One-Hour Ancient & Medieval Skirmish Wargames by John Lambshead

[Hobgoblin]

Has anyone else got hold of this?

I got a copy a few weeks ago, but have yet to play it (should manage to get a game in this weekend).

The main difference from the (excellent) One-Hour Skirmish Wargames is the addition of a "to wound" step, which allows different weapon types to work differently (some are wielder and thus easier to hit with; some have a greater or lesser chance of wounding) and to interact differently with armour (essentially, heavier armour makes you easier to hit but harder to wound - these don't net out because of the varying weapon effects).

The rules offer some nice decision-making points: for example, whether to throw a heavy javelin (or francisca, etc.) or retain it for close combat. And the scenarios look excellent. The engine on which the game is built is terrific.

There are rules for chariots and elephants too, which appear thoroughly researched, and lots of sample warbands, along with half a dozen scenarios, each with additional sample force lists.

The one thing that raised an eyebrow was the potency of the staff as a weapon - but I suspect that it's in there purely to showcase Little John in the book's Robin Hood scenario (I don't doubt that a quarterstaff was a very wieldy weapon in the right hands, but I'm not sure it was as damaging as a poleaxe!).

I was wondering if the book would include a fantasy section; its predecessor has a pulp sci-fi scenario/section. There's no fantasy in the new book (barring a witch character who may be able to curse people0, but there's plainly lots of potential for it, as there's a section of special rules for enhancing characters that could be used to build trolls, ogres or whatever.

I'll report back once we've got a game in, but the new book certainly looks promising.

[pieface paul]

I look forward to seeing what you make of it, I enjoy his other version a lot.

[traveller]

I look forward to seeing what you make of it, I enjoy his other version a lot.

Second that! Lambshead is a genius!

[Hobgoblin]

We got our first game in: Franks vs Romans (or, for us, wild-looking Nick Lund orcs against heavily armoured Perry orcs from Citadel). A good time was had by all, culminating in the near-complete slaughter of the "Romans" before the "Franks" took to their heels, having suffered the capture of a sub-chief. Ultimately, the superior discipline of the "Romans" counted in their favour.

We (my son and I) really liked it: lots of subtle flavour in the weapon and armour effects, and a general feeling of historical fidelity in the outcomes.

Like its predecessor, it's a fast-moving game in which the rules don't get in the way of the narrative: best played with flavourful scenarios (like those in the book) and WYSIWYG (so you know who's got a francisca tucked into their belt: one reason that we used Lund orcs as Franks is that many of them have short-hafted axes along with swords).

The expanded melee rules (from the original) mean that the action economy is particularly exciting once people go down in combat ("shock"); ideally, you want dispatchers on hand to finish off the downed, but you never know how much you'll be able to pull off in any phase.

We're very much looking forward to playing again: probably the same scenario with roles reversed to begin with.

[pieface paul]

Thanks very much for your report Hobgoblin, I might have guessed you'd be using orcs in your game!.

I think I will have to get hold of a copy.

Edit: I've just bought a copy!.

[Hobgoblin]

You're most welcome (and yes, it was inevitable!)

I realise now that we made one quite significant error in failing to apply the extra card for charging attackers (and two extra cards for cavalry). That would have made for a somewhat faster and bloodier fight!

We also had counter-attackers attacking at full strength, rather than one card down. That was probably less consequential, as we had a lot of swords-orcs who would have defaulted to the minimum one card.

[JollyBob]

Thanks for the review, I'd picked up a copy but haven't had chance to read it properly yet.

The original worked really well for me and JuniorBob, but he wasn't happy with the more or less instant resolution to close combat. He felt his Jedi should be more "twirly".

I'm hoping the new rules haven't overcomplicated it, as I actually managed to mess up the original rules on our first play through!

[Hobgoblin]

I'm hoping the new rules haven't overcomplicated it, as I actually managed to mess up the original rules on our first play through!

I don't think they have: I reckon the "to hit, to wound" sequence is so ingrained in most of us that it plays out quite naturally. We found that for both "to hit" and "to wound", it was most exciting to have the defender play and display their cards first, so that the attacker can see what he has to beat.

The counter-attack rule (if you're missed - rather than hit and not wounded - you get to strike back) should allow for fairly twirly Jedis. Also, you can easily port over the close-combat rules to the original game; you just need to define weapon types and armour rules, either by taking the ones from the Ancient/Medieval book or inventing your own.

[Dubar]

So what's the verdict???  I just ordered the rulebook, should have it tomorrow.  Now to get some proper medieval minis!!!

[Easy E]

I also got a copy, but have not read it or played it yet. 

2025 a review will be incoming.

[Dubar]

Looking forward to your review!

I have a pantload of medieval minis coming from Footsore soon, I hope I have enough paint!

[Mikai]

I was wondering if the book would include a fantasy section; its predecessor has a pulp sci-fi scenario/section. There's no fantasy in the new book (barring a witch character who may be able to curse people0, but there's plainly lots of potential for it, as there's a section of special rules for enhancing characters that could be used to build trolls, ogres or whatever.

Coming back to this after reading a review of the rules in the WSS magazine. The reviewer wrote there that "[a]ppearantly, Lambshead is writing a fantasy follow up, which I can't wait to see".

Reading that you already played it with a kind of fantasy setting I might give the rules a try as well 

[has.been]

Just ordered a copy, though I failed to find it on the 'Pen & Sword' web site.
Amazon found it PDQ. 

Looking forward to some fun games in early 2025.

[has.been]

I have the rules & have given them a read through. Impressed so far.
Would like a QRS. I know the rules are simple & (no doubt) after a
few games we won't need to refer to them.
Appendix 1 is a rules summary which is spread over four & a half pages.
No big problem about putting the essentials onto just one page, but
if anyone knows of an existing QRS I would like to know/get a link.

[Storm Wolf]

You can try this not sure if it will work?
If not PM me an email and I will send it to you as a PDF ok.

https://i.postimg.cc/BvMsQV6D/One-Hour-Ancient-Medieval-Skirmish-Wargames-Summary-Sheet-Google-Docs.png

Made by own hand, I too like a summary sheet, it is a dying art these days