Looking for Game/Rules suggestions

[tom_aargau]

I have been collecting and painting miniatures since childhood, but never got around to playing.
Want to give it a try now, and kindly ask for suggestions.
Parameters would be

• Small numbers of miniatures (warband/skirmish)
  Duration 1 to 2hrs max
  Simple set of rules (since I am a beginner)
  Any setting (historical/fantasy) is fine
  Solo play should be possible.

Thank you for your help.
Tom

[aircav]

Try pulp alley, you can download a free set from their site, it can be set in any time period & there are loads of video tutorials on YouTube.

  https://pulpalley.com/

It can be played Solo, Co-Op & versus as well

[OSHIROmodels]

Any of the Wiley Games offerings would fit the bill. There’s historical, fantasy and sci-fi. They are mix and match so you can take elements from different sets and put them with others. The (gaming) world is your oyster 

https://oshiromodels.wixsite.com/oshiromodelswebshop/rules

[Hobgoblin]

While Pulp Alley and Fistful of Lead are excellent games, I'd suggest Song of Blades and Heroes from Ganesha Games as the ideal starting point. It's available here in PDF form and in print from Amazon, etc. The print book's not much more expensive than the electronic version and probably worth it for ease of reference.

It's the game I started playing with my kids seven years ago, and while we've played many different games since, it's still the skirmish game we play most, whether within the household or with friends of either generation. Apart from the rules and some miniatures (it plays best up to 10 a side), all you need are measuring sticks (cut down from straws or balsa wood) and three dice per player.

The rules are very simple, in that each character has two stats (Quality and Combat). Some also have special traits (e.g. Long Move, Mounted, Savage, Tough), but these tend to work very intuitively. So once you've played a Savage character, you'll know exactly how the trait works and won't need to consult the book.

But while the rules are simple, they give a very dynamic, quick and lively game. Morale is very important, so ill-led troops do a lot of scattering and running away. And the central mechanic is risking the end of your turn while gambling on more activations, so games can play out in unexpected and exciting ways.

While the game doesn't have formal solo rules, that mechanic makes it very easy to play both sides. Because high-risk stratagems will come unstuck, it's usually easy to see where one side or other could take advantage - often by risking a turn-ending manoeuvre of their own.

The basic rules are generic fantasy, but they can be used for most periods, and there are black-powder, modern and sci-fi expansions, along with more thematic versions (Arthurian, swashbuckling, etc.).

[AdmiralAndy]

I'd recommend Ravenfeast.

Totally free, put together by Historic Wargamers who have a variety of other in print games commercially available.

http://www.ravenfeast.com/

Dark age Viking skirmish about a dozen a side and can upscale to army size in the advanced rules. Also has a list of further games to try once you want something a bit more detailed. Also an option for myth and magic and undead to be added in.

Designed as an introduction set of rules, has hints tips, video playthroughs and there are some batreps on this very site if you do a search for Ravenfeast.

Happy Gaming

[has.been]

Another vote for Fistful of Lead games.
Simple to learn, easy to add local/scenario rules &,
most important, FUN.
 

[Pijlie]

The Silver Bayonet fits all your bills.

https://pijlieblog.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-silver-bayonet-wargame-of.html

[Elbows]

The only struggle you'll have is solo-play.  Plenty of games are solo-capable, but you may not get the enjoyment out of them.  Also, chime in once you've played a couple so we can know what style of game you enjoy.

Osprey Games does a large selection of wargames which are required to fit in their small 68-page books, and are mostly miniature agnostic, etc.  They can be had for as cheap as $12-13 sometimes on Amazon.  Couldn't hurt to simply pick up a couple copies and start reading - see what appeals to you.

Are you looking for combat, adventure, dungeon crawl, strong role-playing elements, cooperative play, etc? 

[CapnJim]

Another vote for Fistful or Lead...

[Inkpaduta]

I would suggest Strontium Dog. It is a Sci Fi game based off the comic.
There is a beginner set that comes with rules, buildings, and figures.
The rules are not hard and it is a fun game.

[Cat]

Donnybrook is a great skirmish set that works well in a variety of settings.  The card activation system is very nice for solo play.

[Froggy the Great]

"Five Parsecs From Home" and "Five Leagues From the Borderlands" from Nordic Weasel Games are campaign-driven and made for solo play, with procedurally-generated missions and scenarios.  I have personally played through at least 5 extended campaigns with each of them.

[SJWi]

Hi, I guess my question is how much “period” feel you want. I could recommend Saga or Dux Britanniarum if you favour Dark Ages, or any of the Osprey “Rampant” series for Medieval/Fantasy.  I’m not criticising any of the other suggestions but simply not familiar with them.

[tom_aargau]

Thank you all for the suggestions. Started to download some of the free rule sets and will invest in some of the others. Hope to try some out in the next weeks.
Thanks again for your help and will keep you updated.