Small Scale Skirmish Rules - Ancient Period

[Captain Darling]

I would endorse the suggestions of; the Song of… and Ravenfeast rule sets.

[Kenntak]

I see there is Advanced Song of Blades and Heroes and Song of Shadows and Dust. I am trying to figure out which would be better suited for small scale ancient skirmishing. There don't seem to be a lot of reviews of the latter.

[rumacara]

Song of Shadows and Dust already have profiles for the roman period like gladiators, roman gangers, civilians, bodyguards and i think celts and germans (probably many more), Advanced Song of Blades and Heroes has profiles for fantasy (orcs, humans, elfs, hobbits, dwarfs, etc). Having said that probablly the easyest for you would be Song of Shadows and Dust.

Ravenfeast is a easy to learn set of rules for Dark Ages but with the advantage of change the profiles on a easy way for several periods plus you can add adicional rules for the chosen period so that you have a greater "feeling" of that said period. Sometimes the simple change of name is enough without changing anything else (instead of bondir viking call it germanic warrior and his characteristics are the same as well as the equipment).

[Rick]

Is Song of Shadows and Dust a standalone set or an expansion of Song of Blades and Heroes where you'd need the original rules to use it?
Also, if it is a standalone set, would it be worth getting advanced SoBaH to give you more troop or mythic options?

[Kenntak]

Rick, Song of Shadows and Dust is a standalone set. Great question about whether it would be worth getting SoBaH to provide more troop or mythic options, I would like to know as well.

[DivisMal]

Is Song of Shadows and Dust a standalone set or an expansion of Song of Blades and Heroes where you'd need the original rules to use it?
Also, if it is a standalone set, would it be worth getting advanced SoBaH to give you more troop or mythic options?

I have both and while ASoBH is Not necessary to play and there is a great squad builder on the Ganesha Games homepage, ASoBH will give you explanations for a lot of new special abilities plus ideas of how to use them.
I don’t like the layout of ASoBH, but the game is pretty good. Possibly the normal SoBH will also suffice your needs if you find it cheaper.

Song of Dust and Shadows is an excellent rule set, but it’s basically Mordheim/Necromunda in Rome, so not really hoplites or legionaires but muggers and thieves.