Which rule set's condensed version gives the best bang for the buck?

[FreyaSophie]

I can think of DBMM100/200, ALDG 100, Intro Armati, Fast Warrior, Basic Impetus, even Hail Caesar gives some small force, small board options.
Which one of these do you think best maintains the flavor of the regular version if you've ever played one of them or more?
I'm asking because I have very limited space right now (4x3) and I want to take advantage of one of these rules sets' condensed version because I want to use some of my 25/28mm figures. I understand that I could play DBA. I don't want to if I don't have to.

[JW Boots]

How open are you to something completly different? Something that allows you to mold it anyway you want?

[SteveBurt]

You could play To The Strongest with 3” squares, and use a single DBM base for each unit.

[fred]

Any of the unit based rules (such as HC or Impetus, or TtS as suggested) you can shrink the unit frontage say by half or two-thirds, then reduce the movement and ranges by the same factor any you can fight your battle in a smaller space. Probably most already have info to use with smaller scale figures - so you can use these based on what unit frontage you want to have.

You will have to accept that your regiment/formation/etc is represented by just a few figures, but I think that will always be the case of big battle rules, with big figures in a small space.

[FreyaSophie]

How open are you to something completly different? Something that allows you to mold it anyway you want?

I'm intrigued. Tell me more please.

[JW Boots]

Many years ago, I also ran into “problems” with the various rules that I used. Not on the same scale as you, I think, but on mechanics. And I really mean mechanics. I am interested in the story, the narrative of the battle. What is driving events? Why does something happen? Those are the questions I want to address in my games. Yet most rules feel like a mechanical step-by-step process being operated by the players, and the answer to the why question is often: because the rules say blablabla, and the comma is here and not there, etc., etc.

My solution: write a wargame ruleset. One that is different, very different, truly different. As it turned out this is one of the recurring pieces of feedback that I get. The actual ruleset is Der Söldner, which covers the late 14th to mid-17th century. Not the period you refer to in your post. However, I have also made a supplement, The Warrior, that covers the ancient and medieval period. This PDF is available for free and can be downloaded here: https://tabletopmatrixwargames689972109.wordpress.com/arguing-when-cultures-clash-the-warrior/.

The very core mechanic is based on MATRIX wargames, and I made a version/gadget of it that fits on a business card: https://tabletopmatrixwargames689972109.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/business-card-v2.pdf

The rules do not have a prescribed basing, miniature to real men scale, ground scale, or whatever. It does make some suggestions, but the basic concept is truly scale-agnostic. There is also no point system... It’s 100% scenario-based, and we’ve done large battles, small rearguard actions, and lots of scenarios in between.

[FreyaSophie]

Many years ago, I also ran into “problems” with the various rules that I used. Not on the same scale as you, I think, but on mechanics. And I really mean mechanics. I am interested in the story, the narrative of the battle. What is driving events? Why does something happen? Those are the questions I want to address in my games. Yet most rules feel like a mechanical step-by-step process being operated by the players, and the answer to the why question is often: because the rules say blablabla, and the comma is here and not there, etc., etc.

My solution: write a wargame ruleset. One that is different, very different, truly different. As it turned out this is one of the recurring pieces of feedback that I get. The actual ruleset is Der Söldner, which covers the late 14th to mid-17th century. Not the period you refer to in your post. However, I have also made a supplement, The Warrior, that covers the ancient and medieval period. This PDF is available for free and can be downloaded here: https://tabletopmatrixwargames689972109.wordpress.com/arguing-when-cultures-clash-the-warrior/.

The very core mechanic is based on MATRIX wargames, and I made a version/gadget of it that fits on a business card: https://tabletopmatrixwargames689972109.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/business-card-v2.pdf

The rules do not have a prescribed basing, miniature to real men scale, ground scale, or whatever. It does make some suggestions, but the basic concept is truly scale-agnostic. There is also no point system... It’s 100% scenario-based, and we’ve done large battles, small rearguard actions, and lots of scenarios in between.

That's funny. I just downloaded Warrior Friday I think. I'm planning to take a look! Thanks!!

[AdamPHayes]

I remember Fast Warrior to be a very effective reduced version of the Warrior rules set. It allowed us to try out new periods and armies to see if we lined the feel of them before investing the time in a full army.

[SJWi]

JW, where can I find "Der Soldner"?  I've tried the search function on Wargames Vault but nothing comes up except the Warrior.

I would also look at "To the Strongest" (TTS). There is no set base size and is played on a gridded mat of at least 12 x 8 squares. Your 4 x 3' set up could accomodate a mat using 10cm squares.   

[JW Boots]

JW, where can I find "Der Soldner"?  I've tried the search function on Wargames Vault but nothing comes up except the Warrior.

Unfortunately Der Söldner is not on the Wargame Vault. It is also not available as PDF and not for free. The story is that I had no idea how to publish something when I was writing it… and Boekscout.nl was the one accepting my manuscript. Other, and better known, wargame rule publishers declined because of portfolio overlap mostly. So I went for Boekscout and they did a great job. They also showed how it’s done… and so when I had finished The Warrior I did it myself all the way.

Der Söldner is best obtained via Amazon outside the Netherlands.

Hope this helps.