Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Age of the Big Battalions => Topic started by: RobertBruce on October 27, 2019, 04:08:45 AM
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I planning a move into FIW figures and games and assume that FIW rules are generally skirmish rules, based on the terrain and nature of the conflicts. I have never played this type of rules after many years of gaming big battles in 6mm or 1/72.
After looking around on this forum and elsewhere, I realized I was rather clueless about FIW and skirmish rules. Are they small unit based? Individual figures? I am hoping people here could give me some ideas. Much thanks, RB
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Two sets spring to mind: Sharpe Practice and Muskets and Tomahawks.
My preference is M&T, as I enjoy the mechanics, simple and easy to pick up. It’s designed for the F&IW as well.
Unit sizes are six figures for Indian and militia going up to ten to twelve figures for regulars. We play games with between 30-60 figures per side.
The only problem you will have today is the rules are out of production and hard to find. Although a second edition is being published next year.
For figures I am a fan of Galloping Major. Beautiful 28mm sculpts and they have most troop types covered with French regulars scheduled for early next year I believe.
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I second Muskets and Tomahawks.
Easy to pick up the mechanics and use.
More figures are becoming available as well.
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Osprey's Rebels and Patriot rules, similar unit count to Muskets and Tomahawk but available now. :)
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Buckskins and Rangers. It will allow you to go as simple or as complex as you like. Here is the link:
http://www.battlefieldgamedesigns.com
Regards
Hitman
8)
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In complete agreement with Malumute here - I built my forces about 10 years ago, so had to piece the whole thing together using GM's then very small range, Crusader, Conquest (before they were acquired by WL) and Old Glory (hideous, most definitely some of the most "Hey Steve" of their ranges). If I were to do it now, I'd go with GM for everything.
Have played the period with both M&T and SP2. M&T is where I first became acquainted with Buchel's rules, one of his earliest published sets in English. They are very good, tho I have to say I've never played a TFL set that I didn't like, so have to give SP2 a very strong endorsement as well.
Two sets spring to mind: Sharpe Practice and Muskets and Tomahawks.
My preference is M&T, as I enjoy the mechanics, simple and easy to pick up. It’s designed for the F&IW as well.
Unit sizes are six figures for Indian and militia going up to ten to twelve figures for regulars. We play games with between 30-60 figures per side.
The only problem you will have today is the rules are out of production and hard to find. Although a second edition is being published next year.
For figures I am a fan of Galloping Major. Beautiful 28mm sculpts and they have most troop types covered with French regulars scheduled for early next year I believe.
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Completely agree with Mamelute. If you can get a hold of Muskets and Tomahawks it's a great rule set, creates brilliant narratives too. Sharp Practice 2 is also excellent (and readily available)
Also another endorsement for Galloping Major. They are so satisfying to paint. Wonderful figures.
AW miniatures also have a very nice FIW range, reasonably priced as well.
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Sounds like there’s an echo here - another endorsement for Sharp Practice as a great rule set for the period (with M&T close behind), and Galloping Major for 28mm figures.
One other possibility that looks good is to use 15/18mm figures (eg: Blue Moon), substituting a base of 3 x 15mm figures for each 28mm, which might make storage of scenery rather less space-intensive!
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While not specifically written for FIW, I use Donnybrook for my games, moves along very nicely.
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If you want to go even smaller with 1/2 dozen figures per side then in my opinion the best rules would be Fistful of Lead. Fantastic for individual figure games where you have a hero/leader and three or four followers. They have an F&IW supplement as well.
Glad I’m not the only one who loves m&T lol
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Muskets and Tomahawks here in Montreal.
I did modify mine to use King Philip's War by adding a longer reach weapon - pike, spear, sword - to reflect the earlier period.
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Yikes - I looked at Old Glory and thought they had a lot of different figures for the period, were affordable, and were here in the states. Much as I love the look of GM, I thought OG would get me off to a faster start - they have canoes! I am not sure what "Hey Steve" means, but it cannot be good!
About how many figures might one need for a satisfying game using typical skirmish rules?
Muskets and Tomahawks draws much praise here and elsewhere. I have tracked it down to Northstar as the distributor of the new 2nd edition, coming in early 2020, it seems. In the meantime, I may start with Sharp Practice, once I settle on figs, as its readily available and of long standing in this category. RB
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30-60 figures per side should do you for M&T or SP2
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Another vote for Rebels & Patriots, needs perhaps 50-70 figures per side. They have army lists that are suggestions rather than rules. As far as North American Indians/Native warriors, they have a cinematic treatment that tend to use large bands best for charging into melees. If you are seeking a more historical version, treat Indians as skirmishers. They could vary from veteran when defending their own lands to green when accompanying colonial/European troops as auxiliaries and mainly interested in loot, rather than being used for cannon fodder.
I would add a house rule that Indian warriors take a morale test when fired on by artillery.
The game moves quickly and the CO has a back story.
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Start with Fistful of lead (they do a Black Powder version).
Use Galloping Major for figures. Nice figures & a very nice bloke (Lance)
As the entry level number of figures is low, you can get started very soon.
Then if you want to expand (paint more figures) move on to Rebels & Patriots.
I have played Muskets & Tomahawks, also Sharpe Practice Two, but prefer
Reb&Pats.
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RB-
Here'a an assortment to give you an idea of what figures are out there. L-R: Conquest (WL), Crusader/Northstar (now Badger Games - check out the announcement on the Flouncy Shirt boards about their new stuff), GM, Crusader/Artizan, GM, OG 2x (selected for Hey Steve poses). As you can see, the Conquest stuff is more like true 25mm, though they're finely detailed. GM are quite hefty, and OG are just kind of weird -- note that I've defended OG's 15/18mm Naps and ACW stuff in the past, so don't think I'm just a h8ter ;)
(https://i.imgur.com/79Iv8Sa.jpg)
Yikes - I looked at Old Glory and thought they had a lot of different figures for the period, were affordable, and were here in the states. Much as I love the look of GM, I thought OG would get me off to a faster start - they have canoes! I am not sure what "Hey Steve" means, but it cannot be good!
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Late to the party but, if you can find them, Habitants and Highlanders provide both a skirmish level and a battle level set of rules (using the same figures if you like) and it plays very well. Though I've converted over to using Rank and File and calling it 1:1 battle scale (42 figure units operating as companies, based three abreast). Does go against the 'general grain' of skirmish gaming but its still a fun game and people seem to love the period.
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Another vote for Muskets & Tomahawks. Sharp Practice is also good, but plays much slower than M&T. A while ago we played the same scenario with both sets of rules (British escorting supplies to a fort with French ambushing them). Both fun games, but the M&T one played to a conclusion in under 2 hours, the SP game took over 3. Really like the side plots and events in M&T.
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Another vote for Rebels and Patriots.
NorthStar/Crusader do a nice range of Woodland Indians, SYW French and British which are still available from them.
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RB-
Here'a an assortment to give you an idea of what figures are out there. L-R: Conquest (WL), Crusader/Northstar (now Badger Games - check out the announcement on the Flouncy Shirt boards about their new stuff), GM, Crusader/Artizan, GM, OG 2x (selected for Hey Steve poses). As you can see, the Conquest stuff is more like true 25mm, though they're finely detailed. GM are quite hefty, and OG are just kind of weird -- note that I've defended OG's 15/18mm Naps and ACW stuff in the past, so don't think I'm just a h8ter ;)
(https://i.imgur.com/79Iv8Sa.jpg)
Did not think you were a h8ter, I just wanted to know more about them - much thanks for these picks! I see the "Hey Steve" look, I think. A bit strange looking as well, plus they are 25mm, I think. I am planning a bigger budget accordingly -GM it will be. You only live once. The rules are another matter. I am researching, watched the Lardies play Sharp Practice on youtube, but plenty of painting coming up for me as I switch over from 6mm - a big change indeed.
I am very grateful to all of you for your thoughts and assistance - this forum has lived up to its reputation! RB
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Happy to help. I'll leave off with another depiction of 'Hey Steve'...
Hey, is that Steve over there? ;D
(https://i.imgur.com/g0f10qA.jpg?1)
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Muskets and Tomahawks for me. I love the rules.
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Another vote for Muskets & Tomahawks. Seconded by Sharp Practice. There is a thread on the Age of Piracy forum discussing the upcoming M&T2 rules. So hopefully they will be available again.
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Thanks Deruyter, just read that thread. GM has a list of rules on their website, it includes most of those named here. But I may wait for M&T 2 since my painting will take some time to develop, I'm sure. Just call me "Steve" for now. RB