Which Ruleset for the Dark Ages please?

[ulverston]

Hi Chaps,

For the last few weeks I have been preparing for my upcoming two weeks holiday. For once not much needs to be done and my wife and daughter are visiting grandparents abroad....

I have purchased a Gripping Beast saga army The Sub Roman Brits and a Dark Age box but what ruleset would you recommend? I have the Osprey set by Dan Mersey (not opened it yet) but have looked at saga and Dux Britanniarum by the Too fat lardies, are there any others to consider? Hail Ceasar would be too big I think as I play solo.


I look forward to any suggestions or tips you may have as this is a new period to me. Indeed the fun has almost started as I begin a few buildings this afternoon.

[Atheling]

Large games or skirmish?

[Hu Rhu]

If you are looking at a skirmish game then I recommend Dux Brit by the Too Fat Lardies, not least because the game allows, even encourages, a campaign system.

[ulverston]

I will be playing solo mostly so it would be skirmish... I do like the idea of the campaign. I don't know much about the mechanics though

[Burnt65]

Dux solo works well as it is card driven

[Antonio J Carrasco]

Another vote for Dux Britanniarum. However, don't discard using Saga either. Actually, you can use both indistinctly. I know I do.

[Ethelred the Almost Ready]

Funny, I feel Dux doesn't work so well solo because of the the cards.  It is a hand building exercise and knowing each sides hand, for me at least, just doesn't work.  I think the randomness of activation in Lions Rampant (with the dark age modifications that can be found) works quite well.

[ulverston]

I have not seen an adaption for Lion Rampant. Its a great game. I don't think I want to be messing around with a lot of cards or boards. Does anyone use Dan Merseys ruleset?

[Ethelred the Almost Ready]

Dan's modifications for Dark Ages:

http://merseybooks.blogspot.com/search/label/lion%20rampant

Dux Bellorum is not a bad game.  I have played a few games of this solo without problems.

[Nord]

Better link to the mods

http://merseybooks.blogspot.com/2016/01/landwasters-and-raven-feeders-official.html

[redzed]

Dux Bellorum

[ulverston]

Thanks for the link Nord this will be very useful. Dux seems to be getting approval. Thanks for the help Guys

[Ethelred the Almost Ready]

The Dux Rampant forum is the site for all things Dan Mersey.  There are a lot of discussions about the official rules, house rules, period variants and more.

When playing solo I made up cards for terrain so I could generate a random table.  I also find I identify with one side more than the other and so have a randomised/blinded deployment of the "other side" which, to counter any bias is given more points than "my" side.
Otherwise, the activation system does a good job of having a fog of war even when playing against yourself.

[Atheling]

Dux Britanniarum or Lion Rampant with the Dark Ages modifications available on Dan's site would get my votes.

[Sunjester]

Dux Britanniarum or Lion Rampant with the Dark Ages modifications available on Dan's site would get my votes.

Wot he said.
They are both really skirmish rules, but I've also found Sword and Spear works well for larger battles of shieldwall-type armies.