Nov 8, 2014

Rules for Medieval Gaming

As I have (or have not) said earlier November is mostly going to be Medieval month (with some 6mm Ancients added - a little take away from the TYW) so I started considering what rules to use once I've got a painted up army.

What I have:

Strategic rules: I have Field of Glory and De Bellis... stuff, also some freebies from here and there, but I don't have enough models and don't want to base them in groups. I'm particularly against rule sets telling me how to base figures... kind of selfish on their part, right? So it's single bases either on trays or just as they are, grouped together. 

Skirmish rules:

Song of Blades and Heroes: minus the magic element, for small scale skirmishes.
Pro: Unique game flow, variable model sizes.
Con: I liked SDS (something similar for Napoleonics) but got bored of it very quickly - it provides little challenge as a single game, but were there a campaign/narrative it'd be all the better.
Conclusion: Could be good for the period while I am still in the process of painting armies up.

TooFatLardies rules: Dux Brit or SP could easily be reinterpreted to be used in medieval times.
Pro: Good fun, familiar, works well.
Con: Rules surgery needed, larger units in play and I'll have to paint them faster!
Conclusion: By the time larger contingents are finished, the rules could be ready to use.

Mordheim: I found the rulebooks and thought them fine, quite a different approach than the ones quoted previously.
Pro: Something new on the table? Could also get the Pro Gloria Landsknechts for it when they're out.
Con: Few models, lots of surgery (making up own units and warbands); I Go - You Go (only when compared to the previous rules).
Conclusion: something I would try with/instead of SBH just to see how things work, but only as an experiment.

Inter Arma homebrew:
Pro: chiseled and playtested, I have my trust in it (not surprisingly).
Con: Bloody and gets boring; not ideal for a campaign (say, with the recent additions, it can get good); I Go - You Go.
Conclusion: if all else fails, stick to the homebrew - it's far from perfect but it works really well, just like an old Soviet car.

What I'd like to have:

Lion Rampant - not that pricey and would like to take a look at it.

2 comments:

  1. Lion Rampant, fun and fast skirmish game. Simple enough to play but has enough variation in the unit characteristics to give the game some depth. Comes with a number of entertaining scenarios.

    Regards,
    Matt

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