Help in finding a "close to" perfect rule set for my VIkings/Normans/Byzantines/

[Mainly28s]

Given that Warhammer Ancients is a "nearly dead" set (I used to play 1 and 1.5- I have had a look at WAB 2, but I really don't like the new lists- they just seem flavourless), and it's difficult to find players nearby, what is a current "live" set that meets the following requirements:

is suitable for the period 800AD-1250AD or so,
caters for 100-150/200 or so 28mm figures,
is NOT grid-based (so no To the Strongest!)
is NOT a fixed unit size in figures (so no Kings of War or Hail Caesar, for example)- I want the number of figures in a unit to actually make a difference
is NOT a fixed unit frontage, but allows for expansion/retraction
does NOT require special dice
allows for casualty removal, not markers
Is NOT a TFL product (I just never got on with their unique way of doing things)
does NOT use cards as a mechanism

[SJWi]

As a devotee of TTS all I can say is that Gripping Beast's "Swordpoint" and Great Escape Games' "Sword and Spear" seem to have stood the test of time. Might be worth checking out further. Two Fat Lardies Reisswitz Press are allegedly soon to release "Midgard" for which there is a lot of excitement. From what I kmow they aren't a usual 2FL product so may meet your criteria.

[frank xerox]

OnBloody Ground might be worth a punt if you liked WAB - haven’t played it yet but it looks good.
The dark age version looks heavily influenced by the old “Shieldwall” supplement, and its only £15

[pieface paul]

War and Conquest might suit you.

[Mainly28s]

OnBloody Ground might be worth a punt if you liked WAB - haven’t played it yet but it looks good.
The dark age version looks heavily influenced by the old “Shieldwall” supplement, and its only £15

I have these, and they are, unfortunately, fixed unit size and fixed unit frontage!

[Mainly28s]

As a devotee of TTS all I can say is that Gripping Beast's "Swordpoint" and Great Escape Games' "Sword and Spear" seem to have stood the test of time. Might be worth checking out further. Two Fat Lardies Reisswitz Press are allegedly soon to release "Midgard" for which there is a lot of excitement. From what I kmow they aren't a usual 2FL product so may meet your criteria.

I'll have to look into both of these! Thank you.

[Mainly28s]

War and Conquest might suit you.

Thank you- I have a set coming now.

[jon_1066]

Hail Caesar does have different sized units - tiny, small, normal and large so number of figures does matter.  Units can change formation so expand and contract frontage.

[SJWi]

As I recall from talking to the author of "War and Conquest" Rob Broom when they were released many years ago, they are what he hoped Warhammer v2 would have looked like. Rob had exited Warhammer Historical and soon after the whole enterprise collapsed. If you liked the original WAB these might just do it for you.

There used to be loads of free army lists available but I have no idea where they are now. They aren't on Rob's Scarab Miniatures website.

[Dice Roller]

Why not just stick with the (40 year old+) rules that you enjoy?
If they are the ones you enjoy then why not carry on?
You say you have trouble finding players, but wouldn't that be the case with what rules you settle on? Especially since you've discounted rules that are already popular.
Is it the case you can't find players for WAB, or you can't find players at all?
If the latter then stick with what you have.
If the former then find out what local players are playing and you'll have to either conform to them, try and convert them to the tired and stodgy mechanics of a 40 year old game, or just have to accept you're on you're own.

[Wilgut Spleens]

I am not sure that you will find a set of rules that will meet all those criteria, however, I can state that the soon to be released Midgard is perfect for the period. It does have a fixed base size although you can have any number of figures on it, the number of figures makes no difference.

[AdamPHayes]

WRG 6th Edition meets those criteria.

[Polkovnik]

I'll have to look into both of these! Thank you.

Sword & Spear has fixed unit sizes, no casualty removal, and the number of figures in the unit is irrelevant.  So it does not meet your requirements.

[DalyDR]

As I recall from talking to the author of "War and Conquest" Rob Broom when they were released many years ago, they are what he hoped Warhammer v2 would have looked like.  . . .
There used to be loads of free army lists available but I have no idea where they are now. They aren't on Rob's Scarab Miniatures website.

It looks like they're being put back up now, I just downloaded a few.  Saw a recent message about the web site being reconstructed.

[MartinD]

Clash of Empires by Great Escape Games sounds close.