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Miniatures Adventure => Age of Myths, Gods and Empires => Topic started by: Rogerc on October 27, 2020, 04:16:32 PM

Title: Best rules for fairly small scale Northern Europena Bronze Age
Post by: Rogerc on October 27, 2020, 04:16:32 PM
Hi All, lookign for advice, I have a small collection of Perrys North European Bronze age figures, chum Chris and I rebuilt Saga to use with them which worked well but I find the rules a bit stale, lookign for a rule set that will work well with these, probably playing between 50 and 100 figures in total across both sides with a few chariots and room for Heroes to make a difference. Had a few suggestions and I wonder what the recieved wisdom of the forum is. Its a lovely little colelction that has not been out of its boxes for a few years (Until today when I did a little photo shoot)

Appreciate your thoughts folks.
Title: Re: Best rules for fairly small scale Northern Europena Bronze Age
Post by: has.been on October 27, 2020, 04:36:57 PM
I like the 'Fist Full of Lead' set of rules & would recommend their 'Big Battles' set 
Title: Re: Best rules for fairly small scale Northern Europena Bronze Age
Post by: NickNascati on October 27, 2020, 06:12:57 PM
I’ll second Fistful of Lead, and also recommend Tribal from Mana Press.  Fifty figures may be tough with either set, unless you use FfoL with multi figure bases.
Title: Re: Best rules for fairly small scale Northern Europena Bronze Age
Post by: Codsticker on October 28, 2020, 01:32:03 AM
Saga does seem like it would be a natural fit there. Although only superficially familiar with Tribal (I've watched a video), I think it tries to model combat that would be appropriate for bronze age Europe; you would just have to figure out how to scale it up while still retaining the heroic nature of the combat.
Title: Re: Best rules for fairly small scale Northern Europena Bronze Age
Post by: Atheling on October 28, 2020, 08:21:56 AM
There will be a set of rules that would be perfect for the Northern European Bronze Age being released at some point but I really can't/don't know how much I can say. They are aimed at the mythological, legendary, Arthurian type stuff.

I'll ask the Author and see how much info I can spill  :)
Title: Re: Best rules for fairly small scale Northern Europena Bronze Age
Post by: Rogerc on October 28, 2020, 10:43:45 AM
Very mysterious thank you.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Saga we tried, we re-did battle boards and created factions and heroes, but Saga feels very samey to me after a few games its time to move on.Fist full of lead I am not familiar with is it aimed at lower level?

It has occured to me to try Hail Caesar scaled down, it has all te troop types and chariots I think. Maybe add soem heroic stuf in. Food for thought thank you.
Title: Re: Best rules for fairly small scale Northern Europena Bronze Age
Post by: Mosstrooper on October 28, 2020, 10:53:01 AM
Lion Rampant ? or even Dragon Rampant for added mythology ? have used both with success (from Osprey )
Title: Re: Best rules for fairly small scale Northern Europena Bronze Age
Post by: v_lazy_dragon on October 28, 2020, 11:20:49 AM
There was a WI article with modifications for one of the Osprey Rampant rules

Tribal could work, although I get the feeling it's designed for about half the number of figures you are looking for

I have planned to use the LOTR SBG rules for my vaguely mythic NEBA stuff - the core rules are a nice system, and it works well enough for the 50-100 figure range. There's scope to distinguish Heroes of vary levels, rules for chariots (for one of the evil armies.. Khand?), and simple differentiation between spears/hand weapons/2 handed weapons. There are very few changes through the various iterations of rulebook, so should be cheap enough to grab off eBay despite being a GW system
Title: Re: Best rules for fairly small scale Northern Europena Bronze Age
Post by: Atheling on October 28, 2020, 11:24:50 AM
Very mysterious thank you.

I can't really elaborate on what I've said thus far as I really don't know what I can actually divulge at present. :) I do think it is safe to say that the rules have an emphasis on heroes and mythology but not in an overbalanced manner.

Fun game too  8)
Title: Re: Best rules for fairly small scale Northern Europena Bronze Age
Post by: Rogerc on October 28, 2020, 11:57:01 AM
Thanks guys, v lazy dragon, I have tried Lion Rampant and whilst they worked again I didnt get that warm fuzzy feelign about them. Being able to use Chariots and Heroes of varying levels effectively seems an interesting approach. Th olf Games Workshop Historical rules has a whole section aside for this very conflict, I suppose I should really check that out before dismissing it too.

Hail Ceasar could be easily modified i suppose, scaled down so 10 or so figures is a standrad unit, special rules for two handed axes and long spears already there and varying levels of leader can perhaps wok with the heroes. I amguessing that might feel a bit vanilla but worth trying before I invest in multiple rule sets.
Title: Re: Best rules for fairly small scale Northern Europena Bronze Age
Post by: AFC Forever on October 28, 2020, 03:33:35 PM
Saga age of Aagic is our go to when no other rules fit
Title: Re: Best rules for fairly small scale Northern Europena Bronze Age
Post by: SJWi on October 28, 2020, 09:00:44 PM
I don't know if these are still available, but I have some rules called "Before the Gates of Troy". Basically a large skirmish game set during the Trojan War.  A bit "old school"  but they seem to have all the ingredients you are looking for. 
Title: Re: Best rules for fairly small scale Northern Europena Bronze Age
Post by: Clearco on October 28, 2020, 09:35:21 PM
Do you know Tribal, from Mana Press? It could work well for what you are intending
Title: Re: Best rules for fairly small scale Northern Europena Bronze Age
Post by: Emir of Askaristan on October 28, 2020, 09:39:36 PM
Another vote for Tribal, it captures a ritualistic element of what is being fought for, not just the "battle" element. There is more to the war than just the fight.

From memory Before the Gates of Troy might be worth a look if you can find a copy.
Title: Re: Best rules for fairly small scale Northern Europena Bronze Age
Post by: Codsticker on October 30, 2020, 02:42:30 AM
It has occured to me to try Hail Caesar scaled down, it has all te troop types and chariots I think. Maybe add soem heroic stuf in. Food for thought thank you.
There is scaled down version of Hail Caesar in Warlord's Dark Ages supplement.
Title: Re: Best rules for fairly small scale Northern Europena Bronze Age
Post by: SteveBurt on October 30, 2020, 09:59:18 AM
Dux Britanniuarum is designed for Arthurian stuff, but is very much in the 'heroic warband' ethos. The rules play well and the cards add a lot. If you are bored with Sags it would certainly be worth a try
Title: Re: Best rules for fairly small scale Northern Europena Bronze Age
Post by: SJWi on October 30, 2020, 03:42:05 PM
By the way have you thought about “To Ur is Human”? Although aimed at Mesopotamian warfare there are comments in some write-ups that it may be suitable for Homeric city-state warfare.
Title: Re: Best rules for fairly small scale Northern Europena Bronze Age
Post by: DivisMal on October 31, 2020, 09:24:50 AM
Hello there,

you have my attention. Nordic Bronze Age is a very nice, but also peculiar period, and IMhO many of the systems a) lack the ritualistic aspect of tribal warfare and b) are completely wrong on the organizational and technological side.

I actually don’t know a good set, but you might want to use GW‘s Lord of the Rings, which has a suitable selection of profiles that can be easily done and doesn’t need formed units. Chariot rules iirc are in the Easterling book (hopefully, but I can’t confirm it, all should be compiled in the Hobbit book).

Another extra is the way heroes work who have resources allowing to give orders and modify dice rolls.
Title: Re: Best rules for fairly small scale Northern Europena Bronze Age
Post by: Dr. Kevin Moon III esq. on November 08, 2020, 01:49:40 PM
I've been thinking about using games workshop's age of sigmar as a basis for a bronze age ruleset (don't laugh). At its heart its a fairly solid set of rules with a focus around heroes fighting/supporting units - especially when you strip away the super units, wizards and monsters.

You can model chariots in the way you want (be it battle chariots or fighting platforms) and formations matter (unlike saga/DR) but are much looser than a traditional wargame, which I think is fitting for a period (in N Europe at least) where there isn't a vast amount of evidence for large scale military training.

There are plenty of 'heroic' abilities that can be pinched to add a bit of spice if desired.

Plus the rules are free..
Title: Re: Best rules for fairly small scale Northern Europena Bronze Age
Post by: Rogerc on November 08, 2020, 02:05:26 PM
Well when you mentioned "Free Rules" you got my attention, how do I access these to have  agnder?
Title: Re: Best rules for fairly small scale Northern Europena Bronze Age
Post by: Dr. Kevin Moon III esq. on November 08, 2020, 07:29:48 PM
https://www.games-workshop.com/en-GB/Warhammer-Age-of-Sigmar-Rules (https://www.games-workshop.com/en-GB/Warhammer-Age-of-Sigmar-Rules)

That's their rule page. The core rules is where to start. I'd pick a "standard" empire soldier type as a good place to start for stats.

This has reinvigorated my enthusiasm for the project now. Who knows we might even be able to give it a whirl if the club ever opens up again!