Osprey rules - any good?

[Smith]

The main Osprey Rules seem to be fairly simple skirmish rules with some background and then a number of gangs/factions so you can start playing immediately.

I'm biased, so I'll bite my tongue, but I did want to say that we're not just focusing on skirmish games - in fact, not too long ago, I commissioned one for 2015 (sorry!) that most definitely cannot be called skirmish (more on that in due course). The apparent skirmish focus is more to do with the proposals that have come in than any specific policy!

As for the larger games (BOLT- or FOG-size), there's the big-battle ACW rules from John Hill coming this summer (Across A Deadly Field).

[carlos13th]

The main Osprey Rules seem to be fairly simple skirmish rules with some background and then a number of gangs/factions so you can start playing immediately.

I haven't read IHMN, but have played Ronin which gives a good quick and bloody game.  What made it stand out to me from the various skirmish systems around was the interesting combat system where you get a number of melee points and you can choose how to split them between attack and defence.

They only seem to suit fairly small games because both Ronin and (I believe) IHMN use alternate figure activation rather than activating a whole side in one go.

I'm looking at putting together a couple of "squads" for Ronin from my Tales of the Dragon Kings range.

Mike

Soon as I have the Cash I am looking to make a Bandit Buntai from your 28mm Ronin models.

I've put together four factions from Black Hat's samurai range, added a bit of period scenery and that's it. Fairly easy to get in to.

Which factions did you make?

[Ray Earle]

I have to admit playing about with the points generator a little to suit my collection. It's all part of the fun! So far I have;

Bandits,
Ronin, (based in the bushi list, just removed 'commander' and dropped some armour)
Koryu,
and Ninjas (couldn't resist). 

I've kept the points fairly low just to get me used to the rules.

[carlos13th]

Thats cool.

I am using mostly perrys atm. I really want to make a bandit buntai out of Black Hats Ronin though. The models have so much character.

[pixelgeek]

Apparently there are quite a few changes. I've not played SOBH so I'm not sure of the differences but the various threads on here have been positive on the changes for this and for the Kung Fu one, which is different again.

Still uses the two stat system which I find to be far too simple.