Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Age of the Big Battalions => Topic started by: TheBlackCrane on 04 July 2017, 06:42:43 PM
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Another rules suggestions thread, thought I'd join in! :D
Anyone know of, able to suggest a good set of skirmish rules for mid-late C19th?
I'm already planning on using Sharp Practice for bigger engagements for the same project, but I'd also like to get some which are fewer figures per side, character-driven type for small figure-to-figure (or there or thereabouts) skirmishes. Something like a historical equivalent of IHMN in terms of numbers of figures per side/group/'band'.
Anyone played Osprey's Chosen Men? Are they adaptable to later in the century?
Don't mind open rule sets which need a bit of working with - i.e. something like Open Combat but aimed at C19th - if there are any such.
Thanks!
Rob
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Well, you could try removing the fantastical elements from IHMN, although that might be what makes it as a game (I don't know it well enough to say).
Brink of Battle? http://www.brinkofbattle.com
Skirmish Wargames Group's Old West Rules, recently reprinted at:
http://www.lulu.com/shop/john-curry-and-mike-blake-and-steve-curtis-and-ian-colwill/the-old-west-skirmish-wargames-wargaming-western-gunfights/paperback/product-23230267.html
Should have stats for most weapons of the era, or be easy to create any that are missing. Very simulation-y.
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I would recommend the line of rules from Ganesha Games.
They are all based off of the Song of Blades rule set.
They would have one or two for sure in the period you are
looking for. Fast easy to learn rules.
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I'm just wondering why Sharp Practice hasn't been mentioned, as this is a question which at first glance appears to answer itself. It may require rather more figures than you have in mind, and does still revolve around units, albeit small ones, rather than individuals, but otherwise it seems to be the skirmish set for mid-18th - mid 19th century.
Aside from the size of the engagement, however, it isn't geared towards conflicts post-American Civil War, because of the rapid advances in firearms technology in the subsequent decades. A forthcoming set is meant to cover this era.
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I'm just wondering why Sharp Practice hasn't been mentioned, as this is a question which at first glance appears to answer itself.
That would be because I meant to type Sharp Practice, not Black Powder ::)
Changed it now :D
SP does indeed meet my requirements for larger engagements with units, but not quite what I'm looking for at the smallest end of the scale too.
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Well, you could try removing the fantastical elements from IHMN
Did think that as I typed, but you have reminded me about Brink of Battle, which I always meant to try but had forgotten about, thanks!
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Brink of Battle is a great set of skirmish rules - I have used them for VBCW skirmishes but it's a multi-period ruleset so will suit 19th c.
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Have you looked at the various Old West games out there? Technology level is about the same, tends to be character driven, one-on-one action as you have requested. Might need some tweaking to adjust for flavour, but that shouldn't be too hard. Many even have rules for US Cavalry that could be morphed to represent other militaries.
See here for reviews of several of the available rulesets:
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=98381.0 (http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=98381.0)
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I second the suggestion of Song of Drums & Shakos.
Another option would be Smooth and Rifled.
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Legends of the old west is very flexible.
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There's also Fistful of Lead Horse and Musket rules :)
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I rather like the 2Hour Wargames Chain Reaction set for small scale skirmish (say 6 to 30 figures). It's got a rather innovative 'turn' approach and the base rule set is free :)
There's a Napoleonic version available that would be easily updateable to later, I'm currently wondering about using it for 1860:
http://www.twohourwargames.com/95th.html
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A recently published set which appears to have escaped attention is Comrades in Battle, by Studio Capitan, for the American Civil War. It seems to use units of generally smaller size than Sharp Practice, and is attractively produced, with cards for the units, leaders, and events or actions ('War cards'). Sadly my knowledge is limited to this:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/studiocapitan/comrades-in-battle-acw-skirmish-28mm-rules-and-min
In addition, sets designed for later periods, such as Triumph and Tragedy and Combat Patrol, have received official or semi-official adaptations for earlier conflicts. The amended rules can often be downloaded free of charge.
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Second Fistful of Lead: Horse and Musket:
http://www.wargamevault.com/product/194968/Fistful-of-Lead-Horse-Musket
or printed:
https://wiley-games.myshopify.com/collections/frontpage/products/fistful-of-lead-horse-musket
But, as the author I'm biased.
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Hmm. Tempting. Assume Wiley ok shipping to the UK? Not that I object to pdfs but I like a tangible book!
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Yep. Just shipped some last Thursday to Leicester.
-J
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Anyone know of, able to suggest a good set of skirmish rules for mid-late C19th?
I'm already planning on using Sharp Practice for bigger engagements for the same project, but I'd also like to get some which are fewer figures per side, character-driven type for small figure-to-figure (or there or thereabouts) skirmishes. Something like a historical equivalent of IHMN in terms of numbers of figures per side/group/'band'.
What conflicts are you hoping to depict in your games? A couple of the biggest types of games set between 1870 and 1914 are colonial and old west. Some of the colonial rules might fit the bill, from the venerable but still great The Sword and the Flame (particularly the scaled down Sword in Africa) or the equally venerable Chris Peers rules to the modern Congo or Triumph & Tragedy and to adaptations such as Rifles & Spears (developed from Muskets & Tomahawks).
But if you want a side composed of a few characters rated individually for their skill and weapons, something that I would call "micro-skirmish" or "role playing scale" games, then some of the old west rules such as Desperado might work. In Her Majesty's Name is just a basic skirmish game, nothing wrong with the fundamental mechanics. I only gave away my copy because I didn't want to look at so many fantastical elements every time I looked at the rule book. If there was a gritty historical version, I'd play it.
Personally, I'm having a good time with games using Pulp Alley. I use the "gangs" rules to get more figures on the table. There's also rules for gun crews. But Pulp Alley is more about the adventure and the characters than about the weapons, and it lacks the historical flavor that most wargamers want in their games.
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Have you looked at Nordic Weasel's Scum of the Earth Black Powder. Available from Wargame Vault and designed for small actions in the period 1640 - 1914. Has variants for major C19th periods, e.g. Crimea, ACW, Austro-Prussian, Franco-Prussian etc.