Outremer Faith and Blood or back to Retinue?

[ulverston]

This morning I had a rush of blood to the head and purchased Saga rules, boards and a couple of plastic army boxes and enough extras including resin bits and pieces to make a tabletop interesting.
I had been mulling over what sets to use and decided just to go back to something I have previously enjoyed. Thanks for the help Chaps. Now to try and find Youtube links to watch, Rodge rules was the first stop and a lot has happened in a couple of years.

[guitarheroandy]

I have just read that Lion Rampant can be used with fewer figures in a unit-a D12 can be used to monitor the losses... has anyone done this? Also is V2 much different to the original? I have been reading through them and they certainly seem a viable option and it would be nice to get playing quickly and use the figures I have for Saga. Any hints or tips would be much appreciated.

Dragon Rampant (LR's fantasy brother) does just this simply calling them 'reduced model units' or 'single model units' (the latter ideal for mega fantasy hero types). Ideal for smaller gaming areas or if you don't want to paint too many figures. I'm currently doing a solo gaming ancients project using half-sized LR/DR units (so 3 or 6 models instead of 6 or 12 depending on troop type) but still using the standard dice mechanics. I'm also doing a 'Bolt-Action' style 'draw chits from a bag' for activation rather than doing igougo with it for solo play. I haven't yet worked out how best to use 'boasts' solo, but they are a fun part of the rules so I need to work on that a bit...

Also V2 isn't a lot different. It just adds a few extra ideas or alternative approaches e.g. to unit activation.

[ulverston]

Guitarhero it seems great minds think alike! That is exactly what I was doing but have blown the budget on saga rules and two armies... I will still be trying the Rampant game in exactly the way you describe though. I will use the 4 foot by 3 foot board as well as the smaller units will give me some wriggle room. I think I went for saga simply because there is more support for the game. Please do let me know how you get on as I think we are onto something with this method.

[AWu]

V1 and v2 of LR are entirely compatible with each other.
V2 contains a lot of extras and I would say is definitely worth having. Lots of extra bits, lots of options, lots more scenarios, lots more army lists.

I Agree on the 2nd edition. it includes every house rule we were playing 1st with.
My only gripe with it is finding needed rules is more difficult when you learn (well re-learn in my case) the rules as its few times the size.

Both Historical supplements books are great. Crusader states is spot on but Wiking in the sun have some content for crusade adjacent stuff too.

[ulverston]

I had no idea that there had been a second supplement Awu! Viking in the sun (?) sounds interesting and I will give it a once over. In fact today I may have a mess around with the smaller unit sizes and see what it looks like.

[Ogrob]

For Saga, I'd recommed the Activation Phase podcast beside Rodge's Saga Thorsday. Graham's wargames vault does a lot of battle reports, but can be a bit unreliable on rules interpretations.

[ulverston]

Thanks Ogrob, I often listen to Rodge as he is very knowledgable and entertaining. I do remember an eastern European chap having a Youtube channel which was very good especially for the Eastern European crusades but cant find it now sadly.

My order from Gripping Beast arrived this morning so I am now busy clipping and gluing Saxons... happy times indeed.

[MGH]

If you know of Little Wars TV channel on Youtube they are a wargaming club on the east coast of the US who do a whole lot of historical periods and show them in some really entertaining clips.

Some months back they did a Crusades game using rules called something like Big Game Lion Rampant so they could do big battles with slight modifications to the rules system. Their AAR was very cool and they also provide those rules for free to anyone with an interest.

I have both a large Crusades collection and the rules and plan to do a game with my local game sooner or later. So many historical periods and rules.

[ulverston]

MGH I will have a look at little wars tv... the Crusades seem to have been fought just for us to war game! It is certainly a period I intend to visit if only to paint some of the amazing Reconquest miniatures.