover the same period in military history, it is perfectly legitimate to compare them – particularly in regard to how their differing mechanics address the armies and tactics of that period.

I've played both. I prefer Medieval Warfare.

I like the orders placement, simultaneous move and combat, and the limitations placed on maneuvering/ commanding bodies of troops. It's not an IgoUgo system. It encourages critical decision making when command starts to break down. No to hit or saving throws for each separate guy. I also like that the units/ basing can be used with several other games.

WAB plays more like a free form skirmish game with your guys clumped into units. I do enjoy it when I play, but for different reasons. Sometimes I just need to throw buckets of dice.

Rod

I've also played both.

To be honest, while MW might be perhaps a more detailed set of rules I think that WAB gives a better historical flavor.

Let me explain why.

In my opinion, most "medieval" rules, including MW, treat medieval armies too much like the drilled armies of the Ancient world.

I'm one of those who tends to believe that medieval armies, with perhaps the exception of French and Burgundian Ordonnance or English armies in France during the 100YW, were nothing short of armed gangs with little organization, formal training, no discernable formations and no drill so to speak.

So to me rules like FOG, DBM, and MW, which shoe horn medieval armies into the mold of Romans or Hoplites just don't ring true.

Now I realize that WAB also covers Ancient Armies, but it's almost semi-skirmish feel seems to fit better with my conception of medieval warfare.

Terry Gore, who wrote the MW rules and also a book on leadership in Medieval battles, would have disagreed somewhat with the statement about armed gangs, but I get you point. But based on that logic it seems that you would prefer MW over WAB. WAB allows us as the general complete control over each of our units. The order system in MW forces us as generals to chose which of our armed gangs we want to control. The rest are outside of player control.

I have never played WAB so I can only speak from my reading of the rules. I have played many games of MW and I really enjoyed it. The orders and thought that must go into the planning of your turn is something I enjoy.
Of course you can play both. Armies based for WAB can be used for MW. I am actually going to base mine that way an plan on playing both.

Thanks for all the advice gents (or ladies, if there happen to be any!) I think I will take the plunge and purchase Medieval Warfare, just because. Hopefully they give the Late Medieval Swiss decent treatment.

I understand that the Swiss take effort to learn to use properly in WAB, but once one gets them down they're truly a force to be reckoned with. I guess we'll see if Medieval Warfare gives them a similar nod.

Cheers,
Tom

I'm going to buy WAB, but until then there are two sets of rules I use: Warhammer Fantasy minus the Magic phase, and my own rules (which are still in testing).