18th century rules hunt?

[FifteensAway]

So, I want rules that use minimal dice but not single d6 which is too limiting on the odds from (hate bucket of dice games), and does NOT use cards (hate cards on the table - spoils the visual which is part of my problem with the dice).  Rules need to accommodate units of about 15 stands and as many as 28 main units in a game with a smattering of other bits.  Fast and simple is the style I like.  With that brief, what rules can you recommend, please?

Can you tell the visual takes predominant precedence for me? 

[Red Sveta]

Principles of War could work. You would have to fudge the unit size in the rules to fit with your units but that shouldnt be a big issue. Units are bases and have a morale stat that deteriorates as they take casualties or loose formation. Record keeping of each unit is required though.

[Lowtardog]

patriots and loyalist may work, designed for awi and fiw but would work ok as has french and german regular unit info plus britishhttps://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/37338/patriots-loyalists-rules-american-revolution

[julesav]

What about the new 18th century set from Osprey?

[joroas]

Yankeepedlar1 playtested several sets of rules on the same scenario.  Take a look here:

http://talesfromghq.blogspot.co.uk/

[olicana]

Cards at all, or cards by units, etc. ?

A deck of cards at the edge of a table, turned at the edge of a table and kept at the edge of a table, has no greater visual impact on a game than a tape measure and a handful of dice at the edge of a table (IMHO).

BTW. Genuine question.

James

[FifteensAway]

James,

Something like Habitants and Highlanders card mechanism, maybe.  But those games with cards all over the table and mixed with units?  

I'm hoping to find a very basic set of rules that uses just two or three dice per unit, doesn't need cards, has fairly generous movement rates and firing ranges (relatively), simple charts, minimal modifiers, absolutely has flank modifiers and rear modifiers (one of the basic tenets of warfare all the way back to Sun Tzu), is fun to play and doesn't require more than a few pages for the rules.  I just want a fun game not a debate about what does this or that rule really mean.  I'd rather set up the figures and play solitaire or just enjoy looking at them rather than engage in that futile activity.

Here is the real challenge - I will have units with 14-15 bases of figures per unit, more than two dozen such units on the table at a time when maxed out (though smaller events might occur) but this is for a war almost everyone else restricts to minute skirmishes (which did happen and caused great horror during the conflict but did not in any way ultimately decide the conflict).  So, whenever I ask folks "into the period" they always point to skirmish rules which won't help me at all since those rules would break with my collection on the table.

Currently, I'm using Rank and File from Crusader and they are fine rules - though way too many optional rules.  The challenge, for me, is they use too many dice.

More than likely, I'll have to write/hybridize my own rules but I'd rather not do that if I can find suitable rules.  So, the hunt continues while work on painting figures and getting ready for a convention game less than month out which will field maybe 900 figures.

[Sarge Canard]

You'll probably be wanting WRG 1685-1845 rules then...

No. Seriously.

[Greystreak]

Or, you may be interested in Bill Protz's "BAR" rules: http://www.oldregimerules.com/bar_0.html.

[FifteensAway]

Greystreak, you are on the right track.  Bill is a great guy and his Drums Along the Mohawk have been in my rules collection for a very long time.  I'd need to know a lot more about these rules, though, before buying them - especially since they are adapted from Drums and I've recently reread them and that is not the way I want to go.

And, Sarge - WRG?  You've made the short list with that one, for sure!    No way, no how, no when, owned them (might still do).  But play them?  I am not a masochist, sir.   

Still on the hunt.