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Clash of Spears - Small Actions rules for Ancients/Medieval

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seldon:
For the last year we have been working on a set of rule to play small/skirmish actions with Ancients or Medievals. And by small I mean 30-60 models in units of between 6 to 12 models each.

We've been showing battle reports and detailing a bit of the rules but haven't started communicating much yet.

Since a couple of outlets have started to talk about it and since I've been a member of LAF for quite some time I think it is only fair that I spend a few minute talking about this project here.



Ok, so as I mentioned the idea is to have a set or rules that allows us to play small actions and it has to feel that way. It is not to play large battles with few models, but to play raids, scouting actions, scavenging ... all those kinds of things. The warbands would have between 30-60 models per side and the game can be resolved in 2hs once players are familiar with the rules. This allows you to use it as prelude to a large battle, for example to determine who wins the scouting.

We want it to feel like a traditional wargame based on tactics, troop types and terrain use. No special dice, no battleboards no other elements. There is nothing wrong with those elements, but you already have awesome rules for that out there so there is no need.

Have a look at two basic forces for a recent AAR.





As you can see the idea is that you should be able to build a nice force with 28s with relatively low model count. We love 28s there are great lines out there but sometimes building a large army... Or even if you will build a large army you can use CLASH while you are getting there.

To give the rules that gritty feeling of small actions and personal combat, our game introduces some new mechanics that deal with how units gain fatigue based on the armor they carry and the terrain they are crossing.

In large battles it is common to have movement rates based on troop types and armor. In our rules for a specific action troops will move the same but the fatigue accumulated is different so over an extended time, the time matching a large battle turn, heavier troops will move less as they will have to stop and rest more often.

This means that
1) Rules are not beer and pretzel, again nothing wrong with that, just not what this is. We have worked hard to make sure rules are streamlined, we use classic D6 and most mechanics are pretty intuitive. We have done a lot of playtesting adjusting mechanics that we saw players struggled with.

2) It is easy to learn the mechanic but it takes time to figure out how not to kill your troops with exhaustion.

3) Heavy troops are tough, but medium and light troops are nasty and they can overwhelm those heavy troops ! This is not a large battle where skirmishers will run away from heavies at the first hard look.. this is their environment... they will dance around you and make your life hell.

As you can see all attention is put on getting the right feel. You guys know how it is, not everyone will agree with every interpretation we have made of ancient warfare. We have done our research but you have to make choices, "do I believe this theory or that theory".  Yet you can be certain the there is a core concept behind them and if you can accept that core principle and understanding of la petite guerre in ancient times we think you will like the rules.

The rules will include full disclosure to the point/troops design system so if you want to come up with your own lists you will be able to do so.

Our first book will be very targeted, Western Mediterranean 4th to 1st century BC. Punic Wars, Greco Carthaginian wars. It will include 7 lists: Italian tribes, Gallic Tribes, Iberian Tribes, Rep Romans, Carthaginians, Greeks , Macedonians in Italy.  We will release a general quick compendium with armies for other periods or you could design your lists as I mentioned.

The rules will be suitable for either pick up games based on points, or for sure historical theme games where there is no points balance, there is just troops, objectives and insurmountable odds :)

They will include nice add ons for this scale such as a specific deployment mechanic that reflects how this warbands encounter each other since they lack vanguards or scouting parties that large armies have.. In fact your force could be the scouting party.

Or the fact that although all troops operate around the battlefield in loose order, some of them have training that requires them to close ranks to gain benefits.

But all of those are adapted to the small encounter. We extrapolate the benefits that a group of hoplites could gain for their training when operating in small actions, even though there would never be enough of them to form a proper phalanx. Or we reflect on combat techniques of romans at a level where really manipular tactics don't come into play.



We expect to have the rules in people's hands by end of year. You can see that we have our initial test prints and all the effort from now until release is cleaning edges, avoiding typos erratas and blunders. If you are spending your money on the book you deserve a quality product.




You can find more info here:
http://www.thewargamespot.com/category/clashofspears/

you will find the intro to the rules: http://www.thewargamespot.com/introducing-clash-of-spears/

Some gameplay examples: http://www.thewargamespot.com/roman-legionary-vs-carthaginian-warrior/

some battle reports: http://www.thewargamespot.com/fighting-the-greek-invaders/

Well.. have a look... hopefully it is something that catches your eye and you'll join us in the Clash of Spears on the second half of this year.

regards,
Francisco Erize

D. Brownie:
I'm very interested! I Hope I'll dust off my historical minis.... :D

Ethelred the Almost Ready:
This looks great.  I am very interested in this.  Roll on second half of the year.

has.been:
Sounds interesting. Ancients were my first love & you are right,
there are so many nice 28mm ancients out there.

Wiegraf:
Have also been browsing through the game pics and play testing material, though yet to play test myself. The game looks absolutely beautiful for those skirmish type scenarios before the massive rank and file battles break out. Cannot wait to see more content as it comes, and to start playing myself.

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