"about BATTLELUST, from columbia games" Topic

as ever, please excuse my english.

I am looking for a detailed and realistic skirmish system for 20-30 figs each side, in order to play with my LOTR minis.

I have heard about battlelust. I have harnmaster and harnplayer, so I know how harnworld combat system works.

What I want to know itīs how battlelust works. Is it just the RPG combat system, with unitīs rosters? how does its morale system works? how itīs order system works?

thanks in advance

More information here: TMP link

Battlelust works very well at that scale. Basicly, if you are familiar with Harnmaster, then a lot of it works the same.

It uses a simplified armor system - 4 general armor classes, and that moves things along much faster. Weapon stats are basicaly the same. A hit can result in 1-3 dice damage check which you roll against their Physical stat. Damage is cumulative, so you need a ring or something to mark when someone has taken a hit (ie, they took a 1 die check, and recieved another 1 die hit. now they have to roll with 2 die).

I can't remember off of the top of my head how morale is handeled, but there are rules for that.

In addition, the game makes allowance for magic, but there are no magic rules in the game. You would need to have Harnmaster Magic to use that.

Units are broken down into small groups. The book suggests for Harn that it is a 5 man team, but it does not have to be. Units acivate based upon the squad leaders Initiative. You activate from highest to lowest.

Other than magic, it is a complete game on its own covering any "Dark Age" type of setting. Once you start getting a lot of heavily armored individuals, the game slows down.

The Editor posted that link while I was typing.

One note. In the review it shows an option in the advanced game under the possible orders called "Rest". The creators were planning on adding rules for fatigue and resting, but they couldn't make it work, but the order was left in even though it doesn't do anything.

Here's the old TMP page on Battlelust, it's a very detailed description of the game: TMP link

It's a very good small-scale skirmish level game, and works well at the number of figures you've described, unless you're experienced with the rules. Once you've got a few games under your belt you can play larger scale games. I once ran a 6-person Battlelust campaign in which each player bought a 200-denari mercenary company and fought a series of linked battles along the border of Tharda and Rethem. The winner was the player who had met the most goals and earned the most money from the battles/contract. The largest battle we played had about 100 figures per side, and took an afternoon to complete. We added some house rules that mostly added to the command and control, and morale rules.

To some extent it is a stripped down version of the roleplaying game, so if you like the RPG this should be a good fit. Check out the review, I give the rules two thumbs up for "realistic" small scale skirmish gaming

Am I the only one who misread an rn (RN) as an m (M) and thought people were talking HaMmaster and HaMplayer?

Bill,

Just looking at the Battlelust info in your link here on TMP just screams reorganization and update. There is so much information hidden/burried in the old sections. It could also be helpful, as you did, to post a link as soon as someone starts a thread.

I know.. I know... so much to do... so little time.

Mike

thanks very much for your info.

what a shameĄ I must admit that I have readed the tmp link some years ago. I just didnīt remembered it.

Thanks again

I do like using BattleLust for skirmish gaming. There's a nice variety of things that can happen with each attack, which keeps every dieroll interesting to me.

I never played the Harn RPG, how similar are these?

The RPG goes into a little more detail on the combat. For instance, you can strike a person at different parts of the body, and each area can have different armor protection. Generaly you aim high, or low, then roll to see what area you hit. Damage can be slightly different depending on where you hit. For example, you may need to take bleeding damage, or check for amputation.

Harnmaster can easily be used for a nonmagical Middle Ages game system.

Oh, 1 more thing. Harnmaster comes in two flavors. Harnmaster 3rd edition is produced by Columbia Games. It works pretty similar to Battlelust.

Harnmaster Gold edition is produces by N. Robin Crosby who was the original producer of Harnmaster, but later left the company. This game is a little more detailed than 3rd edition but still works similarly.

I have used the basic game and added some ideas from various sources including the Middle Earth Role playing game, and even GWs game. I call it RingLust.

I have added things like Goblins in combat must always try to dodge, the regular Orks must always counter attack being savage and all, and Uruks have all the options of the humans.

The command system is one of the nicest things in the game, you might want your group to charge an enemy but the goblins don't think it is such a great idea so just stand around looking mean.

In all a great skirmish game. There is also a Samurai variation floating around on the net somewhere.
William