What is your favorite Osprey Wargame Series Book?

[Easy E]

Greetings,

I was just curious for those how have played some of the Osprey Wargaming series, which is your favorite book and why?  I am excluding the Osprey Hardcovers, and just focusing on the "Blue Book" series. 

In general, I really love the Osprey Wargaming series as I always walk away with a new appreciation for a mechanic, genre, or some other food for thought.  Plus, they are a very affordable way to get into new genres and games.   

I have played Men of Bronze, Broken Legions, and Poseidon's Warriors the most.  However, the three games that have influenced me the most are Dux Bellorum, Dragon Rampant, and Ronin.  Absolute Emperor also was an interesting read to me as it seemed to mirror many of my preferences as a designer.     

So, how about you? 

[Hobgoblin]

Dragon/Lion Rampant is the ruleset we've played the most (and it's great), but my favourite is Fistful of Kung Fu. We've only played that a few times (mainly for genre reasons and because we have so many other variants of the SoBH rules), but it's always been terrific.

The other one I'd like to play a lot more of is Of Gods and Mortals.

[Sir_Theo]

I played quite a lot of In Her Majesty's Name when that came out. I wpuld really like to play more Of God's and Mortals, The Men Who Would Be Kings and Fistful of King Fu...oh amd En Garde too but the one that has fired up my imagination the most is Zona Alfa.

I tend to pick them all.up at some.point, even if I have no intention of playing them, usually some great ideas at a low price.

[fred]

In Her Majesties Name was the set we have played the most of - but not recently.

I have many of them as they are often interesting and are at a good price point, and can be added to my Amazon wish list for birthday or Christmas.

[Mick_in_Switzerland]

Lion Rampant is my favourite and the most played set.

I have also bought the others that follow the same concept - Dragon Rampant, The Men Who Would Be Kings and Rebels & Patriots.

I also bought Black Ops but have not played it.

[has.been]

Definitely Rebels & Patriots.
Used for ACW, AWI, Indian Mutiny, Jacobite rebellion & others.
It has given several projects that were just idling a good boost.
e.g. ACW had a few dozen figures differently based, now enough
for a good size game. So much so that I have just completed
rebasing everything onto unit basing (mostly 40mm x 40mm).

https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=119096.msg1682631#msg1682631

[AdmiralAndy]

Lion Rampant is my favourite and the most played set.

I have also bought the others that follow the same concept - Dragon Rampant, The Men Who Would Be Kings and Rebels & Patriots.

I also bought Black Ops but have not played it.

I assume you got Pikemans Lament too but didn't mention it in the list of its other Lion Rampant Siblings.


I also mention it as Pikemans Lament is also my most played title of the Osprey Blue Books, with a few Lions Rampant and just having a look at some others.

Not only are they affordable, but they always seem to be in print and therefore easy to get hold off in short order.

[Mick_in_Switzerland]

@AdmiralAndy, I haven't bought Pikeman's Lament but I will probably do.

[Mr. White]

I started my delve into Osprey titles with the Gaslands and Dracula's America harbacks, but it wasn't until I picked up a few of the blue books that my hobbying became supercharged. It started with Zona Alfa, and from there Dragon Rampant which, along with Lion Rampant, have become my favorite rulebooks. I enjoy the style those two are written in and being a lifetime Blood Bowl player the system feels comfortable. Simple stat lines with risk management based turns. I've since gone on and bought all the other titles in the Rampant family except MWWBK. I've never really been a historical gamer, outside of one attempt at Saga, but LR got me excited about the idea so I picked up Ronin. I have picked up quite a few since...En garde, Broken Legions, Fistful of Kung Fu, etc but hands down my favorite so far are:

Zona Alfa
Lion/Dragon Rampant
Ronin

ZA has enabled me to use the 20mm Perry Dark Future models that I've always wanted too (and have been logging here at LAF). I've also been making purchases for Ronin/Pikeman's Lament with samurai in 1/72 as well as Hundred Years War with Lion Rampant in 1/72. For both of these settings, medieval Europe and Asia, I plan to have a few fantasy units in the wings too so these models can serve double duty with Dragon Rampant. Good times incoming...

[CapnJim]

This one's easy.  Black Ops is my favorite so far.  We've played that one several times, each providing a great game - even used it for the War of 1812 once...

Rebels & Patriots and TMWWBK come in 2nd...

[Inkpaduta]

Of Gods and Mortals. I am big fan of the Song of...series of games and it comes from that background.

[Mr. White]

oh, i will add that whether I plan on buying a Blue Book or not, I always look forward to reading reviews of them on Blood and Spectacles. Cheers!

[Easy E]

Cheers! 

I forgot that I have also played a couple of games of Black Ops as well.  So I guess my most commonly gamed are Men of Bronze, Broken Legions, Poseidon's Warriors, and Black Ops! 

However, the most influential to my game design are still Dragon Rampant, Ronin, and Dux Bellorum. 

[vodkafan]

Rebels and Patriots by far.

[Diablo Jon]

I have a few but the only one I've played much is TMWWBKs which I think are a great set of rules.