Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Age of the Big Battalions => Topic started by: deathlok68 on January 01, 2021, 09:26:05 PM
-
I am looking for a rule set that would have a mix of Black Power, Sharps Practice and Blucher. There are some of each game I like but can't really find good middle ground. Any ideas that may scratch my itch? I am looking to stay small in scale (6mm-10mm), range from 1700-1860s, bounce between company to corp level. I know it is random but hopefully someone has an idea. Thank you in advance
-
Depends a bit on which aspect of each you like. Have you looked at Field of Battle?
https://www.piquetwargames.com/ (https://www.piquetwargames.com/)
-
Thank you for your reply. I like the range in years, not big on the cards but see how it plays with them. This should be easy to convert to 6mm in scale wouldn't you think?
-
I think you will find it is hte range of representational scales that mean you will struggle with a single rule set - the range of years should be less of a problem as a number of sets cover the whole horse and musket period.
BP as the least detailed will probably allow you to cover the biggest range of representative scales - but will have a lot less of what makes Sharpe Practice or Blucher feel like a skirmish or a large action. I’d suggest focusing on the rules or scale that you like the most, then push it up or down a scale. Then use another set for the furthest scale. So perhaps use Sharpe Practice in the main, and Blucher for the corps level games.
I can heartily recommend 10mm as a figure scale - I have many armies in this scale!
-
With the rulesets you mentioned in your question, I assume you are looking at Napoleonics?
I would suggest Age of Eagles, a variant of Fire and Fury which operates as Brigade but can be used for Regimental.
As Fred says the problem will be finding a set that goes as small as Sharps Practice in 6-10mm.
Good luck.
-
Have a look at the Fistful of Lead collection of rules, especially their 'Big Battles'.
Simple to learn, flexible (so you can stick on bits you like) and, most importantly, FUN.
-
As Fred says the problem will be finding a set that goes as small as Sharps Practice in 6-10mm.
.
This wasn’t what I meant - I meant that finding a set of rules that works with the range of representative scales (skirmish to corps) will be hard. Figure scale matters much less in my experience. I’ve played skirmish games with 10mm figures and they work fine. I’ve recently played Rebels and Patriots with 10mm figures, based in 1s, 2s and 3s which works well to avoid having too many small bases to move around.
(https://i.imgur.com/m5rr1PH.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/963sLJc.jpg)
Have a look at the Fistful of Lead collection of rules, especially their 'Big Battles'.
Simple to learn, flexible (so you can stick on bits you like) and, most importantly, FUN.
I’m a big fan of FFoL but I feel I need to point out it is definitely designed as a cinematic game, rather than an historical recreation. And a FFoL big battle is around 50 figures per side, so hardly Corps level! But if you are after some fun gaming then its certainly worth looking at.
-
Not quite sure which elements you like. Black Powder is quite flexible, if you are willing to work out your own houserules. However I strongly suggest you take a look at the relevant supplements first. A Clash of Eagles e.g. has a particularly good set of extra rules to choose from in a Tool Box stile.
Another set to look at would be General de Brigade.
-
I cannot think of a single set of rules that would cover large skirmishes (Sharp Practice), divisional combat (Black Powder) and grand-tactical (Blucher) in any meaningful way. There are some that might do both divisional and grand-tactical, stressing might. I think your best hope is to find rules that aren't too specific about basing so that a single basing scheme will work across your various rules.
-
I have used rank and file for the mid range level games and a modified version of it for the large games. (https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W-CpBjrmA9g/XVv1f3eudTI/AAAAAAAADuc/nPCrz4fKXJAsPjo40lyU_uJsdG3aIfcXgCLcBGAs/s1600/20190818_125534_HDR.jpg)
Blenheim 1704 with modified rules and 6mm figures
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RjIrnXjCZVM/XgwfQqZlnXI/AAAAAAAAD2w/zN4iJ2pqr6otia4o9W1c9KD8qzZkwe6kQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1.jpg)
Fictional encounter using standard rules and 1/72 figures. View from side of battle.
-
I am looking at the year range because I don't want to get stuck in one particular area. I am looking at 6mm because of area of play constraints. Moving to a smaller place as we downsize is creating space issues. Time of play is the other issue because there are times for a grand scale and sometimes only enough time for a smaller encounter. I solo play as my family takes no interest in it and where I live its all 40k. Or maybe I am in over my head lol. I do appreciate everyone's responses.
-
You may want to look at 2mm also. Due to not having as much detail as 6mm painting 2mm figures as Austrians could possibly allow them to be used for late 1700s through late 1800's with other figures for other nations also covering several different periods. I was already heavily invested in 6mm when Irregular released their 2mm lines.
-
What are your 6mm based to, currently? I assume you have armies “ready to play’?
-
I always end up writing my own rules, but if you want advice on what's available for smaller figures, join the Pendraken forum, which is active, user-friendly, helpful, and free of Argentinian dances.
-
What are your 6mm based to, currently? I assume you have armies “ready to play’?
Not yet. That is why I want to find a favorable ruleset before investing more time and money
-
The only set of rules I know that is specifically made to scale up and down one full level of command is Bob Cordery's "The Portable Napoleonic Wargame" which is also "generic" enough to the period that it would be easy to modify into any theater. So for rifled muskets, you just add a bit of range, for repeaters you let them shoot twice, whatever. It has Brigade, Division and Corps [and higher] rules. My guess is these would satisfy your needs, and they are cheap enough that if they didn't you can still afford a second set of rules for skirmishing. ;)
A second possibility would be Neil Thomas' "Wargaming 19th Century Europe, 1815-1876" which can easily be pushed BACK, earlier, as 1815 still has Napoleonic fighting. Review here:
http://lonewarriorswa.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Wargaming-19th-Century-Europe-book.pdf
Both of these sets use a base as the key game mechanic, and the number of figs on the base [and the size of the figs] is irrelevent.
A final possibility is Neil Thomas' "Wargaming: An Introduction" which has battalion level rules for napoleonics and ACW, and a very nice set of skirmish rules. Again, the base that he says an individual fig should be on for the skirmish game is size and number of figs neutral - you could easily have a base with several 6mm figs on it and play the skirmish game. It would even make sense as the figures all have multiple hits and take "wounds" before they expire.
I've played the heck out of all of them except the Portable Wargame rules, which also look good and I own.
I have a ton of posts on all the Neil Thomas stuff at my Horse and musket blog here:
https://ecw40mmproject.blogspot.com/
which may help give a better feel for what I'm recommending.
But I agree with all the above - you are asking for too much from ONE set of rules - you will almost certainly have to have TWO. But I think PW and WAI would be the two books / rules I'd get.
-
.
But I agree with all the above - you are asking for too much from ONE set of rules - you will almost certainly have to have TWO.
I agree
But you should be able to use the same set of figures with the different sets of rules - and it is the figures that take time and money.
-
I agree
But you should be able to use the same set of figures with the different sets of rules - and it is the figures that take time and money.
Definitely! I strongly encourage you to follow the direction you are headed, with the most flexible use of your "One True Scale" whatever it is, and just as important as the figures is the BASING!! Another nightmare. Try to pick a "typical" basing size / scale / method, as re-basing is a pain. This is my re-basing saga from which I still have mental trauma:
https://darkages40and25.blogspot.com/search/label/Basing
Wrong forum but right topic. OK, I may be exaggerating about the trauma, but...
I will make one suggestion, which is that with lots of time in many scales, I think 10mm is probably the best "portable" or "small table" scale, IMHO. 6mm and it becomes hard to see what they are at all, IMHO. Also, some of the 6mm are quite frail. One pal has been discarding almost everything except 10mm, and I think he made the right choice for what he is doing.
Hope your project goes well! If you try out the Portable rules, do post back and let us know how it went!
-
...and free of Argentinian dances.
lol
-
Not yet. That is why I want to find a favorable ruleset before investing more time and money
As you have no ‘hardware’ to accommodate, have you tried any of the ‘free wargames rules’ available on t’Interwebs? Although there are some dead links, it’s worth a look.