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Miniatures Adventure => Fantasy Adventures => Topic started by: LawnRanger on September 26, 2013, 12:37:56 PM

Title: Armies of Arcana rules ? good for 15mm gaming infact any good rules for 15mm
Post by: LawnRanger on September 26, 2013, 12:37:56 PM
Can any of you lads help me out .

Am getting back into fantasy wargaming but trying to find the right set of rules for 15mm gaming is more difficult than painting the figs  :).

At the moment we are playing with Fields Of Glory which is working well with  mods add in , BUT I Am hoping that there is a set of Fantasy  rules that I will like out there !

I don't feel that a set of rules that I have to roll a dice for every fig fighting will work out for us.
 
Playing in 15mm we use larger units than most 25mm game as we  can fit  a few more on the table as well . ;D >

So rolling 48 dice for one unit will take too long in my eyes and then you have saving rolls as well it will just slow the game down too much . playing with 10- 16 battle groups per side on a 6x4 table

Am looking for set which flows nicely and has a good amount of detail in them, can any of you point me in the right direction

Has any of you played Armies of arcana if so could that fit in with my gaming? or is that on the same line as wg.

happy gaming LR 



 
Title: Re: Armies of Arcana rules ? good for 15mm gaming infact any good rules for 15mm
Post by: julesav on September 26, 2013, 12:49:21 PM
Two options that spring to mind are the Hail Caesar fantasy variant - on the HC or Black Powder Yahoo Group I believe? Or possibly the Fantasy variant of Impetus/Basic Impetus here:

http://www.dadiepiombo.com/impetus2.html

A very quick play option would be to look at WRG's 'Hordes of the Things' and there was 'once upon a time' a fantasy variant of DBM!

Cheers

Jules
Title: Re: Armies of Arcana rules ? good for 15mm gaming infact any good rules for 15mm
Post by: dijit on September 26, 2013, 01:27:28 PM
We're goig to be trying God of Battles with 15mm. We've played it with 28s, but we didn't have any fully painted armies at that scale and felt 15mm would be better for the game. So now we're about to start trying 15mm with God of Battles.
Duncan
Title: Re: Armies of Arcana rules ? good for 15mm gaming infact any good rules for 15mm
Post by: Torben on September 26, 2013, 01:39:02 PM
I would second the vote for God of Battles; it looks to be just what you're asking for :)
Title: Re: Armies of Arcana rules ? good for 15mm gaming infact any good rules for 15mm
Post by: m4jumbo on September 26, 2013, 03:45:23 PM
Armies of Arcana rules play along the same lines as Warhammer, so one dice for each attacker, armor saves, etc.
Title: Re: Armies of Arcana rules ? good for 15mm gaming infact any good rules for 15mm
Post by: LawnRanger on September 26, 2013, 06:48:53 PM
thanks for the fast replies
Julesav
Impetus sounds a good shout as a few of the club members have played it with war of the roses and they said it played very well for the period so will have a look at that (cant get on the fantasy bit at the moment not sure its working yet ).yes play hoards of things and the bigger game they be dragons ,but need a bit more depth

dijit
  as for  GOB,  I take it you have around 4-6 units on a 4x4 table we like bigger battles  :) with bigger units  :D
I think the standard game is set up for 24 pts and the av unit is around 4-6 pts ,

armies of arcana if its like warmaster  then I dont think its for mee .

Happy gaming LR   
Title: Re: Armies of Arcana rules ? good for 15mm gaming infact any good rules for 15mm
Post by: dijit on September 26, 2013, 07:14:32 PM
We played with 24pts per side, I think the best games are around 36pts per side. Most ranked units are 16 models, whilst unranked are roughly 8-10 models. My 24pts Elf army had 2 units of 16 spearmen, a unit of 16 elite spearmen, a unit of 10 archers, a great eagle, a unit of 6 bodyguard and a unit of 8 skirmishers. So I wouldn't call it necessarily small and can easily handle 24/36/48 pts.
Title: Re: Armies of Arcana rules ? good for 15mm gaming infact any good rules for 15mm
Post by: LawnRanger on September 26, 2013, 10:31:04 PM
dijit
I like the look of big units on the table so having 5/8 figs in a unit does not feel right to me,but that's just me I think its the napoleonics coming out ,  ;)

 Playing in 15mm you get a good feel and look when you have 6+ units of orc warband  each having 24- 36figs in them as your main battle line it just looks the part in my eyes .

could i use God of Battle using  my bases = model/figure?

 do you roll a dice for every  figure you have in the unit?
Title: Re: Armies of Arcana rules ? good for 15mm gaming infact any good rules for 15mm
Post by: dijit on September 27, 2013, 07:11:39 AM
You roll for a fix number of dice depending on the size of the unit and it's formation. So using multi based minis ought not to be a problem, just count each base as a model. Then again most rule sets ought to be able do that, even SoBH and the like.
Title: Re: Armies of Arcana rules ? good for 15mm gaming infact any good rules for 15mm
Post by: Torben on September 27, 2013, 08:05:28 AM
It depends on the formation of the unit; if they are formed then you total up the number of models and then halve it. If they are loose (skirmish) then you roll one die for each model. It's a neat little system, really.

It might not be what you're looking for in the end, but I personally thought that it would be good to mention it as it is often overlooked and it is a fun little system :)
Title: Re: Armies of Arcana rules ? good for 15mm gaming infact any good rules for 15mm
Post by: YPU on September 27, 2013, 10:54:41 AM
You could take a look at Hordes of the things. Its free and the writing is a bit like a dense scientific paper but the system is solid. It works with group based models and has suggested base sizes and number of models per base. Should those recommendations be to low for you you can easily use larger bases with more models as long as everybody does so in a consistent manner.

Downsides re that there is a list on units you pick from and that;s it, every unit of shooters is as good as the next. The list is quite extensive and figuring out what to use a unit as is part of the fun for me. Downside is also it always works with 24 point armies. If you want bigger armies you combine 2 armies of 24 points and run them side by side. Not particularly flexible but it ties in to their variable activation system.
Title: Re: Armies of Arcana rules ? good for 15mm gaming infact any good rules for 15mm
Post by: Conquistador on September 27, 2013, 11:03:36 AM
Depending on how you view "bases" and hold "Old School" you are comfortable with there is Fantasy Rules! by Chipco.  http://www.sabersedge.com/chipco/fr3.htm

BTW, I ignore the part about "... Armies are generally made up of 30 to 50 figures..."

The advertising blurb:

"...
Chipco's Fantasy Rules! lets you game in the worlds of fantasy and mythology with rules that are easy, flexible, innovative, fast, and fun. Fantasy Rules! may be played with any figures currently in your collection and playing time is around one hour for typical armies. Armies are generally made up of 30 to 50 figures. Characters are included in the system, but are not so powerful as to overly influence and unbalance the outcome of the game.

FR!3 may be played with any figures you have and is very well suited for use with figures mounted on slotted bases
FR!3 is designed for use with 10mm, 15mm, or 25mm armies
FR!3 is tied to no figure manufacturer
The movement system is based on previous, proven Chipco game systems
There are over 60 army lists included, featuring both mythical historical and pure fantasy - from legendary Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome to new lists for Napoleonic, American Civil War, Buffalo Soldiers, Native Americans, Faerie, Automaton, Arabian Nights, and Victorian armies. From Gnomes, Elves, and Orcs to Hive Queens and Arch Angels or Demon Lords
FR!3 streamlines the 2nd edition magic system, adds new units and abilities, and makes characters more flexible while keeping the core system
Battles are not limited to open ground. FR!3 includes rules for flying, swimming, and burrowing troops
FR!3 adds a whole new dimension with rules for cities, walls, and ships
The rules take advantage of the book-marking capability of Adobe Acrobat and are also indexed
FR!3 can easily be played on the typical kitchen table (3' x 4'). It can be expanded to battles of any size, and used to resolve large battles in RPGs
Approximately 150 pages, with reference tables, etc."


Gracias,

Glenn
Title: Re: Armies of Arcana rules ? good for 15mm gaming infact any good rules for 15mm
Post by: VoodooInk on September 27, 2013, 02:42:31 PM
(http://voodooink.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/mayhem-expandededition-brentspivey.jpg?w=450&h=558) (http://www.wargamevault.com/product/110359/Mayhem?term=mayhem+fantasy)

LawnRanger

I'm thinking you should give MAYHEM (http://www.wargamevault.com/product/110359/Mayhem) a look.  ;)

- custom army construction
- no 'buckets of dice'
- no casualty removal
- sorcery rules that includes spells like blink, magic missile, summoning, and time stop
- rules for warmachines

Quote
Am looking for set which flows nicely and has a good amount of detail in them
Speaking of flow, there are no set/static phases for movement, shooting, magic, etc. Actions are taken through use of a Command point system that adds a resource management aspect to the game without doing any bookkeeping. 

Quote
Playing in 15mm you get a good feel and look when you have 6+ units of orc warband  each having 24- 36figs in them as your main battle line it just looks the part in my eyes .
Since there is no casualty removal, then you can have as many [or few] miniatures on a base as you like. The horde designation has its own special rules to make sure that your sea of orcs feels and behaves like a large horde.

Also, the soft and hard counter system rewards players with the ability to make their troops better through tactical play and not through 'better army building'.

I'm around if you have any questions!

bombshell games (http://bombshell-games.com/)
Title: Re: Armies of Arcana rules ? good for 15mm gaming infact any good rules for 15mm
Post by: peleset on September 29, 2013, 03:58:27 AM
In the files section of the Yahoo group 15mm_fantasy_miniatures is a Big Battle Hott variant called De Bellis Frankenstein by David Brown you may wish to peruse. He's also included extensive army lists for Middle Earth, Hyboria and the Young Kingdoms.

http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/15mm_fantasy_miniatures/files/De%20Bellis%20Frankenstein (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/15mm_fantasy_miniatures/files/De%20Bellis%20Frankenstein)

He also did a DBM variant called De Bellis Fictionalis, again, with extensive ( crazy extensive  :) ) army lists for Middle Earth and Hyboria, but I am no longer able to find a link for it. It was a mash up of DBM and Hott, I always wanted to have ago at the Battle of Five Armies with it but was put off by the horde of Horde needed to do a Northern Goblin army.
Title: Re: Armies of Arcana rules ? good for 15mm gaming infact any good rules for 15mm
Post by: ogryn on September 29, 2013, 04:38:52 AM
Try Kings of War from Mantic. Its a free download from their site so no investment if you do not like it.
Might need to tweek ranges for smaller scale but that is easy.
Title: Re: Armies of Arcana rules ? good for 15mm gaming infact any good rules for 15mm
Post by: LawnRanger on September 30, 2013, 09:53:09 PM
Thanks Lads for all your input ..

peleset
    Thanks for the link but it does not seam to work but will try another way into the group ,I think I have the DBF set of rule I think they where called they be dragons a BIG version of HOTT .. but I have moved away from the DMX rules now and more on to units rather than bases and PIP's ,

Voodoolnk
   is mayhem just on down load or can I get a hard back copy ?

Con.
 FR3 looks ok but I think it looks to DBX for .


Ogryn
    some of the lads play KOW at the club but it looks to much like buckets of dice and line your figs up and charge to me ,but I might be wrong so will have a good look at the game, next  time I am at the club ,

dijit
    will have a better look at the rule


Thanks again lads for your input
happy gaming LR
Title: Re: Armies of Arcana rules ? good for 15mm gaming infact any good rules for 15mm
Post by: VoodooInk on October 01, 2013, 01:48:00 AM
Quote
is mayhem just on down load or can I get a hard back copy ?
Currently it's only available as a download. I will be releasing a print edition in the future. ;)
Title: Re: Armies of Arcana rules ? good for 15mm gaming infact any good rules for 15mm
Post by: Conquistador on October 01, 2013, 02:55:15 AM
Currently it's only available as a download. I will be releasing a print edition in the future. ;)

 may just wait for that (and the probable furlough to end) to order...

Gracias,

Glenn
Title: Re: Armies of Arcana rules ? good for 15mm gaming infact any good rules for 15mm
Post by: maxxev on October 01, 2013, 08:11:35 AM

Ogryn
    some of the lads play KOW at the club but it looks to much like buckets of dice and line your figs up and charge to me ,but I might be wrong so will have a good look at the game, next  time I am at the club ,


It is exactly that, not as many dice as warhammer but even less strategy, far more luck involved (particularily warmachines which can be absolutely devestating but also miss 2/3rds of the time (e.g. I played one game where my opponenets warmachines hit 3 times for each hit I lost a full maximum sized unit (All ogres) this was turn 1 and 2, by the time we reached combat he outnumbered me 5/1 and flank charges are seriously painful, in return I hit once and barely scratched a horde of orcs....).

In summary from my experience and 2 games I watched this is even less tactical than Warhammer.

Armies of Arcana I have read the rules for but never found anyone willing to play it, it looked like an upgraded version of warhammer, more detailed, more flexible (I loved the fact that ANY army could take ANY mount), more balanced (this basically means a point calculation system and very little in the way of "magic items"), it looked like a VERY solid system to me and I really wanted to give it a go, but I don't even have the rules anymore.

Good luck on finding the perfect game for you.
Title: Re: Armies of Arcana rules ? good for 15mm gaming infact any good rules for 15mm
Post by: Vermis on October 02, 2013, 11:45:35 AM
Disappointed to hear that about KoW. I was under the impression it was more tactical - reliant on maneouvre, unit support, that kind of thing. None of that came through at all?

I might go take a look at the expanded Mayhem, then.
Title: Re: Armies of Arcana rules ? good for 15mm gaming infact any good rules for 15mm
Post by: magokiron on October 03, 2013, 02:37:52 AM
I played A LOT of games of ARMIES OF ARCANA and higly recommend the rules.

Yes, it's somehow like WHFB, but the rules are really solid, plays fast, no army is overpowered, and in the core book you get ALL the rules (including 10+ magic lores and 10+ armies).

KoW I only played twice, and leaved it alone. The system may be good for some people, but not for me. Anyhow, as they are FREE DOWNLOAD, you may give them a try.

Hope that helps.
Title: Re: Armies of Arcana rules ? good for 15mm gaming infact any good rules for 15mm
Post by: Pendrake on October 03, 2013, 03:10:28 AM

Armies of Arcana I have read the rules for but never found anyone willing to play it, it looked like an upgraded version of warhammer, more detailed, more flexible (I loved the fact that ANY army could take ANY mount), more balanced (this basically means a point calculation system and very little in the way of "magic items"), it looked like a VERY solid system to me and I really wanted to give it a go, but I don't even have the rules anymore.

Good luck on finding the perfect game for you.

I played A LOT of games of ARMIES OF ARCANA and higly recommend the rules.

Yes, it's somehow like WHFB, but the rules are really solid, plays fast, no army is overpowered, and in the core book you get ALL the rules (including 10+ magic lores and 10+ armies).

I have played Armies of Arcana once, I have the rulebook, and I completely concur with Magokiron and Maxxev. It is less restrictive than WFB. The most solid thing about it is that its point balancing system is far closer to balanced across all armies than anything the Lords of Nottingham (GW) have ever published. It is not tied to 28mm figures. It works just fine with 15mm armies which was what was used in the game I got to play.

Whoever wrote it set out to:
1) write a fair set of rules instead of a vehicle to drive the sales of the latest releases of miniatures.
2) keep the stuff people like about Warhammer such as the basic mechanics of six sided dice but at the same time culling the annoying and ridiculous stuff.

IMHO they succeeded. If you want to have a mixed army of elves, dwarves and men it won't overpower an all goblins or all lizard-guys army. The point system is that well balanced.
Title: Re: Armies of Arcana rules ? good for 15mm gaming infact any good rules for 15mm
Post by: Keeper Nilbog on October 24, 2013, 08:07:08 PM
Again will support comments about Armies of Arcana.

The main advantage of it, in my opinion, is that it lets you play the army, not the rules, as other systems tend to. I stopped playing fantasy 'mass battle' systems a while back, and the only army I kept was my one for that system. It works well as a historical set (currently using it for the basis of a WotR game a few friends and I are planning)

And, as said, it's an all in one purchase, magic doesn't win you the game, and you can use whatever figures you like (My Lizard-Kyn army uses figures from the old Target Games/Prince August Chronopia range)
Title: Re: Armies of Arcana rules ? good for 15mm gaming infact any good rules for 15mm
Post by: splinteredlightminis on October 24, 2013, 08:37:05 PM
I would recommend Pride of Lions.  Here is the link http://www.splinteredlightminis.com/proflipdf.html

Here is the write up on it.
This 122 page ruleset seeks to provide a fast and fun game of fantasy mass combat. It is the designer’s belief that the best games result from a combination of simple rules mechanics and the opportunity for the players to make many decisions.

In PRIDE OF LIONS the role of each player is that of the commanding general of the army or warlord of the horde. Magic, and the courage and skills of individual heroes, can affect the game, but the outcome of the battle will depend mainly on the clash of large units of common fighters operating under the general’s orders.

Each turn begins with players issuing orders to eligible units by laying inverted movement chits behind each unit. After a magic phase, which can result in a unit’s orders being changed involuntarily or randomly, all orders are revealed and movement is conducted simultaneously by all sides but in a strict sequence, with the most aggressive movement (charges) coming first and skirmishers going last. Both melee combat and missile fire are conducted through opposed die rolls, using dice of various sizes from D4s to D24’s, with the difference between the die rolls determining the outcome. Factors such as terrain, magic, special weapons and tactics, and leadership and heroism by characters all affect the game either through the movement chits or the die rolls.

WHY A SECOND EDITION? HOW IS THIS ONE DIFFERENT? We have a LOT more experience of gaming with these rules now, and 2nd edition reflects lessons learned. There are numerous tweaks, as well as places where a longer explanation seemed necessary for clarity. There are lots of photos, partly to show off our miniatures but also as examples of play. And there are some substantial changes:

1. The point system is completely revised, with much greater detail, and applies now to characters as well as to units.

2. Dwarven rune magic is much more detailed.

3. Godfearers’ “magic” – prayer and spiritual gifts – is also far more detailed and extensive.

4. Spirits are developed further.

5. There are more and longer generic army lists and spell lists.

6. And the movement sequence of air units is better.
Title: Re: Armies of Arcana rules ? good for 15mm gaming infact any good rules for 15mm
Post by: Gibby on October 24, 2013, 09:10:54 PM
Quite cool that this thread got bumped as I have just bought Armies of Arcana for a 15mm project and am encouraged by the comments herein.