What rule set best for the period

[AncientOne]

I've been bashing away at miniatures for a long time, but have yet to get a definitive answer from my peers as to what is a good set of miniature rules for the Colonial period.

Pros and Cons of what you consider a good rule set would be appreciated.

Cheers

[Gluteus Maximus]

I've been bashing away at miniatures for a long time, but have yet to get a definitive answer from my peers as to what is a good set of miniature rules for the Colonial period.

Pros and Cons of what you consider a good rule set would be appreciated.

Cheers

Depends what sort of scale you want to play in.

For large scale ( Omdurman etc ) I like Principles of War, which I had a tiny amount of imput into when it was being developed. I'm biased but it does give an easy to play game and feels right. "Native" forces stand a good chance of winning, if handled well. "Soldier's Companion" from the Space 1889 stable of games is also a very good minis game in it's own right.

For games using platoons or companies as the basic unit, I like "The Sword and the Flame", or "Colonial Adventures" from 2 Hour Wargames (which  also gives good solo games).

For skirmishes I like "GASLIGHT"  - which like Soldier's Companion) is intended as VSF - is a good minis game in it's own right and allows lots of customisation to get the right feel.

There are plenty of more games based on specific campaigns like the Zulu or Sudan wars which I also like, but haven't got time to go into here.

Sadly, as in most periods, you won't get a definitive answer on a forum like this. Ultimately you might have to go with the majority opinion, or with something that piques your interest for a specific reason.

[Malamute]

Good lod Gluteus has pretty much summed it up.
"Sword and the flame" if you want skirmish level games gets my vote.

[DFlynSqrl]

I ordered "The Sword and the Flame" and also "Din of Battle" (for Piquet) to try out.  I noticed that when I was ordering TSATF that there was another version available called "800 Fighting Englishmen".  What's the difference?  It says it's for battalion level.  Maybe I'm missing it but I can't seem to find what unit scale TSATF is... so which is for larger sized battles?

[Gluteus Maximus]

Good lod Gluteus has pretty much summed it up.
"Sword and the flame" if you want skirmish level games gets my vote.

Is that a mis-pell of "Good Lad", meaning you think I'm a super chap, or "Good Lord" meaning you can't believe a fool like me said something sensible?

 

[Gluteus Maximus]

I ordered "The Sword and the Flame" and also "Din of Battle" (for Piquet) to try out.  I noticed that when I was ordering TSATF that there was another version available called "800 Fighting Englishmen".  What's the difference?  It says it's for battalion level.  Maybe I'm missing it but I can't seem to find what unit scale TSATF is... so which is for larger sized battles?

Yes, "800 FE" will let you fight the really big battles quickly and smoothly. Original TSATF is more for company or maximium battalion level games. I'd forgotten "Din of Battle", which if like me you like Piquet, is a very good set of rules. PQ is a very polarizing set of rules, though. People tend to either love or hate it.

[DFlynSqrl]

That helps.  Thanks Gluteus Maximus.

Yeah, I do like the Piquet rules, so I'm looking forward to trying both.  Just trying to decide on basing will be the eventual hard part.

[Malamute]

Good lod Gluteus has pretty much summed it up.
"Sword and the flame" if you want skirmish level games gets my vote.

Is that a mis-pell of "Good Lad", meaning you think I'm a super chap, or "Good Lord" meaning you can't believe a fool like me said something sensible?

 

 

Should be "good lad".

[VSF Gamer]

For skrimish level, anything can happen, Hollywood movie feel, I wolud go with GASLIGHT. It is VSF in every sense of the word but can be played straight historical. As others have said also, I like Sword and the Flame for bigger games. I've even combined what I like out of both sets in the same game and it worked pretty well.

[Plynkes]

Back in the day we used to play "Fields of Honor" which is a set that covers the entire Victorian period, whether colonial or otherwise.


It had a curious sliding scale which allowed you to have your units represent whatever level of combat you chose (using different move rates, weapon ranges, and turns representing different amounts of time), from Section scale where a Martini has a tabletop range of 650 inches (!) right through to Brigade Scale where it's a rather less impressive 9.

Had some great games in the Sudan, Zulu War, Crimea, Maori wars and others using 15mm figures. Nothing stopping you using other scales though. Out of print these days, but you may be able to find it somewhere.


For skirmishes we used to play this one:




Lately I've been using Triumph and Tragedy, which is sort of the LAF's baby, as far as rules go.
http://www.triumph-tragedy.de/

[Gluteus Maximus]

Good lod Gluteus has pretty much summed it up.
"Sword and the flame" if you want skirmish level games gets my vote.

Is that a mis-pell of "Good Lad", meaning you think I'm a super chap, or "Good Lord" meaning you can't believe a fool like me said something sensible?

 

 

Should be "good lad".

Correct answer!

Which of course means the pennies are still going into the "Zorro" savings fund 

[Gluteus Maximus]

Lately I've been using Triumph and Tragedy, which is sort of the LAF's baby, as far as rules go.
http://www.triumph-tragedy.de/

Oops! Forgot that one. Another excellent skirmish level game.

Sorry, Bjoern & Christian 

[Malamute]

Should be "good lad".

Correct answer!

Which of course means the pennies are still going into the "Zorro" savings fund 
[/quote]

Yahoooooo!

[Driscoles]

No problem Gluteus 
Thank you for mentioning us !
Cheers
Björn

[The_Wisecrack]

found these the other day and yet to try them out, they look nice enough.
http://home.comcast.net/~tsrstevew/TwoPage/twopage.htm

TW