One-Hour Ancient & Medieval Skirmish Wargames by John Lambshead

[Dubar]

Anybody playing these rules???

I should be getting my copy today and just ordered a bunch of figures from Footsore.  I couldn't find anything of value on Youtube regarding these medieval period rules and only a few videos on OHSW in general (I use OHSW for WW2).

Being I'm half Welsh I want to give it a go by painting up some Welsh figures.  Must do some more research to get the clothing/uniforms close to correct.

[traveller]

This has become my favourite ruleset. The original gunpowder version and this new set are basically the same. The medieval version just have mire developed melee rules. I can recommend the fb group where you will get answers on any questions you might have:

https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1DVb8nx4Ey/?mibextid=K35XfP

[Dubar]

Thanks for the info!

I got the rules yesterday and trying to wrap my head around the close combat section because that's where I plan to do most of my gaming.

[Dubar]

Going over this rule set, I'm getting confused about armor "classes".

The 4 main groups are:

UNARMORED - No or small shield, no body armor

LIGHT ARMOR - body armor but no shield

MEDIUM ARMOR - helmet plus larger shield, body armor plus small shield

HEAVY ARMOR - large shield plus body armor, full plate armor

Most of the figures I'm getting from Footsore are wearing chainmail under cloth tunics, padded clothing, or what have you, where would chainmail fall in these 4 groups?

Does a helmet automatically put a figure in the "medium" armor category?

[traveller]

I do it like this

Heavy: Plate

Medium: Chainmail

Light: at least two of the following - Helmet, Shield: Padded/leather armour

Unarmoured: Helmet OR small shield (and no body armour)

[Dubar]

That sounds about right.  I'm gonna wait until I get my order from Footsoar so I can actually see up close what each figure has on.  The OHSW rules state the list is simply a guide, so to me it doesn't have to adhered to by the letter.

[traveller]

I think John Lambshead call the rules a ”toolbox”, which makes a lot of sense. I have added a few rules myself to ”improve” the game 
Good luck with your project!

[Dubar]

Thanks!  I feel as if I have to make a character card for each figure as no two are alike.  That would be easier than having to pick up each figure during a turn to see what kind of armor it's wearing.

[traveller]

Thanks!  I feel as if I have to make a character card for each figure as no two are alike.  That would be easier than having to pick up each figure during a turn to see what kind of armor it's wearing.

Yes, that speeds up gameplay. I use a one page Excel sheet with the stats for each force.

[Dice Roller]

I base what defines Heavy, Medium,and Light by the armour of the period.
'Medieval' isn't one homogenized period - the 11th century is quite different from the 13th which is also different from the 15th, for example.
So to define, say, 'Heavy' armour I'd look at what the heaviest in the period was. So for the chainmail period I'd have chain, helmet and shield as Heavy. But for the 15th century it would be full plate.
I suppose what I am saying is that the ratings are relative within the period.

[Hobgoblin]

I base what defines Heavy, Medium,and Light by the armour of the period.
'Medieval' isn't one homogenized period - the 11th century is quite different from the 13th which is also different from the 15th, for example.
So to define, say, 'Heavy' armour I'd look at what the heaviest in the period was. So for the chainmail period I'd have chain, helmet and shield as Heavy. But for the 15th century it would be full plate.
I suppose what I am saying is that the ratings are relative within the period.

Yeah, that's exactly how I do it to. Whatever a 'knight' (or man-at-arms) wears in a given part of the Middle Ages is 'heavy armour'. So that would be full plate and no shield in the 15th century, plate over mail with a shield in the 13th and 14th, and mail over padding with a larger shield in the 12th and 11th (roughly!).

[Dubar]

Thanks!!!

All the figures I ordered from Footsoar are from their Baron's War range, which they say should cover the 4th, 5th, and 6th Crusades, so 1202 to 1229.  I have a few I 3D printed using files from Thingiverse, some of which are fantasy pieces I'm sure.

[DaveCrow]

In rules which give broad, abstracted classes I definitely take the classes as being relative to each other. In the Classical Ancients realm "Heavy" might be a Roman Legionnaire in full kit, although against a knight of the Wars of the Roses that same Roman might be classed as "Medium." Same figure, but the relative class changes. Of course it can work equally well to define each class by the equipment, so that both our armored warriors would be classed as "Heavy".

Lambshead's rules are definitely a tool box. He encourages people to tweak them to suit individual taste. Ultimately find the options that give a satisfying game to you.