Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Age of Myths, Gods and Empires => Topic started by: Richard in Sachsen on August 15, 2016, 05:46:17 PM
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Does anyone have a recommendations for any Indo-European Late Stone Age/Early Bronze Age/Neolithic games? I noticed Hail Caesar has an eye-candy photo in the rules with early Bronze Age warriors but I'm not so sure that is the right game. I recall reading something lately that suggests early bronze age tribes went about in war bands of around fifty or so. If that's the case, then a skirmish game would seem to be the best bet.
I don't know who covers the period.
Any suggestions?
Thanks
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I recall reading something lately that suggests early bronze age tribes went about in war bands of around fifty or so. If that's the case, then a skirmish game would seem to be the best bet.
Could be a lot more. At Tollense River near the Baltic, they estimate about 750 corpses on the site of a single battle c 1200 BC:
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/03/slaughter-bridge-uncovering-colossal-bronze-age-battle (http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/03/slaughter-bridge-uncovering-colossal-bronze-age-battle)
That is, however, an unprecedented find, as I understand it.
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Thanks Steve,
You may be correct in that. I've been contemplating picking up one of those Wargames Foundry hordes of Bronze Age Warriors. Since they upgraded their website, I can't find their army and horde sets anymore, but the horde had 70 warriors. Still a good size for the period, I think.
Still, I'm not sure which game would suit the period and place.
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Hi,
There's a thread hereabouts for a set called "Tribal" which, I think, would be prefect for warfare in this period. Originally written to for tribal warfare in New Zealand, but also including the dark ages, it's themed around a hero and his band.
Here it is - http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=88625.0 (http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=88625.0)
Great set of rules, very well written and produced. Certainly worth a look I'd say.
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Wow, great, thanks Emir
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I've been using 'Lion Rampant' for the Bronze Age - Link to my blog http://tonystoysoldiers.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/bronze-age-warfare.html
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For this period I use "open combat". Great rule set, easy to learn, complex in gameplay. Released by second thunder
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Thanks for those two suggestions. I have Lion Rampant downstairs on my bookshelf, perhaps time to read it again with an eye towards this period.
I'll also do a google search for open combat, see how that is set up.
Thanks
Oh, and Moss, those are beautiful figures on your blog... those are the ones I was looking at as well.
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lots of good and interesting links in this thread.
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Maybe 'Dragon Rampant ' might be interesting to use in this era /
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lots of good and interesting links in this thread.
Actually, now I think of it, one of them was found via your blog. Apologies for not crediting it.
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No worries. lol
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I'm in the process of completing a project based around the, Euro-bronze age, Tollense River battle near the Baltic. I decided on 15mm, using a mix of FIB Early Germans, mounted and foot, and Celtic chariots. I also decided on DBA 3.0 as my rule set, using the actual army-lists in the book 'only' as a guide. Here are a few stands already completed....
(http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu4/broones8/eba2.jpg) (http://s628.photobucket.com/user/broones8/media/eba2.jpg.html)
(http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu4/broones8/eba.jpg) (http://s628.photobucket.com/user/broones8/media/eba.jpg.html)
(http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu4/broones8/IMG_1336.jpg) (http://s628.photobucket.com/user/broones8/media/IMG_1336.jpg.html)
I have painted any/all armor and helmets bronze as well as half the spear tips and axe heads. Shields have 'early-iron' bucklers, and some of the swords will be 'early-iron. Arrow tips will be bronze and flint color.
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Wow, those 15's are simply superb! :-*
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While I don't know of any specific rule sets that seem appropriate to cover this period, if you're interested in a) doing a bit of thematic reskinning of rules/factions and b) high "faction" or warband diversity, then for this scale of engagement really I think you could do worse than SAGA.
If looking for less work and faster play, LOTR SBG is frankly my favorite set of quick-play rules for melee-centric skirmish. They cover Tolkien's world very well, but are equally effective for practically anything right up to the mass use of firearms.
If potentially interested in much smaller-scale battles, Battle Troll, which is intended to replicate the conflicts of the Norse Sagas, would also probably be a good rule set for this period. It's really much more suited to a handful of fighters per side at most, though.
Lastly, I always recommend that people check out the Free Wargames Rules Wiki (http://freewargamesrules.wikia.com/wiki/Freewargamesrules_Wiki). I don't necessarily know that you'll find exactly what you're looking for, but there's such a variety of rulesets available on that site that, for any kind of obscure or niche setting, it's my first stop.
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Thanks for the tips. Yes, I was considering SAGA if there wasn't anything covering the period. I am also interested in ordering Open Combat as suggested above, and seeing how that goes.
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Maybe these?
http://wargamesillustrated.net/war-in-the-dark-woods-flint-feather-rules/
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Thanks julesav, I just downloaded the free PDF version. From the description and table of contents, I can see how it can easily be modified for the period in question. As an added bonus, one may add mythological or fantastic elements as one desires. I'll have a look-see.
Thanks again
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Some inspiration...
(http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu4/broones8/ba2.jpg) (http://s628.photobucket.com/user/broones8/media/ba2.jpg.html)
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Very nice Mikey.
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I can also recommend the Emir's suggestion of 'Tribal'. It works really well for small scale conflicts and I think the plans are to have a Prehistoric supplement to the rules released for SAGA next year. Its a dice free system (uses deck of cards for pretty much everything) and winning bouts of combat is a bit like winning "tricks" in Bridge or 500. Also combat doesn't have to be won by killing your opponent. By putting up a good defense you can drive your opponents off and win honor. A game can be won by depleting an opponent's honor or by achieving objectives in a turn limit. I like this system as games don't have to be wars of attrition which feels historically right for stone age conflicts.
The publisher's ( werekake ) facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/tribalgame/ .
I think Eureka miniatures might stock hard copies, otherwise it is available as a PDF.
I picked up my book at Little Wars Melbourne.
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I've got to put in another vote for Tribal. Just feels right for the period. I tried Flint and Feather, but combat seemed really bogged down. This is coming from a devoted Song of... fan though, so take it with a grain of salt...
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Thank you both. I just got a copy of Tribal in the last couple of days. After a cursory look-through, it looks interesting. It may be just the thing.
Thanks for the advice.