Knighted pyke and sworde ??

[nigel Tullett]

Whats Knyghte, Pyke and Sworde ? Sounds interesting

[Mr. Average]

It’s “Knight, Pike and Sword” with a bunch of wrong letters.

[nigel Tullett]

I understand it’s a new set of rules -anyone know more?

[Ivan Sorensen]

Cheers. It’s a set of rules for “big skirmish” medieval warfare that I am working on.

Broadly speaking: 1-to-1 scale. “Units” are groups of 3 or 6 men, with a few characters. Fast playing, aimed at raids, small skirmishes etc.
The default will be around 20-30 figures each but its meant to scale down very well, so you could have a couple of guys getting into a fight if you liked.

Leaning more on the rules lite side. I think the entire book with some extra goodies will be in the 50 page range and that’s with points system, a way to build scenarios etc.

Why is it being written? There’s been a lot of great medieval minis games in recent years that are playable with not a lot of mini’s, but I wanted something that was specifically “1 figure is definitely 1 man” and which would skirmish well.

Let me know if you have any questions. I am doing the final touches on the rules currently. Hoping a release in April but we’ll see.

[nigel Tullett]

Great thanks for the info-sounds good😀

[Tony S]

Is the engine new, or is it related to Hammer, Scum of the Earth or 5Core?  I know Scum is gunpowder oriented, but it seems to fit your goal of small units.  And it’s sadly neglected – it’s a fun, simple and fast system.

[Ivan Sorensen]

Tony S wrote:

Is the engine new, or is it related to Hammer, Scum of the Earth or 5Core? I know Scum is gunpowder oriented, but it seems to fit your goal of small units. And it’s sadly neglected – it’s a fun, simple and fast system.

Glad you enjoy it. Unfortunately there’s only one of me so I have to be kind of ruthless in picking where to put my efforts. Only so much time to go around 🙁

This is a new engine specifically for the task, though it has some similarities to the Five Parsecs engine I suppose.

[Logain]

Hey Ivan, this is exciting! Any more details or AARs? Individual or war band advancement between games? Figures defined by role (scout, fighter, captain) and weapon only or are there skill/quality grades too?

[Ivan Sorensen]

Cheers! No AAR’s yet but Im sure they’ll come.

Details here https://fivemennormandy.blogspot.com/2020/03/medieval-warfare.html

Individual or war band advancement between games?

Captains can improve their Charisma score (which is how they grant bonus actions), Fighters can become a Duellist if they kill another Fighter hand to hand. Scouts can get promoted to Fighter or Captain status.

Units don’t improve their stats but can earn a veteran leader or have their leader promoted to an independent character.

There’s also a “reward” table where your commander can get a nice fur cloak or a fancy helmet 🙂

Figures defined by role (scout, fighter, captain) and weapon only or are there skill/quality grades too?

You get both.

All troops fit a “class” (Light, Shield, Polearm, Missile, Skirmish, Charger, Fire, Rabble) and then have four stats (Speed, Fighting skill, Armor, Bravery)
Individual models additionally are either a Fighter, Captain or Scout.

There’s a base profile for each class so you don’t have to do anything if you want to just grab some mini’s and play, but if you use the points system, you can upgrade stats to make particular/better units.

[Skullhamma]

Ivan Sorensen wrote:

Unfortunately there’s only one of me so I have to be kind of ruthless in picking where to put my efforts.

I’d like to ruthlessly force you to put all your efforts into the Squad Hammer Toolkit and Laserstorm 2.0 ;P

[Ivan Sorensen]

The tool kit is partially done but I keep being unhappy with it, so I keep putting it back, then going back and changing some things. I may need to just sit down and rewrite it from scratch.

[Tony S]

A quote from the rules:

All troops must be classified as foot troops or mounted troops.
This is determined readily be examining the miniature in question:
If it has more than 2 legs, it is likely to be mounted.

Ha!  So I guess the little known Limpopo Ostrich Riders are indeed allowed as mounted! 

(And there is a typo Ivan – “determined readily be examining” should be “by examining”).

Just skimming through the rules.  I was thinking of using them for the Punic wars, and was a trifle worried that I would have to add mounted javelins, or Gallic warbands, but I think it will be quite easy to adapt them!  But I haven’t really sat down to read them, or try them, so I could be wrong.

Looking forward to trying them!

 

 

[Ivan Sorensen]

I suppose ostrich cavalry does have 4 legs, between the mount and rider!

Mounted javelins I’d just do as mounted skirmishers. Warband types to me are foot Chargers but I could see other arguments as well.

[Thomaston]

Typo
Page 11 “a a padded coat”
page 21 “could each an a”
Page 56 under Captain “If the either die”

I like the rules for fighting out numbered, I can see my people not surviving even more.

Every group must have a leader?

Critical blow
Doesn’t seem worth while to roll to demount and non-critical struck vs critical struck.

Leaders
I like their advantage even vs characters.

Champion mentioned ‘Heavy’ troop?

Whats the beefit of status rewards?

So all individuals have +1 Combat, but they can’t improve on that through campaign and only through upgrades?

Tired is enough.

[Ivan Sorensen]

Thomaston wrote:

Typo
Page 11 “a a padded coat”
page 21 “could each an a”
Page 56 under Captain “If the either die”

Thanks, will fix

I like the rules for fighting out numbered, I can see my people not surviving even more.

The ones who fall in battle are saved from dysentery and the black death.

Every group must have a leader?

In theory, you don’t have if you wanted some hapless villagers in a scenario.

Critical blow
Doesn’t seem worth while to roll to demount and non-critical struck vs critical struck.

It doesn’t come up much. I just wanted to add it in as a possibility really.

Leaders
I like their advantage even vs characters.

Thanks, its the tough old sergeant right?

Champion mentioned ‘Heavy’ troop?

It should read Shield.

Whats the beefit of status rewards?

In a campaign, they allow you one roll on the campaign reinforcement table.

So all individuals have +1 Combat, but they can’t improve on that through campaign and only through upgrades?

For now, yes.

[Thomaston]

Thanks.

Tired is enough.

[Thomaston]

More questions
Can individuals make ranged attacks as standard or only if the miniature is armed with a bow?
I thought I read individuals are armed with bow but couldn’t find it.

Exhaustion.
Seems like being attacked doesn’t make a group exhausted.
Also an exhausted group can take an engage action?

Tired is enough.

[Ivan Sorensen]

Thomaston wrote:

More questions
Can individuals make ranged attacks as standard or only if the miniature is armed with a bow?
I thought I read individuals are armed with bow but couldn’t find it.

This probably isnt as clear as it ought to be but indiivduals still get a class, so they can have a ranged weapon if they are the appropriate type.

Exhaustion.
Seems like being attacked doesn’t make a group exhausted.
Also an exhausted group can take an engage action?

Correct on both counts. Getting psyched up to go up and fight exhausts the unit, receiving the attack does not. (but the counter attack next turn does). it creates more of a flow.

Exhausted troops can engage (dutifully trudging forward) but are of cause at a penalty.

[Thomaston]

So individuals are still classed as shield, polearm etc?

Edit:
In that case does Missile Individual get a +0 in melee?

Tired is enough.

[Sean Cravens]

Found the rules through the fantasy preview…now kind of want to try using the system to try and play out “The Song of Roland”…anyone got any leads on 700’s Franks and Spanish Muslims in 15mm?

[Ivan Sorensen]

Could you repurpose crusade-era muslim armies for it? Those are a lot easier to find I should think.

[Sean Cravens]

Probably, figured that would be what I’d do. The problem is finding a range of Dark Ages Franks who aren’t almost entirely cavalry. Beginning to fear that I’ll have to repurpose Normans.

[Ivan Sorensen]

If you can find saxons in mail shirts, they might be able to stand in.
The Khurasan Saxons are quite nice and could do double duty for a lot of dark age troops i think.

[Sean Cravens]

Taking a closer look, I think those could work well. I could even repurpose the musician into Roland himself. Thanks!

[Author]

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