Dark Age rules

[Deleted User]

As we’re selling the Ancestral Home (lived in for nearly 30 years), all my hobby stuff is packed away. Being at a loose end tonight, I spent a few hours tweaking my Dark Age Big Battle* set of rules. They focus on Late Romans & Saxons….with a bit of a nod at some sort of quasi-historical Arthurian feel.

They’re in dire need of some play testing but who knows when that will happen?

They’re quite simple & rather short & I wonder if anyone would care to look them over & maybe pass a comment or two (eg: “They’re rubbish. Don’t give up your day job”)?

 

Donald

• * for “Big Battle” read quite “small punch-up”.

[Who Asked This Joker]

Hi Donald,

The “Arthurian” period was my gateway to Ancients gaming!  I read a good deal about the era in general which somehow makes me an “expert”*. 😀

I’d be happy to give them a look-over and maybe get a game or two in.    My e-mail: jacar1965 AT gmail DOT com.

Looking forward to seeing what you have.

John

*read “former drip under pressure.”

John

"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power."

--Abraham Lincoln

[vtsaogames]

I can’t playtest any time soon but can give the rules a proof  read, if that is of any use.

It's never too late to have a happy childhood

[Alan Hamilton]

Happy to proof read and playtest as I am just starting on Arthurians”

[Deleted User]

dbrown4ATbigponddotnetdotau will elicite a return email with attached rules.

Thanks for the help. It’s appreciated.

 

donald

[Deleted User]

A normal person would buy/write rules & then purchase figures to suit. That I did it the other way around probably says something about me.

It all began with the skirmish game, SAGA. I built Saxon &  Late Roman/Arthurian Briton warbands. I enjoyed painting the figures & added a few more figures to cover all possibilities. Before I knew it, I had 120 Saxons and 80 L.Romans. This is when I thought I should write a set of rules to use them all in a low scale (probably 1:1) battle.

I’ve used some bits of SAGA and a few notions of my own. The figures are divided into 12 or so units/mobs, mostly with designated Leaders that influence coherence & discipline to a degree. Weapons & armour (or, mostly, lack of) influence combat and each group’s Warlord has a band of bodyguards upon whom he can “deflect” combat hits. I’ve also included a Hero: a figure with enhanced ability to lead but also able to “duel” an enemy Hero in a fight to the death (a single dice throw). The L.Romans have a bit more coherence than the Saxons & about 50% are cavalry as opposed to the entirely Saxon foot to help balance the discrepancy in numbers. The basic situation is of the remnants of a trained army pitted against a less formal & larger “barbarian” enemy.

I have done a lot of calculation & quite a lot of what I call “drill”: small numbers pitted against each other to fathom the outcomes of missile combat or the use of a Shieldwall and so on. However, you never know until you’ve fought a number of games if you’ve addressed every contingency 7and if the game has some sort of balance. Not to mention if the game has an appropriate level of challenge & is even fun.

I’ll be pleased if the game “works” but at any rate, it’s a process that is quite enjoyable in itself.

 

donald

[Alan Hamilton]

Deleted User wrote:

A normal person would buy/write rules & then purchase figures to suit.

I’m not normal either, I am happy to say.  I have usually decided on a period, bought some of the figures then started finding rules.  That said, in almost every case I ended up writing my own rules and a few times altering a commercial or free set to suit.

I cannot remember a time when I bought a set of rules then looked for figures.  The inspiration often came from a book, a film, a bit of history, a magazine article and occasionally a game at a wargame show.  I cannot say that any have come from inspiration on the web.  Though I have used the web after deciding to get colour schemes, ideas for terrain etc.

[Deleted User]

Alan Hamilton wrote:

Ochoin wrote:

A normal person would buy/write rules & then purchase figures to suit.

I’m not normal either,.

 

[Alan Hamilton]

Read the rules through three times then sent some comments and asked for some clarifications.

They are nicely and logically written though I am not sure that my granchildren will take to throwing a “1” is better than throwing a “20”.

[Author]

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